Sam Harris

Sam Harris

Neuroscientist, Philosopher, and Author

Sam Harris is a neuroscientist and philosopher known for exploring consciousness, morality, and human behavior through both scientific and contemplative lenses.

Philosophers & Psychologists

Sam Harris is a neuroscientist, philosopher, and author who has written extensively on consciousness, religion, and ethics. His work combines neuroscience research with philosophical inquiry, most notably in his exploration of how brain science informs our understanding of free will and moral reasoning. He founded Project Reason to promote science and secular values.

21 Books Recommended by Sam Harris

Ranked by popularity across all reading lists on this site

The Beginning of Infinity book cover
#1

The Beginning of Infinity

by David Deutsch

9 people recommendedrecommended 3x

Greatly expanded my sense of the potential power of human knowledge.

Greatly expanded my sense of the potential power of human knowledge.

Greatly expanded my sense of the potential power of human knowledge.

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Also recommended by: Naval Ravikant, Mark Zuckerberg, Patrick Collison, Chris Anderson, Mark Bell, Ryan Shea, Steven Pinker, Derek Sivers

Enlightenment Now book cover
#2

Enlightenment Now

by Steven Pinker

9 people recommended

Sam Harris picked this as the first book in his Book Club.

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Also recommended by: Bill Gates, Aj Jacobs, David Deutsch, David Friedberg, Yuval Noah Harari, Jordan Peterson, Michael Mauboussin, Richard Dawkins

What We Owe the Future book cover
#3

What We Owe the Future

by William MacAskill

8 people recommendedrecommended 3x

Altogether thrilling and necessary.

Altogether thrilling and necessary.

Altogether thrilling and necessary.

Also recommended by: Elon Musk, Aj Jacobs, Ezra Klein, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Julia Galef, Liv Boeree, Stephen Fry

πŸ“–
#4

by

6 people recommendedrecommended 3x

I highly recommend. It really is the most accessible discussion of brain science you will find.

I highly recommend. It really is the most accessible discussion of brain science you will find.

I highly recommend. It really is the most accessible discussion of brain science you will find.

Also recommended by: Marc Andreessen, Vinod Khosla, Bryan Johnson, Keith Rabois, Michael Mauboussin

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#5

by

6 people recommendedrecommended 3x

A good book which I recommend.

A good book which I recommend.

A good book which I recommend.

Also recommended by: Ev Williams, Andrew Wilkinson, Derek Sivers, Maria Popova, Mark Manson

Superintelligence book cover
#6

Superintelligence

by Nick Bostrom

6 people recommended

Made me worry that machine knowledge could ruin everything.

Also recommended by: Elon Musk, Naval Ravikant, Sam Altman, Marc Goodman, Will Macaskill

In Cold Blood book cover
#7

In Cold Blood

by Truman Capote

3 people recommended

If you just want to forget about the future and lose yourself in the book that forever changed how narrative nonfiction is written, read [this book].

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Also recommended by: Tim Draper, Ben Shapiro

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#8

by

3 people recommendedrecommended 3x

Brilliant and written as though by an alien intelligence.

Brilliant and written as though by an alien intelligence.

Brilliant and written as though by an alien intelligence.

Also recommended by: Patrick Collison, Will Macaskill

Our Final Invention book cover
#9

Our Final Invention

by James Barrat

3 people recommended

Also recommended by: Elon Musk, Tim Urban

πŸ“–
#10

One Blade of Grass

by Henry Shukman

3 people recommended

Beautifully written.

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Also recommended by: Kevin Rose, Tim Ferriss

πŸ“–
#11

Machete Season

by Jean Hatzfeld

2 people recommendedrecommended 3x

If you want to see what it’s like when things go about as wrong as they can go, read [this book].

If you want to see what it’s like when things go about as wrong as they can go, read [this book].

If you want to see what it’s like when things go about as wrong as they can go, read [this book].

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Also recommended by: Jocko Willink

On Having No Head book cover
#12

On Having No Head

by Douglas Edison Harding

2 people recommendedrecommended 3x

A very useful little volume.

A very useful little volume.

A very useful little volume.

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Also recommended by: Jack Dorsey

πŸ“–
#13

The Flight of the Garuda

by Keith Dowman

Especially beautiful and wise.

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πŸ“–
#14

The Anatomy of Disgust

by William Ian Miller

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πŸ“–
#15

History of Western Philosophy

by Bertrand Russell

recommended 3x

Just a great example of how English should be written and just a great voice to have in your head as a result.

Just a great example of how English should be written and just a great voice to have in your head as a result.

Just a great example of how English should be written and just a great voice to have in your head as a result.

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πŸ“–
#16

Hitch-22

by Christopher Hitchens

You can get the benefit of both his voice and his writing if you listen to [this audiobook].

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πŸ“–
#17

Mortal Questions

by Thomas Nagel

recommended 3x

There are some very good essays in there that were very influential in philosophy and should be more influential in the culture, generally.

There are some very good essays in there that were very influential in philosophy and should be more influential in the culture, generally.

There are some very good essays in there that were very influential in philosophy and should be more influential in the culture, generally.

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πŸ“–
#18

The Last Word

by Thomas Nagel

Champions rationality in a very compelling way.

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πŸ“–
#19

I Am That

by Nisargadatta Maharaj

recommended 3x

He said a few crazy things, as many gurus do. But if you stick to what he was claiming about the nature of experience, I think you’re on firm ground.

He said a few crazy things, as many gurus do. But if you stick to what he was claiming about the nature of experience, I think you’re on firm ground.

He said a few crazy things, as many gurus do. But if you stick to what he was claiming about the nature of experience, I think you’re on firm ground.

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πŸ“–
#20

Humiliation

by William Ian Miller

Just on the phenomenon of being humiliated and differentiating it from embarrassment and other similar emotions.

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πŸ“–
#21

God Is Not Great

by Christopher Hitchens

recommended 3x

You can get the benefit of both his voice and his writing if you listen to [this audiobook].

You can get the benefit of both his voice and his writing if you listen to [this audiobook].

You can get the benefit of both his voice and his writing if you listen to [this audiobook].

Buy on Amazon β†’