Soman Chainani is an American author best known for The School for Good and Evil series, which has sold millions of copies worldwide and been adapted into a Netflix film. His work frequently explores themes of good versus evil, identity, and belonging, drawing inspiration from classic literature and fairy tales. Chainani's imaginative storytelling has made him a prominent voice in young adult and fantasy fiction.
11 Books Recommended by Soman Chainani
Ranked by popularity across all reading lists on this site
The War of Art
16 people recommendedHalf drill sergeant, half Zen voodoo master, [the author] shot me out of my stupor and taught me the meaning of creative discipline.
Also recommended by: Aubrey Marcus, Brian Koppelman, Danny Miranda, Daniel Pink, Derek Sivers, James Clear, Jen Sincero, Jodie Cook, Joe Rogan, Lex Fridman, Marie Forleo, Michael Hyatt, Russell Moore, Ryan Holiday, Seth Godin
Tao Te Ching
12 people recommendedrecommended 2xI remember reading it and being like okay, this makes no sense. But you just keep reading it again and again and slowly, I started to get the point of it.
I remember reading it and being like okay, this makes no sense. But you just keep reading it again and again and slowly, I started to get the point of it.
Also recommended by: Osho, Naval Ravikant, Jack Dorsey, Brian Mackenzie, Jack Ma, Jason Ferruggia, Jason Nemer, Josh Waitzkin, Michael Gervais, Rick Rubin, Stewart Brand
A Little Life
4 people recommendedrecommended 2xThe greatest work of fiction Iβve ever read, with the simplest theme: All of us come with baggage and wounds and pain; all of us.
The greatest work of fiction Iβve ever read, with the simplest theme: All of us come with baggage and wounds and pain; all of us.
Also recommended by: Andy Cohen, Jack Edwards, Nate Berkus
Featured a title character who was at once charming and also a complete narcissistic, pathological demon. It was that ambiguous space between good and evil that I sparked to as a kid.
Also recommended by: Richard Branson, Gretchen Rubin
The Neverending Story
2 people recommendedAn amazing book.
Also recommended by: Tim Ferriss
The Velvet Rage
2 people recommendedrecommended 2xOstensibly about if you grow up a gay man, [how] to deal with it in the world. But I think itβs more about modern masculinity and about what it means to be a man in America.
Ostensibly about if you grow up a gay man, [how] to deal with it in the world. But I think itβs more about modern masculinity and about what it means to be a man in America.
Also recommended by: Brene Brown
The Graveyard Book
2 people recommendedrecommended 2xSoman Chainani referenced this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast.
Soman Chainani referenced this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast.
Also recommended by: Tim Ferriss
The Hard Facts of the Grimms’ Fairy Tales
recommended 3xExposed me to the original Grimmβs stories, which are horrific and dark and insane. And half the time, the evil character wins and half the time the good character wins.
Exposed me to the original Grimmβs stories, which are horrific and dark and insane. And half the time, the evil character wins and half the time the good character wins.
Exposed me to the original Grimmβs stories, which are horrific and dark and insane. And half the time, the evil character wins and half the time the good character wins.
The Little Mermaid
You look at The Little Mermaid [movie]. Arielle should die brutally in that movie because sheβs an idiot, a complete idiot. [...] To read the original [book], where she dies at the end, suddenly made sense.
Garden Cities of To-Morrow
Soman Chainani referenced this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast.