Nick Kokonas

Nick Kokonas

Restaurateur, Author, and Intellectual

Co-founder of Alinea and The Musket Room, Nick Kokonas blends culinary innovation with deep intellectual curiosity across philosophy, probability, and gastronomy.

Founders

Nick Kokonas is the co-founder and co-owner of Alinea, the acclaimed three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Chicago, and The Musket Room in New York. Beyond the kitchen, he's an author and investor with a passion for exploring ideas at the intersection of science, philosophy, and human behavior. His reading reflects both his practical interests in food and business and his broader philosophical pursuits.

5 Books Recommended by Nick Kokonas

Ranked by popularity across all reading lists on this site

The Black Swan book cover
#1

The Black Swan

by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

10 people recommendedrecommended 2x

Great; it’s fine.

Great; it’s fine.

Buy on Amazon β†’

Also recommended by: Naval Ravikant, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Ev Williams, Pavel Durov, Art De Vany, Edward Norton, James Altucher, Ryan Shea

Fooled by Randomness book cover
#2

Fooled by Randomness

by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

9 people recommended

Almost everyone in my office is forced to read [this book].

Buy on Amazon β†’

Also recommended by: Naval Ravikant, Ev Williams, Howard Marks, Art De Vany, James Altucher, James Clear, Ryan Shea, Derek Sivers

πŸ“–
#3

On the Nature of Things

by Lucretius

2 people recommendedrecommended 2x

Read [this book].

Read [this book].

Buy on Amazon β†’

Also recommended by: Stewart Brand

πŸ“–
#4

The Swerve

by Stephen Greenblatt

2 people recommendedrecommended 2x

Great book.

Great book.

Buy on Amazon β†’

Also recommended by: Mark Manson

πŸ“–
#5

Blue Trout and Black Truffles

by Joseph Wechsberg

recommended 2x

It was written just after World War II by an ex-serviceman.

It was written just after World War II by an ex-serviceman.

Buy on Amazon β†’