Patrick Collison is the CEO and co-founder of Stripe, which he started with his brother John in 2010. The company became one of the most valuable fintech platforms globally, processing billions in payments. Collison is known for his thoughtful approach to business and deep interest in learning across disciplines.
121 Books Recommended by Patrick Collison
Ranked by popularity across all reading lists on this site
Poor Charlie’s Almanack
15 people recommendedrecommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Also recommended by: Naval Ravikant, Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Daniel Ek, Drew Houston, John Collison, Marc Andreessen, Courtland Allen, Patrick Bet David, Ramit Sethi, Shane Parrish, Tai Lopez, Tim Ferriss, Derek Sivers
The Beginning of Infinity
9 people recommendedrecommended 2xA really beautiful modern philosophy book.
A really beautiful modern philosophy book.
Also recommended by: Naval Ravikant, Mark Zuckerberg, Chris Anderson, Mark Bell, Ryan Shea, Sam Harris, Steven Pinker, Derek Sivers
Masters of Doom
7 people recommendedrecommended 2xOne of my favorite books about building software.
One of my favorite books about building software.
Also recommended by: Elon Musk, Tobi Lutke, Alexis Ohanian, Austen Allred, Jeff Atwood, Trung Phan
A Pattern Language
6 people recommendedrecommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Also recommended by: Naval Ravikant, Sam Altman, Gretchen Rubin, Liz Lambert, Stewart Brand
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Also recommended by: Keith Rabois, Matt Mullenweg, Michael Batnick, Patrick Oshaughnessy, Tristan Harris
On the Shortness of Life
6 people recommendedrecommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Also recommended by: Eric Jorgenson, Chip Conley, Jim Collins, Maria Popova, Neil Strauss
The Rise and Fall of American Growth
6 people recommendedrecommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Also recommended by: Bill Gates, Marc Andreessen, Stewart Butterfield, Ben Carlson, Satya Nadella
7 Powers
6 people recommendedrecommended 2xDeeply incisive.
Deeply incisive.
Also recommended by: Peter Thiel, Daniel Ek, Reed Hastings, Keith Rabois, Ryan Petersen
The Inner Game of Tennis
5 people recommendedrecommended 2xA really good book that I very highly recommend.
A really good book that I very highly recommend.
Also recommended by: Raj Shamani, Bill Gates, Dave Elitch, Ryan Shea
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Also recommended by: Jack Dorsey, Marc Andreessen, Matt Ridley, Steven Pinker
The Count of Monte Cristo
5 people recommendedrecommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Also recommended by: James Clear, Mike Maples Jr, Nassim Taleb, Pewdiepie
Designing Brand Identity
5 people recommendedIt's excellent: exceptionally data-rich and comprehensive.
Also recommended by: John Collison, David Friedberg, Patrick Bet David, Jack Ma
Business Adventures
4 people recommendedrecommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Also recommended by: Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Michael Dell
Stories of Your Life and Others
4 people recommendedrecommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Also recommended by: Naval Ravikant, Ezra Klein, Tim Ferriss
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Also recommended by: Sam Altman, Austen Allred, Ryan Shea
By far the best book I've read on the sector.
Also recommended by: Barry Ritholtz, Paul Graham, Trung Phan
The Idea Factory
4 people recommendedSets the context for the hardware inventions that directly led to Silicon Valley.
Also recommended by: Mark Zuckerberg, Ron Conway, David Friedberg
The Art of Doing Science and Engineering
3 people recommendedrecommended 2xOne of my favorite books.
One of my favorite books.
Also recommended by: John Collison, Keith Rabois
The Dream Machine
3 people recommendedrecommended 2xParticularly great.
Particularly great.
Also recommended by: Stewart Butterfield, Tobi Lutke
How Asia Works
3 people recommendedrecommended 2xA really good book.
A really good book.
Also recommended by: Bill Gates, Noah Smith
Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs
3 people recommendedrecommended 2xIn the aggregate [with other programming books] hugely shaped me.
In the aggregate [with other programming books] hugely shaped me.
Also recommended by: Max Levchin, Paul Graham
On Intelligence
3 people recommendedrecommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Also recommended by: Ev Williams, Keith Rabois
Stuff Matters
3 people recommendedrecommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Also recommended by: Bill Gates, John Collison
Hard Landing
3 people recommendedrecommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Also recommended by: John Collison, Trung Phan
Expert Political Judgment
3 people recommendedrecommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Also recommended by: Marc Andreessen, Michael Mauboussin
The Nature of Mathematical Modeling
3 people recommendedrecommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Also recommended by: Balaji Srinivasan, Balaji S. Srinivasan
The Old Way
3 people recommendedrecommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Also recommended by: Sam Altman, Paul Graham
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Also recommended by: Brad Delong, Paul Graham
Wind, Sand and Stars
3 people recommendedrecommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Also recommended by: Naval Ravikant, Edward Norton
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Also recommended by: Sam Altman, Paul Graham
Sum
3 people recommendedrecommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Also recommended by: Derek Sivers, Stephen Fry
The Journalist and the Murderer
3 people recommendedPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Also recommended by: Balaji Srinivasan, Balaji S. Srinivasan
I don't totally agree, but I think it's a really interesting modern take on moral philosophy.
I don't totally agree, but I think it's a really interesting modern take on moral philosophy.
Also recommended by: Sam Harris, Will Macaskill
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Also recommended by: Jeremy Clarkson
Longitude
2 people recommendedPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Also recommended by: Richard Branson
Tuxedo Park
2 people recommendedrecommended 2xIt’s very good.
It’s very good.
Also recommended by: Tobi Lutke
If the Universe Is Teeming with Aliens … Where is Everybody?
2 people recommendedrecommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Also recommended by: Elon Musk
A Vast Machine
2 people recommendedrecommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Also recommended by: Adam Tooze
Patrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Also recommended by: Patrick Bet David
Spacetime and Geometry
2 people recommendedrecommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Also recommended by: Sean Carroll
The Man Behind the Microchip
2 people recommendedrecommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Also recommended by: Warren Buffett
In the aggregate [with other programming books] hugely shaped me.
In the aggregate [with other programming books] hugely shaped me.
Also recommended by: Linus Torvalds
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Also recommended by: Keith Rabois
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Also recommended by: Lisa Ling
About the logistical efforts -- led mostly by high school dropouts and immigrants -- that yielded the Arsenal of Democracy.
Also recommended by: John Carmack
[This book], about the creation of the COVID vaccines, is terrific.
Also recommended by: Walter Isaacson
Financial Shenanigans
2 people recommendedJohn Collison called this "a well-targeted gift from [Patrick Collison].
Also recommended by: John Collison
Perspective on McKinsey
recommended 2xCan’t shake the feeling that a consultant wrote this book.
Can’t shake the feeling that a consultant wrote this book.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Mindstorms
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
A Great Leap Forward
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Paradigms of Artificial Intelligence Programming
recommended 2xIn the aggregate [with other programming books] hugely shaped me.
In the aggregate [with other programming books] hugely shaped me.
Global Catastrophic Risks
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
A Culture of Growth
recommended 2xAll of [this author’s] work is great, but [this book] in particular really stands out to me.
All of [this author’s] work is great, but [this book] in particular really stands out to me.
Dancing in the Glory of Monsters
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
The Paris Review Interviews, I
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Feynman Lectures on Computation
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
On Lisp
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Age of Ambition
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Asimov’s New Guide to Science
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Incompleteness
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Foucault’s Pendulum
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
The Feminine Mystique
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
The Scramble for Africa
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Technics and Civilization
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
The Arabs
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Going to own up to being very excited that there's a new Philip Pullman book.
Going to own up to being very excited that there's a new Philip Pullman book.
The Adventures of Hajji Baba of Ispahan
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Toward a Theory of Instruction
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Have also been enjoying [this book].
Have also been enjoying [this book].
A Decade of Research
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Computer Lib
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Popper Selections
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
The Planet Remade
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
The Long Way
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
In the aggregate [with other programming books] hugely shaped me.
In the aggregate [with other programming books] hugely shaped me.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Out of Mao’s Shadow
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
River Town
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Season of the Witch
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Structure and Interpretation of Classical Mechanics
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
The Chip
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
The Ocean of Life
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
In the Footsteps of Mr. Kurtz
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Nixonland
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Postcards from Tomorrow Square
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
The Cowshed
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
The Hunters
recommended 2xPatrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "particularly great.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Patrick Collison labeled this book "substantially above average.
Electronic Payment Systems for E-Commerce
Our childhood home in Limerick was previously inhabited by one of the authors of this book.
One of the best [books putting forth different visions for how science can be structured].
Great book.
Organizing Genius
recommended 2xTalks a bit about this phenomenon of a really productive small group.
Talks a bit about this phenomenon of a really productive small group.
Very good (And Eugene Kleiner's first cousin!).
Lots about entrepreneurship, science, pharmacology, risk, importance of work ethic, management practices, fundraising, and the impressive depth of US capital markets.
They've seen how undergrad & grad programs, academic departments, YC, startups, Apple, and Pioneer do talent selection.
It's excellent: exceptionally data-rich and comprehensive.
