Vinod Khosla co-founded Sun Microsystems in 1982 and served as its first CEO before becoming one of Silicon Valley's most influential venture investors. He founded Khosla Ventures in 2004, focusing on breakthrough technologies in sustainable energy, computing, and life sciences. His investment philosophy emphasizes bold, contrarian thinking and long-term impact over short-term returns.
55 Books Recommended by Vinod Khosla
Ranked by popularity across all reading lists on this site

Sapiens
34 people recommendedrecommended 2xA previous favorite.
A previous favorite.
Also recommended by: Ankur Warikoo, Naval Ravikant, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Changpeng Zhao, Daniel Ek, James Cameron, Kishore Biyani, Melinda Gates, Ray Dalio, Reid Hoffman, Richard Branson, Ashton Kutcher, Bill Gurley, Anthony Pompliano, Chris Evans, Demis Hassabis, James Clear, Joe Rogan, Karlie Kloss, Keith Rabois, Lex Fridman, Mark Manson, Patrick Oshaughnessy, Penn Jillette, Peter Attia, Pewdiepie, Ryan Shea, Sam Kass, Sebastian Junger, Simon Mayo, Whitney Cummings, Derek Sivers

How to Change Your Mind
15 people recommendedA fun exploration of psychedelic drugs, especially for someone who has never tried them.
Also recommended by: Naval Ravikant, Stewart Butterfield, Amelia Boone, Aubrey Marcus, David Frum, Yuval Noah Harari, Hamilton Morris, Kara Swisher, Michael Mauboussin, Nick Offerman, Olivia Wilde, Paul Stamets, Peter Attia, Tim Ferriss

Atomic Habits
12 people recommendedrecommended 2xA decent book on self-help tools, not a category I am generally a fan of.
A decent book on self-help tools, not a category I am generally a fan of.
Also recommended by: Ankur Warikoo, Ben Greenfield, Biz Stone, Ali Abdaal, Anthony Pompliano, Blake Randall, Jodie Cook, Justin Kan, Tim Urban, Rohan Bhargava, Derek Sivers

Skin in the Game
11 people recommendedI like his ideas a lot, especially in Antifragile and the first half of this book. I've always complained about pundits relative to doers.
Also recommended by: Ankur Warikoo, Naval Ravikant, Changpeng Zhao, Marc Andreessen, Ben Horowitz, Chris Dixon, Keith Rabois, Peter Mallouk, Ryan Shea, Derek Sivers

Antifragile
11 people recommendedI recommend everybody read [this book] if they're setting off on a career as a personal philosophy.
Also recommended by: Naval Ravikant, Changpeng Zhao, Ev Williams, Tobi Lutke, Vlad Tenev, James Altucher, Patrick Oshaughnessy, Shane Parrish, Tom Bilyeu, Derek Sivers

The Checklist Manifesto
10 people recommendedVery good; definitely worth reading.
Also recommended by: Bill Gates, Jack Dorsey, Charles Poliquin, Keith Rabois, Malcolm Gladwell, Michael Mccullough, Ramit Sethi, Tim Ferriss, Derek Sivers

Homo Deus
9 people recommendedrecommended 2xNot that I agree with all of it, but it is still mind-bending speculation about our future.
Not that I agree with all of it, but it is still mind-bending speculation about our future.
Also recommended by: Naval Ravikant, Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Mark Manson, Penn Jillette, Raoul Pal, Tai Lopez, Derek Sivers

Only the Paranoid Survive
9 people recommendedOne of favorite books on entrepreneurship.
Also recommended by: Balaji Srinivasan, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Jamie Dimon, Marc Andreessen, Balaji S. Srinivasan, Ben Horowitz, Charlie Munger
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
9 people recommendedOne of my favorite books when I was a teenager! I still keep it around the house and periodically look at it.
Also recommended by: Osho, Ev Williams, Ed Latimore, Fred Wilson, Laird Hamilton, Mike Maples Jr, Peter Attia, Wim Hof

Blitzscaling
8 people recommendedrecommended 2xAn insightful book on how to scale at a very fast paceβ and more importantly WHEN.
An insightful book on how to scale at a very fast paceβ and more importantly WHEN.
Also recommended by: Bill Gates, Brian Chesky, Changpeng Zhao, Eric Schmidt, Sam Altman, Sheryl Sandberg, Anthony Pompliano
Dives into the new problem on college campuses, Safetyism.
Dives into the new problem on college campuses, Safetyism.
Also recommended by: Bryan Johnson, Derren Brown, Glenn Beck, Max Levchin, Michael Mauboussin, Richard Dawkins, Tom Bilyeu
Among the best books! A way of living, working & commitment to excellence.
Also recommended by: Jack Dorsey, Ron Conway, Sam Altman, Justin Kan, Keith Rabois, Noah Kagan, Ryan Holiday

Range
7 people recommendedrecommended 2xDiscovers that in most fields , generalists, not specialists, are primed to excel. [...] Every high school and college student should read it.
Discovers that in most fields , generalists, not specialists, are primed to excel. [...] Every high school and college student should read it.
Also recommended by: Bill Gates, Changpeng Zhao, Daniel Pink, Keith Rabois, Michael Mauboussin, Ryan Holiday

21 Lessons for the 21st Century
7 people recommendedrecommended 2xAn important examination into todayβs most pressing political, technological, social, and existential issues as we move into the unchartered territory of the future.
An important examination into todayβs most pressing political, technological, social, and existential issues as we move into the unchartered territory of the future.
Also recommended by: Bill Gates, Jack Dorsey, Fareed Zakaria, Joe Rogan, Ranveer Allahbadia, Derek Sivers

Why We Sleep
7 people recommendedBest book on the subject [of sleep].
Also recommended by: Bill Gates, Alexis Ohanian, Bryan Johnson, Jason Fried, Keith Rabois, Michael Mauboussin

Lying
6 people recommendedrecommended 2xOne of my favorite one hour reads about intellectual honesty. I wish more people were this honest!
One of my favorite one hour reads about intellectual honesty. I wish more people were this honest!
Also recommended by: Elon Musk, Brian Armstrong, Aj Jacobs, Tim Ferriss, Derek Sivers
Among the best insights into our brain and behavior.
Among the best insights into our brain and behavior.
Also recommended by: Marc Andreessen, Bryan Johnson, Keith Rabois, Michael Mauboussin, Sam Harris
Reveals incredible scientific breakthroughs about aging and ways we can slow down, or even reverse, the process.
Reveals incredible scientific breakthroughs about aging and ways we can slow down, or even reverse, the process.
Also recommended by: Blake Scholl, David Friedberg, Jason Fried, Peter Diamandis, Ryan Shea

Deep Learning
6 people recommendedrecommended 2xFor a slightly more technical read [on AI].
For a slightly more technical read [on AI].
Also recommended by: Elon Musk, Balaji Srinivasan, Balaji S. Srinivasan, Nassim Taleb, Satya Nadella
The physics behind biology, cities, economics and companies.
The physics behind biology, cities, economics and companies.
Also recommended by: Marc Benioff, Bill Miller, Nassim Taleb, Stewart Brand
A key to understanding why Silicon Valley culture is changing the world.
A key to understanding why Silicon Valley culture is changing the world.
Also recommended by: Brian Armstrong, Changpeng Zhao, Daniel Kahneman, Keith Rabois
Shows the value of having principles an organization and its leaders believe in and can stick with when it gets hard to do so and real tradeoffs are involved.
Shows the value of having principles an organization and its leaders believe in and can stick with when it gets hard to do so and real tradeoffs are involved.
Also recommended by: Marc Andreessen, Brad Feld, Brianne Kimmel, Marty Cagan
While todayβs rich and powerful are fighting for equality and justice, [this book] argues that it is being done in a way that will preserve their position at the top of society.
While todayβs rich and powerful are fighting for equality and justice, [this book] argues that it is being done in a way that will preserve their position at the top of society.
Also recommended by: Alexis Ohanian, Jason Calacanis, Kat Cole, Tristan Harris
Long but worth every page.
Long but worth every page.
Also recommended by: Ray Dalio, Esther Dyson
Tells the story of the world I have always lived, loved and believed in, despite the recent techlash.
Tells the story of the world I have always lived, loved and believed in, despite the recent techlash.
Also recommended by: Austen Allred, Keith Rabois

The Last Days of Night
3 people recommendedrecommended 2xI donβt read fiction, but this almost historical fiction is fun especially for Silicon Valley types.
I donβt read fiction, but this almost historical fiction is fun especially for Silicon Valley types.
Also recommended by: Mark Zuckerberg, Chris Dixon

An Elegant Defense
3 people recommendedrecommended 2xExplains for the lay reader the intricate biology of our immune system.
Explains for the lay reader the intricate biology of our immune system.
Also recommended by: Bill Gates, Keith Rabois
A look at the economics and the marketing strategies that enable the modern art market to generate such astronomical prices.
A look at the economics and the marketing strategies that enable the modern art market to generate such astronomical prices.
Also recommended by: Brianne Kimmel, Trung Phan
I like the author but wish there were more causality/details.
Also recommended by: Reid Hoffman, Keith Rabois

The Success Equation
3 people recommendedImportant investing, business, sports.
Also recommended by: Bill Gurley, Keith Rabois
I recommend to every entrepreneur, investor, & CEO - and anyone else who deals with difficult negotiations.
Also recommended by: Bill Gurley, Patrick Oshaughnessy
Not surprising but explicit description of the American psych on sugar and fat by the sugar industry. I would not have believed this much influence is possible.
Not surprising but explicit description of the American psych on sugar and fat by the sugar industry. I would not have believed this much influence is possible.
Also recommended by: Joe Rogan

The Future of Capitalism
2 people recommendedrecommended 2xOutlines ethical ways of healing the deep new rifts that are tearing apart the fabric of the United States and other Western societies.
Outlines ethical ways of healing the deep new rifts that are tearing apart the fabric of the United States and other Western societies.
Also recommended by: Bill Gates
This book transforms how our success-obsessed society approaches their professional careers and long-term goals.
This book transforms how our success-obsessed society approaches their professional careers and long-term goals.
Also recommended by: Nassim Taleb
A look into the future and how global warming will impact everything.
A look into the future and how global warming will impact everything.
Also recommended by: Tim Urban
Fun read about our biases and how our brain functions.
Fun read about our biases and how our brain functions.
Also recommended by: Patrick Oshaughnessy
Easy access to meditation.
Easy access to meditation.
Also recommended by: Shane Parrish
Guides readers through the scientific research transforming immunotherapy.
Guides readers through the scientific research transforming immunotherapy.
Also recommended by: Keith Rabois

The Age of Surveillance Capitalism
2 people recommendedrecommended 2xDives into the largest act of capitalist colonisation ever attempted - the colonisation of our minds, our behaviour, our free will, our very selves.
Dives into the largest act of capitalist colonisation ever attempted - the colonisation of our minds, our behaviour, our free will, our very selves.
Also recommended by: Barack Obama
Great, very quick overview of astrophysics.
Great, very quick overview of astrophysics.
Also recommended by: Richard Dawkins

The Master Algorithm
2 people recommendedIf you want speculation about what the master AI might need (one view).
Also recommended by: Mark Cuban
Rigorously written (unlike many pysch books), fun, funny,surprising, enlightening.
Also recommended by: Nassim Taleb
Each chapter illustrates one of lifeβs puzzles and makes you think differently about the world.
Each chapter illustrates one of lifeβs puzzles and makes you think differently about the world.
A very well done book on branding and new brand values. It will be the death of many incumbents.
A very well done book on branding and new brand values. It will be the death of many incumbents.
Brand building for entrepreneurs trying to upset the incumbents.
Brand building for entrepreneurs trying to upset the incumbents.
Reveals the new breakthrough on the link between depression and inflammation of the body and brain.
Reveals the new breakthrough on the link between depression and inflammation of the body and brain.
A powerful, urgent essay into why American withdrawal would be the worst possible response.
A powerful, urgent essay into why American withdrawal would be the worst possible response.
Fun though older book.
Fun though older book.
A good case against too much empathy.
A good case against too much empathy.
Provides a solid framework as to why things begin to deteriorate, and how society can successfully find their way back to a secure and stable plane.
Provides a solid framework as to why things begin to deteriorate, and how society can successfully find their way back to a secure and stable plane.
Reveals the violence, injustice, and painful absurdities that black men and women contend with every day in this country.
Reveals the violence, injustice, and painful absurdities that black men and women contend with every day in this country.
Not very far from the truth on the financial services industry though the authors biases come through.
Not very far from the truth on the financial services industry though the authors biases come through.
Provides a different world view for those of us protected from some 'reality'.
Provides a different world view for those of us protected from some 'reality'.
Based on [the author's] class at HBS, War & Peace & lessons on leadership, negotiation, strategy & the human condition.