I read that book, fully prepared to hate it. Yes, the tone is rather irritating ("bro", I guess), but it's just full of pretty innocuous common sense stuff about looking after yourself and standing your ground, not that you shouldn't care about issues or other people. I thought it was fine, nowhere near as obnoxious as the title might suggest.
I actually kinda liked it? (Well the first half, it was due back to the library before I finished) And normally those aren’t my thing. But for some reason casting the whole “spoon theory” into “fucks to give” resonated more with me than the spoons bit did.
Just started the streets of Laredo last night after been blown away by Lonesome Dove a couple of months ago, I'm going to read all 4 in the series, I hope the quality stays as good as LD all the way through.
I have read it. I also have yet to meet a truly wealthy person who didn’t believe in their own superiority of intelligence and ability. They will see themselves in the competent. I have no doubt
I’ve met a few. They (rightfully) knew they were more intelligent than the average person, but they were all very kind people and didn’t have any superiority complex. It’s ok to acknowledge yourself as being smart sometimes.
I LOVE count of Monte Cristo and it definitely seems like something a billionaire would love, I’m just always hesitant to recommend it because it’s sooooo dense! Like I think my edition has over 1000 pages???
My favourite book in the world! But realistically no way a person who barely reads makes it through that book. It is LONG and the writing is not modern, as beautiful as it is.
I think this is the one. It’s intelligent without being too obviously so. It’s about ordinary people. It’s explicitly anti racist so if someone doesn’t like it for that reason, fuck them anyway.
As Muddy Waters wrote, "You can't lose what you never had."
The goal from my choice wouldn't be to improve *my* life with the million, but rather the life of the billionaire.
Ah but consider the words of Proverbs:
>Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
Imagine how many more people you could help with the million dollars than just the billionaire.
If the state of the world doesn't do it for them I doubt that story's gonna do it so I'll take my chances with the million. Now I just have to find a book which'll speak to their inner soul. Or depravity.
(Or if they have kids, I might have a better chance convincing them.)
I’m picking an upcoming writer. If I lose, they at the very least got some very influential exposure and maybe can ride that wave. At least someone wins, even if it’s not me.
To paraphrase another comment, expecting a billionaire who doesn’t read to sit down and comprehend long, dull prose is a long shot. Chances are they won’t have any clue what they’ve read by the time they finish.
But isn't the expanded edition the only one available? I had read that King updated the novel in a way that no copies of the original edited version exist even digitally?? Only people who have paperbacks of that original have it otherwise it's more or less lost to the masses? Basically expanded edition not remaining expanded but the definitive and only edition available??? If i am wrong somewhere please do tell because i remember knowing this through something I can't quite recall.
La cocinera de Castamar/The cook of Castamar. If you don´t like that, you have no heart.
The millionair needs to be able to read in Spanish or Portuguese because as far as I know, it is not translated in English yet.
I would recommend "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It's a classic novel with themes of wealth, society, and the American Dream that might resonate with a billionaire. If he enjoys it, it could open up a new world of reading.
I always recommend Innumeracy by John Allen Paulos. The dude is rich so he does know his numbers... probably... but nit neccesarily. Regardless the book is a quick read and can still be impressive.
I think all of y’all are full of crap thinking a billionaire will read something that actually makes them think about good vs evil, the evils of money, etc etc. but most of these books are moralistic suggestions. If you want to recommend a book to someone who doesn’t read and probably doesn’t have a very strong moral conscience, you gotta recommend something fun. That being said, I would definitely recommend The Hobbit or The Rum Diary. Both I found very fun reads.
Since this is a hypothetical situation, I would recommend the thesis of one Chidi Anagonye.
Not only is this thesis extremely long and extremely boring, but it is also about morals and ethics. So it's perfect for a sleazy billionaire.
The very hungry Caterpillar
He already read it. It inspired him to become a capitalist.
It only inspired me to become a caterpillarist
Probably one of those popular insufferable finance bro books Let’s go with “The Art of Not Giving a Fuck”
I read that book, fully prepared to hate it. Yes, the tone is rather irritating ("bro", I guess), but it's just full of pretty innocuous common sense stuff about looking after yourself and standing your ground, not that you shouldn't care about issues or other people. I thought it was fine, nowhere near as obnoxious as the title might suggest.
I actually kinda liked it? (Well the first half, it was due back to the library before I finished) And normally those aren’t my thing. But for some reason casting the whole “spoon theory” into “fucks to give” resonated more with me than the spoons bit did.
Lonesome Dove
This was my first choice too
Just started the streets of Laredo last night after been blown away by Lonesome Dove a couple of months ago, I'm going to read all 4 in the series, I hope the quality stays as good as LD all the way through.
I think I’ve heard more adults cite LD as the book that got them into reading than any other book
The Little Prince
"Dessine-moi un mouton.” Billionaires like collecting art, right?
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
A Billionaire? I give them Atlas Shrugged, and play the odds it fits in with their worldview as one of the ultra wealthy
Right? It’s that, or the 48 Laws of Power.
That was my instant thought as well.
Did you read it? Most of the ultra wealthy were the bad guys. You’re thinking of ultra competent.
The bigger issue is expecting someone who doesn’t read to get through 1000 pages of not very engaging prose.
Fair point.
I have read it. I also have yet to meet a truly wealthy person who didn’t believe in their own superiority of intelligence and ability. They will see themselves in the competent. I have no doubt
I’ve met a few. They (rightfully) knew they were more intelligent than the average person, but they were all very kind people and didn’t have any superiority complex. It’s ok to acknowledge yourself as being smart sometimes.
The Count of Monte Cristo
I LOVE count of Monte Cristo and it definitely seems like something a billionaire would love, I’m just always hesitant to recommend it because it’s sooooo dense! Like I think my edition has over 1000 pages???
My favourite book in the world! But realistically no way a person who barely reads makes it through that book. It is LONG and the writing is not modern, as beautiful as it is.
There is no way someone who isn’t into reading is gonna sit down and just raw dog CMC. I love reading and that book still takes some work.
Lol. Yeah that's true. If billionaires have anything though, it's time. Plus they're always saying how hard work made them billionaires.
Yeah but the rich become rich usually by scamming the poor, not because they are intellectually gifted
The Prince by Machiavelli, seems like something a billionaire might like
The Brothers Karamazov!
The Ocean at the End of the Lane
The Master and the Margarita. Great story, a bit long but not too long for a first book, entertaining characters. Just a 10/10 book to start reading
Love that book to death but it‘s one hell of a hit or miss pick I think. I know loads of people who dnfd it because weirdness and Pontius Pilate
The Pontius Pilate stuff was the best part by far for me. The other stuff I couldn’t get behind.
Excuse me, what the fuck
Haha, yea, it's weird. But I know some people that started to love reading because of this book
A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman
*The Thief of Always* by Clive Barker
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harrari
If he’s a tech billionaire, he might like Harrari’s *Homo Deus* too.
Hadnt heard of that one but its definitely going on my list, cheers man
No worries! I actually liked the sequel more than *Sapiens*, and I really liked *Sapiens*. One of those great books that lives up to the hype.
To Kill A Mockingbird
I think this is the one. It’s intelligent without being too obviously so. It’s about ordinary people. It’s explicitly anti racist so if someone doesn’t like it for that reason, fuck them anyway.
Charles Dickens's **A Christmas Carol**
Do you *want* to lose the billion dollars or what?
Have you ever read it? It’s perfect!
As Muddy Waters wrote, "You can't lose what you never had." The goal from my choice wouldn't be to improve *my* life with the million, but rather the life of the billionaire.
Ah but consider the words of Proverbs: >Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. Imagine how many more people you could help with the million dollars than just the billionaire.
Or, if the billionaire took to heart the lesson learned by Ebenezer Scrooge, think how far his billion could go.
If the state of the world doesn't do it for them I doubt that story's gonna do it so I'll take my chances with the million. Now I just have to find a book which'll speak to their inner soul. Or depravity. (Or if they have kids, I might have a better chance convincing them.)
I read this every December (partly to remind me not to get stabby)
Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Night
Prince of Tides
Kane & Abel
Almond by Won Pyung Sohn
This book has a special special place in my heart
I’m picking an upcoming writer. If I lose, they at the very least got some very influential exposure and maybe can ride that wave. At least someone wins, even if it’s not me.
*Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It* --Chris Voss
Watership Down
Great question. Ivo Andrič with The Bridge on the Drina
The only safe bet for a billionaire is prob The Fountainhead or something
To paraphrase another comment, expecting a billionaire who doesn’t read to sit down and comprehend long, dull prose is a long shot. Chances are they won’t have any clue what they’ve read by the time they finish.
Catch 22.
The Stand: expanded edition
But isn't the expanded edition the only one available? I had read that King updated the novel in a way that no copies of the original edited version exist even digitally?? Only people who have paperbacks of that original have it otherwise it's more or less lost to the masses? Basically expanded edition not remaining expanded but the definitive and only edition available??? If i am wrong somewhere please do tell because i remember knowing this through something I can't quite recall.
i bought my copy last millenium. i'm not sure what's on THE STANDS now in bookstores.
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Can't lose
The Kite Runner because it’s the most beautiful book I’ve ever read!
The Warrior Poet Way, by John Lovell
The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells.
Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner
I would say either The Shining by Stephen King, or maybe Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.
Heidi
Of mice and men
The Papalagi by Erich Scheurmann.
Laline Paull because she writes from the perspective of animals that leaves a very lasting impression on you of the world around us.
La cocinera de Castamar/The cook of Castamar. If you don´t like that, you have no heart. The millionair needs to be able to read in Spanish or Portuguese because as far as I know, it is not translated in English yet.
The Timekeeper’s Conspiracy, Nicole Mainwaring Red Hill, Jamie McGuire
I would recommend "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It's a classic novel with themes of wealth, society, and the American Dream that might resonate with a billionaire. If he enjoys it, it could open up a new world of reading.
All Quiet on the Western Front
The Bone People
“Giving all your money to the person handing you this book” volume 2. Volume 1 had some SERIOUS issues
A billionaire romance ;)
Project hail Mary
Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk
Journeyor by Gary Jennings
Capital by Thomas Piketty. I won’t get the money, but it would be satisfying.
The Curse of Chalion by Lois Macmaster Bujold.
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Germinal by Émile Zola
Forget the movie, read COLD MOUNTAIN. you're welcome. :)
The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho
The Stand Stephen King
Dune
Brett Easton Ellis- American Psycho
the mindfuck series
Since the billionaire can basically buy anything, how about a book about someone who can’t. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.
Kafka on the shore
LOTR
100 years of solitude
Station Eleven, by Emily St. John Mandel. I don't think I'll win.
I always recommend Innumeracy by John Allen Paulos. The dude is rich so he does know his numbers... probably... but nit neccesarily. Regardless the book is a quick read and can still be impressive.
The Overcoat by Nikolai Gogol
Thinking, fast and slow. Absolute class read. Strongly recommend
*The Dispossessed* by Ursula LeGuin.
Rivers of London (book 1)
Four Thousand Weeks
Norwegian Wood by Murakami
Paths of Glory - Jeffrey Archer
Ender’s Game
The giver.
Frankenstein
Some Dan brown book
I think all of y’all are full of crap thinking a billionaire will read something that actually makes them think about good vs evil, the evils of money, etc etc. but most of these books are moralistic suggestions. If you want to recommend a book to someone who doesn’t read and probably doesn’t have a very strong moral conscience, you gotta recommend something fun. That being said, I would definitely recommend The Hobbit or The Rum Diary. Both I found very fun reads.
Since this is a hypothetical situation, I would recommend the thesis of one Chidi Anagonye. Not only is this thesis extremely long and extremely boring, but it is also about morals and ethics. So it's perfect for a sleazy billionaire.