100 Books Like Global Brain

This book gave me a profound realization: humans aren’t rational decision-makers—we’re copiers. We survive by inheriting “packages of expertise” passed down through generations, but over time, those packages lose their rationale. When circumstances change, blindly following tradition can become a liability.

My work is about helping people use AI, data, and collaboration to think through the consequences of their actions. This book explains why that’s so difficult—reasoning isn’t what got us here. We memorize and repeat what worked before, even when the world shifts beneath us.

In an increasingly volatile world, that strategy is failing, and this book makes it clear why new approaches to decision-making are needed. If you’ve ever wondered why people resist logic and innovation, this book will change how you see human behavior.

Michael Lewis is a master at exposing the mechanisms behind financial and technological disasters, and this book is no exception. His deep access to Sam Bankman-Fried makes this a rare inside look at how Silicon Valley hubris can spiral into catastrophe. If we want to build a better future, we have to understand how influential failures happen—and how movements with promise can go off the rails.

I was especially interested in this story because of SBF’s ties to Effective Altruism, a movement with real potential that will now always carry his shadow. As I build my own initiatives—like OpenDI in decision intelligence—this book reinforced the importance of staying vigilant against the forces that can derail even the most well-intentioned ideas.

I couldn’t put this book down because it spoke directly to the struggles and triumphs of building something entirely new. Disney’s story isn’t just about cartoons or theme parks—it’s about relentless vision, persistence through bankruptcy, and the refusal to give up when the world says “no.” In difficult times, I find myself looking to Disney’s optimism, which still echoes in places like EPCOT, where innovation and hope define the landscape.

This book resonated deeply with me because my own work involves inventing something new—something that could be world-changing and massively valuable. I’ve spent years pushing through barriers, and every time I hit a wall, the same question arises: pivot or persist? Disney’s journey reminds me that great things are built through unwavering belief and perseverance. If you’ve ever wrestled with a big idea or felt like giving up, this book will light a fire under you.

Buckminster Fuller’s ideas shaped how I see the world, and this book captures why his vision still matters. The geodesic dome at EPCOT—“Spaceship Earth ”—isn’t just an architectural feat; it’s a symbol of interdependent optimism, a belief Fuller and Disney shared. Their work reminds me that we’re all in this together and that understanding our shared humanity is key to building a better future.

Fuller saw the world as a system of interconnected forces—his World Game showed how solving one problem (like water scarcity) ripples into others (like conflict). But what I love most is his concept of the trimtab—the small intervention that creates massive change.

My work is about identifying those leverage points and using AI and data to help people navigate complex systems and make better decisions for the future.

This science fiction novel always appealed to me because of its conceit that a society’s games are a reflection of its culture, ethos, and philosophy. Azad, the game at the heart of the book, is used by the Empire to determine the political, social, and economic structure of the whole planet. The prize for winning is to become emperor and to implement your strategy in real life.

I love the description of the game. It’s played on three huge boards that are more like landscapes than regular playing boards. Perhaps one might regard all the games that we have created and played on this planet collectively as Earth’s version of Azad.

This book presents the fascinating, radical view that symbiosis is crucial in evolution and common and central to it. I am fascinated by symbiosis. This book influenced my theory that all species increase biodiversity, the theory about which I wrote the two books I am featuring here. This book, by one of the two originators of the Gaia Hypothesis, educates the reader on the importance of symbiosis in evolution, which, in my view, is a major mechanism of evolution. It tells how our cells were built by symbiosis.

For Fantasy readers who wonder why goblins are always at war with humans.

The three books together are epic in scale and the friendship between the leader of the humans and one of the old wise ones among the goblins will be awesome for Dark Fantasy readers who recognize that goblin culture is very different from humans.

Some recognizable mythology is worked into the story and makes perfect sense, especially the purpose of changelings. Also there are dragons, especially in the second book. A strange symbiotic relationship between dragons and goblins is very original and the diversity of different types of goblins makes this Fantasy world one of a kind!

When it comes to poetry, one can’t help but visualize the emotions often conveyed as readers see with their mind’s eye.

In this book of visceral poetry, John eloquently touches on different motifs with poems and photography, all while exploring the human condition, giving true shape and identity to each piece.

From one poet to another, the principles of understanding require an inward look at oneself, and John does this without blemish. Striking heart cords to the tune of sophisticated emotions in their simplest form, Raw Thoughts lives up to its title.

The Unwanted Wife made me feel so much. My heart ached for Theresa and sometimes I wanted to smack Sandro with a frying pan. But I loved it. Every damn word. Maybe I have a masochistic streak, but I enjoyed the pain. The only thing I liked more was watching Sandro grovel. Books based on misunderstandings might not be everyone’s cup of tea – but this one is a winner. If you enjoy being swamped with emotion and cheering on the HEA – this book is for you. 

To read about the long, long history of creating solid, sun-lit, comfortable, and sound houses and homes is truly inspiring.

I keep going back to Bill Addis bible again and again as I look for understanding of how the inventiveness of humankind have evolved the world we live in. To read about the symbiosis between material and matter is not only joyful; it is also a source of inspiration as we today have to re-invent many of the un-sustainable solutions we rely on.