Here are (in no particular order) the baker's dozen books that the Hedgeye CEO/puckhead/nerd/market guru read this past year and highly recommends. Click on the book link to see more on Amazon.
Knowledge and Power: The Information Theory of Capitalism and How it is Revolutionizing our World
By George Gilder
This is a thought leader’s book. With so many people whining about not having a “solution” to Washington’s economic policies, ask yourself if we’re asking the right leaders for new ideas. This book is the antichrist of broken western-academic-economic-policy group-think. -KM
Volcker: : The Triumph of Persistence
By William L. Silber
An easy read that will educate people on how central planning has become so causal to American Purchasing Power (US Dollar) and inflation/growth expectations. -KM
Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder
By Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Buy the book. A must read as we continue to narrow the gap between Chaos Theory and Behavioral Finance. -KM
David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants
By Malcolm Gladwell
"The bestselling author behind the inventive Outliers, Blink, and The Tipping Point is back with another thought provoking theory that fascinates, entertains, and informs. He gives underdogs their due this time, challenging everything readers believe about facing-and conquering-life's stumbling blocks, using the 'real' story of David and Goliath and more to make his point." -Celeste Williams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism
By Doris Kearns Goodwin
“If you find the grubby spectacle of today’s Washington cause for shame and despair—and really, how could you not?—then I suggest you turn off the TV and board Doris Kearns Goodwin’s latest time machine. … [Goodwin puts] political intrigues and moral dilemmas and daily lives into rich and elegant language. Imagine ‘The West Wing’ scripted by Henry James.” –Bill Keller, NYT
Economics in One Lesson: The Shortest and Surest Way to Understand Basic Economics
By Henry Hazlitt
A million copy seller, Henry Hazlitt’s Economics in One Lesson is a classic economic primer.
Manias, Panics and Crashes: A History of Financial Crises
By Charles P. Kindleberger
"Underneath the hilarious anecdotes, the elegant epigrams, and the graceful turns of phrase, Kindleberger is deadly serious. The manner in which humans beings earn their livings is no laughing matter to him, especially when they attempt to do so at the expense of one another. As he so effectively demonstrates, manias, panics, and crashes are the consequence of an economic environment that cultivates cupidity, chicanery, and rapaciousness rather than a devout belief in the Golden Rule." -Peter L. Bernstein
The Honest Truth About Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone--Especially Ourselves
By Dan Ariely
“Through a remarkable series of experiments, Ariely presents a convincing case. . . . Required reading for politicians and Wall Street executives.” (Booklist)
Indian Givers: How Native Americans Transformed the World
By Jack Weatherford
"As entertaining as it is thoughtful....Few contemporary writers have Weatherford's talent for making the deep sweep of history seem vital and immediate." –The Washington Post
Cosmic Evolution : The Rise of Complexity in Nature
By Eric J. Chaisson
“Chaisson conducts an intriguing tour over vast realms of time and space. A lucid and sprightly guide, he brings forth original and provocative observations, while gathering a host of wonders in his cosmic embrace.” -Dudley Herschbach, 1986 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry
The Swerve: How the World Became Modern
By Stephen Greenblatt
“The Swerve is one of those brilliant works of non-fiction that's so jam-packed with ideas and stories it literally boggles the mind.” -Maureen Corrigan - NPR/Fresh Air
By Jack Weatherford
“Weatherford brings a cultural anthropologist's wide-angled perspective to this illuminating investigation of money's role in shaping human affairs…Full of forgotten lore and provocative opinions (e.g., harmful inflation is identified as the dominant monetary theme of our century), and sprinkled with allusions to Voltaire, Goethe, L. Frank Baum and Gertrude Stein, this intriguing selective survey will captivate even readers with no particular yen for financial knowledge.” –Publisher’s Weekly
By Daniel Kahneman
“A tour de force. . . Kahneman’s book is a must read for anyone interested in either human behavior or investing. He clearly shows that while we like to think of ourselves as rational in our decision making, the truth is we are subject to many biases. At least being aware of them will give you a better chance of avoiding them, or at least making fewer of them.”—Larry Swedroe, CBS News