Culture & Society3 min read

Best books recommended by Sam Harris

Throughout his career, Sam Harris has inspired millions of people to think more critically about religion, free will, and the human condition through his books, podcasts, and public debates. Here is a list of some of the most thought-provoking books recommended by Sam Harris, covering atheism, philosophy, science, and critical thinking.

Best books recommended by Sam Harris

From human-thinking to machine-thinking: Best books by John Brockman

Thinking: The New Science of Decision-Making, Problem-Solving, and Prediction

What you see is all there is.

If you wish to start your journey into the neuroscience theory world, this book will be your best choice. It is a compilation of essays about neuroscience, psychology, economics, and philosophy edited by John Brockman. You will discover several useful techniques for solving challenging issues in various domains. In addition, you will start to comprehend how both humans and technology make judgments, frequently fusing data and intuition.

Thinking

Thinking

by John Brockman
2013
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This Idea Is Brilliant: Lost, Overlooked, and Underappreciated Scientific Concepts Everyone Should Know

If I offered to give you $20 today or $100 in a year, which would you choose?

This is another compilation of essays by incredible author John Brockman. Here, you will learn some underrated yet potent concepts from philosophy, economics, psychology, and neuroscience. The stories you will find in This Idea Is Brilliant will be short but easily and interestingly written.

This Idea Is Brilliant

This Idea Is Brilliant

by John Brockman
2018
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This Idea Must Die: Scientific Theories That Are Blocking Progress (Edge Question Series)

People are sheep — cowardly, deplorable sheep.

The opposite of the previous book will be another collection of essays from John Brockman. The idea behind it is to ask what scientific ideas and theories have relics blocking human progress. In 2014, John Brockman polled about 175 famous thinkers, scientists, and authors about what they thought were well-known but completely wrong judgments. He received several interesting answers, which you can find in a gripping book, This Idea Must Die.

This Idea Must Die

This Idea Must Die

by John Brockman
2015
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What to Think About Machines That Think: Today's Leading Thinkers on the Age of Machine Intelligence (Edge Question Series)

Millions of primitive cyborgs walk among us already.

— Roger Highfield

Let's move away from John Brockman's neuroscience compendiums and move on to something new. The popular topic of artificial intelligence has not escaped the attention of Sam Harris. Many entrepreneurs today believe that in a few years, AI will put many people out of work, creating a lot of problems and causing a huge technological leap. In this book, you will not only learn about technology but also find predictions about future AI development.

What to Think About Machines That Think

What to Think About Machines That Think

by John Brockman
2015
Books Buy on Amazon

The things that are wrong about religion and god: Two masterpieces by Christopher Hitchens

The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever

Religion invents a problem where none exists…

Atheism is one of the main topics Sam Harris is always talking about. He draws his inspiration from many books, including The Portable Atheist by Christopher Hitchens. Here, you will find evidence as to why the concept of god as a higher power is a social concept created by the rich to control the poor. Christopher Hitchens offers a deep analysis of religious beliefs, challenging readers to rethink their traditional views.

The Portable Atheist

The Portable Atheist

by Christopher Hitchens
2007
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God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything

Human decency is not derived from religion. It precedes it.

This is another book about religion as a tool of pressure by Christopher Hitchens. Here, you will find stories and real examples of how faith has become a manifestation of violence. The author does not talk about rationality or history, instead raising questions about the real negative consequences of religiosity.

God Is Not Great

God Is Not Great

by Christopher Hitchens
2009
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From making yourself happy to making the world a better place: Advice on happiness and mindfulness

Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert

If you are like most people, then like most people, you don't know you're like most people.

The book by Daniel Gilbert investigates why people frequently don't know the true meaning of happiness. The author describes how cognitive biases and mental shortcuts influence our expectations and choices about the future. He reveals startling facts about pleasure and human nature through study and humor. It's a helpful resource for learning how to develop true contentment.

Stumbling on Happiness

Stumbling on Happiness

by Daniel Gilbert
2007
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Mindful Politics: A Buddhist Guide to Making the World a Better Place by Melvin McLeod

Emotions are far more important in politics than intellect.

This anthology of essays investigates how mindfulness can improve political consciousness and participation. The book offers useful strategies for calmly and clearly handling today's political issues. It emphasizes how mindfulness exercises promote empathy and moral decision-making in relation to societal challenges. Mindful Politics will help one stay grounded despite making significant life changes.

Mindful Politics

Mindful Politics

by Melvin McLeod
2006
Books Buy on Amazon

Sam Harris's book suggestions thoroughly examine philosophy, science, critical thinking, and human nature. These books give us a range of viewpoints on important subjects, from questioning religious doctrine and imagining the future of artificial intelligence to exploring the origins of happiness and decision-making.

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