Charlie Munger, the late vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway and long-time partner of Warren Buffett, was a voracious reader who believed in lifelong learning. His book recommendations span psychology, economics, business, and science, offering deep insights into his “latticework of mental models.”
This article compiles 50+ books endorsed by Munger, with detailed summaries, key takeaways, and external resources.
Table of Contents
- Top 10 Must-Read Books
- Full List of Charlie Munger’s Recommended Books
- Key Takeaways from Munger’s Reading Habits
- YouTube Videos on Munger’s Book Recommendations
- FAQs
- Sources & Further Reading
Top 10 Must-Read Books
| # | Book Title | Author | Key Topic | Why Munger Recommended It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poor Charlie’s Almanack | Peter D. Kaufman | Mental Models | Compilation of Munger’s wisdom |
| 2 | Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion | Robert Cialdini | Psychology | Explains human decision-making biases |
| 3 | The Selfish Gene | Richard Dawkins | Evolutionary Biology | Insights into human behavior |
| 4 | Deep Simplicity | John Gribbin | Chaos Theory | Simplifies complex systems |
| 5 | Fiasco: The Inside Story of a Wall Street Trader | Frank Partnoy | Finance | Exposes Wall Street excesses |
| 6 | The Wealth and Poverty of Nations | David Landes | Economics | Why nations succeed or fail |
| 7 | Getting to Yes | Roger Fisher & William Ury | Negotiation | Principled negotiation tactics |
| 8 | The Intelligent Investor | Benjamin Graham | Investing | Foundational value investing principles |
| 9 | Judgment in Managerial Decision Making | Max Bazerman | Behavioral Economics | Cognitive biases in business |
| 10 | A Matter of Degrees | Gino Segrè | Thermodynamics | Interdisciplinary scientific insights |
Full List of Charlie Munger’s Recommended Books
Munger recommended 50+ books across various disciplines. Below is a categorized list:
Psychology & Behavioral Economics
- Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion – Robert Cialdini
- Judgment in Managerial Decision Making – Max Bazerman
- Thinking, Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman
- Misbehaving: The Making of Behavioral Economics – Richard Thaler
Investing & Finance
- The Intelligent Investor – Benjamin Graham
- Security Analysis – Benjamin Graham & David Dodd
- Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits – Philip Fisher
- Fiasco – Frank Partnoy
Science & Systems Thinking
- The Selfish Gene – Richard Dawkins
- Deep Simplicity – John Gribbin
- A Matter of Degrees – Gino Segrè
- The Third Chimpanzee – Jared Diamond
Business & Leadership
- Getting to Yes – Roger Fisher & William Ury
- Built to Last – Jim Collins
- The Outsiders – William Thorndike
History & Economics
- The Wealth and Poverty of Nations – David Landes
- Guns, Germs, and Steel – Jared Diamond
- The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich – William Shirer
(See the complete list here with summaries.)
Key Takeaways from Munger’s Reading Habits
- Multidisciplinary Learning:Â Munger believed in combining knowledge from psychology, economics, and science.
- Mental Models:Â He advocated using frameworks like inversion and second-order thinking.
- Avoiding Stupidity:Â Many books he recommended focus on cognitive biases and mistakes to avoid.
YouTube Videos on Munger’s Book Recommendations
- Charlie Munger’s Top Book Recommendations
- The Psychology of Human Misjudgment – Munger’s Speech
- How to Think Like Charlie Munger
FAQs
1. What was Charlie Munger’s favorite book?
Munger frequently cited Poor Charlie’s Almanack and Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion as key influences.
2. Did Charlie Munger recommend fiction books?
Rarely. Munger mostly read non-fiction, focusing on psychology, economics, and science.
3. How many books did Charlie Munger read per year?
Munger reportedly read 500+ pages per day, equating to hundreds of books over his lifetime.
4. What book best explains Munger’s investing philosophy?
The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham and Poor Charlie’s Almanack best summarize his approach.
5. Where can I find a full list of Munger’s recommended books?
Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting notes and Poor Charlie’s Almanack contain many of his recommendations.
Sources & Further Reading
- Berkshire Hathaway Annual Letters
- Charlie Munger’s USC Commencement Speech
- Farnam Street Blog on Munger’s Mental Models
Final Thoughts
Charlie Munger’s book recommendations provide a blueprint for rational thinking and investing. By studying these works, you can develop a sharper, more disciplined approach to decision-making.
Which book will you read first? Let us know in the comments!