The "Elon List": 5 Books That Will Sharpen Your Mind According to The World’s Top CEOs

Elon Musk and Larry Page built empires by reading. Here are 5 book recommendations that will challenge your brain, expand your horizons, and keep you mentally young.

12/29/20253 min read

We talked about why reading is the ultimate workout for your brain.

Let’s talk about what to read.

It’s easy to get stuck reading the same types of mystery novels or romance paperbacks. While entertaining, they don't always challenge our neurons to make new connections.

If you want to build the kind of "Cognitive Reserve" that protects your memory, you need to feed your mind with big ideas.

We dug into the interviews and shelves of visionaries like Elon Musk (Tesla/SpaceX) and Larry Page (Google) to find 5 books that are perfect for anyone looking to expand their thinking, regardless of age.

1. "Benjamin Franklin: An American Life" by Walter Isaacson

Recommended by: Elon Musk

Why Read It: Musk calls Franklin one of his heroes. Why? Because Franklin was an inventor, a writer, and a diplomat who remained curious and active well into his 80s.

Brain Benefit: Reading complex biographies allows you to "live" another life, stimulating empathy and historical memory. "Check price on Amazon".

2. "Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!" by Richard Feynman

Recommended by: Larry Page (and almost every tech genius)

Why Read It: Richard Feynman was a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, but he was also a prankster and an adventurer. This book teaches you to look at the world with childlike wonder and question everything.

Brain Benefit: It breaks rigid thinking patterns and encourages curiosity—a key factor in neuroplasticity. "Check price on Amazon".

3. "Superintelligence" by Nick Bostrom

Recommended by: Elon Musk

Why Read It: If you are worried about the future, AI, and robots, this is the definitive guide. It’s a challenging read, but it puts you ahead of 99% of the population in understanding where the world is going.

Brain Benefit: Tackling a difficult subject forces your brain to create new, dense neural pathways. It’s heavy lifting for your mind. "Check price on Amazon".

4. "The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life" by Alice Schroeder

Why Read It: Warren Buffett is the ultimate example of a "SuperAger." At 93, he is still running a massive empire. This book reveals his secrets: patience, continuous learning, and compound interest (in money and knowledge)

Brain Benefit: Strategic thinking. It forces you to think long-term, engaging the prefrontal cortex. Check price on Amazon".

5. "Why We Sleep" by Matthew Walker

Why Read It: Okay, Musk didn't write this one, but every high-performer is reading it right now. It is the scientific bible on why rest is the foundation of intelligence.

Brain Benefit: It explains the biology of memory cleaning. After reading this, you will never skip a nap again. Check price on Amazon".

How to Read Like a CEO (When You Can't Focus)

Looking at this list might feel intimidating. "I can't even finish a magazine article, how am I going to read a biography?"

Don't let "Digital Amnesia" stop you from accessing this wisdom.

If you struggle to sit still and focus on a page, it means your brainwaves are running too fast (Beta state). You need to slow them down before you open the book.

Try this routine: