Most people view reading as a “leisure activity” or an “escape from everyday life.” This is an amateurish approach. For a strategist, reading is like life-changing conversations with the brightest minds who have ever lived.
In the digital age, accessing information is easy, but “wisdom” is rare. Twitter feeds and news bulletins tell you “what”; but deep books provide the answers to “why” and “how.” A leader trains their decision-making mechanism with these deep texts.
This list is free from superficial finance primer books like “Rich Dad Poor Dad” or personal development gimmicks like “The 10 Secrets to Happiness.” These are “foundational texts” that will help you stay grounded in the midst of chaos, see the systems, and feel the depth behind them.
1. Core Operating System: “Meditations” – Marcus Aurelius
This book in your hands may be in the form of a book, but in reality, it is the Roman Emperor’s merciless confrontation with his own mind, conducted by candlelight in his war tent. It is considered the “Holy Book” of Stoic philosophy.
- Strategic Value: Marcus Aurelius was the most powerful man in the world, yet he was also struggling with plague, betrayal, and war. This is where you learn about the concept of the "Inner Citadel." You cannot control the external world; you can only control your reactions.
- Reading Note: Choose Gregory Hays' translation (if you are reading in English) or the Turkish edition published by İş Bankası Hasan Ali Yücel Classics. Opening a random page and reading it every morning prepares the mind for the day like a cold shower.
2. Chaos Management: “Antifragile” – Nassim Taleb
The modern world is volatile and chaotic. Most systems are fragile and collapse under shocks. Some are robust; they resist shocks but cannot evolve due to their rigid structures.
- Strategic Value: Taleb introduces the concept of "anti-fragility": systems that thrive on chaos and grow stronger with each shock. As a modern strategist, this is the foundation for structuring your portfolio, career, and mindset to emerge stronger from crises. This book will forever change your perception of risk.
3. Discipline and Rhythm: “The Book of Five Rings” – Miyamoto Musashi
This work, written by Japan’s greatest swordsman (Kensei), is not only about the art of combat; it is about “strategy” and “rhythm.”
- Strategic Value: Musashi says, "There is a rhythm in everything." Whether you're pursuing a hobby, completing a set of weights, or in a job interview, you need to capture that "void." Disrupt your opponent's (or the problem's) rhythm and impose your own… This book best explains the principle of Shuhari (Learn, Break Away, Create).
4. Aesthetics and Texture: “In Praise of Shadows” – Jun’ichirō Tanizaki
Essential reading for an “Analog Soul.” This short essay on Japanese aesthetics defends the dim, shadowy, and textured world of the East against the bright, sterile, and “hyper-illuminated” world of the West.
- Strategic Value: It explains that luxury is not about "glitz" but "depth." It provides a philosophical foundation for why we prefer silver that oxidizes over time rather than polished metal, and why we choose candlelight over neon lights. It is a touchstone for refining your tastes.
5. Systems Thinking: “Thinking in Systems” – Donella Meadows
The world is not a straight line (linear); it is cyclical. To understand why some problems get worse the more you try to solve them (Cobra Effect), you need systems thinking.
- Strategic Value: Integrates concepts such as "Feedback Loop" and "Leverage Point" into your life. It teaches you to find the root cause of a problem, not just its symptoms, and to push the system from the point (leverage) that will create the greatest impact with the least effort.
A Hint
Don’t read books like a passive consumer; “fight” with them.
This is called “Syntopical Reading” (Comparative Reading). Never read without a pen in hand. Make notes where you disagree with the author, add question marks, and reference other authors (Marginalia). When you finish the book, it is no longer the author’s book; it is your book.
A strategist does not accept information as it is; they question it, break it down, and integrate it into their own system. A book that remains untouched is a book that has not been read.
Actionable Recommendations
Today, introduce the concept of the “Anti-Library” into your life.
As Umberto Eco said, the unread books in your library are more valuable than the ones you have read. Because they represent “what you don’t know” and invite you to intellectual humility.
This week, order the two books you haven’t read yet from the list above. Don’t rush to read them; just having them sitting on your desk will remind you that “there’s still so much to learn” and keep your ego in check.
