My 10 favourite books: Warren Leow

Warren Leow’s favorite books

I previously ran the largest accelerator program in Asia under MaGIC. As I regularly dealt with a lot of startups, investors, mentors and corporates, I occasionally observed that the startup ecosystem was more often than not contained within its own bubble. For example, many startups want to go into fintech, but they don’t really understand much about the finance industry. Reading can be one of the windows to sharpen your thinking or understand the unfamiliar.

Here’s my list of 10 favorite books that are not necessarily related to starting up, but I hope you find them useful and will be interested to pick any of them up.

59 Seconds: Change Your Life in Under a Minute by Richard Wiseman

Useful, simple tips that can change your life, and all under 1 minute. Wiseman offered tips based on scientific knowledge. Here’s a video where Wiseman explains about the book in 1 minute.

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

You can be smart and funny at the same time. Can’t take life too seriously. Feynman was a legendary lecturer with the ability to enthral.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Cultural affinity is key to making any decision based on empathy. This books explores Nigeria’s cultural identity and the transition into modern history

The Sandman by Neil Gaiman

A Vertigo print that challenges the norms within fiction. Highly recommended.

Dune by Frank Herbert

A perfect mix of economics, philosophy, science and government set within a richly layered universe.

The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power by Daniel Yergin

To understand the global picture, a basic understanding of energy is important. My first career was an oil man, and this book remains close to my heart.

The Alchemy of Finance by George Soros

This book gives me a macro overview of how the global economy works and why things always repeat in cycles from an economic perspective.

Market Wizards, Updated: Interviews With Top Traders by Jack D. Schwager

A trader mindset is hugely invaluable and it is something I’ve carried on by always having a point of view within contextual framing in whatever I do.

Disclaimer: Last three are not books but websites that I visit on a regular basis.

INC & Entrepreneur.com

Phenomenal short bits on leadership and how to drive vision and bring things to life by getting the best out of people.

Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, the Economist

Read this and be more worldly in your perspective.

New Yorker, Atlantic, New York Times and Rolling Stone