I am writing my thoughts on the book, “The Almanack of Naval Ravikant” that I just finished reading. I don’t generally write my thoughts on books right away, but I am learning to do it because it helps me recall what I read, and engrave it deeply in my mind. There’s no other way I will remember this book a week from now.
This book is a compilation of Naval’s tweets, interviews and other interactions all compiled into two broad themes of wealth and happiness. Its generally difficult to read non fiction books. When I started incorporating non fiction into my reading routine, it felt super boring. I just couldn’t make progress with them. I generally liked the flowing speed at which I read fiction books, and wanted to match that speed with non fiction. Here’s a book which doesn’t feel like a non fiction read at all.
The reading experience
Despite my slow speed to get through non fiction, I read this book like a breeze! I didn’t realise when I reached the last page and in all honesty, wanted to go on and on and on. Why? Because reading this book felt like being in a dialogue with Naval Ravikant himself, or maybe as if listening to his podcast (highly recommended btw)!
I think he has some really powerful ideas, and much like me, his thinking is also influenced by Buddhism. As a famous entrepreneur and investor, his ideas are of immense relevance for me to have read it at this this juncture in my life because his words make a lot of sense.
Ideas on wealth that I loved
There are loads more because I made so many notes and highlighted stuff while reading the book, but I will stick to 10 for now:
- Getting rich is about knowing what to do, who to do it with, and when to do it.
- It is totally possible to ethically create wealth, but one should not be thinking negatively about wealth in the first place.
- One never gets rich by renting out their time.
- One should learn to sell and build.
- Polish your skills and strengthen your basics.
- Wealth means to own assets that earn while you sleep.
- Society pays for things it wants, but does not know how to create those things yet.
- Build specific knowledge by pursuing your talents and satiating your curiosity.
- Intentions don’t matter, actions do.
- Earn with your mind, not your time.
Ideas on happiness that I loved
- Don’t take yourself so seriously. We are all monkeys with a plan.
- Happiness is a skill that one can build, and a choice one can make.
- The environment reflects our own feelings back to us, so work needs to be done internally, rather than getting other people to change.
- Life and reality is neutral, it is how we interpret it that makes us feel what we feel.
- Anger is poison.
- The more secrets you have, the less happy you will be.
- You are best at being you, learn from and observe others, but don’t copy.
- You are what your habits are (no surprises there!).
- Value your time, this moment is all we have (literally!).
- Inspiration is perishable, so act on it as fast as you can.
Closing thoughts
There are a heap of other ideas in this book, which honestly, even I haven’t grasped in just one read. I will probably find myself re-reading and re-reading this book till I verify some of the ideas for myself and understand them better. It’s one of the most influential non fiction books I have read, and I would give it a 5/5. Definitely getting a hard copy of this book! Want yours? Hit up this link!
Photo by Sumit Mathur from Pexels
