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📚 Book Review: The Almanack of Naval Ravikant – Wealth, Happiness & Wisdom for a Lifetime

· 4 min read
NBT
NBT
Sr. Software Architect
AuthorEric Jorgenson
Fiction ?NO
GenresSelf Helf
Rating4/5
TagsHappines, Motivation
Date FinishedJuly 28, 2025
EditionHardcover

"A clear thinker is better than a smart thinker." – Naval Ravikant

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant

To buy this book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/45sK7Ko

Naval Ravikant isn’t your typical tech entrepreneur or self-help guru. He’s a thinker, a philosopher, and one of the clearest voices in the modern world when it comes to wealth creation, decision-making, and living a meaningful life. The Almanack of Naval Ravikant, curated by Eric Jorgenson, distills Naval’s wisdom from years of podcasts, tweets, and interviews into one elegant, timeless guide.

🎨 Impressions​

How I Discovered It​

In search of becoming Software Architect to CTO

Who Should Read It?​

This book is perfect for:

  • Entrepreneurs seeking timeless wisdom on building wealth and achieving happiness.

  • Young professionals trying to figure out how to design a meaningful, self-directed life.

  • Anyone who enjoys philosophical thinking mixed with practical life advice.

  • Readers of Tim Ferriss, Ryan Holiday, or James Clear will feel right at home.

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant is not a conventional self-help book. It’s a curated collection of Naval’s thoughts and insights over many years—shared via podcasts, tweets, and interviews. If you're someone who values clear thinking, mental models, and lifelong learning, this book will resonate deeply.

☘️ How the Book Changed Me​

Reading this book fundamentally shifted the way I approach both success and happiness.

  • Redefined Wealth: Naval’s idea that wealth is not about money but about assets that earn while you sleep changed how I view work and investing. I’ve started to focus more on creating leverage through code, content, and capital rather than trading time for money.

  • Mental Clarity: His minimalist approach to thoughts and beliefs helped me declutter my thinking. I’ve become more intentional about what I consume—whether it’s information, relationships, or commitments.

  • Long-Term Thinking: Naval’s emphasis on compounding—in money, health, and relationships—made me more patient. I’m now more focused on consistency and long-term habits rather than chasing quick wins.

  • Happiness as a Practice: Most surprisingly, he treats happiness as a skill—something you can cultivate through awareness, presence, and minimal desires. That changed everything for me. It’s not about chasing more, but about needing less.

✍️ My Top 3 Quotes​

  • "Play long-term games with long-term people."
    This reminded me that relationships and consistency are the real multipliers in life.

  • "Earn with your mind, not your time."
    A powerful shift from labor-based income to knowledge-based value creation.

  • "Desire is a contract you make with yourself to be unhappy until you get what you want."
    This helped me understand how often I tie happiness to external outcomes instead of cultivating inner peace.

📒 Summary + Notes​

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant is a distilled life manual built around two core themes: wealth and happiness. Rather than prescribing rigid formulas, it offers flexible mental models and philosophies for living a successful life—on your own terms.

Eric Jorgenson has done a phenomenal job curating Naval's best ideas, which include:

  • Creating wealth through leverage (capital, code, media).

  • The importance of specific knowledge that can't be easily replaced.

  • How to build judgment and clarity through reading and reflection.

  • Why internal peace is the ultimate form of success.

✍️ Final Thought​

You don’t need to agree with everything Naval says. But if you truly listen and reflect, this book can change the way you live, earn, and think.