This is the 'book list' prepared by @ a16z 2025 Founders Summit for Builder - on the surface, it appears to be a book list ， In fact, it is a 'spiritual map' that seems to guide some of the underlying thinking models that Crypto entrepreneurs should possess. Here we will give a brief introduction, which is worth collecting ： Part One: Companies and Systems - Understanding the underlying logic of an organization The core of this book is' How to Understand Complex Systems', covering everything from companies, governance to markets, all of which are systems. 《Antimemetics: Why Some Ideas Resist Spreading》 This book actually talks about 'why some ideas don't spread'. In crypto, this is equivalent to saying 'why some protocols can't be popular'. Viral transmission is not the only path, some great ideas require counterintuitive promotion strategies. This is particularly inspiring for Web3 entrepreneurs - don't just think about making the next meme coin, you should extend your ideas and promotion plans from multiple perspectives of long-term and structural thinking. 《The Structure of Scientific Revolutions》 This is a classic for understanding 'paradigm shift'. Kuhn tells us that the technological revolution is not a linear progression, but a process of "cognitive paradigm disruption". Every explosion in the crypto community - from BTC to DeFi, to AI+Web3- actually confirms Kuhn's theory. 《Understanding Michael Porter》 The underlying framework of business competition. After reading it, you will understand that competition is not about price wars, but about strategic positioning. In the Web3 world, what we need to choose is the differentiation of "narrative track+mechanism design", rather than stacking functions. 《Nearly Perfect》 This book is about system improvement and iterative thinking, reminding you that entrepreneurship is not a one-time creation of gods, but a project that is repeatedly optimized. 《The Computer Always Wins》 Using games to explain algorithm logic is actually to help crypto founders understand the underlying thinking of "human-machine game". The intersection of AI and smart contracts in the future is in the thinking model of this book. ️ Part 2: Economic, Financial, and Institutional History This part is to equip the builder with the ability to understand the market and system, which is the "macro sense" that investors value the most. 《The Origins of Efficiency》 It is about the evolution of architecture and production efficiency, but the core is institutional incentives and organizational efficiency. It is of great reference value for decentralized collaboration systems such as DAO and DeSci. 《Modern Principles of Economics》 & 《Basic Economics》 Tyler Cowen and Sowell are both frequently read authors in the a16z philosophy circle. The former leans towards modern market mechanisms, while the latter leans towards realistic economic logic. After reading it, you will understand that the essence of "incentive design" in crypto is economics. 《Fragile by Design》 This is a masterpiece in financial history, which talks about 'why the banking system collapsed'. Crypto entrepreneurs must understand this - only by understanding the "fragile structure" of traditional finance can you know where DeFi's opportunities lie. 《The Perfectionists》 It is about how precision engineering shapes the modern world. For builders, this is telling us that true innovation comes from "precision" and "perseverance". Part Three: Biography of Builder and Innovative Spirit A16z actually wants to tell us in this section that innovation is not inspiration, but a personality structure. 《The Power Broker》 The story of Robert Moses, the "power engineer" of New York. It's the urban version of Elon Musk: both visionary and controversial. After reading it, I will gradually understand the 'political science of big projects'. 《There’s Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift》 Don't laugh, playing Taylor Swift on a16z is not a joke. She is a top "community operator" who understands storytelling, copyright, and fan economy. For the founders of Web3, this book is a textbook on token storytelling and brand building. 《Open Socrates》 A philosophy book that emphasizes the importance of open thinking and introspection. The crypto circle is too easy to fall into a foam, and this book is like a mirror. 《The Warrior: Rafael Nadal and His Kingdom of Clay》 Speaking of perseverance, focus, and adaptability - these are mandatory courses for all builders during bear markets. Part Four: Exploration and Resilience Entrepreneurship=Exploration. The books chosen by a16z are all "Philosophy of Survival in Extreme Environments". 《The River of Doubt》 Tell the true story of Roosevelt's exploration of South America and the limits of humanity. On the path of crypto entrepreneurship, many times you are the one walking in the dark jungle. 《Unbroken》 The epic of survival in World War II. For entrepreneurs, this is a story about 'faith and resilience'. 《The Explorer’s Gene》 Why do humans always want to explore the unknown. This is the DNA of the crypto spirit. Part 5: Science Fiction and Imagination These last few books are 'spiritual dimension supply packages' - reminding us that the future always comes from imagination. 《There Is No Antimemetics Division》 A masterpiece is both a novel and a thought experiment. It talks about those 'ideas that cannot be disseminated', which are philosophical reflections on information, memory, and cognitive systems. Very suitable for considering the integration of AI and Web3. The Caf é at the Edge of the Woods A healing and bizarre little book that talks about the meaning of "boundaries" and "choices" - like a reminder that building the future is not just about writing code, but also about constructing a new narrative space. Overall, this book list is not randomly selected, but rather a16z's spiritual blueprint for the "ideal type of crypto builder": scientific rationality+strategic pattern+institutional understanding+innovative personality+extreme resilience+imagination. What they want to cultivate is not just entrepreneurs who understand blockchain, but a new generation of builders who can understand systems, master narratives, and insight into human nature. For us investors, this book list actually reveals the future investment direction of a16z: More emphasis on 'system level innovation' Believe more in the fusion power of "narrative x technology" More emphasis on the founder's mental structure