This is the "reading list" prepared for Builders at the @a16z 2025 Founders Summit — on the surface, it appears to be a list of books 📖, but in reality, it serves as a "mental map," guiding Crypto entrepreneurs on the foundational thinking models they should possess. Here’s a brief introduction, worth keeping 🧐:

🧠 Part One: Companies and Systems — Understanding the Underlying Logic of Organizations

The core of this section is "how to understand complex systems," encompassing companies, governance, and markets, all of which are systems.

Antimemetics: Why Some Ideas Resist Spreading

👉 This book discusses "why some ideas do not spread." In crypto, this translates to "why some protocols fail to gain traction." Viral dissemination is not the only path; some great ideas require counterintuitive promotional strategies. This is particularly enlightening for #Web3 entrepreneurs — don’t just think about creating the next meme coin; consider extending the dissemination of ideas and promotional strategies from long-term and structural perspectives.

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions

👉 This is a classic for understanding "paradigm shifts." Kuhn tells us that technological revolutions do not progress linearly but are processes of "cognitive paradigm disruption." Every explosion in the crypto space — from #BTC to #DeFi, and then to #AI+#Web3 — actually validates Kuhn's theory.

Understanding Michael Porter

👉 The foundational framework of business competition. After reading, you will understand that competition is not about price wars but about strategic positioning. In the #Web3 world: we should choose differentiation in "narrative tracks + mechanism design," rather than just piling on features.

Nearly Perfect

👉 This book discusses system improvement and iterative thinking, reminding you that entrepreneurship is not a one-time act of creation but a process of continuous optimization.

The Computer Always Wins

👉 Using games to explain algorithmic logic — it aims to help crypto founders understand the underlying thinking of "human-machine games." The intersection of AI and smart contracts lies within the thinking models presented in this book.

🏛️ Part Two: Economic, Financial, and Institutional History

This section equips builders with the "ability to understand markets and institutions," which is what investors value most — "macro sense."

The Origins of Efficiency

👉 This book discusses the evolution of building and production efficiency, but its core is institutional incentives and organizational efficiency. It is highly relevant for decentralized collaborative systems like DAOs 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 focuses on real economic logic. After reading, you will understand that the essence of crypto's "incentive design" is economics.

Fragile by Design

👉 This masterpiece in financial history discusses "why banking systems collapse." Crypto entrepreneurs must understand this — only by grasping the "fragile structure" of traditional finance can you identify the opportunities in DeFi.

The Perfectionists

👉 This book discusses how precision engineering shapes the modern world. For builders, it tells us that true innovation comes from "precision" and "obsession."

👷 Part Three: Builder Biographies and the Spirit of Innovation

a16z wants to convey in this section that innovation is not about inspiration but about personality structure.

The Power Broker

👉 The story of Robert Moses, the "power engineer" of New York. He is the urban version of Elon Musk: visionary yet controversial. Gradually, you will understand the "politics of large projects" after reading.

There’s Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift

👉 Don’t laugh; a16z mentioning Taylor Swift is no joke. She is a top "community operator," understanding narrative, copyright, and fan economy. For Web3 founders, this book serves as a textbook on token narratives and brand co-creation.

Open Socrates

👉 A philosophical book discussing the importance of open thinking and self-reflection. The crypto space is too prone to bubbles, and this book acts as a mirror.

The Warrior: Rafael Nadal and His Kingdom of Clay

👉 This book discusses perseverance, focus, and adaptability — essential lessons for all builders during bear markets.

🌍 Part Four: Exploration and Resilience

Entrepreneurship = adventure. The books selected by a16z all embody "survival philosophy in extreme environments."

The River of Doubt

👉 This book recounts Roosevelt's South American expedition, a true story of "human limits." On the entrepreneurial path in crypto, many times you are the one walking in the dark jungle.

Unbroken

👉 An epic survival story from World War II. For entrepreneurs, this is a tale of "faith and resilience."

The Explorer’s Gene

👉 This book discusses why humans are always eager to explore the unknown. This is the very DNA of the crypto spirit.

🚀 Part Five: Science Fiction and Imagination

The last few books serve as a "supply pack for the spiritual dimension" — reminding us that the future always comes from imagination.

There Is No Antimemetics Division

👉 A masterpiece that is both a novel and a thought experiment. It discusses those "ideas that cannot be spread," offering philosophical reflections on information, memory, and cognitive systems. It is very suitable for contemplating the integration of #AI and #Web3.

The Café at the Edge of the Woods

👉 A healing yet strange little book discussing the significance of "boundaries" and "choices" — as if reminding you that building the future is not just about writing code, but also about constructing a new narrative space.

Overall, this reading list is not randomly selected; it is a spiritual blueprint of the "ideal crypto builder" envisioned by #a16z: scientific rationality + strategic perspective + institutional understanding + innovative personality + extreme resilience + imagination. They aim to cultivate not just entrepreneurs who understand blockchain, but a new generation of builders who can comprehend systems, master narratives, and insightfully understand human nature. For us investors, this reading list actually reveals #a16z's future investment direction:

🔹 Greater emphasis on "system-level innovation"

🔹 Stronger belief in the fusion of "narrative × technology"

🔹 Increased focus on the mental structure of founders

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