#18 Naval Ravikant: The Angel Philosopher

In this episode of The Knowledge Project, Shane Parrish interviews Naval Ravikant, CEO and co-founder of AngelList, about reading habits, decision-making, and life philosophies. Naval describes his voracious reading habits, emphasizing the importance of reading widely and deeply, and treating books as "throwaways" to extract valuable ideas. The conversation explores Naval's approach to habit formation, his focus on cultivating internal freedom, and his foundational values like honesty and long-term thinking. They discuss happiness as a default state achieved by removing desires, the significance of controlling one's internal monologue, and the need to be honest with oneself. Naval shares his perspectives on macroeconomics, the singularity, and the current education system, advocating for micro-environmentalism and self-directed learning. The discussion also covers decision-making strategies, the importance of integrity, and Naval's rational approach to Buddhism, emphasizing personal verification and alignment with science.