That seems like an even more questionable tool for deciding what to read than a best-seller list. Those guys are renowned for starting tech companies that made lots of money, not for their outstanding taste in books.

There are numerous other people who make book lists. Authors write book lists called "bibliographies".

They are also very smart, which made them read/like interesting books.

If they read books ofc, in these cases they obviously do

>They are also very smart, which made them read/like interesting books.

This logic doesn't take us anywhere because there existed equally intelligent people who either worked in farm or meatshop or even might be working as a janitor instead of launching companies worth billions and recommending othes books.

And does being intelligent means not being evil? What if they posted these books to distract you while they go around reading something else which helps them build competitive advantage against masses.

I won't blind accept a reading suggestion from someone even if they happen to be commerically successful or they happen to be smarter.

So people post book reviews to distract you from doing something. Lol.

I still have a bigger respect for people that started a multi billion dollar company than a janitor. It doesn't mean I have no respect for them, but just a bigger one for someone that did something unique.

Why ask three people when you can ask a million?

Because my taste and interests are more aligned with person X than with the general populace.

Are you sure it's that and not that you self-identify as being person X? Just how well do you know X apart from X's name as a brand?

While your question is interesting as a psychological thought experiment, it does not matter pragmatically.

If I am interested in, say, sci-fi, or futurism, and so is person X - or, person X's marketing image - then person X will bolster their brand by posting sci-fi and futurism books.

Therefore, I still get recommendations in the genres I'm interested in, and whether those recommendations are accurate portrayals of person X's interests is irrelevant.

Because the opinion of the three might be worth more.

i highly recommend this as well. have a list of people you admire and monitor/check their twitter, blog, website, etc. they usually post amazing books they have read and all you have to do is add these books to your wishlist (if possible, or bookmark them). see how long they stay there and how your interest in those books changes.

to be honest, books recommended by, say Bill Gates, are often in other spheres of influence and interest than i am currently part of and feel i can do anything about. but any technical book from John Carmack is a go for me.

Why should I care what those people are reading or think. I'm not them and they're not me and while some of my interests may overlap with them, it doesn't mean I want to, or will enjoy, reading what they read.

...okay? With the exception of tailored algorithms, i.e. Pandora, every media service or list is going to be the opinions of one or more persons.

What's on cable is relegated by Neilson ratings, what's on the radio is relegated by what's popular / the DJ's favorite songs, what's in a bookstore is relegated by what sells well (or, by what doesn't sell poorly). Everything is curated.

Why should you care about the bestseller lists? This is an alternative if you want to get some insight into the thought process of these (terrible) people.

Also these three people are examples; the point is that some public people that you may care about recommend books, and that is a way to discover books.

>thought process of these (terrible) people

Whoa that is some casually thrown-in hardcore judgement.

I only said it because I meant it. Booklists from people one admires (or detests) are a good place to check to discover new books, though.

I also suggest bibliographies and references in things that you are currently reading. That's usually where I find the next things to read. Especially with journal articles, because you can find other things that cite a paper you enjoyed pretty easily on the web.

> They exist purely for marketing

And then we can aggregate those, put it on a website and post affiliate links gradually becoming the go to source for book lists and then sell spots on the list and then people start publishing their own reading lists and someone aggregates those and...