Unlock Wealth and Happiness? Naval Ravikant’s Almanack Might Just Have the Cheat Codes
Everyone wants to crack the code to wealth and happiness. We see many “get rich quick” schemes. Yet, real insights come from those with real experience. Enter Naval Ravikant. His wisdom is a must if you care about tech, startups, or escaping misery.
Naval is not your typical self-help guru. He is a tech entrepreneur and a savvy angel investor. His bets on Twitter and Uber made waves. Some even call him “The Angel Philosopher.” This name sounds way cooler than “that finance guy,” right?
His wisdom is captured in
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: Your Unofficial Handbook to Life
First, let’s clarify. This isn’t a cheesy guide promising you a yacht. Naval’s Almanack isn’t about the “how-to.” It’s about “why-to” and “what-to-think-about.” It’s a collection of interviews and reflections aimed at helping you build wealth and happiness.
This book sold over a million copies. It dives deep into happiness, success, wealth creation, and relationships. It helps you master skills and uncover the secrets of a good life. Best of all, it’s free. Read it online or download the PDF. Great value!
A core idea in the Almanack is Naval’s definition of happiness. He sees it as what remains when you remove the feeling of missing something. It’s profound. He discusses learning, judgment, decision-making, authenticity, and freedom. Basically, it’s a life manual without boring instructions.
And if you think getting rich is just luck, Naval will tell you it’s a myth. Both wealth and happiness are skills you can learn. Skills! Not just lottery wins! That means you can actually do something about it.
Naval Ravikant: The Man Behind the Wisdom
So, who is Naval? Beyond the “Angel Philosopher,” he made a name for himself. He co-founded AngelList, a platform central to startups. Before AngelList, he worked with Epinions and Vast.com. In 2023, he co-founded Airchat, showing he’s still innovating.
Naval is known for early investments in Twitter and Uber. He has invested in over 100 companies. He launched Spearhead, an investment fund with $100 million designated for helping founders. He emphasizes clarity of thought and playing the long game.
Naval believes decisions should align with your core values and long-term goals, not just quick cash. Independent thinking forms the foundation of wealth creation and freedom starts in your mind. Thinking critically means questioning norms and making choices based on personal beliefs. This is explored in Naval Ravikant’s guide to true wealth and a fulfilling life.
Naval’s net worth is between $65 million and $100 million. That’s impressive for someone sharing free wisdom. He graduated from Dartmouth College with degrees in economics and computer science. You can be book-smart and street-smart.
Here are some of Naval’s quotes:
“Desire is a contract that you make with yourself to be unhappy until you get what you want.” “The only true test of intelligence is if you get what you want out of life.”
He shares three tips for youth: Choose wisely where to live, think carefully about who you live with, and take time deciding your career. Solid advice.
Want to learn more about him? Visit Naval Ravikant’s Wikipedia page for details on his background and achievements.
AngelList: Naval’s Startup Ecosystem Masterpiece
AngelList isn’t just a platform; it’s an entire ecosystem for startups. Naval co-founded it to connect startups with investors and job seekers. This hub facilitates fundraising, job searching, and networking. It’s like LinkedIn but focused on startups, making deals happen.
AngelList offers many features: Startups can raise capital from investors, and investors can form syndicates to pool funds. They provide infrastructure for managing equity and incorporating companies. Their job board, now called Wellfound, helps companies find talent and job seekers find exciting chances. It even includes venture funds to ensure quality. It’s a one-stop shop for launching a tech company.
While Naval co-founded AngelList and was CEO, the role has been held by Avlok Kohli since 2019. Naval’s impact remains vital; he created tools that changed how startups get funding and find talent.
Wealth and Happiness: The Ultimate Two-Part Harmony
Let’s revisit wealth and happiness. For Naval, these are intertwined but not as you might think. Wealth isn’t just stacks of cash; it’s independent thinking leading to freedom. That freedom begins in your mind. Get your mind right, and everything else follows.
Happiness? Naval believes it’s not an unreachable ideal but your default state. It’s peace learned by removing negativity like expectations and anxiety. Desires breed unhappiness. As The Almanack of Naval Ravikant Summary states, key lessons include getting rid of expectations, cultivating indifference toward uncontrollable factors, understanding your mind’s plasticity, ditching anxiety, and realizing desires lead to self-imposed misery.
If you seek something substantial beyond typical self-help fluff, read
