The Club of the Eminent Dead

A book circle aimed at learning from the wisdom of those who came before us.

“The words of the philosophers are sacred. But why? It is not because they are old, or because they died long ago. We venerate them not because they are dead, but because they were great.”

Seneca, Moral Letters to Lucilius p. 33.

Dear readers,

As Charlie Munger has mused on before, we are all very lucky. With a library card, a download from the Gutenberg Project or by walking to a bookshop, we can get access to the ideas, experiences and lives of great people. Just by sitting on our assess and flicking through some pages we can learn from the very best people who’ve graced this fine earth.

Through books we get access to a whole world of information and experience. What an opportunity for us - we can learn from the collected lives and learnings from people far beyond our time!

Feast of the Gods - Jan van Bijlert

Welcome to a new part of the Learning to Grow newsletter! I’m incredibly stoked to get this going. What is the Club of the Eminent Dead? Well, on one hand it is a way for me to hold myself accountable in my reading. On the other hand it is a way for us to follow along and learn together (at least that is what I hope to achieve).

So, as always I’ll be writing for myself and based on what I find interesting (it’s the only way I can motivate my lazy ass), but I hope that my journaling and ramblings can provide value to others. In the best case, I hope that what I read can be followed, and enjoyed by my dear readers. And, if you want to, feel free to join in on my readings. I hope that if you do, that you will share your thoughts with me - either in the chat or in the comment section so that we may learn from each other!

What and how will we read?

The idea of a book circle popped into my head recently, and sprang out of the fact that I’ve been reading “The Prince” by Niccolo Macchiaveli. This great book on statesmanship written in the Renaissance provided some insight that rang true in terms of living life and my investment hobby. Some sections practically took hold of me, and unlocked insights into the way of organisations, exerting power and competition.

But at the same time, I didn’t want my investment readers to be engrossed in my (want-to-be) elevated thoughts. So out of it springs this initiative.

The way it will be structured is as follows:

I have a set list of books that I will read. I will try to get through one book a month, and will send out newsletters on these books as I manage to get through the books. I want to be an eclectic reader, mostly because I’m a pretentious fellow - I feel better when I feel like I’m being original. Therefore, our reading list will be broad and without any other red threads than that they’re books I want to read. I will mostly read books that are accessible and available for download on E-readers. As the title of the book club is “The Club of the Eminent Dead” we will read mostly old books, classics so to speak.

I have set a list of the first seven books that I will read. First, of course, is “The Prince” by Niccolo Macchiavelli. I will try to launch the first "Dialogue with the Departed” before the end of the month.

Without further ado, here is the first pile of book that will be read in the “Club of the Eminent Dead”:

1. The Prince - Niccolo Machiavelli
   Macchiavelli is known for his straightforward and pragmatic view on wielding power. Having been a player of statesmanship in the chaotic period of the Italian Renaissance, he set out to write a book that should provide Princes of states with the knowledge needed to succeed in ruling their fiefdom. His name is these days associated with cynical and manipulating characters, but the book is a well of wisdom in terms of navigating competition.

2. The Way to Wealth - Benjamin Franklin

   He’s known as an American founding father, inventor, and diplomat. Through this book he distilled his practical wisdom into this compact text that connects personal virtue with prosperity. Through memorable aphorisms originally published in "Poor Richard's Almanack," Franklin offers timeless insights on industry, frugality, and time management that continue to influence modern thinking about success nearly 250 years later

3. The Analects of Confucius

   Compiled by followers of Confucius (551-479 BCE) after his death, this collection of sayings presents the influential Chinese philosopher's ideas on ethics, leadership, and social harmony. These brief, often cryptic passages ground lofty moral ideals in ways of living life. It’s a presentation of how individual self-cultivation leads to social harmony that remains relevant across cultures and centuries.

4. Letters from a Stoic - Seneca

   Roman philosopher Seneca (c. 4 BCE - 65 CE) addresses real-life concerns about wealth, fear, grief, and friendship in these remarkably accessible letters. Written while navigating the dangerous politics of Emperor Nero's court, they translate Stoic philosophy into practical advice for daily living, demonstrating how ancient wisdom can help us face modern challenges with grace and resilience.

5. Sundiata - An epic of old Mali

   This is a collection of oral stories, passed down by generations of West African griots (troubadour, singers, orators and historian - all in one) and compiled in the 1950s, recounts how the disabled prince Sundiata Keita overcame adversity to found the Mali Empire in the 13th century. I’ve wanted to read this for a while, to get some insights into pre-colonial West African culture and values while exploring universal themes such as leadership, impossible odds and triumph.

6. The Odyssey by Homer

   For us westerners, this is the true “arch-story”, a foundational piece of storytelling. I’ve never gotten around to reading it, but I suspect there’s a ton of themes that will be recognizable. This poem follows Odysseus' ten-year journey home after the Trojan War back to Greece. Homer's masterpiece explores timeless themes that have influenced literature for three millennia, offering readers both adventure and profound insights into the human condition.

7. The Ramayana

   Attributed to the sage Valmiki and composed around the 5th-4th century BC this ancient Indian patchment follows Prince Rama's quest to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana. It explores duty (dharma), loyalty, and ethical action through vividly drawn characters. It’s probably a string of stories patched together to create a unified version of a strong traditional story. The Ramayana is one of the most fundamental texts in the Hindu religion and culture, and I’m excited to learn more about this tradition.

There you have it - I don’t really know what direct value this will give to my investing journey. Having observed and read from successful investors such as Munger & Buffett, Nick Sleep, Pulak Prasad and Francois Rochon. All of these greats have studied far beyond just investing and attribute their success not to their ability to calculate complicated accounting metrics - but to mettle and wisdom.

This first edition of the reading focuses on foundational stories, and ancient wisdom. I’m excited to read these pieces, and learn from wisdom that’s been with us for thousands of years. I hope you’ll join me on this first journey.