10 Must-Read Books for ENTPs

Are you an ENTP looking for a good new book to add to your reading list? In today’s article we’re exploring ten books that ENTPs frequently mention as their favorites. I’ve surveyed the readers of my email list, as well as my Twitter followers, to get an idea of what books ENTPs love most. I hope you find some interesting stories to dive into here!

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This post contains affiliate links. I only recommend books I truly love and believe in.

Estimated reading time: 13 minutes

Why are ENTPs Drawn to These Specific Books?

ENTPs love stories that spark their imagination and sense of possibility. Books that are unconventional and original light up the intuitive side of their personality (bonus points if there’s some quirky humor thrown in). At the same time, they also enjoy non-fiction books that help them to understand a new theory or guide them in their ambitions (business or otherwise).

10 Must-Read Books for ENTPs

#1 – The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

“There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened.”

Hapless hero Arthur Dent awakes one day to find a demolition crew outside his house, preparing to bulldoze it down to make way for a new bypass. Throwing himself down in front of the bulldozer, he does whatever he can to stop the demolition. Shortly after, his friend Ford Prefect arrives and convinces him to leave his protest and get a drink with him. He has something very important to say. What follows is a hilarious and frantic journey through space and time.  ENTPs love the wit, satire, and comedic dialogue that fill the pages of this book. I believe that Douglas Adams is an ENTP personality type, so really, anything by this author should be appealing to ENTPs. Find out more: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

#2 – The Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan

“You can never know everything, and part of what you know is always wrong. Perhaps even the most important part. A portion of wisdom lies in knowing that. A portion of courage lies in going on anyways.” – The Eye of the World

Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series takes place both in our past and our future. The author got the inspiration for writing this series when he asked himself, “What would it be like to be tapped on the shoulder and told you were going to save the world, but also destroy it?” This series consists of 14 main-sequence novels, all which follow the same story, weaving towards an ultimate climax. In Jordan’s fantasy world, the Dark one, the embodiment of pure evil, is escaping from his prison. The overall story follows a man who learns that he is the reincarnation of the world’s messiah and is destined to save the world from the Dark One – but potentially destroy it in the process. This story not only follows our hero, but the entire world as it struggles to deal with war, change, and hope in the face of insurmountable odds. Find out more: Wheel of Time

#3 – Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

“Only after disaster can we be resurrected. It’s only after you’ve lost everything that you’re free to do anything. Nothing is static, everything is evolving, everything is falling apart.”

Fight Club begins with an unnamed narrator sitting on the top floor of a skyscraper that’s about to explode, while a man named Tyler Durden points a gun into his mouth. The book is told almost entirely in flashback sequences.

Long before the skyscraper moment, the narrator was a depressed insomniac, bored with his corporate, consumerist lifestyle. He eventually met a strange soap salesman named Tyler Durden, and wound up moving into a squalid, broken-down house with him. The two bored men formed an underground club where men could fight other men who were also fed up with their mundane lives.

The author of Fight Club, Chuck Palahniuk, captures the angst and frustration of modern-day consumerist life. As (I suspect) an ENTP himself, Palahniuk realizes that things and objects aren’t what make life meaningful in the long run. He’s not afraid to shock readers with non-conformist ideas and perspectives. And, like most ENTPs, he’s skilled at balancing thought-provoking ideas with a good dose of sardonic humor. Find out more: Fight Club.

#4 – Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel by Michio Kaku

“If at first an idea does not sound absurd, then there is no hope for it.”

One hundred and fifty years ago, scientists would have said that televisions, lasers, or the atomic bomb were beyond the realm of physical possibility. In Physics of the Impossible, renowned physicist Michio Kaku explores the science of the impossible – from death rays to invisibility cloaks – revealing to the reader the extent such technologies might be achievable in the distant future.

ENTPs, who are naturally innovative and future-focused, love this book because it sparks their sense of wonder and imagination. ENTPs love reducing limits and broadening their views, and they also have the patience to dig into theoretical physics. That said, Kaku doesn’t write this book for scientists or childhood prodigies. He explains the laws and theories of physics in a way that an everyday person can understand. Find out more: Physics of the Impossible

#5 – 1984 by George Orwell

“There was truth and there was untruth, and if you clung to the truth even against the whole world, you were not mad.”

1984 is a dystopian novella which George Orwell published in 1949. This story follows the life of Winston Smith, a low-ranking member of ‘the Party,’ who is fed up with the constant observation of the party, and its ominous ruler Big Brother. This book offers political satirist George Orwell’s nightmarish vision of the future and its totalitarian, bureaucratic world. Winston attempts to find individuality, but is faced with nonstop challenges and terrors along the way.

ENTPs are individuals who crave free expression and thought. Being observed, micromanaged, or restricted are some of their worst fears. 1984 is a haunting, thought-provoking read for them that will probably never leave their minds. As truth-seekers, the whole idea that “ignorance is strength” will be horrifying to them. Many ENTPs will relate to Winston’s hunger for individuality and freedom and will find lessons from this book that they can apply to the current climate. Find out more: 1984.

#6 – Animal Farm by George Orwell

“Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals. He sets them to work, he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving, and the rest he keeps for himself.”

A fairy tale for adults, Animal Farm tells the story of overworked, mistreated animals who start an uprising and take over their farm. This story explores how revolution against tyranny can unfortunately result in totalitarianism that’s equally as corrupt.

ENTPs appreciate the symbolism and humor of Animal Farm. As intuitive perceivers, they can easily understand the underlying meanings of the story and apply it to events happening in the world today. Find out more: Animal Farm.

#7 – The Sandman by Neil Gaiman

“People think dreams aren’t real just because they aren’t made of matter, of particles. Dreams are real. But they are made of viewpoints, of images, of memories and puns and lost hopes.”

Technically a comic book, The Sandman tells the story of Dream, who is the personification of all dreams and stories. In 1916, Dream is captured and imprisoned by a group of black magic occultists. Many years later, Dream escapes and attempts to regain control of Dreaming and the powers he once possessed.

ENTPs appreciate the profound, imaginative world of The Sandman. Gaiman (in my opinion most likely an NP type) is deeply creative and the scope of the story is enormous. The story not only includes Dream and his six siblings, but historical figures like Marco Polo or Caesar Augustus, and mythical figures like Loki and the Fates. Gaiman manages to weave nearly every literary source into this single, cohesive narrative without becoming too long-winded or confusing. Find out more about the series: The Sandman.

#8 – The Art of War by Sun Tzu

“All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.”

The Art of War is a thought-provoking classic that not only holds a special place in the culture and history of East Asia, but has helped military strategists to this day. This ancient Chinese text explores the philosophy and politics of warfare and military strategy by a warrior now famous throughout the world as Sun Tzu. Even though much time has passed since the 6^th century when this book was written, its teachings remain relevant to leaders and strategists to this very day.

ENTPs are often strategically minded and enjoy diving into this book that combines both history and life lessons for anyone in a competitive environment. This book broadens the mind and gives dozens of pieces of wisdom that can apply to the battlefield or even everyday life. Find out more about the book: The Art of War

#9 – The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

“I could die for you. But I couldn’t, and wouldn’t, live for you.”

This modern classic tells the story of an uncompromising young architect Howard Roark, who battles against conventional standards and is therefore expelled from his architecture school. He refuses to compromise with an architectural establishment that is unwilling to accept innovation, while his schoolmate, Peter Keating, earns almost instant success due to his ability to flatter and please. Roark, while his works are indeed beautiful, rarely receives recognition. The story follows his struggles, and his fight to be true to himself against all odds.

ENTPs, who also tend to fight against conventions, may find Roark’s predicaments relatable. His need to experiment, innovate, and transform will be inspiring to ENTPs, and they’ll appreciate the powerful message of integrity vs. conformity. Find out more about the book: The Fountainhead.

#10 – Thinking, Fast and Slow

“A reliable way to make people believe in falsehoods is frequent repetition, because familiarity is not easily distinguished from truth. Authoritarian institutions and marketers have always known this fact.”

In this mega bestseller, world-famous psychologist Daniel Kahneman takes us on a tour through the mind. He explains two systems that drive the way we think. System 1 is fast, intuitive, and emotional; System 2 is slower, more deliberative, and more logical. Kahneman exposes us to some of the faults and biases of fast thinking, as well as some of its capabilities. He tackles common human predicaments like predicting what will make us happy, the challenges of properly framing risks, and even the effects of cognitive biases on everything from playing the stock market to planning our next vacation. Thinking, Fast and Slow is a revealing work that exposes us to our own detrimental biases and errors in thinking. It also reveals ways that we can guard against the mental glitches that get us into trouble. Find out more about the book: Thinking, Fast and Slow

Other Books Frequently Recommended By ENTPs:

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

The Adolescent by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Ulysses by James Joyce

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Krabat by Otfried Preußler

Firestarter by Stephen King

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

The Art of Deception by Kevin D. Mitnick

Pale Blue Dot by Carl Sagan

Other Articles You Might Enjoy:

Your ENTP Personality Type and Your Enneagram Type

12 Amazing Fictional ENTP Characters

A Look at the ENTP Leader

What Are Your Thoughts?

Do you love these books? Do you have any suggestions or thoughts for other readers? Let us know in the comments!

Find out more about your personality type in our eBooks, Discovering You: Unlocking the Power of Personality Type,  The INFJ – Understanding the Mystic, The INTJ – Understanding the Strategist, and The INFP – Understanding the Dreamer. You can also connect with me via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!