It's the opposite of Taleb. Basically, if people were rational and used financial instruments properly, a lot of the risks of our lives can be mitigated. The trick isn't so much to control everything but to trade the less desirable forms of risk for the ones you can handle.
Ride The Tiger by Julius Evola.
Unlike most of these suggestions this book will actually give you purpose and meaning in life, but you will be vilified for even mentioning it. That's how you know it's good.
It has been a long time since I read it, but my basic understanding was that a lot of success is from luck and showed how that works. I remember clearly the math around investment managers being mostly lucky to have returns above the average yet they get a lot of praise and then their luck runs out. But there are still some that stay lucky for a long time.
If I was a successful investment manager I might question my success.
I have not read Thinking Fast and Slow ether but really disliked "The tipping point" by Malcolm Gladwell.
Most impressive book: Thus spoke Zarathustra.
Here’s a link for your perusal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9vy_flight
He does tell a few “I’m such a badass” stories a la Taleb, but somehow he’s a much more sympathetic character. When he talks about bullying some bureaucrat into accepting his dissertation, you can’t help but root for him. Like, it’s a pretty bombastic story, but at the same time he’s such an underdog in the story itself.
Plus the mathematical modeling stuff was eye opening for me too.
Highly recommended.
Edit to add: Kahneman’s writing is much closer to Mandelbrot than to Taleb. I think you’d like Thinking Fast and Slow.
You may also try Memories, Dreams, Reflections by Carl Jung
But in general there is no such book as there is no universal meaning. One has to find it oneself.
I would suggest to try to read writing of Epicurus instead. At least he did followed own principles as far as we know.
I may be mistaken, but I think Aurelius complained about this too in meditations.
Edit: love how I’m getting downvotes for a factual statement
To sum it up: do what is at the limit of your competence and what you feel very drawn too (as in very interested in it). That’s where you’ll find a balance of your existing knowledge and pressure to expand your horizons, plus you are following your passion. That gives meaning.
It’s certainly worked for me recently. It’s very good advice.