10 Best Books to Read to Be Like Ayanokoji (From Classroom of the Elite)

If you're fascinated by Kiyotaka Ayanokoji from Classroom of the Elite, you're not alone. This calm, calculating, and intellectually superior character has captured the imagination of anime fans around the world. With his emotionless demeanor, unmatched logic, and strategic brilliance, Ayanokoji represents the ideal of a hidden genius. So, how can you cultivate a mind like his?

While he’s a fictional character born out of brilliant writing, you can still mimic his traits in real life. One of the best ways is by reading books that enhance your strategic thinking, emotional control, psychological understanding, and knowledge of human behavior.

Here are the best books to read if you want to be like Ayanokoji.

1. The Art of War by Sun Tzu

Ayanokoji is the living embodiment of The Art of War. This ancient Chinese military treatise emphasizes strategy, deception, and the value of knowing both yourself and your enemy. It's clear that Ayanokoji operates with these principles in mind.

Reading this book will sharpen your ability to predict outcomes, think several moves ahead, and handle conflicts with calm calculation. Every chapter is filled with wisdom that Ayanokoji himself would approve of.

2. 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

This modern classic is all about manipulation, influence, and power dynamics—three things Ayanokoji understands well. The 48 laws cover strategies such as:

• Conceal your intentions
• Always say less than necessary
• Master the art of timing

Ayanokoji regularly applies these laws without hesitation, staying behind the scenes and letting others take the spotlight. If you want to think like him, this book is a must-read.

3. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

Despite his intelligence and manipulative skills, Ayanokoji is always calm and composed. This is a core principle of Stoicism, and no book introduces Stoic thinking better than Meditations by the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

It teaches you how to remain unaffected by emotions, ignore distractions, and focus on what you can control—traits that Ayanokoji displays perfectly. Read this to master your inner world, just like he does.

4. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Ayanokoji is a master of rational thinking. He knows how to detach from instinct and rely on logic and slow, deliberate thought. Thinking, Fast and Slow explains how the brain works in two systems—one fast and intuitive, and one slow and analytical.

To emulate Ayanokoji, you’ll need to train your slow-thinking system to analyze situations deeply and avoid cognitive biases. This book will help you understand your mind and make smarter decisions.

5. The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli

If Ayanokoji ever wrote a political manifesto, it would look like The Prince. This book teaches you how to maintain power through manipulation, fear, and cunning. It doesn’t promote morality—it promotes results.

Ayanokoji isn’t driven by emotions or ethics. He operates based on what works in achieving his goals. The Prince reflects that same philosophy and will help you build a realistic, unromantic view of power and human nature.

6. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

While Ayanokoji doesn’t seek friends, he knows how to use people to achieve his objectives. This classic self-help book explains how to influence others subtly—by making them feel important, listening actively, and persuading without confrontation.

You’ll learn the social skills needed to stay under the radar, influence outcomes, and build useful alliances—just like Ayanokoji does in Class D.

7. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

To dive into a mind as complex as Ayanokoji’s, you need deep psychological fiction. Crime and Punishment follows the internal conflict of a man who believes he's intellectually superior and justified in his actions.

This philosophical novel explores morality, guilt, and logic. It gives you a lens into the mind of someone detached from normal emotions—eerily similar to Ayanokoji.

8. The 33 Strategies of War by Robert Greene

If you loved The Art of War, this modern adaptation is a brilliant next step. Robert Greene explores historical battles, political strategies, and psychological tactics that help you master the battlefield of life.

Ayanokoji treats life like war—an arena where every move counts. This book will help you break down social, emotional, and mental conflicts like a true tactician.

9. Deep Work by Cal Newport

Ayanokoji likely spends most of his time in "deep work" mode—no distractions, just focus. In a world full of noise, mastering deep focus is a superpower.

This book teaches you how to eliminate distractions, manage your time, and push your cognitive abilities to their limits. It's an essential read for anyone who wants to be highly productive and intellectually dominant.

10. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

One of Ayanokoji’s most mysterious traits is his ability to endure pain, isolation, and psychological manipulation without losing control. Man’s Search for Meaning is written by a Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist who explains how meaning and mindset can help you survive any suffering.

Reading this book will help you develop emotional resilience, mental strength, and a deeper understanding of what drives human behavior—core traits of Ayanokoji.

Final Thoughts

Becoming like Ayanokoji is about much more than looking calm and cool. It’s about cultivating deep mental discipline, strategic thinking, emotional detachment, and a sharp understanding of others. These books won’t turn you into a fictional mastermind overnight—but they will give you the mindset, knowledge, and control you need to move closer to that goal.

By reading the best books on strategy, psychology, power, and self-control, you can begin to think like Kiyotaka Ayanokoji—and maybe even outsmart your own “Class D.”