Why Luigi Mangione Obsessed Over Indian Author Jash Dholani, Buying 400 Copies of His Book And Then Tracking Him Down
Luigi Mangione reportedly purchased 400 copies of Hit Reverse: New Ideas from Old Books. What did he find so transforming in those 267 pages?
In early 2024, Luigi Mangione left his co-living space in Hawaii and embarked on what he called a journey to 'zen out.' On April 27th, while hiking in Japan's Nara region, he sent an audio message to a friend expressing this desire for peace.
But something changed during that journey. Traveling with two German tourists, Max and Paul, Mangione made an unexpected decision. Instead of joining them for a beach day in Thailand, he visited an expensive shooting range.
Then came the books. Four hundred copies of 'Hit Reverse: New Ideas from Old Books' by Indian author Jash Dholani. Not content with just reading the work, Mangione flew to Mumbai, determined to meet the author and share his personal feedback.
As Paul told TMZ's documentary 'The Mind of a Killer': 'He seemed obsessed with Dholani's book. We didn't understand why anyone would need 400 copies.
Who is Jash Dholani?
Jash Dholani is a 27-year-old writer from Mumbai who calls himself 'The Old Books Guy.' A former advertising professional with aspirations to make films, he's gained attention for his ability to distill complex philosophical ideas into digestible wisdom.
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His reach extends far beyond India. With over 110,000 followers on X, his work has attracted readers like Elon Musk and Jordan Peterson. When asked about his viral success, Dholani explains: 'I can write something sitting in a cafe in Delhi, or a train station in Budapest, and reach people around the world’.
What sets Dholani apart is his approach to classic texts. 'Authors of old books are not afraid of getting cancelled, so they usually speak their minds,' he explains. 'Old books are vetted by time—only the best have survived’.
Jash Dholani was interviewed by WION (before the shooting), here are his thoughts:
"Historian Stephen Meyer says there are some very weird gaps in the evolution of life. There are sudden explosions in new species, sudden increases in the size and capacity of the human brain - from 1 to 100 with nothing in between."
"Explosions and improvements so sudden that the normal evolutionary process, which takes millions of years, just can't explain them. He's saying there was some extraterrestrial influence. Very baffling idea - but he's a brilliant guy and makes his case really well."
His interests range from Napoleon's private letters to Carl Jung's symbolism. In a November 2024 interview, just weeks before Thompson's murder, Dholani discussed a theory about evolutionary gaps and extraterrestrial influence that he found 'baffling.' He noted sudden explosions in species development and human brain capacity that 'normal evolutionary process just can't explain’.
Before Mangione's visit, Dholani had already established himself as a speaker at global events like BrainBar. His Instagram featured essays with titles like 'Creativity is Brutal' and 'Take the Hate Pill'. But nothing in his work suggested violence or extremism.
What is Jash Dholani’s Book About?
Hit Reverse: New Ideas from Old Books' is divided into four distinct parts: The Truth About Human Nature, You Versus the Modern World, You Need to Be Creativity Maxxing, and The Übermensch Manual.
The book contains over 750 insights drawn from 75 classic texts, with provocative chapter titles like 'The Dark Side of Equality,' 'Why Politics Must Be Theological,' and 'The Strange Advantages of Shooting Your Own Leg’.
In a November 2024 interview, just weeks before Thompson's murder, Dholani discussed theories that particularly intrigued him: 'Historian Stephen Meyer says there are some very weird gaps in the evolution of life. There are sudden explosions in new species, sudden increases in the size and capacity of the human brain - from 1 to 100 with nothing in between’.
"Dholani shared three key lessons from the book: 'Charisma is being comfortable in your own skin,' 'Napoleon on Courage: Courage can't be counterfeited,' and observations about communication between men and women[5]."
The book's examination of revolutionary ideas and human nature takes on darker significance in light of recent events. As TMZ's documentary reveals, this wasn't Mangione's only literary obsession - he had a second book about corporate greed that investigators believe connects directly to his motive.
More Questions
As investigators piece together Mangione's movements, troubling questions emerge. Why purchase 400 copies of 'Hit Reverse'? His travel companions Max and Paul noted his growing obsession with the book during their time in Thailand.
The connection between Dholani's philosophy and Mangione's actions raises deeper concerns. While Dholani writes about challenging conventional thinking and exploring revolutionary ideas, his work shows no connection to violence. Yet something in these pages resonated deeply with Mangione.
Perhaps most significant is Mangione's media consumption pattern. As Politico notes, his interests aligned with a growing movement of young, educated men who share a fundamental distrust of institutions. From following both Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to his interest in biohacking and sustainability, Mangione's worldview reflected a broader pattern of institutional skepticism.
The Mumbai meeting itself remains shrouded in mystery. Despite traveling thousands of miles with 400 books in tow, Mangione never met Dholani. Some sources suggest the author was unavailable, while others hint at concerns about Mangione's increasingly obsessive behavior.
As this investigation continues, these questions point to a larger pattern. Like the Unabomber before him, Mangione's path to radicalization seems paved with a complex mix of philosophical ideas, institutional distrust, and personal grievances. The challenge for investigators isn't just understanding what happened, but preventing others from following a similar path.
Note: Jash Dholani claims that Luigi Mangione did not buy his book but tried to. They met once for an hour.
This is false. 400 books were never bought. He *tried* to buy 400 copies but the transaction was flagged by the bank and rejected. Ultimately he bought *one* copy of my book, like thousands of other people
— Jash Dholani (@oldbooksguy) January 7, 2025
The documentary makers know this. I know they know this because I told…
I would like to research: Years of Lead, the Italian violence from 1976 to 1982. (interesting because, Mangione is of Italian descent)