How to use the Naval Almanack Life Guide agent skill

What is an agent skill and what does this one do?

An agent skill is a folder of instructions that an AI assistant can read when a request matches the skill's description. Instead of answering from general knowledge alone, the agent follows the framework written in the skill's files.

This skill is built around The Almanack of Naval Ravikant. When you ask a matching question, the agent reads the main SKILL.md file, picks one relevant topic card from the references folder, and answers using that framework. It also tells you when a question is outside the book's scope, such as stock picking or crisis situations.

• Wealth: how to build wealth, equity and options questions, leverage, side income and career positioning, hourly rate and outsourcing decisions
• Judgment: big life choices, mental models, job versus startup
• Happiness: desire and anxiety, acceptance, meditation, phone and social media dependence, anger and comparison
• Life philosophy: meaning of life, honest communication, choosing friends, how to read and learn

How do you install the naval-almanack skill?

Download the ZIP file from this page and unzip it. You can then put the skill in one of two places. For a personal skill available across your projects, unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/. For a skill that belongs to one project, unzip it into the project's .claude/skills/ folder.

If you use the Claude apps instead of files on disk, you can upload the skill under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

• Personal install: ~/.claude/skills/
• Project install: .claude/skills/ inside your project folder
• App install: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload

How do you trigger the skill with natural requests?

You do not need a special command. The skill is triggered by the topic of your question. Ask in plain language about the book, Naval Ravikant, or the subjects it covers. The skill's trigger words include 纳瓦尔, Naval, 纳瓦尔宝典, 致富, 财富, 幸福, 判断力, 冥想, 读书 and 人生意义. Questions can be written in English or Chinese.

Be specific about the situation. A question with a concrete decision or feeling gives the agent a clearer topic card to load than a general question.

• Ask about a decision: "I can't decide whether to take this job or stay. Help me think it through using the book's approach."
• Ask about wealth: "How does the book suggest I think about equity compensation?"
• Ask about habits: "I check my phone constantly. What does this framework say about cutting back?"
• Ask about the book itself: "Who wrote The Almanack of Naval Ravikant and what are its main ideas?"

What examples show the skill in use?

The skill's topic cards follow a pattern: they quote the source idea, explain the method, then show how the book applies it. For example, the decision card suggests that when you cannot decide, the default answer is no, and that between two equal options you should pick the one that is more painful in the short term.

The acceptance card gives a simple exercise for minor annoyances: when something goes wrong, ask what is positive about it. The card's example is a meeting you are late for, where you could take the time to look at birds.

What does the skill need, and what does it do on your machine?

The skill lists no required dependencies. It does not run scripts and does not use the network, according to its metadata. It is a set of text files the agent reads.

The skill also has clear limits. It is not for specific investment picks, stock selection or financial product advice. It is not for clinical depression, psychiatric crises or suicidal thoughts; in those cases it directs you to professional or emergency help. For legal, medical or personal safety decisions, the skill says to stop applying its methods and seek professional help.

• Requires: nothing listed
• Runs scripts: no
• Uses network: no

What tips help you get better answers?

Give the agent your real situation, including the options you are weighing. The skill is designed to apply one framework at a time, so a focused question works better than several unrelated ones.

Treat the output as a structured perspective, not a professional opinion. For money, health, law or safety decisions, use the skill for thinking and then consult a qualified person.

• Name the decision and the options you are considering
• Ask one topic at a time
• Use the skill for reflection, not as a substitute for a doctor, lawyer or financial adviser