An inspiring quote from the book, No Filter: The Inside Story Of Instagram by Sarah Frier named Fortune’s “most enrapturing book about Silicon Valley since Hatching Twitter” reads:
“People who do not take risks, then work for people who do.”
Needless to say, becoming a CEO or entrepreneur is not for the faint-hearted. The difficulties of being a decision-maker can sometimes outweigh the advantages, but if you have envisioned a future in which you lead, there are uncountable books that can aid you in your precarious journey.
In the ever-adapting market, it’s never too early, nor late to start your own thriving business. Sure, you’ll stumble upon roadblocks, and you may even, at some point, be discouraged to continue but one way out of all the complications is to read books. The world belongs to the ones who read because books are an open window to the past, present and future.
If you’re confident of being a strong leader in the real world, or if you need guidance or inspiration to find your zen, this feature curates a list of books we recommend every aspiring CEO to read and to take the effort of mastering the crucial steps of gaining business acumen.
Why Do CEOs Read Books?
If every successful CEO and entrepreneur had to give you one life-altering tip to magnify your career, they would tell you to read. By investing in books, one can stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the industry. Business tycoon and billionaire Warren Buffett reads about 500 pages per day because he believes that reading is the most valuable source of knowledge. And we all know, Knowledge is power.
Unsurprisingly, CEOs devote time to reading as someone may have encountered similar issues as them before and could have written a bestseller book which comprehends meaningful advice and practical solutions. Whether you need to manage your team efficiently, navigate the competitive market with a bold decision, or need to balance the pressure, books will help you learn from the successes and failures of others.
Books Every Aspiring CEO Should Read:
While there are infinite good reads that are published year after year, there are a few types of business books that any aspiring CEO must make note of – Memoirs, Biographies, Leadership books, Self-help books, Business and Economics books and Management books.
Amongst them, there are books every professional woman should read and there are specific must-reads for women leaders too.
We have curated a list of recommendations of must-reads and a guide to exceptional books that we’re sure will be pivotal in your life:
1. How To Win Friends And Influence People: How To Stop Worrying And Start Living
Author – Dale Carnegie
Genre – Self-Help, 291 pages.
First published in 1936 with a modest run of five thousand copies, How to Win Friends And Influence People is a classic penned by Dale Carnegie and has been one of the bestselling books which has sold more than 30 million copies. The Library of Congress once ranked it as the 7th most influential book in American History and also made it to the ranks of Times Magazine as one of the most influential books of all time. It is one of the favorite books of Warren Buffett who holds a diploma from the course Carnegie ran in conjunction with the book. Late Carnegie’s estimated worth in 2022, would likely be $372 billion. The book had undergone several revisions without altering the heart of the story.
Book Review: Carnegie entrusts the reader with 8 golden rules before starting the book and it had us intrigued. There are 30 chapters and the intrinsic principles of each chapter are drawn from contemporary psychology endorsed with a plethora of examples variegated between presidents, kings and finance magnates, which are highly relevant, even today. The author has written it very concretely, just as how he would speak and the concepts are very straightforward.
“Abilities wither under criticism but blossom under encouragement.”
The crux of the book revolves around human behavior and its extension to ego and self-esteem. Some of the lessons inculcated in each chapter are, “Smile, talk about our mistakes before pointing out theirs, remember their first name as it makes them feel important, be interested in other people’s conversations genuinely, sincerely compliment, and always look after self-esteem.
How it helps aspiring entrepreneurs: The book is quite interesting and helps entrepreneurs by giving them a peek into primordial behavior which resonates deeply with the emotional nature of humans. The law of attraction is real and kindness can transform your outlook in your everyday life.
2. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make A Big Difference.
Author – Malcolm Gladwell
Genre – Social Psychology / Non-Fiction, 279 pages.
Born in England, Malcolm Gladwell made his debut in the string of seven bestsellers, with The Tipping Point in February 2000. Gladwell has been a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1996 and continues today as an author. The book has sold over 3 million copies and was a New York Times bestseller for over 8 years. This widely acclaimed book showcases Gladwell’s astuteness in a global society.
Book Review: The “Tipping Point” is a phenomenon that occurs in every environment, business or life. The valuable book serves as a plausible blueprint for businesses and marketers, alike. It explains that certain events, however large or small converge in a series that can form a magic moment, rather a tipping point that can lead to massive shifts – a trend, an idea or social behavior crosses a threshold which can spread like wildfire.
He takes us through three major theories that are backed up with compelling data from actual events, such as case studies and interviews with professionals.
The 3 theories are titled: The Law of the Few, The Power of Context and The Stickiness factor. An idea needs to spread through a few key players and it needs to stick. There are three characters introduced namely Connectors (Influencers), Salesman and Mavens (Ambassadors). It uses the principle of Pareto’s Law which is that 20 percent of input results in 80 percent of consequences.
How it helps dreamers: In an interview with The Guardian, Gladwell shared an important lesson that life taught him – that predicting the future was impossible and anyone was just better off winging life. Aspiring CEOs must remember that we all play a purpose and no matter how big or small our efforts might be, we can never predict if it will be a step in the direction of our Tipping Point.
3. The Year Of Yes: How To Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be your own person.
Author – Shonda Rhimes
Genre – Humorous Memoir, 352 pages.
As one of the leading producers of Hollywood, Shonda Rhimes is a success story. Her television production company, Shondaland has delivered some of the best hit series in the world which include Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and How To Get Away With Murder.
The words, “You never say yes to anything” from her eldest sister on a Thanksgiving morning in 2013 sparked Rhimes’ journey to write the memoir. As an introvert, Shonda had a good reason to say no to everything such as media appearances, public speaking events, and press interviews: nothing new to fear.
The book, published in 2015, takes us through how she decided to say YES to everything and ended up on the Jimmy Kimmel show or at a speech at her alma mater, Dartmouth.
Book Review: The profound and poignant memoir is a very candid, interesting and revealing read. While some may find the book to be overtly narcissistic, it’s a heart-warming journey of Rhimes who busted out of her shell to face her fears. Rhimes has a flair for words and the book is recommended for those who want to brave their journeys. She said yes to everything for a year and faced her most fierce fear – no comfort zone. Rhimes dubbed the woman who ‘owns Thursday night television’ (#TGIT) was once an introvert who said no to everything.
“I’ve started to think that we are like mirrors: what you are, reflects back to you. What you see in yourself, you may see in others.”
The compulsive read consists of 15 chapters which trudge through the complexities of expectations and how anyone has to navigate through it all to make it worthwhile. Rhimes accepts the body image she construed of herself, and teaches how one should say yes to saying ‘no’, yes to real friendships, yes to being beautiful and yes to self-love.
Saying Yes, transformed Rhimes’ life with new opportunities and newer challenges.
How it helps the doers: In Year of Yes, Rhimes lets readers into her raw, intimate truth of how she didn’t undergo any troublesome times growing up and owns up to her privileges of a great life, which she actually wasn’t enjoying much because of her introvert-ness. She confronts her fears and inspires others to do the same. Don’t let fear overpower you, say YES.
4. Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike.
Author – Phil Knight
Genre – Memoir, 386 pages.
Shoe Dog is a soul-barring, riveting memoir authored by Phil Knight, the founder of the prolific sports shoe brand Nike, in 2016. Knight founded the company in 1962 with just a mere $50 which he borrowed from his father and made $8000 in its first year. The revenue of ubiquitous Nike in the last quarter of 2022 was $49.10 billion.
Lauded for a candid narrative, Knight takes us through the nitty-gritty of becoming a successful entrepreneur, through humble beginnings and adversities. It examines the chaos that isn’t impervious even to corporations of such magnitude. Billionaires like Bill Gates and Buffett recommend this must-read.
Book Review: A brilliant book that glues the readers and is unable to be put down. At 24, Knight decided to start his own unconventional and dynamic business and dealt with daunting challenges and early triumphs. He details the hurdles he had to overcome and the relationships he built with his peers along the way.
Knight describes his struggles and conflicts with becoming a leader and managing the finance of the company through its first decade.
“I’d tell people in their mid-twenties to not settle for a profession but to seek a calling. Even if you don’t know what it means, follow your calling because the fatigue will be easier to bear, the disappointments will fuel you and the highs will be nothing like you’ve ever felt before.”
The memoir does a remarkable job of describing Knight’s persona and intrepid qualities as a seeker. He could be tolerant of failure, but never of stagnation. Introspection can wildly redefine your path to success.
What budding entrepreneurs can learn: The book imbues the readers with wisdom and lessons based on the personal experiences of Knight’s setbacks and successes. It is a motivating read that cajoles one with quite level-headed advice to never give up or stop and always take innumerable chances to make it big. Success is never merely a step away but demands grit and perseverance.
5. The Hard Things About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers.
Author – Ben Horowitz
Genre – Business and Economics, 304 pages.
Ben Horowitz is one of Silicon Valley’s most experienced and well-respected VC and the co-founder of the venture capitalist firm, Andreessen Horowitz. The book published in 2014, The Hard Things About Hard Things offers practical advice and wisdom on navigating the challenges of building and running a business.
Book Review: This book is for CEOs and written by a CEO. Some say that the book is for funded startups but that isn’t the case. It chronicles Horowitz’s uncomfortable trials from a founder CEO to a VCs and throws light on the struggles that leaders confront every day.
“Great CEOs build daring and exceptional strategies for gathering information continuously. Winning strategies are built on comprehensive knowledge collected in every interaction that the CEO has with a client, an employee, a partner or an investor.”
Amongst the vividly described chapters, Horowitz takes us through intuitive insights he gained, narrated with his trademark humor: Cultivating and sustaining the CEO mindset, the tough situation of firing a loyal friend, when and how to sell your company, and why it’s necessary to take care and train your people.
How it aids aspiring CEOs: Becoming a leader often brings one to tough decisions. Horowitz’s brutally honest advice is invaluable even for veteran entrepreneurs and everyone can draw inspiration from his humbling experiences.
6. Managing Oneself: The Key to Success.
Author – Peter F. Drucker
Genre – Self-help, 72 pages.
Austrian-born American, Peter Drucker was a modern management expert, teacher, author and consultant who wrote about 34 books (which have been published in 70 languages) about the philosophical and practical foundations of modern business companies. He was a leader in the development of education for management and also invented the concept of ‘management by objectives.’
In an ever-evolving, competitive world, one must never stop learning and self-developing and this book provides insights on how to be a successful leader. Managing Oneself was published in 2008 and is a Harvard Business Review Classic which resonates strongly, even today.
Drucker founded the Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit Management, and even counseled 13 governments, public services institutions, and major corporations, over his prominent years.
Book Review: The book, Managing Oneself embraces the concepts that drive your success, such as ambition, talent and grit. In a world full of unprecedented chances, one must learn to carve a course out for themselves and also know when to steer clear. Doesn’t being productive and engaged for fifty-odd years in your business have a certain ring to it?
“Success in the economy of knowledge comes to the ones who know themselves – their values, strengths and how they can best perform.”
Drucker delves into the questions that an individual needs to ask themselves to gain the business acumen to take charge of their professional life. A person should cultivate an understanding of their strengths and weaknesses in depth, fearlessly. They must comprehend their way of learning and working with other individuals and describe the type of workspace they would flourish in. A true combination of deep values, strengths and self-knowledge can help you navigate struggles and transcend into long-lasting success.
How it helps ambitious CEOs: Albeit everyone interprets success differently, Managing Oneself helps one understand which questions to ask yourself to move ahead on the path of flourishment.
7. The Ride Of A Lifetime: Lessons learned from 15 years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company
Author – Robert Iger, Joel Lovell
Genre – Memoir / Leadership, 272 pages.
The most-cherished company in the world, Walt Disney, was a roaring success story of perseverance and passion. The Ride Of a Lifetime is reminiscent of Disney’s fame with the popular business magnate, Robert Iger unveiling his perspectives and lessons he learnt as the CEO of Disney for over a decade and a half. Iger is recognized as one of the most successful CEOs of all time.
Released in 2019, the widely acclaimed compelling read champions as the #1 New York Times Bestseller is a grander vision of how Iger’s ideas of decisiveness, courage and optimism, reinvented the company.
Book Review: Ride Of a Lifetime is a unique and inspiring read that motivates and teaches how grit and determination can help one overcome the obstacles of their life. It is a golden blueprint for legendary leadership.
Iger became the CEO of The Walt Disney Company in a deteriorating period of 2005 when technology was evolving at a rapid pace and Disney was headed towards an ill fate, failing to cope. But with optimism, he had a clear idea of what he had to do to avoid the risk of disruption. The principles of the book enunciate thinking bigger, embracing the obstacle instead of fighting it (in this case, technology) and inspiring others to lead fair and square.
“Even in the face of difficulties and less ideal outcomes, an optimistic leader does not yield to pessimism because people are not energized or motivated by pessimists.”
The wisdom imparted, speaks about the power of respect and betting on talent, led by his own experience as examples. Iger always chose to be significantly honest with his words and we truly enjoyed his stellar style of telling stories.
What can entrepreneurs learn: A relentlessly curious man writing about decency-over-dollars in every partnership deal that ensues, shared that one of the key lessons of the book is to never fake it until you live it. In troubled times, Iger found an illuminating path rather than giving up or blaming others and Disney has become the largest and the most valuable media company under his leadership. One can also learn to negotiate in business deals with the lessons Iger imparts over his deals for purchasing Pixar, Fox, Lucasfilm and more.
Final Words:
There is no overnight success and every success begins with failure. With a list of the collection of good books at your disposal, don’t wait for any momentous occasion and just seize the day to kickstart your progress. Read now to become successful enough to write one yourself, later.
