No one gets to the position of CEO and does not organize a successful business from the first time, without any experience. All successful and famous have been quite a difficult path of trial and error. And at this time they are influenced by a great number of factors - the places where they lived, the people who surrounded them, the challenges they faced and, of course, the books they read.
Favorite book person can give you the key to understanding the choices he makes, or his actions. Of course, reading favorite books of Richard Branson or Warren Buffett will not make you as successful, but perhaps you will begin to understand their actions and find his own, unique way.
Bill Gates. Former CEO to Microsoft, is now a philanthropist
During his life the literary preferences of the former head of Microsoft Bill Gates and multi constantly changing. But once in one of his interviews he said that the book "The Catcher in the Rye" by Jerome Salinger was one of his favorite, citing the fact that the theme of alienation, fear and rebellion has always been an integral part of growing up.
"She is very smart. It recognizes that young people may be a bit confused, but they understand a lot of things and see things that adults do not see. Therefore, it has always appealed to me. "
But in a recent poll Ask me anything, who spent Reddit, Gates changed its list of the 10 best books, grab a book from the last decade. And his choice was Stephen Pinker's The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined. According to him in this book displays a long, deep look at the reduction over time of violence and discrimination.
After he left the post of CEO at Microsoft, he was fully engaged in charity with his wife and he founded the Foundation Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Richard Branson. Chairman of Virgin Group
Richard Branson started his first business at age 16 under the influence of the magazine with the title The Student in the crypt of the church. And now, his empire has grown up to the visible boundaries of the space, as well as his literary tastes. The book of Arthur Ransome's "Swallows and Amazons" - a favorite book of his childhood. In addition to this book includes in his list of "Stalingrad" Anthony Beevor about the turning point of World War II and the "Wild Swans "Jung Chang about three generations of women in one family, faced with political instability in China XX century.
Mark Zuckerberg. CEO of Facebook
In the profile of the brand in Facebook contains only one favorite book - "Ender `s game"Orson Scott Card. Those who know what this book will immediately recognize the connection between Mark and the main character - the little genius who saved their world. However, in an interview with the New Yorker in 2010, Zuckerberg said that his favorite book is the "Aeneid" by Virgil.
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah has a book club at the meetings which discussed the work of writers from around the world. But her favorite book is an American classic - "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee.
"I remember after reading this book came to class and could not talk about it. I read it in class 8 or 9 and then tried to plant on her and the other children. And that is why I now have a book club, as it stayed with me after reading this book. "
Muhtar Kent. CEO Coca-Cola Company
Muhtar Kent enjoys economic surveillance and believes that his favorite book is one of the best - "Ascent of money" Niall Ferguson. It is possible to trace human history from the moment the first money in Mesopotamia, and see how it is modified over the centuries.
Jeff Bezos. CEO of Amazon
Now on Amazon you can buy almost everything, but it all began with the sale of books. Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, reads 10 books a month. The list of his favorite: "Built to Last. The success of the companies with the vision "by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras and the" rest of the day, "Kazuo Ishiguro. The first book is about how to get rid of the imposed myths and find new ideas and thoughts. But "the rest of the day" has a special place in the heart of Bezos.
"If you read the" rest of the day ", there is nothing you can not help but dive into ramzyshleniya. I just spent 10 hours of alternative life and learned something about life and regret. "
Steve Jobs. Former CEO of Apple
In my example, Steve Jobs showed how may intersect the humanities and technology. The biography of Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson has listed a number of books that have influenced Apple's co-founder: "King Lear" by Shakespeare, the works of Plato, "Moby Dick "by Herman Melville," Innovator's Dilemma "Clayton Christensen," Autobiography of a Yogi "by Paramahansa Yogananda," Zen consciousness, consciousness begins "Syunryu Suzuki.
Larry Ellison. CEO of Oracle
Larry Ellison - an avid reader, but feels a particular fondness for "Napoleon" by Vincent Cronin. This book is considered to be the best biography of Napoleon, written in French. For myself, Ellison found in this book are two interesting topics.
"Read about it is interesting for two reasons: to see what can do with your life man, humble birth, and how history can distort the facts. It also gives an understanding that even the story is based on fashion. Even morality - the popular morality - based on fashion. This morality is based on the causes, and never confuse these two moralities among themselves. "
Warren Buffett. CEO of Berkshire Hathaway
In 2003, Warren Buffett used the annual report of Berkshire Hathaway to recommend some books its shareholders. The list includes "Bull: The history of boom and bust" Maggie Mahar, "The most clever guys in this room," Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind, "In this uncertain world: Difficult choices from Wall Street to Washington," Robert Rubin and Jacob Weisberg.
Tim Cook. CEO of Apple
Before replaced as CEO Steve Jobs, Tim Cook was known as a wizard of the supply chain. His strategy is to a large extent been responsible for big profits Apple and their quality products. His favorite book - "eventually Competition" George Stalk and Hout Thomas. It talks about the importance of the supply chain and time in product development. This book is the result of 10 years of research and is focused on time management in the development, production, sales and distribution. Tim Cook believes it important enough to occasionally give a few copies for the study of his colleagues.
Tony Hsieh. CEO of Zappos
Tony Hsieh strongly believe in the importance of culture in business. So much so that it has invested $ 350 million to transform Las Vegas to Disneyland for entrepreneurs. His favorite book - "Tribal Governance" by Dave Logan, John King and Hailey Fischer-Wright.
"Tribal Governance" organizes all the things that we have done instinctively, and provides a broad base of the framework for all companies wishing to transfer their culture to the next level. "
His other favorite books: "Peak" Chip Conley and "Happiness Hypothesis," Jonathan Heydt.
Jack Dorsey. Twitter and CEO Square Creator
His favorite book is so important to him that he gives it to the starter package each new employee in the Square - «Manifesto checklist" Atul Gawande. This book carries a simple message - checklist helps people handle difficult situations. Atul Gawande cites examples from medicine, technology and natural disasters in order to demonstrate the strength of such lists.