Successful business people, entrepreneurs, marketers and leaders have a few common attributes – an overflowing bookcase, a packed audiobooks app and/or an eBook reader with a full library. Most CEOs read a book a week or more as reported by Blinklist. Here is what some of these leaders have said about reading and their dependence on books.
Read 500 pages…every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will do it. Warren Buffett
Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers. Harry S. Truman
Reading is the key that open doors to many good things in life. Reading shaped my dreams and more reading helped me make my dream come true. Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Reading is still the main way that I both learn new things and test my understanding. Bill Gates
I read books. Elon Musk on how he learned to build a rocket.
I would continuously search for new ideas. I read every book and magazine I could. Heck, 3 bucks for a magazine, 20 bucks for a book. One good idea that led to a customer or solution and it paid for itself many times over. Marc Cuban
When I wasn’t working, the weekends would usually find me alone in an empty apartment, making do with the company of books. Barack Obama
There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island. Walt Disney
My best friend is a person who will give me a book I have not read. Abraham Lincoln
Some women have a weakness for shoes… I can go barefoot if necessary. I have a weakness for books. Oprah Winfrey
I concur and, in this spirit, here is a list of 10 books to read this summer that will provide insight, help you grow your business and provide hours of enjoyment.
The Power of Broke: How Empty Pockets, a Tight Budget and a Hunger for Success Can Become Your Greatest Competitive Advantage by Daymond John
Sometimes the title of the book is so descriptive, it needs no introduction. Such is the case with this selection from Shark Tank investor, Daymond John. He shows from personal experiences how the scrappy guy with no bank account has to be more creative and resourceful and ultimately these efficiencies make it a more powerful business.
Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All the Facts by Anne Duke
The author shares her expertise from her former life as a World Series of Poker champion to her new field as a decision strategist. She argues you may never have all the information you want to make a decision. Instead, she encourages business people to forge ahead, look at the odds and make decisions based on the percentage of success.
The 12 Powers of a Marketing Leader: How to Succeed by Building Customer and Company Value by Thomas Barta, Patrick Barwise
A marketing pro and a business school professor team up to identify 12 necessary traits needed by marketers to lead their team to success. Using research gained from interviews with thousands of leaders across the world, the authors show you where to find the sweet spot with your company and your clients. From the publisher’s notes: Warning: This is not a marketing book. It’s a leadership book for marketers, using the latest research on what works—and what doesn’t—in marketing’s digital age.
Crushing It!: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence – and How You Can, Too by Gary Vaynerchuk
With strategies used from his own personal success, Vaynerchuk guides entrepreneurs and marketers on how to build your brand and use social media to maximum benefits. Although many social media primers have a short shelf-life due to constantly changing platforms, this book has timeless intel.
The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker
Using her years of experience helping individuals and groups “create transformative gatherings” Priya Parker shares her expertise on how to get the most out of meetings, gatherings, events and conferences. With big picture ideas and personalization techniques, this is a must for planners and hosts.
Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World – and Why Things are Better Than You Think by Hans Rosling, Anna Rosling Ronnlund, Ola Rosling
Recommended by Bill Gates on his summern 2018 reading list, Factfulness shows how and why our perceptions can becomes distorted and cause unfounded angst. They authors present a data-filled case for why we need to look at the world using facts and not perceptions. Read Bill Gates description here. The title and contents are very relevant in today’s world.
Capturing Loyalty: How to Measure, Generate and Profit from Highly Satisfied Customers by John A Larson, Bennett E. McClellan
Using a proven method to increase your bottom line, this book takes it a step further. Rather than putting energy into new business, the authors suggest you should keep going back to the well with current satisfied customers and focus on ways to expand your reach with your most loyal client base.
Only the Paranoid Survive: How to Exploit the Crisis Points That Challenge Every Company by Andrew S. Grove
One of Steve Jobs must-reads, this book goes beyond the everyday crisis management rules. Authored by the founder of Intel, it is more of a navigation system for handling change, difficult circumstances and bouncing back from failure.
Y is for Yesterday by Sue Grafton
Summer reading lists aren’t complete without something to read on the beach. This Was Sue Grafton’s last book before she passed away this year and she saved the best for last. This whodunit centers on a high school student’s murder and the ensuing coverup. She never made it to Z in the Kinsey Millhone detective series and her family says the alphabet for them now ends with Y.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
With a movie remake released on HBO, this summer is the perfect to read or re-read this classic novel. Named for the temperature at which paper burns, this story presents a future where books are banned.
Movie optional. Trailer:
https://youtu.be/mNKwe9k55fs
Happy reading!
Leisa Chester Weir