A compilation of the top books on inspirational biographies
Alibaba: The House That Jack Ma Built
Authors: Duncan Clark,
How did a man of humble beginnings grow to become a rival of the tycoons of Silicon Valley? Duncan Clark, an early advisor of one of the world’s largest companies — Alibaba — shares with us the story of Jack Ma’s rise to success, the challenges he faced and those that are yet to come.
One Click: Jeff Bezos and the Rise of Amazon.com
Authors: Richard L. Brandt,
How did a simple website grow to become one of the most successful e-commerce companies in the world? How did Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon change the future of internet marketing with just one click? Richard Brandt unfolds this story through interviews with employees, competitors and observers; one that will undoubtedly redefine modern marketing.
The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon
Authors: Brad Stone,
Best-selling author, Brad Stone, was given unparalleled access to life in Amazon, its founder (Jeff Bezos), his family and employees. The result of which was The Everything Store — a book that unveils Bezos’ secrets of success and how he made Amazon grow from a mere bookseller to an online store that sells literally everything. Discover the corporate culture he adopted, his ambitions and the strategies he followed to make his dream a ground-breaking reality.
Steve Jobs
Authors: Walter Isaacson,
The founder of one of the most revolutionary companies in the world, the maker of a device that changed the direction of the future — Steve Jobs — is a man who is known for his determination and also his demons. Walter Isaacson unveils the story of Jobs, through honest interviews with him, his family, friends and enemies. Disover the man who made your Iphone.
Trump: The Art of the Deal
Authors: Donald J. Trump,Tony Schwartz
Have you ever wondered who Donald Trump really is, how he handles his affairs — personal and professional — and what made him one of the most influential entrepreneurs of the world? Here is the answer to your questions, from Donald Trump himself. In The Art of Deal, Trump discloses his trade tricks and strategies and how he made his success a reality by dreaming big.
Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future
Authors: Ashlee Vance,
They call him the amalgamation of Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Howard Hughes and Steve Jobs; the Tony Stark of reality — Elon Musk. He is one of Silicon Valley’s champions, with a story that reaches all the way from Outer Space to the future. Ashlee Vance unravels the fascinating story of Elon Musk and how he is bringing science fiction to reality.
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
Authors: Stephen King,
His books went on to become record-breaking bestsellers. His name resonates in every library and bookstore. In this book, Stephen King shares the tale of his writing career. In it, you will find the inspiration to write even if you’re battling life and death, just as he did after his fatal accident in 1999.
Becoming Steve Jobs: The Evolution of a Reckless Upstart into a Visionary Leader
Authors: Brent Schlender,Rick Tetzeli
Steve Jobs revolutionized the world — no doubt about that. And every prominent figure is victim to criticism and gossip. So was Steve Jobs really so arrogant that he was kicked out of his own company? Was he as selfish as the media claims he was? Through his exclusive access and 25 years of knowing Jobs, Schlender gives you the answers to these questions and he won’t disappoint!
Jack: Straight from the Gut
Authors: Jack Welch,John A. Byrne, Mike Barnicle
His story started by demanding only the best from himself and those around him. This is the autobiography of a man who had a working-class childhood and gradually climbed the ladder to the top of one of America’s biggest companies. Jack is a book written by Jack Welch himself about his personal journey to becoming Fortune’s “Manager of the century”.
Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School
Authors: Richard Branson,
The rules in business school give you an idea. But they won’t guarantee a future. Richard Branson shares with you everything you need to know about enterprise — how to begin, how to lead and how to be more innovative. The Founder of Virgin groups never conformed to what was normal; he made his own rules. Now, he shares his secrets with you as well.
How to Win at the Sport of Business: If I Can Do It, You Can Do It
Authors: Mark Cuban,
Extraordinary entrepreneur, Mark Cuban, shares the secrets of his. His story started with selling powdered milk on the streets and now, he is one of America’s richest men. With inspiring lessons and very practical points, Cuban’s book will reshape the entrepreneur inside of you.
Screw It, Let’s Do It: Lessons In Life
Authors: Richard Branson,
World-famous entrepreneur, Sir Richard Branson gives you an insight into his life — his beliefs and strategies that helped him shatter every challenge he faced on his rocky journey to success. The lessons from his life will inspire you to change your own.
Kingpin: How One Hacker Took Over the Billion-Dollar Cybercrime Underground
Authors: Kevin Poulsen,
Uncover the gripping story of Blackhat “Iceman” Max Butler, a programming expert who used his extraordinary talent and stole access to 1.8 million credit card accounts. All while the FBI and police agents from around the world were on the lookout. Enter the realm of the underworld through the eyes of one of the top investigative reporters of cybercrime — Kevin Poulson, where a silent battle between law enforcement and criminals persists.
The Pixar Touch: The Making of a Company
Authors: David A. Price,
David Price unravels for you the story of the company behind animated movie legends including Toy Story, Finding Nemo and Wall-E. Take the journey and discover how the union of John Lasseter, Steve Jobs, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Michael Eisner resulted in the success of Pixar despite internal conflict.
Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time
Authors: Howard Schultz,Dori Jones Yang
Discover how one of the biggest companies in the world was established from a cup of coffee, through the words of its CEO — Howard Schultz. In this book, Schultz shares with you the strategies Starbucks implemented that helped it grow from a single store in Seattle to more than 28,000 stores in 77 countries.
Iacocca: An Autobiography
Authors: Lee Iacocca,William Novak
Lee Iacocca was the son of an Italian immigrant and also a man who people urged to run for the presidency. In this autobiography, Iacocca shares with you the story of how he brought Chrysler from near-death and repaid a loan of $1.2 billion. Being the former president of Ford, Iacocca also gives you a look at the flaws in Henry Ford’s management.
Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist
Authors: Roger Lowenstein,
After three years of access to his personal life, Roger Lowenstein gives us an insight into one of the wealthiest people in the world — Warren Buffet. Discover his investment and deal-making strategies and how he came to be known as the most successful investor in the world, while still maintaining a humble lifestyle.
Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture
Authors: David Kushner,
Violent video games are not an escape. With his gifted talent, Kushner illustrates the trauma that triggered two young, motivated and wild geniuses to create one of the most violent video game franchises as a means of expressing their frustration and fury. A game that changed the world, only to come back and tear its creators apart at the peak of their career.
Hatching Twitter: A True Story of Money, Power, Friendship, and Betrayal
Authors: Nick Bilton,
The only thing more interesting than Twitter, is the story of Twitter. In a novel-like style, Bilton gives you the access to what the world is like inside Silicon Valley; how our favorite time-kill nearly fell apart due to betrayal, power, hackers and a lack of funds. All while still growing at an exponential rate.
iWoz
Authors: Steve Wozniak,Gina Smith
An account of the life of a man who gave us personal computers that we can actually carry around, the brand Apple and a host of other inventions that truly changed the world. Through this book, Steve Wozniak walks us through his life while paying attention to every little detail that an interviewer might miss. iWoz is the story of Wozniak, in his own true words.
Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr.
Authors: Ron Chernow,
A biography of the 98 years of America’s most legendary and controversial capitalist — John D. Rockefeller, Sr., through the words of an award-winning author, Ron Chernow. Chernow uses his access to some of Rockefeller’s private papers to illustrate the life of this man who was known as a robber and a philanthropist at the same time, while disclosing some of his deepest secrets of the past.
The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, a Tale of Sex, Money, Genius, and Betrayal
Authors: Ben Mezrich,
It all started in 2003 when Zuckerberg hacked into Harvard’s computers and nearly got expelled — that was when the idea of Facebook was born, a social media network that revolutionized how we communicate forever. But that wasn’t it… Ben Mezrich gives us the tale of two friends — Saverin and Zuckerberg — and their journey from a dorm room to Silicon Valley; a friendship that was destroyed by their biggest success — Facebook.
Sam Walton: Made In America
Authors: Sam Walton,John Huey
The story of the man who founded your favorite department store — Walmart, his rise to fame and how he became the richest man in America at one point, in his own words. Sam Walton shares his inspiration and his attitude towards life, and how he made the American dream a reality during his time.
The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life
Authors: Alice Schroeder,
While the world knows of him as an investment expert, one of the richest men in the world, his personal story remained a secret. Who is Warren Buffet? What are his beliefs about life? What propelled him towards success? Alice Schroeder, a gifted writer was given rare access to Buffet’s personal life. A book where Buffet lowers his guards and shares some of his most personal stories, his strengths and his weaknesses.
An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth
Authors: Chris Hadfield,
4000 hours in space, killing a live snake while piloting a plane and breaking into a space station with a swiss army knife give Chris Hadfield enough credibility to say “Nothing is impossible”. His entertaining stories, challenges and insightful thoughts of life away from Earth will change your life forever from a perspective you have never imagined.
It’s Not about the Bike: My Journey Back to Life
Authors: Lance Armstrong,Sally Jenkins
While the world knows Lance Armstrong for his victory in the 1999 Tour de France, there is another side to this hero that really makes him who he is. Armstrong takes the reader on an emotional ride through his story — from his battle with cancer to the first time he held his own baby. It’s not about the bike, is a journey of passion and resilience and the joyous ride of life by one of its bravest survivors.
The Story of My Experiments With Truth
Authors: Mahatma Gandhi,
The story of a boy who grew up in Gujarat and came to be known by the world as Mahatma (Great Soul) by defeating the British Empire without using a single weapon. This book is the life of Gandhi, in his own words, where he confesses some of his life’s greatest mistakes and experiences — breaking all controversies and shedding light on how he changed the world.
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Authors: Benjamin Franklin,Lewis Leary
Benjamin Franklin — an American Polymath and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States — takes us on an inspiring, personal journey where he shares some of the sorrows and successes that led to him becoming one of America’s most revered figures.
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE
Authors: Phil Knight,
Shoe Dog is the thrilling story of Phil Knight’s journey building one of the world’s favorite brands — Nike. A story that started when he borrowed $50 from his father to sell shoes from Japan. In this book, the mysterious founder of Nike uncovers stories of his personal life and his young and audacious nature that created one of the most dynamic brands in the world.
Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life
Authors: Steve Martin,
From Disneyland to stand up comedy, honing his crafts to quitting forever, losing himself and everyone he loved, to finding himself and his place in life, Emmy and Grammy award winner, Steve Martin takes the reader into the world of comedians. And it isn’t very funny. With the aid of photographs and his exceptional writing talent, Martin shares a story that will connect with every emotion of the reader.
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
Authors: Haruki Murakami,Philip Gabriel
1982, Haruki Murakami sold his bar and decided to devote his time to honing his writing skills. That was when he picked up the habit of running. And then life just wasn’t the same anymore. In this book, Murakami, a winner of the Jerusalem prize, uses his elegant style of writing to share how something like running can change you and reshape the way you think about life.
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
Authors: Anthony Bourdain,
The culinary world isn’t always that delicious. But it’s a great ride nonetheless. Award-winning chef, Anthony Bourdain, shares his journey through drugs, sex and world-class food in a way that will keep you asking for more.
Business Stripped Bare: Adventures of a Global Entrepreneur
Authors: Richard Branson,
If you are trying to become as successful as Branson, or at least close, Business Stripped Bare is the book for you. Richard Branson gives you an entire guide on how you can build an empire out of nothing. He also shares the story of Virgin — its success and setbacks, and how it grew to become one of the world’s largest conglomerates.
The Virgin Way: Everything I Know About Leadership
Authors: Richard Branson,
He dropped out of school at 16, suffers from dyslexia and was always the employer and never an employee. Yet he was known among his employees for his listening skills — what he calls a key component of leadership. Founder of Virgin group, Richard Branson, gives you a completely different perspective on leadership and shows you how things can be done, “The Virgin Way.”
The Search: How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed Our Culture
Authors: John Battelle,
On 4-Sep-1998, the world changed. People gained access to information like never before, and this changed how everything was done — from business to dating. The Search is a book about the company that changed the way the world searched for information — Google — its success, history and how it will continue to change the future.
Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles
Authors: Geoff Emerick,Howard Massey, Elvis Costello
“She loves you”, “I want to hold your hand” — that’s where it all started. Geoff Emerick was 15 when he witnessed The Beatles’ record-breaking hits. At nineteen, he became their group’s chief engineer and watched the team rise in fame and eventually fall apart. He shares with you the tale of the legendary Beatles, giving you an insider view like never before.
Maverick: The Success Story Behind the World’s Most Unusual Workplace
Authors: Ricardo Semler,
Ricardo Semler unveils the secrets of Semco’s success — a company with an unconventional style of management and redefined efficiency. It started when he challenged his father’s autocratic style of leadership and favoured one with more participation. He was eventually made CEO of the family business at the age of 21, after which he brought their company from the brinks of closure to an inspiring success.
Andrew Carnegie
Authors: David Nasaw,
Sometimes, the story isn’t enough. We want the whys — the raw human emotions that made legends who they are. Exceptionally talented historian, David Nasaw, gives us the story of one of America’s legends — Andrew Carnegie — a man who started with nothing and became one of America’s wealthiest men. Carnegie’s story extends from business and writing to international peace and unrestricted generosity.
Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography
Authors: David Michaelis,
The man who gave you Peanuts — Charles M. Schulz is one of America’s most controversial figures. Renowned biographer, David Michaelis, sheds light on the story of this private man. A genius in his own way, Schulz reshaped the cartoon industry forever with his passion and love for drawing.
The Tycoons: How Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould and J.P. Morgan Invented the American Supereconomy
Authors: Charles R. Morris,
Carnegie, Rockefeller, Gould and Morgan — four vivid characters who made the American dream a reality and made it what it is today. With his exceptional writing skills, Charles R. Morris gives us an insight into each of these four lives and how they changed America’s economy in unimaginable ways.
Call Me Ted
Authors: Ted Turner,Bill Burke
The founder of one of the most popular news channels and one of the most influential people in the world — Ted Turner —takes the reader on his journey to success. Known for his frankness, Ted shares personal stories such as a lonely childhood, the death of his sister and then his father — events that molded him into the person he is today.
The Fish That Ate the Whale: The Life and Times of America’s Banana King
Authors: Rich Cohen,
Rich Cohen unravels one of the most untold stories of success — the story of a man who went from selling bananas on the street to becoming one of America’s wealthiest. Samuel Zemurray, or as he is often called “Bananaman” is the epitome of American enterprise. Cohen brilliantly illustrates Zemurray’s life — one that can be interpreted either as the best or the worst of American businessmen.
Idea Man
Authors: Paul Allen,
Post being diagnosed with Lymphoma, Paul Allen decided to share his story with the world. Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft, is a man of ideas that really changed the world. His contributions to science extend from business to medicine. In Idea Man, he shares with all honesty how he made it to where he is — recounting the triumphs and the failures he encountered on the way.
American Icon: Alan Mulally and the Fight to Save Ford Motor Company
Authors: Bryce G. Hoffman,
American Icon is the all-encompassing story of how Ford’s CEO, Alan Mulally, saved Ford Motor Company from the brink of collapse and made it America’s most profitable carmaker. With unprecedented access to internal reports and interviews, Hoffman gives us an entire account of the risks and challenges Ford faced to make its comeback after the auto industry nearly collapsed in 2008.
Confessions of an Advertising Man
Authors: David Ogilvy,Alan Parker
“Father of advertising” David Ogilvy’s Confessions of an Advertising Man was translated into 14 languages and became an international bestseller. This book is everything a business needs — from ethics to advertising and even the politics involved in running a business that is truly efficient.
Made in Japan: Akio Morita and Sony
Authors: Akio Morita,Edwin M. Reingold, Mitsuko Shimomura
Founder of Sony, Akio Morita shares the story of one of Japan’s biggest conglomerates — a brand that is recognizable around the world. He also gives the reader an insight into his personal experiences as a businessman and his views on global economies.
The Courage to Act: A Memoir of a Crisis and Its Aftermath
Authors: Ben S. Bernanke,
In 2008, America could have faced another “Great Depression”, but it didn’t — thanks to Ben S. Bernanke and his team. In The Courage to Act, Bernanke elaborates the strategies they developed that prevented the US economy from crashing beyond repair, along with details of the policies that had to be developed and the profiles of the people who saved America.
Losing My Virginity: How I’ve Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way
Authors: Richard Branson,
He did it in 25 years — he became one of the world’s most influential businessmen and established a conglomerate that ranges from airway to bridal wear. He saw opportunity even in situations when experts advised him against. He worked harder than any entrepreneur and still had a lot of fun — this is the story of Richard Branson, which he put together and titled Losing my Virginity.
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