Are you searching for the best books for CEOs and Entrepreneurs? Whether you are an experienced CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of a multinational company or someone who just started a business, it is important to keep learning.
Successful leaders like Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk are very passionate about reading books. For instance, Bill Gates read 50 books per year, which is 4-5 books per month on average. The long-lasting success of these global leaders is not luck! They made their fortune through sincere effort, consistent learning, and innovative ideas.
In this article, we have compiled a list of the 25 best books that will help you get the most out of your business.
25 Best Books for CEOs and Entrepreneurs
Here are the 25 best books for CEOs and Entrepreneurs that are available on Amazon. The link to the respective book’s page is given below each description if you want to buy it.
So, let’s get started!
(Note: I earn a small commission when you make a purchase using these links at no extra cost to you.)
#1. The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company
By: Robert Iger
This book is the #1 New York Times bestseller written by Robert Iger, the CEO of the Walt Disney Company. Here Robert Iger shares some valuable lessons he learned while running Disney. He also talks about the principles that are necessary for true leadership such as Optimism, Courage, Decisiveness, Fairness, etc.
#2. My Life in Full: Work, Family, and Our Future
By: Indra Nooyi
This is an intimate and powerful memoir by the former CEO of PepsiCo – Indra Nooyi. In this book, Indra Nooyi discusses the difficulties she faced in her life prior to becoming successful. This is truly an inspirational book for anyone, especially female leaders.
#3. Hit Refresh: The Quest to Rediscover Microsoft’s Soul and Imagine a Better Future for Everyone
By: Satya Nadella
Hit Refresh contains the inside story of Microsoft’s continuing transformation from a “know-it-all” to a “learn-it-all” company. Being the CEO of Microsoft, the author Satya Nadella not only talks about his journey from India to Microsoft but also about the company’s changes in culture, mistakes, competitors’ successes, etc.
#4. The Great CEO Within: The Tactical Guide to Company Building
By: Matt Mochary
This is one of the best books for CEOs in any industry. Here the author Matt Mochary shares the practical ideas and tools you need to scale your business. If you are the Chief Executive Officer or founder of a company, this book will help you move in the right direction and become a great leader.
#5. Tim Cook: The Genius Who Took Apple to the Next Level
By: Leander Kahney
This book discusses how CEO Tim Cook led Apple to a new era of success after the death of Steve Jobs. Here the author talks about how Apple became the first trillion-dollar company under the leadership of Tim Cook. This is an inspirational book for anyone who leads a company.
#6. The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success
By: William N. Thorndike
This is the #1 book on Warren Buffet’s recommended reading list. If you lead a company or want to invest in one, then this is a must-read for you. Here the author explains how the legends like Warren Buffet created a fortune through their unique thinking and value investing.
#7. Jesus, CEO: Using Ancient Wisdom for Visionary Leadership (Fast Facts)
By: Laurie Beth Jones
In this book, the author calls Jesus a “CEO” and shares how you can apply his leadership principles to your workplace for corporate success. By taking Jesus as an example, this book explains how you can effectively manage people and resources. Moreover, it teaches you how to become a great leader.
#8. Trailblazer: The Power of Business as the Greatest Platform for Change
By: Marc Benioff
The author of Trailblazer, Marc Benioff is the founder of Salesforce. In this book, Marc Benioff says values are the foundation of a resilient company culture that motivates employees of all levels. If you want to develop a value-based corporate culture, then this book is a must-read.
#9. Where You Are Is Not Who You Are: A Memoir
By: Ursula Burns
The author of this book, Ursula Burns was the first black female CEO of a Fortune 500 company called Xerox. In this book, Ursula Burns talks about how she overcome the challenges faced and also shares what it takes to succeed in the corporate world. This is an inspirational book for anyone in the business world.
#10. The Heart of Business: Leadership Principles for the Next Era of Capitalism
By: Hubert Joly
The author of this book, Hubert Joly is the former CEO of Best Buy. In this book, you will understand how Hubert Joly took a loss-making company into a profitable one with a “people-first” attitude. This is the perfect guide for people who want to neglect old paradigms and lead with purpose as well as humanity.
#11. Last Man Standing: The Ascent of Jamie Dimon and JP Morgan Chase
By: Duff McDonald
Basically, this book is a biography of Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JP Morgan Chase. Here the author shares how Jamie Dimon managed to make his company grow with his creative thinking, instincts, and unique approach. This is an excellent book for top-level leaders, especially those who are in the banking or financial industry.
#12. Amp It Up: Leading for Hypergrowth by Raising Expectations, Increasing Urgency, and Elevating Intensity
By: Frank Slootman
Amp It Up is written by Frank Slootman, the CEO of a popular tech company called Snowflake. In this book, he shares his leadership approach for the first time. Here you will understand how you can unleash the growth potential of your company and scale it to heights you never thought possible.
#13. Leading with Gratitude: Eight Leadership Practices for Extraordinary Business Results
By: Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton
In this book, the authors highlight the importance of expressing gratitude to your employees to boost engagement, reduce turnover, etc. So, they share a few practical ideas to turn gratitude from an emotion into a habit. This is a must-read book for CEOs, entrepreneurs, and anyone in a leadership position.
#14. CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest
By: Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller, and Vikram Malhotra
This book is a bestseller written by McKinsey and Company. Based on extensive interviews with top corporate leaders like chiefs at Netflix, General Motors, Sony, etc., the authors share how the best CEOs do their job. This is an insightful guide for anyone in a leadership position.
#15. Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know
By: Adam Grant
‘Think again’ is one of the New York Times bestsellers. Here the author gives you practical ideas to view things from different perspectives and explore more growth opportunities. This book teaches you how to be flexible, open to new ideas, and expand your knowledge rather than only sticking to what you know.
#16. Trust and Inspire: How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others
By: Stephen M.R. Covey
According to the author of this book, people don’t want to be managed, they want to be led. For this reason, he helps you adopt a “Trust and Inspire” leadership style rather than a “command and control” approach. This is one of the best books for CEOs in any industry.
#17. Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life
By: Craig Groeschel
If you are looking for a life-changing and inspirational guide, then this book is for you. It was written by the New York Times bestselling author Craig Groeschel. Here the author shares some practical strategies to get rid of negative thinking and self-doubt, so you can live a life of joy and peace.
#18. Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future
By: Ashlee Vance
This New York Times and International Bestseller talks about the extraordinary life of the richest man in the world – Elon Musk. The author, Ashlee Vance wrote this book with exclusive access to Musk, his family, and his friends. With over 1.5 million copies sold, this book is a must-read for anyone in a leadership position.
#19. How to Prevent the Next Pandemic
By: Bill Gates
This book is written by Bill Gates who is the founder of Microsoft and one of the greatest business tycoons ever. From the lessons learned from Covid-19, here Bill Gates shares a practical approach to prevent similar pandemics. This is the perfect guide for CEOs who want to foresee unexpected disasters and plan ahead.
#20. The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done
By: Peter F. Drucker
This book mainly talks about business effectiveness, which is “getting the right things done”. So, the author shares five practices a leader must master from managing time to effective decision making. If you are a CEO or someone who runs a business, this book is a must-read.
#21. The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America 4th Edition
By: Warren E. Buffett and Lawrence A. Cunningham
This is a curated collection of shareholder letters from one of the most successful investors in the world – Warren Buffett. Here you can see the views of Warren Buffett on everything from investing to management. This book is helpful for anyone who is in business.
#22. Strategy Rules: Five Timeless Lessons from Bill Gates, Andy Grove, and Steve Jobs
By: David B. Yoffie and Michael A. Cusumano
This book teaches you how Bill Gates, Andry Grove, and Steve Jobs approached strategy and execution in remarkably similar ways, yet managed to stand out from their competition. Here the authors share the best practices in strategic management and high-tech entrepreneurship followed by these three legends.
#23. Invent and Wander: The Collected Writings of Jeff Bezos, With an Introduction by Walter Isaacson
By: Jeff Bezos and Walter Isaacson
This is the collection of writings of Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon. Here you can get an insider’s view of Bezos’s success through some of his shareholder letters, interviews, and speeches. If you want a master class in business values, strategy, and execution, this is a must-read guide.
#24. The CEO Test: Master the Challenges That Make or Break All Leaders
By: Adam Bryant and Kevin Sharer
This book talks about the challenges one has to face during their leadership journey and how to overcome them. It was written by Adam Bryant, Managing Director of the ExCo group, and Kevin Sharer, former CEO of Amgen. If you are already a CEO or preparing to be one, this is an ideal guide for you.
#25. The Five Temptations of a CEO, Anniversary Edition: A Leadership Fable
By: Patrick Lencioni
Many leaders consider this book an eye-opener. The reason is it is a self-assessment guide that will help you identify the mistakes a leader makes and how to avoid them. If you want to be the best in what you do, this is the guide you are looking for.
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Final Words
Since we are living in a competitive world, it is important for us to keep learning. Now that you know some of the best books for CEOs and Entrepreneurs. All you need to do now is pick a suitable book and start reading. If you have any questions or confusion about which one to choose, feel free to go through the FAQ section given below.
FAQ: Books for CEOs and Entrepreneurs
You might have some questions in mind regarding the CEO and Entrepreneur books. So, here are the answers to some of the common questions our readers ask.
What are the must-read books for CEOs?
Though there is no perfect answer to this question, we suggest you start with something related to your industry or business type. For instance, some of the most demanded books are:
The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger
Hit Refresh by Satya Nadella
The Great CEO Within by Matt Mochary
What books do the most successful corporate leaders read?
While it totally depends on the person, there is a certain pattern when it comes to the books that successful leaders read. So, the books that popular leaders commonly read are industry-related books, business books, and leadership books.
How many books an average CEO reads?
Research has shown that most CEOs read 4-5 books per month on average. This means they read 40-50 books per year on average.
What are the recommended books for new CEOs or startup founders?
If you are a new CEO or startup founder, these books might be useful.
Amp It Up by Frank Slootman
Winning the War in Your Mind by Craig Groeschel
The Effective Executive by Peter F. Drucker
What are the recommended books for female CEOs/Entrepreneurs?
If you are a female CEO/Entrepreneur, these books might be useful.
My Life in Full by Indra Nooyi
Where You Are Is Not Who You Are by Ursula Burns