BOOK SPECIAL Books These
Successful Executives Say Inspired Them the Most
Whether you flip pages, tap an e-reader or
listen to audio, these inspiring titles are worth your attention.
Whether you flip pages, tap an e-reader or
listen to audio, a good book can be a perfect companion, relaxation aid or
source of inspiration. Check out these quotes from more than two dozen
executives who name their favorite book and explain why it's worth your
attention.
1. "Jim Henson," by Brian Jay Jones
"I read it right after reading the Jobs
bio, and the contrast these two represented has always stuck with me. I
struggle with the idolization of Steve Jobs because although he was brilliant
and there is no question that he single-handedly affected the course of human
culture and connection, he lacked empathy and was incredibly unpleasant on a
personal level. Our work and personal lives are so entwined today that the Jobs
story just doesn't sit well with me as one of 'success.' Henson, on the other
hand, valued his colleagues and treated many of them as family and he worked
with them to make a massive mark on his field while overcoming major failures
and refuting naysayers. To me, his story is a huge inspiration because it
serves as proof that building something totally legendary doesn't have to come
at the expense of being a kind and respectable human being, whether it be in
everyday interactions or lifelong personal relationships."
2. "The Future Is Better Than You
Think" by Steven Kotler and Peter H. Diamandis
"This is a great book for founders and
anyone that's feeling pessimistic in light of the recent U.S. elections. With
all the doom and gloom in the world today, this book presents optimism, arguing
that innovations in technology, sustainable energy, medicine, agriculture and
entrepreneurship will result in transformative changes in the world. The
chapters are filled with inspirational stories of entrepreneurs and brilliant
thinkers that have disrupted conventional thinking, creating innovative
solutions to some of the world's most meaningful problems. I make a habit of
reading this book every year to see the bigger picture and the
interconnectedness of the problems we are trying to solve."
--Sina Shekou,
founder and CEO of PlanChat, a messaging app
for planning trips.
3. "The Fear Project: What Our Most
Primal Emotion Taught Me About Survival, Success, Surfing... And Love" by
Jaimal Yogis
"As a surfer, I've learned a lot of
valuable business lessons in the ocean. You find yourself in critical moments
where you must overcome fear with mindfulness, failure with perseverance. In
[this book], Jaimal Yogis takes a deep dive into the concept of fear including
evolutionary fears, such as seeing a lion, and learned fears, such as the sound
of a gun. He beautifully weaves together neuroscience with life experience, and
ultimately uses this knowledge to overcome his fears of surfing one of the most
dangerous waves in the world--Mavericks."
--Aaron
Harvey, cofounder and executive creative director at digital agency Ready Set
Rocket and founder of mental health
nonprofit IntrusiveThoughts.org.
4. "Ready
Player One" by Ernest Cline
"This book is practically considered
required reading within the virtual reality (VR) industry and rightly so. On
the surface, some are tempted to dismiss it as merely enjoyable sci-fi. But the
book actually instructs us in the profound changes that a sweeping new
technological platform like VR can bring. The first TV shows were somewhat literal
replications of stage theater productions--it took a while for creators to
start taking advantage of the medium's capabilities. Ready Player One is far
more imaginative in how VR might be experienced. The whole concept of
'location' is different, ranging from how a 'city' might be laid out, to even
being able to create your own 'planet.' The characters can transport themselves
from 'place' to 'place' in many different ways, rather than just replicate our
normal modes of real-life transportation. And they can interact with 'objects'
in new ways, not just replicate the interactions that we have in our current
real lives. So it is a profoundly instructional book for reimagining what
becomes possible with new technologies."
--Andrew
Trickett, cofounder of Merge VR, a startup helping VR go mainstream with multiple hardware and software
products, with special focus on younger users.
5. "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy
"Simply put, 'War and Peace' is the best
novel ever written. You can learn more about humanity, about heart, about human
interactions--and ultimately about yourself--in one reading than you might
otherwise in ten years. Coming to grips with Pierre's stumbling, his mistake
after mistake, and at last embracing his long journey may help you
understand--and hopefully forgive--some of your own shortcomings. And, other
than serving on the front lines yourself, there may be no better way to learn
about the horror and absurdity of war than by reading Tolstoy. Great leaders
are remembered for their humanity not their mastery of how-to books."
--John
McNellis, author of "Making It in Real Estate: Starting Out as a Developer" and principal at McNellis
Partners.
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