Professional Documents
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21 books by billionaires that will teach you how to run the world
Shana Lebowitz
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Bill Gates Summer Books
Bill Gates Foundation
Bill Gates, the richest man on Earth.
Whether you want to launch an empire or become the best in your field, who better
to consult than those who've achieved the peak of professional and financial
success?
That's why we've rounded up 21 books by self-made billionaires. From the business
insights of Bill Gates to the leadership lessons of Richard Branson, the wisdom
collected in these pages extends far beyond the classroom.
Learn how these masters of industry achieved the impossible, in their own words.
In "The Virgin Way," the billionaire founder of Virgin Group offers lessons on
management and entrepreneurialism, including the importance of listening to
others and hiring the right people. Branson is honest about his successes as well as
his failures, such as underestimating Coke's influence when he tried to launch Virgin
Cola in the 1990s.
Overall, the book is a compelling glimpse into the life of someone who's never shied
away from a challenge.
Readers will learn how Schultz made tough decisions like temporarily shutting
down more than 7,000 US stores in order to help Starbucks grow without
neglecting its core values. They'll learn, too, about Schultz as a person, as he
weaves together his unique business strategy with anecdotes about growing up in
Brooklyn, New York. It's an honest and passionate recounting that will inspire
entrepreneurs and everyone else to be brave in the face of adversity.
In "How to Win at the Sport of Business," Dallas Mavericks owner and "Shark Tank"
investor Cuban fleshes out his best insights on entrepreneurialism from his personal
blog.
He writes candidly about how he progressed from sleeping on his friends' couches in
his 20s to owning his own company and becoming a multibillionaire. It's a story of
commitment and perseverance Cuban writes that even though he didn't know
much about computers, he beat his competition because he spent so much time
learning about the software his company sold.
Using examples from companies like Microsoft and GM, Gates suggests that
businesses see technology as a way to enhance their operations. While the book
was initially published in 1999, many of Gates' insights remain accurate and
relevant today.
He guides readers through the highlights of his career: how he rose to success at
Salomon Brothers, how he was fired from Salomon Brothers in 1981, and how he
used part of his severance pay to create the company that is now Bloomberg LP.
The book is chock-full of valuable, honest insights on leadership and management,
all based on Bloomberg's personal experience.
Thiel, a founder of PayPal and the data-analytics firm Palantir, highlights the
importance of building something new and taking over the market, as opposed to
simply adding to what's already out there. Regardless of whether you agree with
Thiel's philosophy, the book is a clear read with tons of ideas worth discussing.
The book also features personal stories about Turner's relationship with his father
and the actress Jane Fonda, all of which paint a full picture of the dynamic
billionaire.
Each one combines anecdotes from his own experience with inspirational advice on
everything from learning from your mistakes to confronting your fears.
Acknowledging his own tendency toward self-promotion, he tells readers to "toot
your own horn" when you deserve it.
The narrative takes readers all the way from Pickens' experience as a "corporate
raider" in the 1980s to his late-life rebranding as an advocate for America's energy
independence. Each chapter starts with a "Booneism," or a few words of wisdom on
winning in life and business. Example: "I learned early on that you play by the rules.
It's no fun if you cheat to win."
Soros is honest about his successes and failures as founder and chairman of Soros
Fund Management, and is hardly shy about submitting controversial opinions. It's a
compelling read, whether you're interested in learning more about Soros himself or
global finance and policy.
In "Direct from Dell," the billionaire entrepreneur explains how he grew his business
and the theory behind his unique management style. It's an inspiring rags-to-riches
story that also offers valuable leadership lessons.
The book details the company's founding and growth, and the authors draw on their
own experience to provide meaningful lessons for any business leader, including the
importance of knowing your customer and giving back to the community.
"What I Know for Sure" is a collection of her columns in O, the Oprah Magazine.
Each one offers a different life lesson on topics including joy, gratitude, and power,
often based on her personal experience.
In his autobiography, he shares his personal history, the inspiration behind his work,
and beautiful photographs.
At 89, Peterson has had a long and storied career, which includes stints as US
secretary of commerce, chairman and CEO of Lehman Brothers, and cofounder of
private-equity firm Blackstone Group.
He's also the founder and chairman of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, which
focuses on raising awareness about fiscal challenges that the US faces.
In "Steering Clear," published in 2015, Peterson makes the case that we need to
take immediate action to reduce our long-term debt, projected to hit record highs in
the near future. He juxtaposes prose with charts and graphs that illustrate the issue,
and offers potential solutions to the problem, including closing loopholes in the tax
code.
In the book's introduction, Peterson explains why addressing this issue isn't just
economic good sense: "This country has given my family and me and millions of
others unequaled opportunities to dream and to prosper. And together we have a
profound obligation to try to pass on the same opportunity to future generations."
The book weaves together stories about DeVos' personal and professional lives,
focusing in particular on the way his Christian upbringing and values paved the way
for his success.
In "How Did You Do It, Truett?" Cathy, who died in 2014, describes his rise to
success, starting from the days when he worked behind the counter at the Dwarf
Grill in Georgia.
At 95 pages, it's a relatively short read, and the book includes a number of
inspirational business and leadership lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs.
While the lessons in it are applicable to anyone, the book is a helpful road map for
beginning investors, breaking down complicated concepts into simpler pieces.
Here's the short version of that saga. In 2002, Einhorn, founder of Greenlight
Capital, thought he'd uncovered flawed accounting practices at Allied Capital and
started short selling Allied's stock. That didn't work, as the stock climbed. Einhorn
tried to expose Allied's unethical behavior, even approaching the US Securities and
Exchange Commission, but the SEC ended up investigating him as well. Ultimately,
Allied settled with the SEC in 2008 and the accusations were never substantiated.
The book is heavy on detail, and one critic says that some parts read like Einhorn's
angry rant. But it nonetheless offers some compelling insights into the general
drama that often unfolds on Wall Street.