Here are the 5 autobiographies/biographies that I'd recommend everyone (especially people interested in business) to read:
1) Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance
Elon Musk is the Steve Jobs of our time. He disrupted the finance industry with PayPal and is now revolutionizing the auto industry, energy industry and space industry. Musk is the man behind PayPal, Tesla Motors, SpaceX, and SolarCity (now a part of Tesla).
Musk is a 45-year old, self-made billionaire (14 billion to be exact). However, he has humble origins as a kid from South Africa who simply loved technology. This book is a must read.
2) Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
Before Musk, Steve Jobs was the original disruptor of Silicon Valley. Jobs disrupted the computer industry with the Apple Computer, the phone industry with the iPhone, and the music industry with iTunes.
Everyone knows that Jobs created Apple (most valuable company in the World) but the story of how he did it is truly an incredible journey. He founded the company, get fired from it, and then later became the CEO. Fun fact: Jobs enjoyed doing psychedelics, traveling to India to learn more about spirituality, and time at an apple farm.
3) Jack: Straight from the Gut by Jack Welch, JohnByrne, Mike Barnicle
In 1999, Fortune named Jack Welch "Manager of the Century." Even Warren Buffett (world's 3rd richest man) admires Welch.
Jack started at General Electric as a junior chemical engineer in 1960. By 1981, he worked his way up to CEO. He was the CEO of GE for 20 years and turned the company from a $14 billion company to a $410 billion conglomerate.
This book is filled with great business and leadership lessons.
4) Winners Dream by Bill McDermott with Joanne Gordon
Bill McDermott was born in NYC and has a great rags to riches story. As a teenager he bought and ran a deli to help pay for college. After college, he worked for Xerox and became the company's youngest Division President. He later became the CEO of SAP (a Fortune 500 company).
Having worked at SAP and seen Bill in person, I can say he is a very humble and hard working individual. His book offers advice on sales, motivation and managing people.
(Bonus: When starting a new job, check to see if the CEO or other executives have written books on the company. It's a great way to learn about the company, its culture and values.)
5) Total Recall by Arnold Schwarzenegger
If a movie was made about Arnold Schwarzenegger's life, most people would think it was a fiction film. This man became the world's top bodybuilder, then one of the most famous and highest paid movie stars AND THEN served two terms as the Governor of California. He was also the boss of Celebrity Apprentice for a season.
Schwarzenegger gives advice on just about everything: bodybuilding, diet, workout routine, acting, politics and more. This guy works like hell and after reading his book it's no surprise he's been so successful in life.
If you've read any of these books, feel free to comment and share your opinion below. If you're interested in reading the books, click the titles below:
