Business biographies offer a unique glimpse into the lives and minds of some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs and leaders. They can teach us lessons about leadership, business, and life, and they can inspire us to achieve our own goals.
In this blog post, I’ve compiled a list of the 15 best business biographies of all time. These books are well-written, informative, and inspiring. They’ll give you a new perspective on business and help you to become a better leader and entrepreneur.
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1. Shoe Dog, by Phil Knight
A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE
Published in 2016 by Scribner.
In this candid and inspiring memoir, Knight tells the story of how he built Nike from a small shoe company to a global powerhouse. He shares his insights on business, leadership, and the importance of perseverance.
2. The Ride of a Lifetime, by Robert Iger
Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company
Published in 2019 by Random House.
This memoir by the former CEO of Disney tells the story of his life and career, as well as the challenges and triumphs of his leadership at Disney. Iger shares his insights on business, leadership, and the importance of creativity.
3. Bad Blood, by John Carreyrou
Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup
Published in 2018 by Knopf.
This Pulitzer Prize-winning book tells the story of Theranos, a once-promising startup that was exposed as a fraud. Carreyrou provides a gripping account of the rise and fall of Theranos and the hubris of its founder, Elizabeth Holmes.
4. Elon Musk, by Walter Isaacson
Published in 2023 by Simon & Schuster
This authorized biography provides a comprehensive and intimate look at the life and career of one of the world’s most fascinating and controversial entrepreneurs. Isaacson interviewed Musk extensively and gained access to his closest friends and family. The book explores Musk’s early childhood, his business ventures, and his ambitious plans for the future. It is a must-read for anyone interested in Musk, entrepreneurship, or the future of technology.
5. The Hard Thing About Hard Things, by Ben Horowitz
Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers
Published in 2014 by Harper Business
The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz is part biography, part management guide, and part self-help book. It is based on Horowitz’s personal experiences as a computer science student, software engineer, cofounder, CEO, and investor in technology companies.
6. Zero to One, by Peter Thiel
Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future, by Peter Thiel & Blake Masters
Published in 2014 by Crown Currency
This book by the co-founder of PayPal and Palantir Technologies provides a contrarian perspective on business and startups. Thiel argues that the best way to succeed is to build a monopoly by creating something new and valuable.
7. Titan, by Ron Chernow
The Life of John D. Rockefeller Sr.
Published in 1998 by Random House
This Pulitzer Prize-winning biography tells the story of John D. Rockefeller, the richest man in American history. Chernow provides a comprehensive and insightful look at Rockefeller’s life, business career, and philanthropy.
8. Steve Jobs, by Walter Isaacson
Published in 2011 by Simon & Schuster
This Pulitzer Prize-winning biography is the definitive account of one of the most innovative and influential entrepreneurs of all time. Isaacson interviewed Jobs extensively over the course of two years, and the book provides a fascinating look at his life, career, and philosophy.
9. The Everything Store, by Brad Stone
Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon
Published in 2013 by Little, Brown and Company.
This well-researched and engaging biography tells the story of Amazon’s rise to dominance. Stone examines Bezos’s unique business acumen and his relentless drive to succeed.
10. The Snowball, by Alice Schroeder
Warren Buffett and the Business of Life
Published in 2008 by Bantam
This biography tells the story of Warren Buffett, one of the most successful investors of all time. Schroeder provides a fascinating look at Buffett’s investment philosophy and his approach to life.
11. Sam Walton: Made in America, by Sam Walton with John Huey
Published in 1992 by Bantam
This memoir by the founder of Walmart tells the story of how he built his company from a single five-and-dime store into the world’s largest retailer. Walton shares his insights on business, leadership, and the importance of customer service.
12. Hard Drive, by James Wallace and Jim Erickson
Bill Gates and the Making of the Microsoft Empire
Published in 1992 by Harper Collins
This biography tells the story of Bill Gates and his rise to power at Microsoft. Wallace and Abramson examine Gates’s business acumen and his ruthless drive to succeed.
13. The Innovators, by Walter Isaacson
How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution
Published in 2015 by Simon & Schuster
This book tells the story of the people who created the digital revolution, including Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Tim O’Reilly, and Larry Page, and Sergey Brin. Isaacson examines their lives and careers and the impact they have had on the world.
14. The Man Who Solved the Market, by Gregory Zuckerman
How Jim Simons Launched the Quant Revolution
Published in 2019 by Portfolio Penguin
This biography tells the story of Jim Simons, a brilliant mathematician who founded one of the most successful hedge funds in the world. Zuckerman provides a fascinating look at Simons’s life and career, as well as the world of quantitative investing.
15. Losing My Virginity, by Richard Branson
How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way
Published in 1998 by Crown Currency
Losing My Virginity is a 1998 autobiography by British businessman Richard Branson. This book chronicles Branson’s early life and his rise to success as the founder of the Virgin Group, a multinational conglomerate that now includes over 400 companies in a wide range of industries, including aviation, music, retail, and telecommunications.
Check out our other Business & Economics recommendations:
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