After spending time evaluating a comprehensive set of books that would appeal to the broad business, economic, social, and cultural interests of the CXO audience, here are some titles that shot to the top:
Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose by Tony Hsieh
Overview: Zappos CEO Hsieh offers a compelling account of his transformation from Harvard student entrepreneur through his years as a dot-com wunderkind to the creator of a formidable brand. Delivering Happiness explains how Zappos employees actually apply their "Core Values" to improving their lives outside of work, proving that creating happiness and record results go hand-in-hand. A true personal journey into what it takes to create, build, and sustain a modern working corporate culture.
Cyber War: The Next Threat to National Security and What to Do About It by Richard Clarke
Overview: Cyber War is a powerful book about technology, government, and military strategy; about criminals, spies, soldiers, and hackers. This is the first book about the war of the future, cyber war, and it presents a convincing argument that we may already be in peril of losing it. Once again Richard Clarke lays out a cyber scenario that is chilling in the extreme.
“Will strengthen Clarke’s claims as one of the founding fathers of cybersecurocracy.” -Financial Times
"Clarke and Knake are right to sound the alarm.” -Wall Street Journal
The Next Convergence: The Future of Economic Growth in a Multispeed World by Michael Spence
Overview: With the British Industrial Revolution, part of the world’s population started to experience extraordinary economic growth—leading to enormous gaps in wealth and living standards between the industrialized West and the rest of the world. Michael Spence, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, explains what happened to cause this dramatic shift in the prospects of the five billion people who live in developing countries. Spence clearly describes what’s at stake for all of us as he looks ahead to how the global economy will develop over the next fifty years
“Rarely does one find a book that is so powerful in its analysis, timely in its topic, relevant in its thinking, and clear in its exposition.”-Mohamed A. El-Erian, CEO and Co-CIO of PIMCO
Civilization: The West and the Rest by Nial Ferguson
Overview: Civilization takes readers on their own extraordinary journey around the world, and is the story of sailboats, missiles, land deeds, vaccines, blue jeans and Chinese Bibles. It is the defining narrative of modern world history. Frankly, I can't wait for it to be published.
“A dazzling history of Western ideas.” - Economist
“Ferguson is the most brilliant British historian of his generation ... he writes with splendid panache.” - The Times
The Talent Masters: Why Smart Leaders Put People Before Numbers by Bill Conaty, Ram Charan
Overview: Talent is the leading indicator of whether a business is up or down, a success or a failure. The talent masters know how to accurately judge raw human talent, understand a person’s unique combination of traits, develop that talent, and convert what supposedly are “soft” subjective judgments about people into objective criteria that are as specific, verifiable, and concrete as the contents of a financial statement. As always, Ram demonstrates why he is the top management consultant of his time.
“…The definitive guide to the art and science of talent development.”—Andrea Jung, chairman and CEO of Avon Products
Tell to Win: Connect, Persuade, and Triumph with the Hidden Power of Story by Peter Guber
Overview: Former chairman of Sony Pictures and current CEO of Mandalay Entertainment Group, Guber illustrates how powerful storytelling—about yourself or your product—can be the ultimate tool to get the meeting, engage the listener, and close the deal. It's truly a testament to why everyone should invest in becoming a riveting storyteller.
“I hope this book inspires you to create your own "never-ending story" to help take your business to the next level.” - Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com, Inc.
10-10-10: A Fast and Powerful Way to Get Unstuck in Love, at Work, and with Your Family by Suzy Welch
Overview: A transformative new approach to decision making, 10-10-10 is a tool for reclaiming your life at home, in love, and at work. The process is clear, straightforward, and transparent. Suzy shares some clear insights on how to move forward, quickly and with clarity.
"If you're wondering what to do, which path to follow at the fork, whether to stay or leave -- no matter what it may be -- 10-10-10 will help you find your way." - Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence
Younger Next Year: A Guide to Living Like 50 Until You're 80 and Beyond by Chris Crowly, Henry S. Lodge M.D.
Overview: The authors base their plan on the idea that instead of looking forward to decades of pain as the body slowly deteriorates, it's possible to live as if you were 50, maybe even younger, for the rest of your life. Funny and amusing, it gives an accurate idea on what to expect from age 50 on. One of the most personally motivating books I've read in a long time.
“It is easy to read, the science is right, and if one follows Henry Lodge’s and Chris Crowley’s recommendations, both mental and physical aging can be delayed.”- K. Craig Kent, M.D., chief of vascular surgery, New York–Presbyterian Hospital
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