20 Books Loved by Industry Execs

2. “On the Brink” by Henry M. Paulson Jr.

I love history — all history, because there is so much to learn and understand. In our industry, there are so many fantastic books, for example “When Genius Failed, The Big Short, Devil Take the Hindmost,” that provide interesting and important lessons from huge missteps. I chose “On the Brink” because it is a thorough assessment of the financial crisis, from the key missteps that led to the event and how dissenting groups pulled together to reverse negative momentum.

—Natalie Wolfsen, CEO, Orion

3. "Possible Minds: 25 Ways of Looking at AI" compiled by John Brockman

This book is a must read. It is a compilation of essays on AI with diverse perspectives, and an excellent way to look at the possibility, opportunity and consequences of the AI age that is ahead.

— Bill Crager, Co-Founder and CEO, Envestnet

4. “Radical Candor” by Kim Scott

This past year I found myself struggling, feeling as though I had lost a step in my leadership effectiveness. A year ago I exited a business I had built over a course of 13 years to enter a completely new adventure. I realized without the depth of previous trust I had built over that long journey, I was not my best self.

While I did “care deeply” (as the book calls it) for a brand new group of team members, brand new relationships paired with self doubts around my competence in a new industry had led me into the realm of “ruinous empathy,” because I was not also “challenging directly.” Ultimately, it was hurting company performance.

I don’t read many business books, but this was the second time reading through “Radical Candor,” and I am glad it brought me back to self-observing the issues in my own leadership so I could address them directly.

— Dan Zitting, CEO, Nitrogen

5. “Blitzscaling: The Lightning-Fast Path to Building Massively Valuable Companies” by Reid Hoffman and Chris Yeh

Building a company is an incredibly difficult journey. To go from idea to your first million in revenue, and from 1 to 10 and beyond, requires a different set of skills and people.

One book that has been on my bedside table for years, with a lot of earmarked pages, is “Blitzscaling: The Lightning-Fast Path to Building Massively Valuable Companies,” authored by renowned venture capitalist and entrepreneur Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn and PayPal co-founder).

Hoffman provides a comprehensive framework for scaling startups at a fast pace, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing speed over efficiency in certain contexts. For instance, “Do things that don’t scale first” or “Even a few months of hesitation can mean the difference between leading and chasing.” We all have ideas; this book helps you focus on execution.

— Rafael Loureiro, CEO, Wealth.com

6. “Extreme Ownership” by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

Personally, this was a super-compelling book moving from leading not only clients but to also leading my colleagues. The lessons in this book helped [me] instill a culture of responsibility, initiative and a very flat management style [at Helium]. Because of this, we have a very empowered group which encourages everyone to take ownership of their roles and contributions.

— Gary Russell, Founder/Partner, Helium Advisors

7. “Predictable Success: Getting Your Organization on the Growth Track — and Keeping It There” by Les McKeown

This is a great book that we have reflected on a lot over the past 7.5 years as Doug and I have grown F2 Strategy from just the two of us to over 100 employees. It effectively outlines how to scale a business — in any phase of your journey — through rapid growth by building a culture of accountability and collaboration. The lessons and advice within were particularly important this year as we completed a milestone acquisition that grew the firm exponentially. I couldn’t recommend this book enough and the importance of setting the processes in place that it outlines to prepare you for success.

— Liz Fritz, Chief Commercial Officer and Co-Founder, F2 Strategy

8. “Helping: How to Offer, Give and Receive Help” by Edgar Schein

A must read for all advisors. In layman terms, renowned theorist and MIT Professor Emeritus Schein translates his seminal work in organizational science on a topic that is highly applicable to financial advice. It provides meaningful insight on how to deliver a more advice-centric process versus the typical sales process used by so much of our industry.

— Tom Rieman, CEO, Practice Intel

9. “Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon” by Michael Lewis

A well-told story on the FTX crypto exchange saga. As CEOs and advisors, we are regularly presented with the "next best thing." This book is a great reminder of the challenge in identifying which are helpful to clients and which could be catastrophic.

10. “Richer, Wiser, Happier: How the Greatest Investors Win in Markets and Life” by William Green

This one was given to me by a client. The best advisors are focused on helping their clients translate wealth into fulfillment and the author interviews 40 of the most well-known investors to get their perspective. Fascinating.

— Larry Miles, CEO, Choreo

11. “Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” by Max Tegmark

AI is revolutionizing all aspects of our lives fundamentally. Life 3.0 is very relevant for its exploration of artificial intelligence and its potential impact on humanity. The author delves into the ethical and existential questions surrounding AI, making it a thought-provoking and accessible guide for anyone interested in the future of technology and its implications for society.

— Sindhu Joseph, CEO and Founder, CogniCor

12. “CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders From the Rest” by Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller and Vikram Malhotra

Based on interviews with more than 60 CEOs of top companies around the globe, the book delves into the DACI (driver, approver, contributor and informed) model, a group decision-making technique that assigns roles and responsibilities to members of a team.

Clarifying roles in this way enhances responsibilities, establishes decision protocols, reduces misunderstandings and miscommunication issues, and speeds up project management.

— Kevin Fitzwilson, managing shareholder and team lead, Coldstream Wealth Management

13. “The Creator's Code: The Six Essential Skills of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs” by Amy Wilkinson

This book captures the reader’s attention from the very first page! Based on interviews with 200 leading entrepreneurs, the author goes beyond simply explaining what the six essential skills are to explore how the reader can put those skills into practice.

I also recently had the honor of attending an intimate roundtable discussion facilitated by Amy Wilkinson. I found it extremely powerful to hear real-life examples of the skills put into action, workshop with my peers, and understand CEO commonalities.

— Amy Kadomatsu, CEO, COMPLY

14. “How Not to Die” by Michael Greger

Michael Greger's "How Not to Die" is an unconventional yet indispensable read for leaders seeking excellence in every aspect of life. The book's centerpiece, the "Daily Dozen," is a meticulously curated checklist of foods that are essential for preventing and reversing disease-related mortality.

This guidance is not just about food; it's about fueling the body and mind in a way that maximizes energy levels and cognitive function, crucial for any leader striving to make a significant impact in their field. By integrating nutritional science into daily habits, "How Not to Die" offers leaders not just a guide to eating, but a roadmap to thriving. Its insights have profound implications for enhancing leadership capacity, making it a vital addition to any leader's library.

— Rich Bursek, President, Certuity

15. “Die With Zero: Getting All You Can From Your Money and Your Life” by Bill Perkins

Talk about life goals! This is a personal finance book that encourages readers to live their lives to the fullest by spending wisely and deliberately. It provides practical advice for prioritizing spending on experiences that bring joy and fulfillment, rather than material possessions. A great Christmas read that will leave you with a whole new perspective on how to set New Year's resolutions!

— Angela Osborne, COO, Bluespring Wealth Partners

16. “Execution – The Discipline of Getting Things Done” by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan

I love a lot of business history – like Martin Mayer’s “The Fed,” investment books like Burton Makiel’s “A Random Walk Down Wall Street,” and even the gossipy deal histories like Bryan Burrough’s “Barbarians at the Gate.” As a practitioner, my favorite is Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan’s “Execution – The Discipline of Getting Things Done.”

Execution is not taught in schools as a discipline, perhaps because it may not be perceived as glamorous, but it's critically important for any leader. This book outlines in very plain and insightful language what the key components are to making the reality of your plans come to fruition.

It also links the strategic to the tactical – and I love both the planning for the business and listening to the hum of a well-designed business engine.

I was also fortunate to hear Larry, who was the former CEO and Chairman at Honeywell, lecture at my business school when I was a young leader, and his principles made a huge impression on me at a very formative time in my career.

— John Dowd, CEO, Fiduciary Trust International

17. “The Coming Wave” by Mustafa Suleyman

"The Coming Wave" is a thought-provoking and insightful book that sheds light on the incredible potential of AI and other emerging technologies like synthetic biology. One of the most compelling aspects of "The Coming Wave" is the breadth of perspectives that Suleyman brings to the table. He doesn't just focus on the technical aspects, but also delves into the moral, ethical, philosophical, and economic implications of the technology.

This multi-dimensional approach is crucial for understanding the full impact of AI on society, and Suleyman does an excellent job of balancing these different perspectives to provide a comprehensive analysis of the issues at hand. Suleyman's optimism is contagious yet grounded.

He doesn't gloss over the potential perils of unchecked technological growth, such as threats to privacy, security, and even the essence of human autonomy. But his overall message is one of cautious optimism, emphasizing that with the right approach, these technologies can usher in an era of unprecedented prosperity and progress.

This balance of realism and optimism makes "The Coming Wave" a must-read for anyone interested in the future of technology and its societal implications.

— Avy Stein, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of Cresset Capital

18. “Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein”

There is so much pressure for people to “pick a lane” or declare a major too early in their development. The research in Epstein’s book shows the benefits of sampling, learning, growing and ultimately applying a wide range of experiences and expertise.

Whether it applies to parenting children in sports or coaching professionals throughout their career, I appreciate the fact that most wisdom is gained through experience, trial and error, and the resilience to not give up until you find your ultimate place. Epstein delivers a thoughtful, well researched position that has definitely impacted my thinking.

— Ryan Parker, CEO, EP Wealth Advisors

19. “The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right” by Atul Gawande

Shows how common sense of a checklist can address the reasons that so many products, so many campaigns, so many businesses fail repeatedly.

Why do they fail? Because the volume and complexity of knowledge today has made it nearly impossible for anyone no matter how well trained, how specialized, to deliver reliable results. Doctors, pilots, and every business leader in financial services are examples the author uses to illustrate what goes wrong and how we can do better with the simplest of methods: the checklist.

Ask yourself the question: would you want to fly in a plane where the pilot didn't use a checklist?

— Stephen C. Daffron, Chairman and CEO, BetaNXT

20. “Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike” by Phil Knight

I enjoy hearing other founders’ stories. Their struggles and triumphs always offer a fresh and unique perspective. “Shoe Dog” was actually recommended to me by Coventure’s Ali Hamed. The book underscores the importance of protecting the culture that early-adopter employees built. Without that commitment, a business is susceptible to losing its competitive edge and the key differentiators that make it stand out among the rest. One could argue the revolutionary deal with [Michael] Jordan was a result of preserving the creativity of those founding employees.

Overall, “Shoe Dog” is a great reminder that leaders need to safeguard their vision at all costs and occasionally, open the door to risk in order to change the game.

— Stan Gregor, CEO, Summit Financial