Stout Fuel Stop: 1:52 min read

Stout Book Club: Power Page-Turners That Garner Rave Reviews from the Entrepreneurial Elite

Inc.com writer Tanner Christensen doesn’t mince words when it comes to the power of furthering one’s education through reading. His philosophy, outlined in his 2016 article 6 Must-Read Books Recommended by Top Leaders, is short and sweet: “To do what those who have come before you have done – to accomplish what Elon Musk, Bill Gates, or Meg Whitman have done – read what they read”.

Here’s the list of power players and their recommended reads:

Bill Gates

Bill Gates:
How Not to Be Wrong, by Jordan Ellenberg

Eilenberg explores the world around us from behind the lens of mathematics in this oddly fascinating book.

Elon Musk

Elon Musk:
Twelve Against the Gods, by William Bolitho

Twelve Against the Gods covers the lives of 12 historical individuals who achieved significant success in their lifetimes. Uncover tidbits behind the greats, such as Napoleon, Casanova, Woodrow Wilson, Charles XII and Isadora Duncan.

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs:
The Innovator’s Dilemma, by Clayton M. Christensen

Jobs credits this book with helping him understand the importance of innovation within an organization.

Meg Whitman

Meg Whitman:
Playing to Win, by A.G. Lafley

Lafley takes readers on a thought-provoking journey, examining what tradeoffs must be considered in order to “play to win” in a connected and highly competitive world.

Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg:
The Beginning of Infinity, by David Deutsch

Zuckerberg chose this book as his final selection in his year reading a book weekly. In it, author Deutsch argues that explanations have a fundamental place in the universe–and that improving them is the basic regulating principle of all successful human endeavor.

John Chambers

John Chambers:
Lean In, by Sheryl Sandberg

Chambers was so inspired by Sandberg’s book that he gave a copy to each member of his senior leadership team. His goal: encourage them to interact on a new level with female employees, leaders, customers, partners and peers.