1. “Things a Little Bird Told Me: Confessions of the Creative Mind” by Biz Stone (2014)
A great book for those with the entrepreneurial spirit, Biz Stone’s, “Things a Little Bird Told Me,” is a narration of Stone’s time with Twitter. True to its Silicon Valley backdrop, there is no shortage of mentions of other key players like Google and Facebook. Stone’s professional philosophy is just as optimistic as his personal philosophy, and he offers great advice about opportunity, creativity and putting people first that will inspire you to rethink your approach to your career.
2. “Bossypants” by Tina Fey (2011)
“Bossypants” is Tina Fey’s autobiographical and hilarious, New York Times Best Seller. Fey covers her life from childhood to young adulthood doing improv comedy to what she is most well known for, SNL. Unlike some of the other recent releases by comedians, Fey sheds light on some interesting sociological observations. The insights Fey offers include managing work life while maintaining home life, making it in a largely male business and the dynamics between women in the workplace.
3. “Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration” by Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace (2014)
This book, which spans the lifetime of Pixar and details its challenges and evolution, made it onto Mark Zuckerberg’s 2015 reading list. Ed Catmull is the co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios as well as the current President of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios. As the title suggests, it’s a great read for those who wish to work in a creative field or apply creative principles to their business philosophy. And for a generation that grew up on Toy Story, it’s fascinating to read the business story behind it all.
4. “#GIRLBOSS” by Sophia Amoruso (2014)
“#GIRLBOSS” is more than just a pretty, social media, coffee table book. It’s a book written by Nasty Gal Founder, Sophia Amoruso, who is as smart and savvy as she is relatable. You don’t have to be interested in fashion to benefit from reading her book or even interested in building your own business. She offers great advice for taking charge of your life and forging your own path, especially as a young woman.
5. “Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose” by Tony Hsieh (2010)
Zappos CEO, Tony Hsieh, delivers a look into his mind as natural born entrepreneur from childhood to Zappos. Perhaps, the most interesting aspect of “Delivering Happiness” is Hseih’s narration of building a unique company culture centered on the science of happiness. There are many good analogies that deliver sound career advice for people at any professional level, and even if you don’t agree with Hseih’s approach to running a company, his advice to pursue passion will surely stick with you.
