Business legends: lessons in innovation and leadership
Barbarians at the Gate: The Fall of RJR Nabisco by Bryan Burrough
Imagine that one day you woke up with a fortune of billions of dollars. What will you do with all of them? We have a book to help you respond to this question like a CEO. Considered one of the best business biographies of all time, this book provides a gripping account of the leveraged buyout of RJR Nabisco in the late 1980s. If you are interested in M&A — this is your pick. Written by Bryan Burrough and John Helyar, it explores the greed, power struggles, and high-stakes drama behind one of the largest corporate deals in history. You can read our summary of Barbarians at the Gate here.
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
This book might be a key to understanding Jobs’ personality, business strategy, and leadership skills. The Steve Jobs biography is also an in-depth exploration of Apple Inc. What is the history behind the most successful tech company in the US? Walter Isaacson captures Jobs’ relentless drive for perfection, innovative spirit, and flaws. This book is like a lens for you to observe the life of a successful businessman and see all of his personality’s positive and negative aspects. Find out more in our detailed summary of Steve Jobs.
Authentic: A Memoir by the Founder of Vans by Paul Van Doren
This inspiring memoir chronicles the life of Paul Van Doren, the visionary behind Vans shoe empire. In Authentic, Van Doren shares the trials, triumphs, and lessons learned from building one of the most iconic brands in streetwear. It is another must-read for aspiring business leaders. You will know what makes companies global phenomena and how vision can guide you throughout challenges. Explore more about this book in our summary.
Athletic grit and mental strength
Letters to a Young Athlete by Chris Bosh
This book offers life lessons from NBA legend Chris Bosh, considered to be one of the best sports biographies of all time. It is an autobiography about sports, wisdom, and personal growth. If you are facing challenges in your life, Chris Bosh has a unique piece of advice for you. Check it out here.
The Kevin Show: An Olympic Athlete’s Battle with Mental Illness by Mary Pilon
Kevin Hall suffers from a rare syndrome that makes him believe he stars in a television show of his life. Almost living a scenario of Truman Burbank from "Truman Show," he became an Olympic athlete and graduated from an Ivy League school. The book includes unique information gathered from numerous medical records, police reports, and interviews with people who knew Hall very closely. You can read more here to learn how it feels to live with a film director inside one’s head.
Cultural icons and their stories
Will by Will Smith
The Will Smith biography is an honest and entertaining account of the actor’s journey from a teenage rapper to one of Hollywood's most successful stars. You will be surprised by the honesty of Smith’s book — he tells the readers untold. You will learn about his challenges, complicated family relationships, and his ladder of success. Explore the highlights here.
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
When “iCarly” star Jennette McCurdy released her book, it was almost swept from the shelves. The former actress bares it all in her memoir — sharing years of physical, verbal, and emotional abuse from her mother, whom she once idolized. Turning such a painful story into a compelling read is not easy. What truly sets this memoir apart is how she masterfully frames her journey from the very beginning. It is a unique book with unique life lessons. If you feel like reading it, here is our summary of I’m Glad My Mom Died.
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
Few stars have achieved such global appreciation as Britney Spears. At the dawn of the 2000s, the teen sensation captivated millions with her chart-topping hits and unknowingly set a blueprint for modern pop stardom. Spears defined pop’s golden era, becoming an icon known for creating cultural moments that resonated long before the rise of social media. In her memoir, she shows the other side of her life. It is an intimate look into the life — a story of patriarchy and exploitation. She writes about the most private and difficult stories: from abortion to difficult relations with her father. Read The Woman in Me summary here.
Political Leaders and Change-Makers
A Promised Land by Barack Obama
Many see the USA as a country of opportunities. A place where everyone can become anyone. This is basically what A Promised Land is about: a “son of a Black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas” became a President of the United States. This biography contains interesting stories and critical moments of Obama’s life. While the focus is mainly political, moments with his family shine with heartfelt nostalgia. It’s one of the best political biographies for understanding modern leadership and politics. You can find the summary of A Promised Land here.
Spare by Prince Harry
In this revealing memoir, Prince Harry opens the closed doors of life in the royal family. This is an honest story about his struggles with loss and his journey to find independence. Spare broke records as the fastest-selling nonfiction book in Britain. Harry revisits infamous media stories and family feuds and reflects on his mother's legacy. At its core, Spare humanizes Harry, showing a man and his family under public scrutiny non-stop. Find more details in our summary of Spare.
Empowering women: stories of triumph and identity
Becoming by Michelle Obama
One of the most celebrated biographies in recent years, Becoming is a personal and empowering story of the former First Lady. Michelle Obama reflects on her life, career, and role as a mother and wife in the public eye. It quickly became a best-seller, and, be sure, there is a reason why. Find it out for yourself in our summary here.
Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive by Stephanie Land
Stephanie Land, a single mom, had to work hard for meager wages to give herself and her young daughter a place to be their home. It is difficult to call this life; it was a survival for her. In this emotional memoir, Land describes the challenges of poverty and single parenthood. Yet, she graduated from college and found a way to create the life she and her daughter deserve. Read the full Maid book summary here.
I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
Malala believed that she could make a change in this world. Being a young girl, she started her activism promoting female education. Just within a couple of months, she turned from an education activist in Pakistan to the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate. She is a founder of the Malala Fund which helps young girls get a decent education and become future leaders. In I Am Malala she tells us about global terrorism, life under Taliban rule, and the fight for girls' education. It’s a powerful call to action for education and equality. You can find our summary of the book right here.
Inspiring Life Stories: Overcoming Adversity
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
This memoir is one of the best books to tell you more about South African childhood. Trevor Noah’s memoir reflects on love, poverty, crime, and resilience. He tells us about domestic abuse, forgotten histories, and the complexities of his upbringing. Despite its heavy themes, it remains a celebration of life. Noah, being Noah, preserves his style and makes witty jokes about his life. If you read only one memoir this year, make it this one. You’ll laugh, learn, and walk away inspired. You can read or listen to it here.
Educated by Tara Westover
Tara Westover was the youngest of seven children in a survivalist family near a mountain in rural Idaho. Her father, Gene, built barns and collected scrap metal to make a living, while her mother, Faye, mixed herbal remedies and worked reluctantly as a midwife. They lived isolated, self-reliant lives. No doctors, no medicine, no contact with the world around them. Despite this isolated and strict upbringing, Tara gradually broke free. She taught herself enough to get into college, struggled to adjust, and eventually earned a PhD from Cambridge. The Educated book explores how education and resilience helped Tara escape the Mormon fundamentalist parents’ philosophy and control. Check out our summary of Educated here.
Biographies offer windows into extraordinary lives, filled with lessons that can inspire and transform our perspectives. With Michele Obama’s Becoming, you may turn into a First Lady, while with Authentic, you may become part of a new business empire. So, whose life do you want to explore first? Let these incredible stories guide and encourage you.
