My Top Ten Books

CONFESSION –

I am a BOOK NERD!

For those of you who don’t know me well, I am guessing about 17,000 or so of you, I love reading. So much so that in primary school I used to read my books in the playground instead of playing football with the other kids. Yes, you guessed it – I am weird. Somehow, I managed to make friends with the other kids.

I have a wide range of tastes ranging from business, economics, history and personal development.

As we are approaching the time of year when people tend to reflect, are running on empty or need some help with getting themselves or projects across the line, I hope you will find some of these books interesting, enjoyable and useful.

For those interested in business, negotiation, M & A, influencing outcomes and developing resilience – read on!

Here are my top ten books that I hope you will enjoy.

Disclaimer: These are entirely my own view and subjective based on what I enjoy reading. Some of the authors have led very chequered lives (to say the least). Their political views and behaviours I do not subscribe to, nor do I endorse their behaviour in any way whatsoever.

I have gifted all of these books to friends, family and teammates and I return to them regularly for ideas, and in some cases, inspiration.?

1)??? Barbarians at the Gate – Bryan Burrough and John Helyar

This is a breath-taking read about mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buy outs and the Wall Street Corporate Culture of the 1980’s. For those interested in M & A and/or debt financing and hubris, this is a must read for anyone interested in business.

2)??? Maverick – Ricardo Semler

This is one of the books that I have enjoyed, gifted and returned to the most. This is a book about a radical approach to organisational design, where workers chose where and how they work. This is a story of transformation, worker empowerment, delegation of authority and forward-thinking leadership resulting in extraordinary business success. For those interested in hybrid, remote and future of work, this is a must read.

3)??? The Power Broker – Robert A. Caro

This book was recommended to me many years ago by one of my best friends. It’s a study of Robert Moses, perhaps the most powerful man you have never heard of. He was a man who bent the infrastructure and design of New York City to his will over many decades. A masterful study of power unchecked.

4)??? The Forgotten Soldier – Guy Sajer

This book was recommended to me by a great man, someone who took an interest in my development and gave me the confidence to believe in myself, particularly as I was a bit wild in my late teens and early 20’s. Sadly, he has now passed, but when I read this book I often think of him. This is a story about a German Soldier during World War II. It’s a fascinating story of luck, perseverance and being born in the wrong place at the wrong time and managing to survive even when all the odds are against you.

5)??? You are the Message – Roger Ailes

This is one of the gems on presenting, communicating and influencing used by presidents, TV anchors, executives and politicians to hone and impart their message. Needless to say, the author has been rightly castigated. This book really helped with my confidence and presentation skills.

6)??? The Years of Lyndon Johnson – Robert A. Caro

This is technically not one book, but a four-volume study of Lyndon B Johnson who was one of the most influential and fascinating politicians of the modern era. This is a fascinating study of how to achieve and maintain power and how someone from very humble means can reach the very top.

7)??? Power Failure – William D. Cohan

This book is a really excellent study of GE. It shares GE’s history, ethos and personality of what made it great. It has interesting character studies around the race to replace Jack Welch as CEO and the competitive tension that ran alongside it.

8)??? WILL – G. Gordon Liddy

Another very controversial author. G. Gordon Liddy was an FBI Agent, District Attorney, US Republican and Watergate Breakin Organiser. Ultimately, he was imprisoned for his part in planning the Watergate Burglary. His autobiography is a fascinating portrait in the power of resilience, problem solving and a refusal to never be broken.

9)??? Fooled by Randomness – Nassim Nicholas Taleb

This book introduced us to Fat Tony, trading, probability and the concept of anti-fragility by one of the foremost thinkers of the 20th and 21st of Century. I love all of Taleb’s books, but this is my favourite, possibly because it’s the most digestible of his work. This book is a testament to the power of counter intuitive thinking and black swans.

10)??? Citizens – Simon Schama

I read this book during my A Levels (which I failed, resat and failed again. This is a story for another day and was 24 years ago) and it’s one that I have come to love. Even then, I loved it. It also reminds me of one of my best friends from primary and secondary school, who sadly passed back in 2005. It makes me appreciate one of the best teachers I have ever had (thanks Jim McClean). This book is considered one of Schama’s best and is an intriguing story of chaos, the power of the mob, shifting allegiances and all the intrigue of the French Revolutionary period. It’s incredibly well written and one can almost visualise oneself in the Parisian streets.

If I had a top twenty (which I definitely do), I would add these books into the mix:

• The Hard Thing about Hard Things – Ben Horowitz
• Antifragile – Nassim Nicholas Taleb
• Traders Guns and Money – Mr Satyajit Das
• The Ride of My Life – Justin Mooch Deloretto (no giggling down the back)
• Unlimited Power – Anthony Robbins (cheesy I know but there is some merit in understanding and practicing NLP)
• Who Is Michael Ovitz? – ?Michael Ovitz
• Liar’s Poker – Michael Lewis (a great read on 80’s Wall Street)
• Guns, Germs and Steel – Jared Diamon
• Lucky – Ed Jackson (wow, just wow)
• Getting More – Stuart Diamond

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Cheers and hope you enjoy!

Connor