Who doesn’t love a good read in the summer time?? How about one situated in a business setting? This summer, if you want to bury your nose in a book that also feels a little bit like you’re gaining wisdom you might be able to use in your professional career, you might consider one of the titles on our list. They were chosen based on a combination of factors, including their popularity, their critical acclaim, and their relevance to the theme of business.
All of these books have been widely read and discussed, and they are considered to be some of the most important works of fiction in the business genre. Some of them have been bestsellers while others have been adapted into films and TV shows. They also explore different aspects of the corporate world and the characters who operate within it, providing unique perspectives and insights into the cut-throat and complex world of business.?All are centered around a business theme or set in a corporate setting:
- "The Bonfire of the Vanities" by Tom Wolfe - a satirical novel set in 1980s New York City and explores the cutthroat world of Wall Street, politics, and the media.
- "The Big Money" by John Dos Passos - This novel is the final book in Dos Passos' USA trilogy, and it explores the lives of wealthy industrialists and financiers in the early 20th century.
- "The Devil Wears Prada" by Lauren Weisberger - This bestseller is a behind-the-scenes look at the high-pressure world of fashion publishing.
- "American Psycho" by Bret Easton Ellis - a darkly comedic novel with a satirical look at the excesses of 1980s Wall Street culture.
- "The Secret History of Costaguana" by Juan Gabriel Vásquez - set in the world of South American oil politics, and it explores the corrupting influence of money and power.
- "The Financier" by Theodore Dreiser - a famous read set in the late 19th century and tells the story of a ruthless businessman's rise to power.
- "The Goldfinch" by Donna Tartt - follows a young man's journey through the art world and the shadowy world of high-end antiques dealing.
- "The Lost Tycoon" by Harold Robbins - a fictionalized account of the life of Howard Hughes, and it explores the dark side of the American Dream.
- "The Power Broker" by Robert A. Caro - a fictionalized account of the life of Robert Moses, the man who shaped New York City's infrastructure for much of the 20th century.
- "The Way We Live Now" by Anthony Trollope - a satirical novel is set in the world of high finance in 1870s London, and it exposes the greed and corruption of the era.
- "Up in the Air" by Walter Kirn - another satirical look at the life of a corporate downsizer who travels the country firing people. The novel was later adapted into a movie with the same title.
- "The Assistant" by Bernard Malamud - a darkly comedic look at the life of an aspiring writer who takes a job as a lowly assistant in a large New York City publishing house.
- "The Art of Fielding" by Chad Harbach - set in the world of college baseball, but it also explores the cutthroat world of college admissions and the business of higher education.
- "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis - a non-fiction book later adapted into a movie, It's a dark comedic look at the 2008 financial crisis, told from the perspective of a group of misfit investors who saw the crash coming and made a fortune from it.
- "The Company Man" by John R. Hussman – a comedic satire about a man who works for a large faceless corporation and the ridiculous situations he finds himself in.
This list offers some valuable insights into the various challenges faced by entrepreneurs, executives, and businesses of all sizes. They are all worth reading for anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of the corporate world and the people who operate within it.
Do you have a favorite novel – a work of fiction with a business theme or based in a corporate setting??Please share the title and author with us – we are happy to add new titles to the list.
— Charles Francis Potter (often erroneously attributed to Oscar Wilde)
