The book this episode covers
Becoming Trader Joe
Joe Coulombe with Patty Civalleri · Reading rank 91 · in 9 other episodes
David gives the book his strongest recommendation, calling it fantastic and a must-read for entrepreneurs.
Dedicated episode · Explicit praise · Founder theme
Books David recommends along the way
Zero to One
Peter Thiel with Blake Masters · Reading rank 5 · in 48 other episodes
David compares Joe's view of convenience retailing as an undifferentiated commodity business to Peter Thiel's warning against commodity businesses in Zero to One.
Founder theme
Confessions of an Advertising Man
David Ogilvy · Reading rank 20 · in 23 other episodes
David calls Ogilvy's books the best advertising books he has read and recommends them.
Cross-episode reference · Explicit praise · Founder theme
Setting the Table
Danny Meyer · Reading rank 26 · in 14 other episodes
David calls Danny Meyer's book fantastic while introducing its advice on leases.
Explicit praise · Founder theme
Let My People Go Surfing
Yvon Chouinard · Reading rank 31 · in 12 other episodes
David connects Yvon Chouinard's no-competition product philosophy in Let My People Go Surfing to Joe's approach to groceries.
Founder theme
Copy This!
Paul Orfalea and Ann Marsh · Reading rank 84 · in 11 other episodes
David applies Orfalea's learning-difference lesson while recommending the earlier Kinko's book and episode.
Cross-episode reference · Founder theme
Ritz and Escoffier
Luke Barr · Reading rank 87 · in 6 other episodes
David says he had a hard time putting the book down and devoured it in a few days.
Cross-episode reference · Explicit praise
The Mamba Mentality
Kobe Bryant · Reading rank 142 · in 2 other episodes
David draws a parallel between Joe's close reading of regulations and Kobe Bryant's study of the referee's handbook to find an edge.
Founder theme
Fearless Flyer
Trader Joe's · Reading rank 416 · in 3 other episodes
David explains how Joe Coulombe built the Fearless Flyer from Consumer Reports' layout and David Ogilvy's long-copy principles, using informative advertising that readers saved and that helped expand sales while lowering advertising cost as a share of sales.
Founder theme
The Guns of August
Barbara W. Tuchman · Reading rank 419 · in 1 other episode
David quotes Joe Coulombe calling The Guns of August the best book on management and mismanagement he had read, then highlights Coulombe's lesson to choose a reasonable strategy and pursue it tenaciously instead of waiting for an optimal one.
Founder theme
Also mentioned
My Life in Advertising
Claude C. Hopkins · Reading rank 36 · in 13 other episodes
Cross-episode reference
Each note is a short paraphrase of why David brings the book up. Book pages show every piece of evidence and its review status. How ranking works