Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Michael Dell, Bill Gates, Andy Grove, Bill Hewlett

Hard Drive

James Wallace and Jim Erickson · Reading rank 6 · in 23 other episodes

David calls this one of his favorite books ever read for the podcast.

Cross-episode reference · Explicit praise

Made in Japan

Akio Morita with Edwin M. Reingold and Mitsuko Shimomura · Reading rank 21 · in 21 other episodes

David identifies Founders 102 while applying Morita's idea that talented people need to feel their work is bigger than themselves.

Founder theme

The Score Takes Care of Itself

Bill Walsh with Steve Jamison and Craig Walsh · Reading rank 50 · in 17 other episodes

Cross-episode reference

Finding the Next Steve Jobs

Nolan Bushnell and Gene Stone · Reading rank 68 · in 11 other episodes

David applies the book's creative-arrogance passage to Jobs's preference for candidates with firm conviction.

Cross-episode reference · Founder theme

Swimming Across

Andrew S. Grove · Reading rank 70 · in 9 other episodes

David calls Grove's memoir fantastic and describes its unbelievable content.

Explicit praise

My Years with General Motors

Alfred Sloan · Reading rank 133 · in 5 other episodes

David calls My Years with General Motors one of the most influential books in American business management.

Explicit praise · Cross-episode reference

The Man Who Sold America

Jeffrey L. Cruikshank and Arthur W. Schultz · Reading rank 136 · in 4 other episodes

Cross-episode reference

Inside Steve's Brain

Leander Kahney · Reading rank 150 · in 3 other episodes

Cross-episode reference

Overnight Success

Vance H. Trimble · Reading rank 157 · in 4 other episodes

David calls Fred Smith's biography crazy and tells listeners to go back and read Overnight Success.

Cross-episode reference · Explicit praise