Summer Reading List for Future Business Leaders

Summer is the perfect time to catch up on reading! You may prefer to lounge by the pool and read a paperback, but it’s also a perfect opportunity to read books that are both useful and enjoyable. Books that cultivate leadership, expound on desirable traits for successful teams, and are informative in areas of business compose the perfect summer reading list. Here are five books for your career enrichment this summer:

1. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

In Outliers, Gladwell examines the factors that contribute to success. He argues that success is tied to opportunity and time spent on that task. He talks about the “10,000 Hour Rule” where greatness requires time. For example, greats such as The Beatles and Bill Gates have spent 10,000 hours honing the skills they are renowned for. The point he makes strongly in this book is that there are more factors to success than just “natural ability.” Success depends on a number of factors but what you can control is the amount of effort you exert and this makes success more likely.

2. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

7 Habits has been one of the best-selling nonfiction books in business. Covey writes about seven habits that can make a person more effective personally, professionally, and in family life. This one is both inspirational and practical which is a great combination for the perfect self-improvement book and is a must-read for business students.

3. The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham

Warren Buffet has endorsed this book as the greatest investment book of all time! If that’s not enough for you to pick this one up, then know that Benjamin Graham is the father of value investing and taught at Columbia University. The Intelligent Investor is a widely acclaimed book and it is essential material for a business student who needs to know how to navigate the market in order to be successful in future endeavors.

4. The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

A controversial selection perhaps with some Machiavellian undertones, but it is nevertheless essential reading for a business student. Greene has synthesized the philosophies of celebrated statesmen such as Sun Tzu and Julius Caesar into his 48 laws. These laws can be used for great evil or great good in order to either gain power or to use as defense against manipulation.

5. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

The only fiction book on this list and a children’s picture book, The Giving Tree is a masterpiece and in today’s world, it is even more relevant. In this story, the tree gives a selfish boy whatever he desires and asks for nothing in return. This fable teaches a life-long lesson of empathy and appreciation of others. It is a valuable lesson for anyone and for those seeking to lead, even more so. Additionally, it is also a Shel Silverstein story which makes it a delight to read.

This list is a great starting point for this summer. Even if you get to read only one or two, you would be learning quite a lot without having to attend classes.