Business Biographies?

December 27, 2007 6:33 AM

I'm heading on a long trip in a week, and need some reading materials. I enjoy "business biographies" - stories about business, deals, etc. Looking for recommendations for books I haven't read yet

Some of my recent reads, and older favorites, include:

*Barbarians at the Gate
*The Wal-Mart Effect
*The Latte Factor
*Various HBR Collections
*The Google Story
*Feeding the Monster
*Liar's Poker
*Moneyball
*Disney War

I've also enjoyed the "softer" business-y books such as Freakonomics and a couple of Dale Carnegie books.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. I came across these threads, and there were some books that fit the bill, but most were general business, not the "business biographies" that I'm looking for.

Thanks!

posted by um_maverick to Work & Money (17 answers total)

I'm not sure if this will fit the bill or not (it ends up being more a personal memoir than a business book), but I liked Money for Nothing by Edward Ugel reasonably well. It's about the lottery prize buyout business. It was enjoyable and easy to read. I was left wanting to know more about the business, though, and a bit less about the guy's life.
posted by OmieWise at 6:43 AM on December 27, 2007

Nuts! is about the strategy Herb Kelleher, CEO of Southwest Airlines. I liked it (but I have 0 business acumen or experience).
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 6:58 AM on December 27, 2007

I enjoyed Swoosh: The Unauthorized Story of Nike and the Men Who Played There.
posted by xsquared-1 at 7:04 AM on December 27, 2007

The Informant, by Kurt Eichenwald. It's not really a biography, but it is a fascinating account of ConAgra shadiness.
posted by landedjentry at 7:06 AM on December 27, 2007

iWoz - From Computer Geek to Cult Icon: How I Invented the Personal Computer, Co-Founded Apple, and Had Fun Doing It by Steve Wozniak.

It's a bit geeky though, so if geek talk bores you parts of the book may be a bit tedious.
posted by COD at 7:26 AM on December 27, 2007

I agree with spikelee, Nuts! is a great read.
posted by illek at 7:36 AM on December 27, 2007

Always Fresh: the untold story of Tim Hortons fits your description, I think. I'm not sure where you are, and how familiar you are with Tim Hortons, but it's pretty much the Canadian Icon and Canada's greatest success.

yeah yeah, Canadarm etc. ... shh. Timmy's is heaven.
posted by Phire at 7:49 AM on December 27, 2007

Tom Peters Thriving on Chaos.
posted by nax at 8:02 AM on December 27, 2007

Who Says Elephants Can't Dance? Inside IBM's Historic Turnaround. How Louis Gerstner Jr. saved a hemorrhaging IBM and turned it into a multi-national mega-corporation.
posted by Student of Man at 8:18 AM on December 27, 2007

I've highly recommended it to anyone who will listen: "The Smartest Guys in the Room", about the rise and fall of Enron, and the people in it. Terrific book!
posted by Asparagirl at 8:18 AM on December 27, 2007 [1 favorite]

"Three Blind Mice" is right on my shelf next to Barbarians at the Gate. And since you like Michael Lewis' "Liar's Poker" you should enjoy "The Money Culture" as well, which is every bit as funny but covers broader ground than just one brokerage house.
posted by vito90 at 8:59 AM on December 27, 2007

I enjoyed Richard Branson's "Let Not Screw It, Let's Just Do It" (in some places it has the old title of "Screw It, Let's Do It" but this has an extra chapter on climate change). He does tend to go on and on a bit about his ballooning, and if you've read any part of his autobiography then some stories would sound familiar. But it's an easy and fun read and quite inspiring too.
posted by divabat at 9:19 AM on December 27, 2007

Hello Kitty: The Remarkable Story of Sanrio and the Billion Dollar Feline Phenomenon is an interesting and quick read.
posted by mikepop at 9:36 AM on December 27, 2007

I'm currently reading the fantastic Goldman Sachs: The Culture of Success by Lisa Endlich.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 10:43 AM on December 27, 2007

Damn, there are some great books on the Enron rise and fall.
posted by GaelFC at 12:03 PM on December 27, 2007

I remember Martha Inc.: The Incredible Story of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia being quite enjoyable. It's obviously mostly about just one person, but it's all business.

I also second the Hello Kitty book. Along with the business aspect, it's also a neat overview of cuteness in Japanese culture.
posted by easyasy3k at 12:55 PM on December 27, 2007

Damn, I'm really sorry for not being able to remember the name right now, and I'm not at home, but I remember reading this book about an investor who made a fortune, then lost it, then made another one, and then lost it too, and it was written in the twenties or thirties. Perhaps someone else on this could help you out, but that'd be my choice... does anyone else know what I'm talking about?
posted by omnigut at 3:32 PM on December 30, 2007