Business

This list of business books provides a basic introduction to the characteristics of successful businesses and business leaders.

• The Prime Movers, Traits of the Great Wealth Creators by Edwin A. Locke. What specific actions do the great weath creators take? What ideas, attitudes and abilities characterize the business giants who create new businesses, new products and new wealth? This book identifies the answers and provides guidelines for any prospective business leader or investor.
• The Entrepreneurs, An American Adventure by Robert Sobel and David B. Sicilia. The story of entrepreneurs in the United States, from its beginnings to the present day, told largely by numerous segments on individuals and the businesses they created. Also available as a video series.
• The Myth of the Robber Barons by Folsom. Capsule biographies of key industrialists of the 19^th century, the most capitalistic period in American history: Vanderbilt, Hill, Scranton, Schwab, Rockefeller, and Mellon.
• The Abolition of Antitrust by Gary Hull, editor. The Abolition of Antitrust asserts that antitrust laws- on economic, legal, and moral grounds- are bad, and provides convincing evidence supporting argument for their total abolition. Every year, new antitrust prosecutions arise in the U.S. courts, as in the cases against 3M and Visa/MasterCard, as well as a number of ongoing antitrust cases, such as those involving Microsoft and college football's use of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS). Gary Hull and the contributing authors show that there cases- as well as the Sherman Antitrust Act itself- are based on an erroneous interpretation of the history of American business, premised on bad economics. They equivocate between economic and political power- the power to produce versus the power to use physical force. For Hull, antitrust prosecutions are based on a horrible moral inversion: that it is acceptable to sacrifice America's best producers.-- Publisher
• My Years with General Motors. "I think Alfred Sloan's My Years with General Motors is probably the best book to read if you want to read only one book about business. The issues [Sloan] dealt with in organizing and measuring, in keeping [other executives] happy, dealing with risk, understanding model years and the effect of used vehicles, and modeling his competition all in a very rational, postive way is inspiring." --Bill Gates, Chairman, Microsoft
• American Steel, Hot Metal Men and the Resurrection of the Rust Belt by Richard Preston. Ken Iverson's Nucor moves at a fast and innovative pace against an industry rusting under tradition and union work rules. Smart people invent, take calculated risks, make decisions, make steel and make money.
• The Microsoft Way, The Real Story of How the Company Outsmarts its Competition by Randall E. Stross. Stross blows away the fantasies promoted by Microsoft's enemies and identifies the real reasons that Microsoft succeeds: Rational, clear-thinking, intelligent, hard-working people, freedom, innovation, a grasp of the total market, an integration of short and long-term action and a relentless emphasis on profits. (more:
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• Comeback, How Seven Straight-Shooting CEOs Turned Around Troubled Companies by Martin Puris. The crucial role of the CEO illustrated in the most trying of circumstances.

Investment

• Investing: An Objective Approach by Yaron Brook. This recorded lecture covers the basics of long-term investing for those who have careers outside the markets.
• Investment Illusions, A Savvy Wall Street pro explodes popular misconceptions about the markets by Martin S. Fridson.
• Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits by Philip A. Fisher. History and advice from a master of selecting stocks for their fundamental value.
• Market Wizards, Interviews with top traders by Jack D. Schwager. Interviews revealing the traits and approaches of traders, those who buy and sell assets over relatively short time spans.
• Keep What You Earn, Practical Strategies to Protect Your Assets from Taxes, Lawsuits and Financial Predators by Terry Coxon. You earned it. It's yours. Now learn how to keep it.
• Wealth: An Owners Manual, A Sensible, Steady, Sure Course to Becoming and Staying Rich by Michael Stolper. Good advice on how to benefit from your wealth once you have it. While I don't agree with all of the particulars advanced by the author, his overall approach is sound and advisable.

See Also

• Economics – The study of production and trade.
• Thinking Skills – Techniques for improving your cognitive and problem-solving skills

Links

• BB&T Values – Branch Bank and Trust Company impressively documents its corporate values. These apply to any individual seeking to increase the success and happiness of his life.
• Capitalism.org – Web site promoting Objectivism and laissez-faire capitalism.
• James J. Hill
• Microsoft Myths – Analysis of random claims against Microsoft
• The Microsoft Way – Review of The Microsoft Way