4 Books That Changed Business Leaders’ Lives
By Gwen Moran

The average American read 12 books in 2015, according to findings from the Pew Research Center.

Reading for pleasure, according to Dr. Josie Billington, deputy director of the Centre for Research into Reading at the University of Liverpool, can also improve your health, preventing conditions such as stress, depression, and dementia. "Reading can offer richer, broader, and more complex models of experience, which enable people to view their own lives from a refreshed perspective and with renewed understanding," Billington told Fast Companyin a previous interview. The bonus is that with the understanding and perspective gained between the pages of a book, Billington says the reader is better equipped to cope with difficult situations because their "repertoires and sense of possible avenues of action or attitude" have expanded.

While many books can be good reads, few stick with us and actually change how we think. Four business leaders weighed in on the books that had the most impact on their management style, along with specifics about why they were so important. Here are their insights in their own words.

GOING TO THE DOGS
Chris Dorsey, CEO, Dorsey Pictures

My most impactful business read was Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman by Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard—who also happens to be a friend. It helped me to let go of some of my inherent need for control and to let others "own" the business. Sometimes they make mistakes, but what the hell, I make mistakes too, but the difference is that staff has no need to care if I make mistakes.

The book is also about the social responsibility of a business—a manifestation of the adage that it's one thing to make money, but quite another to make a difference. We like making money, but if we can make a difference at the same time—even in small ways—profit then has a broader definition.

It also showed me that happy people do better work, and it isn't always about the money. Before I read the book, I wouldn't have considered, for instance, allowing employees to bring their dogs to work. Now I think we have more dogs in the office than people, and the staff is absolutely happier around their pets. It creates a different relationship between staff members since they also get to know canine family members as well. We’ve actually had people apply for jobs at our company who couldn't accept the positions because they were allergic to dogs. But they could also see how happy people were with their dogs in the office, so they never complained about that requirement when turning down the offer.

https://www.fastcompany.com/3063822/work-smart/4-books-that-changed-business-leaders-lives