Book Reviews :Business Biographies

Well, It is natural to be curious about those extra-ordinary people who manage not just tens or hundreds but literally thousands of people all over the world. Over last four months, I have specifically devoted some time to reading biographies of these people. Here are some which I would recommend strongly.

1. My Years With General Motors :Alfred P Sloan

I read this one, because Bill Gates recommended it… and rightly so! This book is all about turning a medium-sized company into a global conglomerate... and crushing competition on the way. Even though it dates back to pre-computing days, the ideas and experiences are equally useful even today.

2. Iacocca- An Autobiography : Lee Iacocca

This guy was fired from post of Vice-President by Henry Ford. He took up the reins of the bankrupt Chrysler Corp and brought it back on the track.

3. Odyssey- From Pepsi to Apple : John Sculley

He handled to extremely diverse companies with equal success, PepsiCo and Apple Computers. You get the feel of what intense competition in US industry means.

4. Made In Japan : Akio Morita

It gives a deep insight into the business logic of the Japanese people .

5. Jack - Straight from the Guts : Jack Welch

Though an auto-biography, it is entirely focussed on the author's experience as Chairman & CEO of General Electric for 20 years. Written in an unconventionally down-to-earth language, the book imparts some useful management lessons. As Welch says, there's only way... manage 10 people as best as you can, and inspire them to manage 100.

6. Business Maharajas / Business Legends :Gita Piramal

Both these books are particularly recommended because they discuss the lives of almost all the major Indian industrialists, such as Tatas, Birlas, Ambanis, Godrej, Walchand, Mafatlals and others. Marathi translations of both books are also available and are equally good.

7. Board Room : Achyut Godbole

This is the only business-biography in Marathi that I have come across. It gives brief life-histories of almost all international biz leaders, right from Rockefellers and Fords To Gates.

8. Creation of Wealth- The Tata Story: Russi Lala

This excellent book details the rise of the Tatas, right from Jamshedji Nasarwanji Tata to Ratan Tata. It focuses on the chronological buil-up of the Tata biz empire, various companies & institutions founded and the working styles of various chairmen. The book compels one to appreciate the legacy of Tatas.

9. JRD - Mee Paahilele [ Marathi ] : By D R Pendse

Mr Pendse was chief economist to JRD and his book gives an insight into the life of a legend. Marathi language needs more books of such kind. We are so fascinated by success- stories of West, that we tend to be-little or completely ignore the giants among Indians.

I am looking forward to autobiography or a biography of N R Narayan Murthy.

Then there are two more books, which are not biographies, but are written by two of most successful entrepreneurs of our time.
1. Business @ Speed of Thought : Bill Gates

It describes what Gates calls a digital nervous system, by giving examples of how a number of organizations, such as Marriott, Boeing, Dell, etc. have made successful use of it.

2. Only The Paranoid Survive : Andy Grove

It sums up my own philosophy very succinctly.... only those who are always worried about competition overtaking yourself are in a better position to tackle it successfully.

Yours,

- Gautam.