Best Business Books: Mark Cuban's Picks
Mark Cuban, owner, Dallas Mavericks
The Gospel of Wealth
An essay written by Andrew Carnegie, in which the great industrialist argued that the wealthy have a responsibility to find philanthropic outlets for their riches
Why it's a must-read: "This was a reading assignment in an M.B.A. entrepreneurship class that I snuck into at Indiana University. Bottom line is that among the many patriotic things you can do, one is get rich and pay your taxes."
The Fountainhead
In this sprawling novel about ego and capitalism, Rand's idealistic architect, Howard Roark, struggles to balance his artistic vision with the prevailing orthodoxy of the time.
Why it's a must-read: "This was my motivation book. It helped me get fired up and reinforced my confidence whenever I would question myself."
The Innovator's Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail
A professor of business administration at the Harvard Business School examines the essential problem that confronts business leaders: how to avoid watching disruptive new technologydestroy their business. From disk drives to consumer retail, Christensen outlines how successful companies stayed one step ahead of technological change.
Why it's a must-read: "This helped me make sense of why things worked and didn't work in the technology industry."
The Only Investment Guide You Will Ever Need
This personal finance guide has been constantly updated since its first publication: The newest edition sings the praises of the Roth IRA, while warning of the dangers of online trading.
Why it's a must-read: "This is the only investment book I have read that truly made sense. Bottom line is that you can take a measure of risk on the $5,000 you have to invest in an attempt to earn 10 percent in the stock market, while praying that it all doesn't disappear because someone bought too many yen derivatives. Or you can save 15 percent on the $5,000 a year you spend on replenishables, from toilet paper to cereal to who knows what, and put it in the bank on top of the original $5,000, earn an easy 5 percent, plus accrued interest, on the total and sleep very, very well at night."
Cold Calling Techniques (That Really Work!)
The author of several sales training guides tackles one of the hardest parts of a salesman's job: cold-calling strangers.
Why it's a must-read: "This is a book that every CEO needs to read. If you can't sell, you can't survive. If you can sell–if you can figure out how to open doors and make your customers happy–you not only will always be able to eat and put a roof over your head but also thrive in any corporate or entrepreneurial environment."
advertisement
