We asked the CEOs of the top businesses on our list of America's Best Small Companies to share what’s on their nightstands. Their answers may surprise you.
From science fiction to Stephen Hawking, management guides to books on the mind, these leaders happen to be avid readers. While only one CEO opted for a fictional novel, memoirs and biographies were popular picks. Jason Rhode, head of Cirrus Logic (7) chose Life, on the Line by Grant Achatz.
"Grant is one of the world's best chefs, who also beat cancer just as his career was starting to really take off," Rhode explains. "It is the most perfect showcase of what drive and vision can achieve that I've ever read."
Jim Koch, founder of Samuel Adams brewery Boston Beer, recommended the ubiquitous biography of Apple visionary Steve Jobs.
"The book focuses on Jobs’ fanatic commitment to quality and how it contributed to the success of Apple," Koch explains. "He [Jobs] stayed focused on the product and the company culture - to me those are the most important things for a founder to continually reinforce. It also included quite a bit about his failings, and as a leader this was just as valuable to read about."
The heads of two education companies on our list had illuminated non-fiction choices. Dr. Wallace E. Boston of American Public Education (12) recommended Checklist for Change, an analysis of the problems facing America's higher education system, while Brian Mueller, CEO of Grand Canyon Education (2) chose The Poverty of Nations: A Sustainable Solution by Barry Asmus & Wayne Grudem. Riffing on Adam Smith’s famous tome, Mueller’s choice examines the reasons behind poverty and inequality in the world.
"It’s highly inspirational because it provides a lot of insight for why successful countries with successful political economic frameworks go into decline, and how to avoid that." Mueller likes the book so much he's hoping it becomes a staple of every Grand Canyon University student's education.
It seems fitting that John Foraker of Annie's, which sells organic pasta and a homemade take on snacks and ready meals, should recommend Conscious Capitalism by John Mackey, founder of Whole Foods Market. "Business can be a powerful force for positive change in society, and he’s someone I admire greatly for the incredible company and culture he’s built," Foraker said of Mackey.
Mike Fifer of Sturm, Ruger (5) endorsed the management tips of Captain Abrashoff, whose naval leadership advocates communication, empathy with employees. Fifer took Abrashoff’s advice and spent over 30 weekends in his first year at the company working retail to learn the product - and his employees. "To be a successful CEO, you have to learn as much as you can from your customers and their customers, and then learn it again, because the landscape is always changing," says Fifer.
For Bryan Shinn of U.S. Silica Holdings (8), inspiration comes not from business books but from science fiction.
“I love reading books where people are postulating about the future,” Shinn said. "In science fiction, you can go back and read books written years ago and and they have ideas in there for a Bluetooth earpiece or flip cell phone or iPad."
“I’ve got more business ideas reading those books than reading business books.”
With only one female CEO in the top 20 businesses of our America’s Best Small Companies List, Rick Bergman of Synpatics’ (19) choice – Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In – rings poignant. In Lean In, Facebook's COO breaks down gender imbalance in the workplace, exploring why women’s progress in achieving leadership roles has stalled.
"With semiconductors specifically, the number of women in management is dismally small," said Bergman. "I have three daughters in college right now so I hope this book can also provide valuable lessons for them as they start their careers."
What are you reading? Let us know in the comments, or tweet @natrobe.
Update: A prior version of this article incorrectly stated there are no female CEOs in the top 20; there is one, Clearfield's Cheri Beranek.
