Books Recommended by Jamie Dimon

Andrew Stephen Grove (1936–2016) was a Hungarian-American business visionary and the acclaimed author of Only the Paranoid Survive, a seminal work on navigating strategic inflection points in corporate leadership.

As Intel’s transformative CEO, Grove pioneered semiconductor innovation and management practices that reshaped Silicon Valley’s tech landscape. His insights stem from steering Intel through industry upheavals, detailed in this management classic alongside his foundational book High Output Management, which remains essential reading for optimizing organizational performance.

A Holocaust survivor who fled Soviet-controlled Hungary in 1956, Grove brought relentless rigor to his Stanford Graduate School of Business teachings and writings. Honored as Time’s 1997 “Man of the Year,” his frameworks continue guiding Fortune 500 leaders and MBA programs worldwide. Only the Paranoid Survive has influenced generations of executives with its pragmatic strategies for crisis leadership and adaptive growth.

1. Strategic inflection points demand total business reinvention, not incremental tweaks
2. A 10X market shift requires abandoning legacy strategies for survival
3. Middle managers are early warning systems for industry disruption signals
4. Complacency is a silent killer once market dominance is achieved
5. Embrace strategic paranoia to exploit crises as competitive advantages
6. Delay pivoting during inflection points; early birds outpace latecomers
7. Clear leadership direction beats perfect strategy during chaotic transitions
8. Let debates flourish, then unify execution once decisions crystallize
9. Career inflection points mirror business crises; self-reinvention is mandatory
10. Intel's microprocessor pivot proves SIP mastery drives market dominance
11. Surviving the valley of death demands visualizing post-crisis success
12. Grove's law: Only the paranoid outrun relentless competition's erosion

Benjamin Graham (1894–1976), author of The Intelligent Investor, is widely celebrated as the "father of value investing" and a foundational figure in modern financial analysis. Born in London and raised in New York City, Graham’s expertise stemmed from decades as a Wall Street investor, Columbia University professor, and pioneer of systematic security analysis. His seminal works, including Security Analysis (co-authored with David Dodd) and The Intelligent Investor, established core principles like margin of safety, intrinsic value, and emotional discipline—cornerstones of value investing that continue to shape global markets.

Graham’s methodologies gained enduring recognition through proteges like Warren Buffett, who credits him as a primary influence. A Columbia graduate and founder of the Graham-Newman investment fund, he transformed financial theory by advocating data-driven decision-making over speculation. Beyond investing, Graham authored influential essays, patented financial calculators, and taught generations of analysts through his Columbia courses.

The Intelligent Investor remains a Wall Street classic, with over a million copies sold and translations in 15+ languages. Its revised editions maintain Graham’s original framework while addressing modern markets, cementing its status as essential reading for investors worldwide.

1. Prioritize margin of safety by buying stocks below intrinsic value
2. Ignore Mr. Market's emotional swings to avoid impulsive trading decisions
3. Maintain a 50/50 stock-bond split for balanced risk management
4. Analyze financial statements rigorously to uncover undervalued companies
5. Avoid speculative trading; focus on long-term value appreciation
6. Require current ratio above 1.5 for financial stability screening
7. Seek companies with consistent earnings growth over five years
8. Diversify with at least 40 stocks to minimize investment risks
9. Compare price-to-earnings ratios to identify overvalued or undervalued stocks
10. Reject companies with debt exceeding current asset values
11. Embrace market volatility as opportunity to buy undervalued assets
12. Define investment strategy as active or passive before entering markets

Jared Mason Diamond, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies, is a polymath renowned for his multidisciplinary exploration of human history and environmental science. A professor of geography and physiology at UCLA, Diamond merges evolutionary biology, anthropology, and ecology to analyze the roots of societal development.

His groundbreaking work identifies environmental factors—not racial superiority—as the catalyst for technological and political disparities between civilizations.

Diamond’s expertise spans bestselling titles like Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed and The Third Chimpanzee, which examine humanity’s environmental challenges and evolutionary legacy. A National Medal of Science recipient and MacArthur “Genius Grant” fellow, he has delivered influential TED Talks and contributed to PBS documentaries.

His books, translated into over 35 languages, have sold millions globally, with Guns, Germs, and Steel remaining a seminal text in academia and popular science since its 1997 publication.

1. Geographic luck, not innate superiority, shaped civilization dominance.
2. The Guns, Germs, and Steel framework explains Eurasian conquest through material factors.
3. Domesticable animals were scarce outside Eurasia due to the Anna Karenina principle.
4. The Fertile Crescent’s crop diversity gave an agricultural head start to early societies.
5. East-west continents enabled faster spread of crops versus north-south barriers.
6. Epidemic diseases emerged from animal domestication advantages in Eurasia.
7. Technology gaps originated from food surplus, enabling specialization and innovation.
8. The collision at Cajamarca showcases germ superiority as a conquest accelerant.
9. Jared Diamond’s Guns, Germs, and Steel rejects racial explanations for global power.
10. Dense populations enabled by farming created bureaucratic states and armies.
11. Ultimate causes of conquest lie in geography, not cultural brilliance.
12. Writing systems and metal tools developed where agriculture flourished first.

Doris Kearns Goodwin, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and presidential biographer, is the acclaimed author of Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, a seminal work in political history that explores leadership and coalition-building.

A Harvard-trained scholar and former White House aide to Lyndon B. Johnson, Goodwin has dedicated her career to analyzing presidential decision-making. Her books No Ordinary Time (1994 Pulitzer Prize) and The Bully Pulpit (2013 Carnegie Medal) have become benchmarks in American historiography.

Her expertise has been featured in PBS documentaries and Ken Burns’ Baseball, cementing her reputation as a trusted voice in public discourse. Team of Rivals, praised by Barack Obama and winner of the Lincoln Prize, revolutionized understanding of Lincoln’s leadership by detailing his unprecedented inclusion of political adversaries in his cabinet. The book has been a New York Times bestseller for over 50 weeks and inspired Steven Spielberg’s film Lincoln.

Goodwin’s other works, including Leadership in Turbulent Times and Wait Till Next Year, further showcase her ability to merge rigorous research with narrative-driven storytelling.

1. Lincoln’s political genius lay in harnessing rivals’ talents for national unity.
2. Emotional intelligence eclipsed formal education in resolving ideological conflicts.
3. Presidential leadership thrives on humility and collaborative decision-making.
4. Crisis management requires appointing competent adversaries to crucial roles.
5. Strategic empathy transformed political opponents into devoted cabinet members.
6. Civil War survival depended on unifying disparate Republican factions.
7. Lincoln’s resilience stemmed from childhood adversity and self-education.
8. Effective governance balances radical ideals with pragmatic compromise.
9. Mary Lincoln’s spending habits highlighted wartime political vulnerabilities.
10. The Thirteenth Amendment passage showcased Lincoln’s transactional persuasion tactics.
11. Leadership longevity requires converting critics into loyal collaborators.
12. Cabinet diversity prevented groupthink during existential national crises.

William McGuire Bryson, the bestselling author of A Short History of Nearly Everything, is a celebrated American-British writer renowned for transforming complex scientific and historical topics into engaging, accessible narratives. Born in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1951, Bryson first gained fame through his witty travel memoirs, including Notes from a Small Island and A Walk in the Woods—the latter adapted into a 2015 film starring Robert Redford.

His transition to science writing with A Short History of Nearly Everything (2003) stemmed from a desire to understand foundational scientific concepts, blending meticulous research with his trademark humor.

Bryson’s works span genres from language studies (The Mother Tongue) to cultural exploration (At Home: A Short History of Private Life), earning accolades like the prestigious Aventis Prize for science writing. A dual citizen and former chancellor of Durham University, he was awarded an honorary OBE for contributions to literature. A Short History of Nearly Everything has sold over 16 million copies worldwide, translated into 35 languages, and remains a cornerstone of popular science literature.

1. How the Big Bang created 98% of universal matter in three minutes
2. Bill Bryson reveals how 99.99% of Earth's species went extinct
3. Why quantum theory shattered 19th-century science's confidence in complete knowledge
4. How Henrietta Leavitt's "standard candles" measured galactic distances despite sexist barriers
5. The improbable chain of cosmic luck enabling human existence against astronomical odds
6. Why Einstein's relativity proved space and time are observer-dependent illusions
7. How atmospheric lead and CFCs threatened Earth's radiation defenses unseen
8. What dinosaur fossil gaps reveal about life's fragility across geological eras
9. Why 1900s scientists wrongly believed physics had no remaining mysteries
10. How Rutherford's atomic model exposed vast emptiness within matter's core
11. Bill Bryson traces science's brutal rivalries behind breakthroughs like quantum leaps
12. Why Earth's 4-billion-year age was deduced from meteorite dating techniques

Thomas Loren Friedman, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author of The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century, is a leading authority on globalization and international affairs. A three-time Pulitzer recipient and New York Times foreign affairs columnist since 1995, Friedman combines decades of frontline reporting from the Middle East with incisive economic analysis.

His work on the 1982 Lebanon War and First Intifada earned early acclaim, while later books like From Beirut to Jerusalem (National Book Award winner) and The Lexus and the Olive Tree established his reputation for unpacking complex geopolitical trends.

The World Is Flat, Friedman’s seminal exploration of 21st-century globalization, examines how technology, outsourcing, and workflow software transformed global economics. Drawing from his experiences covering Cold War diplomacy and Silicon Valley’s rise, Friedman popularized concepts like “the flat world platform” that remain central to international business discourse.

His works are required reading in economics and political science programs worldwide, with The World Is Flat alone translated into over 35 languages. Friedman continues shaping global conversations through his column, lectures at institutions like Harvard, and advisory role to multiple U.S. administrations on Middle Eastern policy.

1. Globalization 3.0 redefines competition through technology and global collaboration.
2. The Ten Flatteners dismantle barriers between nations and industries.
3. Dell’s Theory of Conflict Prevention links global supply chains to peace.
4. Outsourcing and offshoring created new opportunities for developing economies.
5. Workflow software enables seamless cross-border business integration.
6. America’s competitiveness hinges on education and infrastructure modernization.
7. Uploading democratizes content creation through blogs and open-source platforms.
8. The Triple Convergence merged tech, workflows, and global talent pools.
9. Resource-poor nations thrive by prioritizing human capital over natural assets.
10. Friedman warns against complacency in adapting to rapid globalization.
11. Balanced regulation protects workers without stifling free-market innovation.
12. The “flat world” demands lifelong learning to avoid economic obsolescence.

Jim Collins is the bestselling author of Built to Last and a leading researcher on visionary companies and organizational sustainability. A Stanford Graduate School of Business alum and distinguished faculty member, Collins combines decades of rigorous research with real-world insights to explore themes of enduring success, core values, and purpose-driven leadership.

His work, including seminal titles like Good to Great, How the Mighty Fall, and Great by Choice, has sold over 10 million copies globally and reshaped modern business strategy. Collins founded a management laboratory in Boulder, Colorado, advising CEOs and organizations across sectors, from Fortune 500 companies to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he served as leadership chair.

Recognized among Forbes’ “100 Greatest Living Business Minds,” Collins’ frameworks on preserving core ideals while embracing innovation remain foundational in leadership curricula. Beyond academia, he is an accomplished rock climber, completing iconic ascents of El Capitan and Half Dome. His concepts, detailed at jimcollins.com, continue to inspire leaders worldwide to build institutions that transcend generations.

1. Visionary companies prioritize core ideology over short-term profits for enduring success.
2. BHAGs (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) create urgency and align teams toward audacious milestones.
3. Build organizations like clockmakers, not depend on single visionary leaders.
4. Cult-like cultures demand strict adherence to core values but allow strategic flexibility.
5. Preserve core values while aggressively evolving practices to stay competitive.
6. Promote leaders from within to maintain cultural continuity and institutional knowledge.
7. Experiment relentlessly but filter innovations through your company’s core purpose.
8. Replace “either/or” dilemmas with “genius of the and” for balanced growth.
9. Self-confidence and self-criticism coexist in companies that outlast market shifts.
10. Good enough never is—visionary firms obsess over incremental improvements.
11. Align hiring with cultural fit to avoid compromising long-term standards.
12. Jim Collins’ “clock building” beats relying on fleeting products or leaders.

Michael Saul Dell and James Kaplan’s Play Nice But Win: A CEO’s Journey from Founder to Leader blends a business memoir with leadership insights from Dell, the tech visionary who revolutionized the PC industry.

As founder and CEO of Dell Technologies—the world’s largest privately held tech company—Dell shares his journey from launching a dorm-room startup in 1984 to navigating high-stakes corporate battles, including the landmark $67 billion acquisition of EMC.

Co-authored with James Kaplan, a seasoned collaborator on executive narratives, the book explores themes of entrepreneurial resilience, disruptive innovation, and leading through industry upheavals. Dell’s hands-on experience scaling a Fortune 500 giant and pioneering the direct-to-consumer model anchors the book’s practical wisdom.

A Wall Street Journal bestseller, Play Nice But Win distills decades of boardroom lessons, including Dell’s pivotal $24.4 billion leveraged buyout and his philosophy on trust-driven leadership. The book has been widely cited as a masterclass in corporate reinvention, reflecting Dell’s status as a key architect of modern IT infrastructure.

1. Play nice but win balances ethical integrity with relentless competitive drive
2. Execution beats ideas—operational discipline turns vision into market dominance
3. Crisis creates opportunity: focus on controllable factors to fuel momentum
4. Direct-to-consumer model revolutionized tech sales by eliminating retail markups
5. Hire for growth phases, recognizing when teams need reinvention
6. Privatization enabled strategic agility by escaping quarterly earnings pressure
7. Kaizen mindset: celebrate wins while chasing continuous improvement
8. Integrate customer service early to build loyalty before competitors adapt
9. Lead with team-first humility over individual ego-driven leadership
10. Dorm room startup scaled to $80K/month via custom builds
11. IBM's open architecture let Dell out-innovate with better components
12. Sustainable growth prioritizes liquidity and profitability over reckless expansion

Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) was a Founding Father, polymath, and pioneering scientist whose Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin remains a cornerstone of American literature. This classic memoir blends personal narrative with themes of self-improvement, civic responsibility, and intellectual curiosity, reflecting Franklin’s dual legacy as a statesman and innovator.

As the only Founding Father to sign all four foundational U.S. documents—the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris, the Constitution, and the peace pact with Britain—Franklin’s political philosophy permeates his writing. His scientific breakthroughs, including the lightning rod and groundbreaking electricity experiments detailed in Experiments and Observations on Electricity (translated into five languages), cemented his reputation as a leading Enlightenment thinker.

Franklin’s literary influence extends to Poor Richard’s Almanack, which popularized aphorisms like “Early to bed and early to rise.” A prolific inventor, he created bifocals, the Franklin stove, and the first public lending library. His autobiography, translated globally, has shaped generations of leaders and thinkers, earning recognition as one of history’s most enduring works on personal and societal advancement.

1. Ben Franklin’s 13 virtues blueprint for disciplined self-improvement and character mastery
2. How the Junto club model created America’s first professional mastermind group
3. Why tracking daily habits in a spreadsheet predates modern productivity systems
4. From printer to statesman: the apprenticeship system that built Franklin’s career
5. Copywork technique Franklin used to master persuasive writing and debate
6. Religious skepticism to civic virtue: redefining morality through practical action
7. Humility as active practice rather than passive trait in leadership development
8. Why Franklin abandoned vegetarianism but kept temperance as foundational virtue
9. The 5-hour rule before its time: strategic reading for compound growth
10. Indirect philanthropy framework: solving problems without seeking personal credit
11. From ambition to legacy: shifting focus from profit to public service
12. Socratic questioning vs. modest assertion: Franklin’s evolution of debate tactics

Marc Russell Benioff is the founder and CEO of Salesforce, as well as the New York Times bestselling author of Trailblazer: The Power of Business as the Greatest Platform for Change.

A cloud computing pioneer and advocate for ethical capitalism, Benioff blends insights on corporate leadership with social responsibility themes drawn from his 25+ years building Salesforce into the world’s #1 CRM platform. His earlier book, Behind the Cloud (2009), chronicles Salesforce’s disruptive rise and remains a go-to case study for SaaS innovation.

Benioff chairs the World Economic Forum’s Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and co-founded the 1-1-1 philanthropic model, which has mobilized over $650 million in grants and 8 million employee volunteer hours. As owner of TIME magazine and a vocal advocate for stakeholder capitalism, he frequently contributes to global debates on tech ethics and climate action.

Trailblazer debuted at #3 on the Times bestseller list and is required reading in MBA programs at Wharton and Stanford.

1. Salesforce's success stems from culture-first values over software or profits
2. Marc Benioff's Trailblazer redefines business as a platform for societal change
3. Implement the 1-1-1 philanthropy model: 1% equity, product, and employee time
4. Customer renewal rates reveal true business health more than quarterly earnings
5. Instead of shareholder primacy, adopt stakeholder capitalism for long-term growth
6. Ethical AI guidelines must precede technological deployment in corporate strategies
7. Company culture forms organically if not intentionally designed around core values
8. Immigrant talent drives competitive advantage more than any emerging technology
9. Environmental sustainability isn't a CSR checkbox but a business requirement
10. Leadership requires trusting your judgment when consensus contradicts moral principles
11. Business ecosystems thrive through community-centered partnerships, not transactional relationships
12. Corporate trust gets built through transparency, not accumulated like capital