Summary: In today's article, I have handpicked 20 of the best books similar to Shoe Dog that will inspire and teach you the power of persistence, leadership, and innovation. Here are my top 3 picks:
- Grinding It Out by Ray Kroc
- Made in America by Sam Walton
- The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger
TOP 20: Best Books Similar to Shoe Dog
- Grinding It Out by Ray Kroc
- Made in America by Sam Walton
- The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger
- The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz
- Pour Your Heart Into It by Howard Schultz
- The Everything Store by Brad Stone
- Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
- The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
- Zero to One by Blake Masters, Peter Thiel
- The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton Christensen
- Start with Why by Simon Sinek
- Swoosh by J.B. Strasser, Laurie Becklund
- Losing My Virginity by Richard Branson
- Onward by Howard Schultz
- I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
- Alibaba by Duncan Clark
- Titan by Ron Chernow
- The Snowball by Alice Schroeder
- Business Adventures by John Brooks
- Turning the Flywheel by Jim Collins
1. Grinding It Out
- Author: Ray Kroc
- About: Ray Kroc’s memoir of the rise of McDonald's, from a small family-owned restaurant to a global empire.
- Style of writing: Straightforward, honest, with practical business strategies.
- Length: Approximately 62,000 words.
- Year written: 1977
- Emotional impact: Emphasizes determination and resilience in business.
- Difficulty level: Easy to read, clear and concise.
- Why read it: Insight into the creation of McDonald's and lessons in perseverance and innovation.
2. Made in America
- Author: Sam Walton
- About: Story of how Sam Walton built Walmart into a retail giant.
- Style of writing: Inspirational, personal, motivational.
- Length: Approximately 85,000 words.
- Year written: 1992
- Emotional impact: Highlights hard work, frugality, and customer-first values.
- Difficulty level: Medium, but accessible.
- Why read it: Learn from Walton’s leadership and the creation of Walmart’s success.
3. The Ride of a Lifetime
- Author: Robert Iger
- About: Robert Iger’s leadership journey as CEO of Disney and major decisions that shaped the company.
- Style of writing: Reflective, focused on storytelling and lessons learned.
- Length: Approximately 98,000 words.
- Year written: 2019
- Emotional impact: Inspires bold decision-making and growth through leadership.
- Difficulty level: Medium, engaging and easy to follow.
- Why read it: Offers valuable lessons on leadership and creative decision-making.
4. The Hard Thing About Hard Things
- Author: Ben Horowitz
- About: A look at the tough decisions Ben Horowitz faced while building his company, focusing on leadership during crisis.
- Style of writing: Direct, humorous, candid business insights.
- Length: Approximately 100,000 words.
- Year written: 2014
- Emotional impact: Raw, real look at the difficulties of entrepreneurship.
- Difficulty level: Medium, accessible for business-minded readers.
- Why read it: Provides practical advice for overcoming the hardest challenges in business.
5. Pour Your Heart Into It
- Author: Howard Schultz
- About: Schultz’s story of turning Starbucks from a small coffee shop to a global brand, focusing on company values and leadership.
- Style of writing: Inspirational, motivational, with a focus on values-driven leadership.
- Length: Approximately 80,000 words.
- Year written: 1997
- Emotional impact: Focuses on leadership and the importance of company culture, leaving a lasting impression.
- Difficulty level: Medium, easy to follow.
- Why read it: Great for anyone interested in leadership, business growth, and maintaining values while scaling a business.
6. The Everything Store
- Author: Brad Stone
- About: A comprehensive look at the rise of Amazon, exploring Jeff Bezos’ leadership style and strategies.
- Style of writing: Investigative, journalistic, detailed.
- Length: Approximately 125,000 words.
- Year written: 2013
- Emotional impact: Shows Bezos’ drive and Amazon’s disruptive approach to business.
- Difficulty level: Medium to high, with business analysis.
- Why read it: Learn about Amazon’s journey and the unconventional thinking that led to its success.
7. Steve Jobs
- Author: Walter Isaacson
- About: Biography of Steve Jobs, focusing on his life, leadership, and impact on Apple.
- Style of writing: Thorough, engaging, narrative-driven.
- Length: Approximately 250,000 words.
- Year written: 2011
- Emotional impact: A captivating story that highlights both Jobs' genius and flaws.
- Difficulty level: Medium to high, detailed and in-depth.
- Why read it: Offers insights into innovation, creativity, and leadership.
8. The Lean Startup
- Author: Eric Ries
- About: Introduces the concept of lean startups, focusing on continuous innovation and customer feedback.
- Style of writing: Practical, methodical, filled with real-world examples.
- Length: Approximately 70,000 words.
- Year written: 2011
- Emotional impact: Empowers entrepreneurs to embrace failure as part of the process.
- Difficulty level: Medium, business-focused language.
- Why read it: Great resource for entrepreneurs looking to build sustainable businesses.
9. Zero to One
- Author: Peter Thiel with Blake Masters
- About: Thiel discusses how to create a successful startup by doing something entirely new, going from zero to one.
- Style of writing: Thought-provoking, philosophical, with bold ideas.
- Length: Approximately 50,000 words.
- Year written: 2014
- Emotional impact: Challenges conventional thinking and inspires groundbreaking innovation.
- Difficulty level: Medium to high, with complex ideas.
- Why read it: Offers unique perspectives on innovation and building value in business.
10. The Innovator's Dilemma
- Author: Clayton Christensen
- About: Explores why successful companies can fail despite doing everything right, focusing on the role of disruptive innovation.
- Style of writing: Academic, yet accessible with clear business insights.
- Length: Approximately 80,000 words.
- Year written: 1997
- Emotional impact: Forces readers to reconsider traditional business strategies and embrace innovation.
- Difficulty level: High, as it involves business theory and analysis.
- Why read it: Essential for understanding the dynamics of disruptive innovation and its impact on established businesses.
11. Start with Why
- Author: Simon Sinek
- About: Sinek argues that successful companies start with a clear purpose (the “Why”) and provides a framework for inspired leadership.
- Style of writing: Simple, motivational, with a focus on leadership.
- Length: Approximately 60,000 words.
- Year written: 2009
- Emotional impact: Inspires a sense of purpose and leadership by focusing on core values.
- Difficulty level: Easy, accessible to a wide audience.
- Why read it: Great for leaders who want to understand how purpose-driven leadership can inspire teams and drive business success.
12. Swoosh
- Author: J.B. Strasser, Laurie Becklund
- About: An unauthorized history of Nike and the men behind its rise to global dominance.
- Style of writing: Detailed, investigative, with a mix of storytelling and corporate history.
- Length: Approximately 75,000 words.
- Year written: 1993
- Emotional impact: Offers a deep dive into the complexities and challenges of building a multinational brand.
- Difficulty level: Medium, with a focus on business history.
- Why read it: Perfect for those who want a comprehensive history of Nike, alongside insights into its founders.
13. Losing My Virginity
- Author: Richard Branson
- About: Memoir by Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, chronicling his adventurous life and entrepreneurial ventures.
- Style of writing: Fun, engaging, and full of personal anecdotes.
- Length: Approximately 95,000 words.
- Year written: 1998
- Emotional impact: Branson’s daring and free-spirited approach to life and business leaves a lasting impression.
- Difficulty level: Easy, accessible, and entertaining.
- Why read it: Offers a mix of business insights and personal stories that are both entertaining and motivational.
14. Onward
- Author: Howard Schultz
- About: Schultz details his return to Starbucks and how he led the company through a time of crisis, focusing on company values and leadership.
- Style of writing: Reflective, motivational, with a focus on leadership principles.
- Length: Approximately 80,000 words.
- Year written: 2011
- Emotional impact: Inspires readers to lead with purpose, especially during times of adversity.
- Difficulty level: Medium, with practical leadership lessons.
- Why read it: A compelling look at navigating corporate challenges and keeping a company’s culture intact.
15. I Am Malala
- Author: Malala Yousafzai
- About: Malala’s memoir, recounting her life in Pakistan and her fight for girls’ education after surviving a Taliban assassination attempt.
- Style of writing: Poignant, inspiring, and deeply personal.
- Length: Approximately 70,000 words.
- Year written: 2013
- Emotional impact: Powerful, with a focus on bravery, activism, and the importance of education.
- Difficulty level: Medium, clear and accessible.
- Why read it: A deeply moving story of resilience and the power of education in the face of adversity.
16. Alibaba
- Author: Duncan Clark
- About: Chronicles the story of Alibaba’s founder, Jack Ma, and the rise of the e-commerce giant.
- Style of writing: Informative, journalistic, with insights into Chinese business culture.
- Length: Approximately 95,000 words.
- Year written: 2016
- Emotional impact: Offers a unique perspective on innovation in China and the perseverance of Jack Ma.
- Difficulty level: Medium, focused on business in China.
- Why read it: Provides insights into Alibaba’s explosive growth and Ma’s vision for global business.
17. Titan
- Author: Ron Chernow
- About: Biography of John D. Rockefeller, exploring his wealth and influence on American business.
- Style of writing: Detailed, richly researched, historical.
- Length: Approximately 250,000 words.
- Year written: 1998
- Emotional impact: Offers a profound understanding of wealth, power, and industry impact.
- Difficulty level: High, due to its in-depth historical content.
- Why read it: Essential for anyone interested in the history of American capitalism and business.
18. The Snowball
- Author: Alice Schroeder
- About: The life and investing strategies of Warren Buffett, showcasing his rise to wealth and success in the financial world.
- Style of writing: Rich in detail and insights, balanced with narrative storytelling.
- Length: Approximately 850 pages, around 250,000 words.
- Year written: 2008
- Emotional impact: Provides deep insights into the life of a legendary investor and his philosophy.
- Difficulty level: Medium to high due to its in-depth financial analysis.
- Why read it: Offers incredible insights into long-term investment strategies and Buffett’s unique approach to business.
19. Business Adventures
- Author: John Brooks
- About: A collection of twelve business stories that analyze pivotal moments in business history, from Ford to Xerox.
- Style of writing: Detailed, story-driven, journalistic.
- Length: Approximately 80,000 words.
- Year written: 1969
- Emotional impact: Shows both the triumphs and failures of business, leaving readers with valuable lessons.
- Difficulty level: Medium, accessible for those interested in business history.
- Why read it: A classic in business literature, offering timeless lessons from real-life business events.
20. Turning the Flywheel
- Author: Jim Collins
- About: Explores how businesses can create lasting success by building momentum, focusing on the flywheel concept.
- Style of writing: Thoughtful, strategic, with actionable insights for business growth.
- Length: Approximately 50,000 words.
- Year written: 2019
- Emotional impact: Motivates readers to focus on continuous improvement and sustainable growth.
- Difficulty level: Medium, easy to follow with practical business examples.
- Why read it: A great resource for leaders looking to build long-term momentum in their businesses.
Conclusion
If you enjoyed Shoe Dog and want more stories of building iconic brands, I think Grinding It Out by Ray Kroc, Made in America by Sam Walton, and The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger are great picks. Each of these books gives you an inside look at how legendary companies like McDonald's, Walmart, and Disney came to be, filled with valuable lessons on leadership, perseverance, and innovation. Personally, I find these stories not only inspiring but also packed with practical insights that could help anyone on their own entrepreneurial journey.
