G. Ford “My life, my achievements”
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* the electronic version of the book can be purchased and downloaded in the following formats: fb2, epub, pdf, txt.
The autobiography of the “father” of the American automobile industry will not leave anyone indifferent. It's been over 100 years since he literally changed the world. Many people know him as the person who first introduced the conveyor belt into production. The book will reveal other amazing facets of this outstanding personality.
You will learn first-hand an amazing story full of ups and downs, revolutionary ideas and fatal mistakes, litigation and invaluable lessons. Every self-respecting entrepreneur should read the book, since the principles and methods outlined in it have been implemented in thousands of enterprises and have stood the test of time and the market.
"Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
Biography of Christopher McCandless, an American downshifter who set off to the uninhabited part of Alaska with small supplies of food and equipment in the hope of living for some time in solitude. “Into the Wild” is an example of a person’s dedication and willingness to give up the benefits of civilization in search of peace of mind. The end of this story is sad, but McCandless’s philosophy is close to many.
E. Vance “Elon Musk”
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A book about the most daring and ambitious inventor of our time. He brought into reality what most people thought was science fiction, and continues to excite the minds of dreamers around the world.
Naturally, everyone wants to know how the life of a genius proceeded from birth to the present day. The book's author, journalist Ashley Vance, will satisfy your curiosity. The pages of the book contain the most interesting facts from Elon’s life. You will find out how his childhood and school years were, when he created his first startup, how much time he devotes to work and family, and much more. The book is based on exclusive interviews with the genius himself, as well as with his immediate circle.
Politicians and military
Timothy Colton, "Yeltsin".
@nikkurs
Publisher: Kolibri
Age restrictions: 12+
Boris Yeltsin is one of the greatest figures in Russian and world modern history. Harvard University professor Timothy Colton wrote an impartial, carefully verified monograph about the First President of Russia. The work is based on a huge amount of documentary and archival materials, as well as impressions from personal meetings and conversations with Boris Yeltsin.
Oliver Stone, "Interview with Vladimir Putin."
@mvolkovaworld
Publisher: Alpina-Publisher
Age restrictions: 16+
Vladimir Putin is called the most powerful man in the world, credited with untold wealth and royal ambitions. Western leaders consider him an aggressor and a strangler of freedom, and in Russia Putin remains the most popular politician. It is difficult to find another leader whose attitude towards him is so polarized. Oliver Stone decided to create his own portrait of Vladimir Putin. Over the course of two years, they met more than 12 times—previously, the Russian leader had never communicated with a foreign journalist so much and so openly.
Maha.
@elenapunga
Publisher: Algorithm
Age restrictions: 12+
Mahatma Gandhi considered Leo Tolstoy his spiritual teacher, and Vladimir Putin would really like to talk to Gandhi himself, as he told reporters in 2007. Why is Gandhi rightly called the “titan of the 20th century”? One of the leaders and ideologists of the movement for Indian independence from Great Britain, he developed the theory of “non-violent revolution”. It had a huge influence on supporters of peaceful change and ultimately led to victory: the liberation of India from the British in 1947. Later, the experience of the “nonviolent revolution” was successfully applied in a number of other countries. In the book presented to your attention, Mahatma Gandhi talks about his life and struggle, and also presents the main provisions of his ideology.
Sergey Mikheenkov, “Zhukov. Marshal on a white horse."
oz.by
Publisher: Young Guard
Age restrictions: 16+
The new biography of Marshal of Victory - Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov is distinguished from previous ones by the fact that its author managed to literally get used to the image of his hero, not only to truthfully show his gift as a commander, but also to get as close as possible to him as a person. A lover of life and a strong commander, a staunch soldier and a loyal friend, a caring husband, father and brother, a warrior who was not timid in front of Stalin and was not afraid to fight the most powerful military machine in Europe in the 30-40s of the 20th century - the army fascist Germany. The hero, who knew triumph and disgrace, love and betrayal, devoted his entire life to the Fatherland.
Lev Danilkin, "Yuri Gagarin".
@kassandrakniga
Publisher: Young Guard
Age restrictions: 12+
Polls show that Yuri Gagarin is the main hero of Russian history of the 20th century. It is all the more surprising that for many years in Russia an adequate - frank, objective, tied to modernity - biography of the first cosmonaut has not been created. “Yuri Gagarin” by Lev Danilkin is an attempt at a “final”, if possible, closing all the gaps in the biography of the “red Icarus”; the most complete chronicle of life to date - and an understanding of what the myth of Gagarin and the idea of “Gagarin” represent. Interviews with eyewitnesses and a total revision of Russian and foreign sources helped the author answer basic questions. Is Gagarin just an embodiment of Soviet design - or did he actually have some unique qualities? What really happened on April 12, 1961? How did the first cosmonaut cope with “gagarinomania” - the status of the most famous person on the planet? What is Gagarin: a product of the system and era - or its mirror and justification? Was there a conflict between him and the political leadership of the USSR? What is the real reason for his death? Was his success just luck, the result of deliberate life-building - or the implementation of some higher plan? What would have happened to Gagarin and the USSR if the “first citizen of the Universe” had not died in March 1968 and had he lived to this day? The book is dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the first space flight.
D. Clark “Alibaba”
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Let's move from North America to the Middle Kingdom. The world's second largest economy is also rich in financial heroes. One of them is Jack Ma, a former English teacher and now the owner of a corporation worth $25 billion. It was he who founded the Alibaba Group, which includes the services AliExpress, Taobao, Tmall, Alipay and others. For which consumers around the world are immensely grateful to him.
From the book you will learn the history of the legendary concern and its founder, who managed to create competition with Western trading giants. Few people know at what cost such a stunning success was achieved. The book performs not only an educational function, but also serves as a powerful motivator. A must-read for all entrepreneurs whose business is not going very well and are giving up.
Athletes
Maxim Makarychev, "Valery Kharlamov".
Irecomended.ru
Publisher: Young Guard
Age restrictions: 16+
A book about the great Soviet hockey player, whose skill with the puck was admired by millions of fans around the world. During his lifetime, number 17 of the invincible Soviet national team was called a “Legend” not only in our country, but also in the homeland of hockey - Canada. But at the same time, this is a book about the incredibly bright, honest and decent person that Valery Borisovich Kharlamov was, about his difficult path to big-time hockey, about the trials that he had to endure, about his friends and comrades on the USSR national team and his native CSKA. Alas, fate turned out to be cruel to him, measuring out only thirty-three years of his life and once again confirming the bitter truth: geniuses do not live long... A significant part of the book was made up of memories of people who knew Valery Kharlamov closely. Many facts of his biography are described here for the first time.
Dietrich Schulze-Marmeling, Lev Yashin. I'm a legend".
Litres.ru
Publisher: Eksmo
Age restrictions: 16+
Lev Yashin is the best goalkeeper of the 20th century according to FIFA, IFFIS, World Soccer, France Football and Placar. Included in the list of the best players of the 20th century according to Venerdì, Guerin Sportivo, Planète Foot and Voetbal International. The only goalkeeper in history to receive the Ballon d'Or. Here is the most complete biography of the great Russian football player, from which you will learn about his path, great victories and bitter disappointments, and also learn the secret of the “Black Spider”.
Mike Tyson, The Ruthless Truth.
Eksmo.ru
Publisher: Eksmo
Age restrictions: 18+
An incredibly sincere, brutal and dramatic autobiography of Mike Tyson. He became a world boxing legend, but his life outside the ring was no less violent and reckless than his fights. Several personalities coexist in Mike Tyson - a ruthless fighter and an ironic philosopher, a convicted criminal and a Broadway showman, a vulnerable teenager and an irrepressible womanizer... A boy from the ghetto who became the youngest absolute world champion in the heavy weight category, who took it for granted - and never learned live with it. A millionaire suddenly found himself a beggar, convicted of a crime he did not commit, and escaped unpunished from such scrapes that threatened him with life imprisonment. An alcoholic and drug addict who managed to curb his demons. He was absolutely merciless towards his opponents in the ring. Even now he is absolutely merciless - to himself and to the reader. But only such ruthless sincerity allowed him to reconcile with himself, restore dignity and self-respect, and find love and family.
Maria Sharapova, “Unstoppable. My life".
ozon.ru
Publisher: Eksmo
Age restrictions: 16+
Here is the first autobiography of Maria Sharapova, a famous tennis player, five-time Grand Slam winner and winner of many other prestigious trophies. She picked up a racket at the age of four, and already at seventeen she ascended to the tennis Olympus, sensationally defeating Serena Williams in the Wimbledon final. Since then, Maria has firmly established herself in the world sports elite, becoming one of the greatest athletes of our time. Sharapova's frank book is not only about herself, her life, family and sports career. It is about the unbridled pursuit of a dream, about successes and mistakes along the way, about honesty and betrayal, about growing up and the experience that comes with age. In the end, it’s about how not to lose your head from victories and how to endure defeats steadfastly. And Maria knows firsthand about defeats: after a 15-month disqualification, she returned to the big sport to prove to everyone - both fans and haters - that even such blows of fate are not able to stop her.
R. Branson “Business the Virgin style”
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Unusual, bold, outrageous, shocking - this is all about Richard Branson. But the future founder of the Virgin group of companies did not even graduate from college - he was too cramped within the strict rules and conventions.
In the book, he shares his story and the story of creating a £16.5 billion corporation. It also reveals secrets of doing business that no business school will teach you about. So you can safely buy the book as a teaching aid for entrepreneurs.
Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh
Tony Hsieh is an Internet entrepreneur and CEO of the online retailer Zappos. The autobiography tells the story of the life and development of a businessman: from opening a worm farm at the age of nine to the creation of Zappos and LinkExchange, which were later purchased by Amazon and Microsoft. This cheerful story will help young entrepreneurs make their business even more useful and profitable.
F. Knight “Shoe Salesman”
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“The man behind the tick” is the name given to the father of the world famous shoe brand. The Nike story begins with $50, borrowed by Phil Knight from his father. Within a year, a young ambitious entrepreneur was able to turn it into $8,000, and today the company’s turnover is 30 billion a year.
Behind these numbers is hard work, boundless self-confidence and the lion's share of luck. Phil Knight tells the story of his creation with love and awe, so that people can be inspired by his example. I advise everyone to read this book, without exception. Even for those who are far from entrepreneurship. After reading, you will look at your favorite sneakers differently and even develop a kind of respect for them.
"Shoe Salesman" Phil Knight
“The Shoe Salesman” is another success story, this time from Nike creator Phil Knight, who as a child couldn’t afford Adidas sneakers. This book tells the story of how an entrepreneur founded a company that became a serious competitor to the company with three stripes. In addition, “The Shoe Salesman” will reveal what happened to the waitress who drew the Nike logo for $30, and how an aeronautical engineer from NASA came up with the famous Air Max.
W. Isaacson “Steve Jobs”
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It's hard to imagine what our world would be like today if it weren't for the great and powerful Steve Jobs. He made a real revolution in the field of digital technology and forever immortalized his name in history.
The book is written based on his numerous interviews, as well as stories from close people, colleagues, and rivals. It will not only introduce you to the biography of the co-founder of Apple, but will also help you understand the philosophy of one of the greatest people of the current century. It contains Jobs' frank statements reflecting his views on the phenomena of the modern world and historical facts.
"How to Write Books" by Stephen King
If biographies of successful entrepreneurs don't inspire you, you might like Stephen King's memoirs. If you have to write for work, and are already tired of textbooks on journalism and philology, then “How to Write Books” is a great way to take a useful break from boring textbooks. If you are just starting to write, then King’s biography is also suitable: the author talks to the reader without arrogance, on an equal footing, motivating him to be creative.
B. Yeats “Enzo Ferrari”
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Enzo Ferrari is a unique man. Without being an engineer and without having assembled a single car in his life, he was able to build an empire that has no equal in the whole world. His name is synonymous with luxury, reliability and speed.
The life story of the Italian businessman is shrouded in secrets and mysteries. It is known that he was a rather tough and uncompromising leader, but at the same time he managed to be known as a sentimental person. The book will lift the veil of secrecy on his personality and introduce you closer to the icon of the racing world.
A. Nevins “John Rockefeller”
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John Rockefeller is one of the most influential and wealthy people of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His personality is very contradictory and multifaceted. Allan Nevins described the life story of the oil tycoon honestly and impartially, so that readers can form their own opinion about this man. It included bribes, the ruin of competitors, and many other aspects that characterize the era of wild capitalism.
This book is not only about the first dollar billionaire, but also about the emergence of the American oil industry at the end of the 19th century. It will be of interest to all history buffs.
"Life in Cast", Bryan Cranston
A Life in Cast is a brutally honest story of a career full of ups and downs, the autobiography of a man who has come a long way to become a movie star. Bryan Cranston talks about his past, treating every status in his life like a movie role, be it a house painter or a murder suspect. The book will appeal to all fans of fascinating non-fiction literature and fans of Cranston in particular.
B. Alexandrov “Cheese”
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Our native country also has its own talented entrepreneurs, whom it would not hurt to get to know better. One of them is Boris Alexandrov. He owns the Rostagroexport company, the largest producer of glazed curds.
The entrepreneurial streak awoke in him back in Soviet times, when private business was banned. He even had to serve three years in prison for illegal business. But this did not stop Boris from realizing his dream years later. In general, read it and find out for yourself. The story is interesting and revealing, with a unique Russian flavor.
M. Kotin “And nerds do business 1+2”
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This is the story of an ordinary average Russian guy who decided to turn his life 180 degrees. He had neither connections nor capital, but he still managed to create a business, which after a few years firmly established itself in the Russian market and even reached the international level.
We are talking about Fyodor Ovchinnikov, the founder of the Dodo Pizza company. Today everyone in business circles knows this name. But his journey as a businessman began with a serious failure. 9 out of 10 people in his place would have given up, but Fedor did not give up. That is why he is still on horseback today. Recommended reading for anyone who wants to leave their hired job to go free, but can’t make up their mind.
A. Nemirov “Donald Trump”
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The success story of the current American president seems fantastic. No one could have imagined that a person from a large family of emigrants, a student at a military boarding school, would be able to build a gigantic business empire from scratch, and then take the helm of one of the most prosperous countries in the world.
Donald Trump has shown outstanding leadership abilities since childhood. It is to them that he owes his dizzying success. The young biographer Alexander Nemirov will introduce you to the story of his life.
K. Loomis “Warren Buffett”
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Warren Buffett is perhaps the world's most famous investor and one of the most influential people according to Forbes. His best friend, journalist Carol Loomis, wrote a book biography of Warren to introduce readers to this man.
The author notes his friend's extraordinary talent for evaluating businesses and analyzing markets. This talent helped him amass a fortune of $100 billion. His life story is written in the form of short stories, articles and essays, making it easy and fun to read.
Motivational books - fiction
To contents
For inspiration, you don’t have to read only books by psychologists or people who have achieved success. High-quality fiction also opens up new facets of the world. Three bestsellers will make you look differently at your life and surroundings.
The work entered the New York Times bestseller list three days after the start of sales and stayed there for more than five months. This is a story about how equal opportunities are not always progressive, and inquisitorial methods towards successful businessmen can lead to the collapse of the economy of an entire country and chaos. The book changes your worldview, allows you to perceive reality holistically and provides answers to eternal questions about the meaning of human life and the purpose of business in society. According to a public survey conducted by the US Library of Congress and the Book of the Month Club, this work was named second only to the Bible in influencing the American reader.
A mystical and at the same time realistic work, contrasting spiritual development and predatory thinking. The book teaches you to establish parallels between seemingly unrelated events and predict future successes and failures. Written in the genre of an adventure novel, this story undoubtedly influences the perception of the world around us and changes it in a positive way.
Forbes experts recommend reading this fiction book. A famous Russian writer asks the question: is it possible to buy enlightenment? The hero of the book, a successful man who has experienced all the pleasures in the world, gets this opportunity. He can become enlightened and experience the highest spiritual pleasure for money. But as a result, it becomes clear that only what you come to on your own is valuable, and happiness cannot be bought, it can only be achieved.
R. Agzamov “Agzamov in chocolate”
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Renat Agzamov is a famous pastry chef, TV presenter and showman. He creates culinary masterpieces that grace the tables of the most famous and wealthy sweet tooths from all over the world.
Already as a child, he knew what he would become when he grew up, and systematically walked towards his dream. With the first money he saved, Renat purchased a mixer for whipping desserts. At the age of 16, he treated his family to his first cake and since then he has not been able to stop. Incredible perseverance, hard work, and determination provided Renat with worldwide recognition. Find out the story of this remarkable man first hand.
A. Novikov “Wrong businessman”
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This book was written by a famous restaurateur, who owns more than 70 catering establishments. Arkady Novikov is a man who created himself and made a fortune with his intelligence, perseverance and work. But once he was not even hired to work at McDonald's.
In the book, he not only tells his story, but also shares tips, life hacks and discoveries. You will learn where to get funds to start your own business, how to negotiate correctly, scale your business and much more. The book is certainly worthy of adding to your arsenal of self-development literature.
"Losing My Virginity", Richard Branson
The autobiography of multi-billionaire Richard Branson will appeal to those who want to become an entrepreneur, build a successful business, or simply learn how the Virgin empire was built. This book talks about the exciting path and grandiose results that can await someone who has an entrepreneurial spirit and the desire to realize it. Branson began his career by selling defective records under the Virgin brand. At the moment, the Virgin Group includes more than 400 companies of various profiles, and the number of corporate employees exceeds 50 thousand people.
K. O'Shea “The ZARA Phenomenon”
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Our selection is completed by a book about the favorite brand of all fashionistas and its creator Amancio Ortega. You will learn how one man managed to create a giant corporation that has captured the clothing market around the world. There are many secrets and mysteries in this story that the author of the book tried to uncover. The book is a must-read for everyone who is involved in the fashion industry and wants to keep up with the times.
"Silicon Valley Billionaire" by Paul Allen
The co-founder of Microsoft talks in his autobiography about the years of the company’s emergence and growth, and his complex and close relationship with Gates. In this book you will find a couple of ideas on how to start your own business, interact with partners, make money and, importantly, how to spend it.
