Bernard Cornwell
The most magical phrase I knew as a child was “Once upon a time” because those four words meant a story was coming. More
Freakonomics
Multimillion-copy bestseller that helped launch a wave of interest in behavioral economics and statistics. More
The White Tiger
Winner of the 2008 Man Booker Prize. More
Good to Great
One of the most influential management bestsellers; explores how companies transition from average to extraordinary. More
Pallavi Aiyyar
I read to travel within and to range wide beyond my limited firsthand experiences. More
Coming of Age in Samoa
A classic that brought science and literature together for both scholars and the general public. More
I’m OK—You’re OK
A defining work of self-help with more than 15 million copies in print. More
Being and Time
Perhaps the twentieth century’s most influential philosophical work, which shaped existentialism and postmodern thought. More
Sanjay Suri
Why I read . . . Because I can live many lives in one, and travel many worlds in one. More
V. Raghunathan
Mark Twain’s quote “The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read” had a significant influence on me in my early years, which helped me take to reading seriously. More
Richard Fidler
Books have always excited me, and helped me place my tiny life in the great stream of events and ideas. More
In Search of Excellence
Phenomenal classic bestseller that reinvented American business and sold more than 3 million copies. More
Shilpi Somaya Gowda
At every stage of life, since being a kid with a flashlight under the covers, reading has always been my favorite activity. More
Rosemary Sullivan
I write out of compulsion. “The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner,” as Alan Sillitoe remarked—the exhilaration and discipline of the run; the finish line unknown until you get there. More
Emma Freedman
Why I read: To escape the everyday in worlds that wildly creative people invite us into, and to expand the mind. More
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
The philosophical classic that inspired millions struggling to find meaning in the modern world. More
Barbarians at the Gate
Considered one of the best business narratives ever written, it changed the way business stories are told. More
Flow
The psychology classic that explored creativity and happiness. More
Lucy Hughes-Hallett
One life is not enough. More
Dan Harris
I used to read to lead a lot of fiction, mostly for the escape—to be transported to other places and times. More
Seabiscuit
Winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year. More
M. J. Akbar
Why I read: To learn. More
