This month we read Creativity Inc. by Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace. Ed Catmull was the cofounder and longtime president of Pixar. Part memoir and part advice for managers of creatives, Creativity Inc. tells the story of Pixar from dream to animation powerhouse. Then it gets into Catmull’s strategies for managing Pixar’s creative success. We discuss the history of Pixar, our key takeaways from the book, and instances of its lessons in our own careers. Show Notes Creativity Inc. on Amazon Ed Catmull on Wikipedia Follow us on Twitter Join Our Amazon Book Club Find out more at http://businessbooksandco.com

Daymond John is best known as an investor on ABC’s Shark Tank, but he is also the award winning fashion designer who founded the multi-billion dollar brand FUBU. In The Power of Broke, Daymond explains the strategies that helped him start FUBU, with almost no resources, out of his mom’s house in Hollis, Queens. He then examines the stories of other entrepreneurs who started from nothing. In our season 2 opener, we welcome our new co-host, Eli. We discuss the key lessons Daymond is trying to impart. Finally, we recall our favorite (and least favorite) entrepreneurship stories from the book. Show Notes The Power of Broke via Amazon Daymond John on Wikipedia Insights from The Power of Broke by David Short Eli's Travel Blog MacHeist on Wikipedia Dart for Absolute Beginners via Amazon Creativity Inc. via Amazon Find out more at http://businessbooksandco.com

We recap the qualities of some of the books we read over the last year in Season 1 of Business Books & Co. Each of us discuss our favorite and least favorite books. We say goodbye to one of our co-hosts, but we will be back next month to start Season 2! You can find our book list from the last year on our website. Other books we recommended: Made in America recommended by David Short One from Many recommended by David Short Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter recommended by Molson Alchemy recommended by Molson Game Over recommended by David Kopec Creative Selection recommended by David Kopec Find out more at http://businessbooksandco.com

13. Only the Paranoid Survive This month we read the 1997 book Only the Paranoid Survive by Andy Grove. Grove was the long-time storied CEO of Intel. Only the Paranoid Survive is about strategic inflection points in a business. Grove explains how to detect these events, how to respond to them, and recites some war stories. We discuss the book, some strategic inflection points in our own industries, and the computer business during Grove's tenure at Intel. Show Notes Andy Grove on Wikipedia Only the Paranoid Survive on Amazon The Right to a Nonconsensus Opinion by Molson Hart Products & Payments by David Short Kopec Explains Software by David Kopec Find out more at http://businessbooksandco.com

12. Zero to One We discuss the 2014 book Zero to One by Peter Thiel. In Zero to One, Thiel, a cofounder of Paypal and Palantir, as well as an early investor in Facebook, describes what conditions make for a great startup. Part history lesson, part economics lesson, and part business advice, Zero to One is a succinct book full of powerful ideas. Show Notes Zero to One via Amazon Peter Thiel via Wikipedia Find out more at http://businessbooksandco.com

11. Iacocca: An Autobiography Lee Iacocca was responsible for the introduction of iconic Ford products like the Mustang and Thunderbird. He rose in the ranks to become President, second only to Henry Ford II. As CEO of Chrysler during the early 1980s, he saved the company from bankruptcy and introduced the minivan. He was one of the biggest celebrity executives during the Reagan era. We discuss his autobiography, in which he recounts his life’s journey from the son of Italian immigrants to the height of the business world. Show Notes Iacocca: An Autobiography by Lee Iacocca with William Novak (via Amazon) Lee Iacocca (via Wikipedia) Find out more at http://businessbooksandco.com

10. The Ride of a Lifetime The Ride of a Lifetime is a 2019 memoir about Bob Iger’s journey at Disney. It begins by relaying Iger’s time climbing the corporate ladder, and then does a deep dive into his fifteen years as the company’s CEO, with a focus on acquisitions and mergers. We discuss Iger’s career, the key lessons he learned, and the mergers of Disney with Pixar, Marvell, Lucasfilm, and Fox. Show Notes The Ride of a Lifetime via Amazon Bob Iger on Twitter Bob Iger on Wikipedia Bob Iger on Bill Simmons Podcast Bob Iger with Oprah Bob Iger on Tim Ferris's Podcast Find out more at http://businessbooksandco.com

8. Founders at Work Founders at Work is a 2009 compilation of interviews with startup founders by Y Combinator founding partner Jessica Livingston. Interview subjects include the founders of famous brands like Apple, PayPal, and Adobe, as well as lesser known founders with equally remarkable stories. In this episode we discuss recurring themes of the interviews, founders that offered particular insight, and broad takeaways from the entire volume. Show Notes Founders at Work on Amazon Jessica Livington on Twitter David Kopec's review of Losing the Signal Venture Capital - Silicon Valley Ponzi Scheme - Chamath Palihapitiya via YouTube Find out more at http://businessbooksandco.com

7. Setting the Table Setting the Table is a 2006 autobiographical book on management in the hospitality industry by noted restaurateur Danny Meyer. It tells the story of Meyer building his restaurant empire, and recounts many of the lessons he learned along the way. We discuss key takeaways from the book, the book's applicability to management more generally, and our own experiences at Meyer's restaurants. Show Notes Setting the Table via Amazon Danny Meyer via Wikipedia Union Square Hospitality Group Shake Shack Find out more at http://businessbooksandco.com

Ogilvy on Advertising Ogilvy on Advertising is a 1983 book of advertising advice from award winning industry veteran David Ogilvy, the namesake of the advertising agency Ogilvy. It includes advice about working in the advertising industry, developing ads, and appealing to consumers. We discuss key insights from the book and our own experiences in advertising. Show Notes Ogilvy on Advertising via Amazon David Ogilvy via Wikipedia Brain Flakes via Amazon David Kopec on The Local Maximum Find out more at http://businessbooksandco.com