• The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
  “… It encouraged me to think as an individual, take risks to reach my goals, and responsibility for my successes and failures. I loved it. I don’t know how many times I have read it, but it got to the point where I had to stop because I would get too fired up.”
• Cold Calling Techniques: That Really Work by Stephan Schiffman
• Marketing Outrageously: How to Increase Your Revenue by Staggering Amounts! by Jon Spoelstra

Go HERE to see what other books he recommends to business people and non-business people alike.

Here are a couple book recommendations from this literary lady:

• Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Click HERE for to see more of Gwyneth Paltrow’s reading list.

• Direct from Dell: Strategies that Revolutionized an Industry
  By Michael Dell, Catherine Fredman
  Gates’ endorsement: “I’ve long admired Dell’s pioneering use of the World Wide Web. In Direct from Dell, you’ll find strategies for using the Web to enhance your sales and empower information throughout your business. If you want to capitalize on cyberspace, you should read this book.”
• What Will Be: How the New World of Information Will Change Our Lives
  By Michael L. Dertouzos, Bill Gates
  Gates’ endorsement: “‘What Will Be’ is an engaging and visionary guide to the future…. Whoever takes part in the coming Information Reovlution-and that’s just about all of us-needs to know ‘What Will Be’.”
• The Catcher in the Rye
  By J.D. Salinger
  Gates’ endorsement: “One of my favorite books from childhood is The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. I have read it so many times that I can quote large portions of it from memory.”

Click HERE for more of Bill Gates’ book recommendations.

• Benjamin Graham on Value Investing: Lessons from the Dean of Wall Street
  By Janet Lowe
  Buffet’s endorsement: “…anyone with an interest in investments will relish this book.”
• Common Sense on Mutual Funds: New Imperatives for the Intelligent Investor
  By John C. Bogle
  Buffet’s endorsement:”A must read for every investor.”
• John Bogle on Investing: The First 50 Years
  By John C. Bogle
  Buffet’s endorsement: “Any investor who owns or is thinking of owning shares in a fund should read this book cover to cover.”

Click HERE for more of Warren Buffet’s favorite books.

• Grown Up Digital: How the Net Generation is Changing Your World HC by Don Tapscott
  Schmidt’s endorsement: “Demonstrates the world changing power of the Net Generation. If you want to understand their impact, read this book.”
• Adventures of an IT Leader by Robert D. Austin, Richard L. Nolan, Shannon O’Donnell
  Schmidt’s endorsement: “Ever wonder what a CIO’s life is really like? Read this engaging ‘novel’ to understand the experience of an IT executive.”
• Information Rules: A Strategic Guide to the Network Economy by Carl Shapiro, Hal R. Varian
  Schmidt’s endorsement: “Information Rules is the first book to explain network economics, the new economics of our lives.”

Go HERE for more of Eric Schmidt’s favorite business books.

• Adam Smith of Xobni – Xobni is “inbox” spelled backwards, and its a Y Combinator startup.  His favorite books include: Founders at Work by Jessica Livingston, High Stakes No Prisoners, and (no surprise here) Paul Graham’s essays.
• Dan Theobald of Vecna – A profitable social venture technology company – who knew?  His favorite books include: On the Folly of Rewarding A, While Hoping for B.
• Angus Davis of Tellme – A company that specialized in telephone-based apps, acquired by Microsoft in 2007 for around $800 mil.  Yup.  His favorite books include: Four Steps to Epiphany.

I took a slew of notes because all of the speakers had sage advice, including Reddit’s Alexis O, Justin.TV’s Kyle Vogt, and MIT Professor Ken Zolot.  I’ll try to post all of their wisdom sometime today either here or the Brainyflix blog.

• Insult to Injury: Insurance, Fraud, and the Big Business of Bad Faith by Ray Bourhis
  Senator Kennedy’s endorsement: “… He makes clear that we need to do much more to end the shameful abuses of the current system and guarantee honorable insurance coverage for every American.”
• State of the Unions: How Labor Can Strengthen the Middle Class, Improve Our Economy, and Regain Political Influence by Philip Dine
  Senator Kennedy’s endorsement: “Long-time respected labor reporter Phil Dine makes a compelling case that a much stronger labor movement in the years ahead is indispensable for restoring fairness for working families and reducing the widening income gap that is threatening the American dream for so many millions of our families.”
• Ralph W. Yarborough, the People’s Senator by Patrick L. Cox
  Senator Kennedy’s endorsement: “Ralph Yarborough was a loyal friend and a tower of integrity… In his biography of this greatly respected and much beloved giant of our time, Patrick Cox shows us why Ralph Yarborough truly was ‘the People’s Senator.’”

Go HERE for more of Edward M. Kennedy’s book recommendations.

• “In the Name of Democracy: American War Crimes in Iraq and Beyond (American Empire Project)” By Jeremy Brecher, Jill Cutler, Brendan Smith
• “America’s Military Today: The Challenge of Militarism” By Tod Ensign
• “The Iron Triangle: Inside the Secret World of the Carlyle Group” By Dan Briody

Click HERE for more of book recommendations from political documentary film-maker, Michael Moore.

“The Color Purple” By Alice Walker
“Their Eyes Were Watching God” By Zora Neale Hurston
“A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (P.S.)” By Betty Smith

Click HERE to see more of book recommendations from Oprah.