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9 hours ago
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Doing MBA or Not, you should read these
sharing review of the two books from the list that i read
Barbarians at the Gate
This one honestly surprised me. I thought it would be a heavy finance book, but it’s more like a full-on corporate drama. The whole RJR deal just feels chaotic like people with big egos trying to outplay each other, and somehow billions of dollars are involved. It makes you realize that these “big strategic decisions” aren’t always as clean or logical as they sound in theory. By the end, you’re not thinking about formulas or concepts, you’re just like “this is how deals actually happen behind the scenes.”
Shoe Dog
What I liked most is how uncertain everything feels. Nike doesn’t start as this big vision it’s messy, risky, and constantly close to falling apart. There are so many points where it could’ve just ended. It kind of changes how you look at success. From outside, it looks smooth, but when you read this, you realize it’s mostly just figuring things out as you go and somehow not giving up.
4 Replies
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'Barbarians at the Gate' is basically the 'Succession' of the book world. It’s wild to see how much of corporate history is shaped by ego and high-stakes drama. Which one of these changed your perspective on business the most? For me, it has to be Lewis's storytelling.
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'Shoe Dog' is such a refreshing departure from the typical 'everything went perfectly' founder story. Phil Knight’s honesty about being on the verge of bankruptcy for years is exactly what every aspiring leader needs to hear. It’s about grit, not just a logo.
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Seeing 'The Goal' on this list is a massive win. It’s rare to find a book that explains bottlenecks and operational efficiency through a novel, yet it sticks with you forever. It’s the ultimate 'Aha!' moment for anyone who thinks they aren't 'into' operations.
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Most people think business books have to be boring textbooks, but these reads prove otherwise. 'Liar’s Poker' and 'The Big Short' give you a better pulse on market psychology than most finance lectures ever could. If you're heading into an MBA, these are basically mandatory reading for the 'vibe' alone.
