10 Must-Read Books Recommended by Indian Business Leaders
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“Today a reader, tomorrow a leader,” said American journalist and author, Margaret Fuller.
Reading is one of the most common habits shared by successful entrepreneurs, CEOs, and business leaders across industries. From leadership books and management books to self-improvement, philosophy, and fiction, books play an important role in shaping decision-making, communication skills, business strategy, and professional growth.
Many of the world’s most influential leaders credit books for helping them develop resilience, leadership qualities, problem-solving abilities, and a growth mindset. Whether it is learning about effective leadership, human behaviour, productivity, or personal development, the right book can offer valuable insights that inspire long-term success.
In this article, 10 Indian business leaders share their must-read books, book recommendations, and the lessons that have influenced their leadership journeys, careers, and approach to business and life.
Management & Self-help Books
1. Puneet Khanna, Co-Founder, Don't Hire be VIRTUAL
Book Recommendation: The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone
Puneet Khanna, a finance leader and co-founder of Don’t Hire- be VIRTUAL, counts The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone as one of his top reads.
The TenX Rule is a business & personal finance, self-help book written by American businessman, financial influencer, and writer, Grant Cardone.
In his book, Grant recommends that anyone who wants to reach their business dreams in life must also take action ‘beyond the ordinary’ to achieve those goals.
Grant argues that a majority of individuals are oblivious of the amount of effort they will require to invest in order to accomplish their goals. In order to achieve big goals, one cannot settle for the ordinary and must push through.
Key Takeaway: This philosophy is important because it inspires people to work past their personal limits, create an ambitious attitude and perform well beyond the average expectation.
2. Abhilash Shirur, Managing Director, Quick Powder Coating
Book Recommendation: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
Abhilash Shirur, Managing Director of Quick Powder Coating, picks Stephen R. Covey's personal and professional growth book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.
The book is dedicated to developing good habits and principles that can lead individuals to a successful and fulfilling life and career.
The book emphasizes the importance of character, discipline, and sustainable growth over quick rewards or short-term success. The key idea of Covey's book is to cultivate a "thinking in systems" mentality that fosters ongoing improvement and good leadership.
Key Takeaway: Aligning with Abhilash’s responsibility of delivering operational excellence, efficiency and quality at Quick Powder Coating, this book talks about creating systems that will last, teams that will excel and continued growth.
3. Sudipta Deb, Managing Director, Inventree Hotels & Resorts
Book Recommendation: What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith
Sudipta Deb, Managing Director of Inventree Hotels & Resorts, recommends What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith as an important book for leadership growth and professional development.
Written by Marshall Goldsmith, a renowned executive coach, leadership thinker and author, What Got You Here Won't Get You There is a popular leadership and self-development book.
Through the book Marshall reviews some of the habits and behaviors that may hinder successful people from achieving higher levels of leadership. He argues that things that worked for people before they get started in their careers may hinder their growth later. The book identifies some common pitfalls of leadership – lack of listening skills, the need to be right and ego.
Key Takeaway: Marshall provides practical methods and strategies to overcome these behavioral challenges and continue evolving as a leader. The book inspires the professionals to maintain flexibility, self-awareness, and openness to change as they progress into more complex roles.
4. Debabrata Sarkar, President, AlgaEnergy
Book Recommendation: Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
Debabrata Sarkar, President of AlgaEnergy, believes that Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis is an essential read for communication skills and language enhancement.
Authored by renowned English language trainer and communication development specialist Norman Lewis, Word Power Made Easy is a vocabulary building and self-improvement book.
This book supports readers by reinforcing their vocabulary, language skills and communication through content-focused activities and etymology-based instruction. The book emphasizes the importance of developing a solid communication foundation to enable them to convey their ideas clearly and confidently.
Key Takeaway: The book uses language techniques and practical exercises to stimulate students to build proficiency in effective communication, which is vital to personal and professional success.
5. Pooja Saini, Group Financial Controller, Tide
Book Recommendation: The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz
Pooja Saini, Group Financial Controller at fintech company, Tide, recommends The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz as an inspiring book for personal and professional growth.
Magic of Thinking Big is a self-help and motivational book authored by American motivational and personal development coach David J. Schwartz.
Through the book David explains how individuals can reach their objectives in life by cultivating a positive outlook, self-assurance, and willingness to take calculated risks. The author also provides readers with practical exercises and techniques to help them believe in themselves and tap into their potential.
Key Takeaway: Schwartz’s central message is that success often begins with mindset. The book encourages readers to think bigger, overcome self-doubt, and approach challenges with greater confidence and ambition.
Fiction Books
6. Shrenik Kochar, Director, Kochar Tea and Beverages
Book Recommendation: The Godfather by Mario Puzo
Shrenik Kochar, Director of Kochar Tea and Beverages, recommends The Godfather by Mario Puzo as a compelling book that explores influence, human relationships and more.
The Godfather is an American crime fiction novel by Mario Puzo, best known for his work on the novel and screenplay, on which the film is based. It explores key themes about organized crime, power dynamics and family relationships.
In addition to its compelling story, the book also offers valuable insights into human behavior, decision-making, and how people can influence or be influenced by others in positions of power and influence.
Key Takeaway: The story's lasting impact is due to its exploration of leadership relations, strategy, and the intricacies of intimacy and workplace relations. Through its compelling narrative and gritty characters, ‘The Godfather’ shares learnings about influence, loyalty, and strategic choices in leadership and long-term success.
7. Vijaya Suvarna, MD & CEO, Liberation Coaches
Book Recommendations: The Firm by John Grisham
People development expert, Vijaya Suvarna, Managing Director & CEO of Liberation Coaches, recommends The Firm by John Grisham and Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell as books that offer valuable insights into ethics, resilience, and leadership.
The Firm is written by John Grisham, a bestselling American author known for writing legal thrillers. His book discusses various aspects of corporate life, ethical dilemmas and systems within an organization, and the effect of values, structures and work environment on decision making and long-term business success.
Key Takeaway: ‘The Firm’ highlights how structure, values, and ethical choices shape long-term organizational outcomes, especially when decisions are made under pressure.
Philosophy & Historic Non-Fiction Books
8. Sudip Haldar, CTO, Jupiter Wagons Limited
Book Recommendations: Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
Sudip Haldar, Chief Technology Officer at multimodal mobility solutions provider Jupiter Wagons, suggests Hermann Hesse's philosophical novel Siddhartha for its compelling message on self-discovery and introspection.
Siddhartha is a philosophical fiction novel by Hermann Hesse, a German-Swiss author of philosophical books on spirituality, self-realization and human consciousness.
The book delves into the spiritual path of one man in his quest for self-realization and enlightenment. The novel evokes several themes that are very much linked to Indian philosophy, such as the search for purpose, the inner peace and the search for meaning in life beyond material success.
Key Takeaway: The book emphasizes the need for students to reflect upon, to understand themselves and to learn from life experiences rather than from outer teachings.
This philosophy enables people to reflect on their lives, find significance in what they do, and gain knowledge of personal development through personal experience and insight.
9. Vamsi Krishna, Founder & CEO, VX Software Solutions
Book Recommendation: My Father Baliah by Y. B. Satyanarayana
Vamsi Krishna, Founder & CEO of VX Software Solutions, says “My Father Baliah by Y. B. Satyanarayana is a remarkable memoir that embodies resilience, perseverance, and social transformation.”
My Father Baliah is a memoir by Y. B. Satyanarayana about the lives of a Dalit family in India and the hardships they endured due to the pervasive nature of discrimination and social inequality.
The book highlights the importance of culture and social conditioning while sharing lessons on personal development in the face of challenges, the transformative impact of education, tenacity, and the significance of hope and family in challenging moments.
Key Takeaway: The book's emotional and inspiring tale underscores the ability of determination and education to help people transcend social obstacles and forge a better future.
10. Dr. Dhirendra Kumar, Chief Medical Officer, Tata Steel
Book Recommendation: Freedom at Midnight by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre
Dr. Dhirendra Kumar, the Chief Medical Officer at Tata Steel, suggests reading Freedom at Midnight, a book on leadership, nation-building and historical change by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre.
Freedom at Midnight is a historical non-fiction read that chronicles the events leading up to India's independence from British rule, Partition and the events, people and personalities involved in the struggle.
The book offers an in-depth look into the leadership qualities, political choices and sacrifices made in the making of a sovereign nation.
Key Takeaway: The book’s narrative helps readers learn about how to lead, deal with crises, and make key decisions with limited resources in high pressure situations. It offers insights into the attributes necessary to develop effective leadership and to manage difficult times in history when transformations are happening.
What These Book Recommendations Reveal
Books continue to shape how leaders think beyond frameworks and strategies, offering perspective on decisions, challenges, and long-term growth.
The selections shared by these Indian business leaders span management, fiction, and philosophy, but converge on common themes: leadership, resilience, communication, and self-awareness.
Ultimately, these recommendations highlight a simple idea: leadership is not only shaped by experience, but also by the ideas one consistently engages with outside the workplace.
Happy Reading.