BOOK SPECIAL.... 25 of the Most Inspiring Books Everyone Should Read ….15 TO 19

 25 of the 

Most Inspiring

 Books Everyone 

Should 

Read ….15 TO 19

15. The Widow Cliquot by Tilar J. Mazzeo

"For anyone interested in true business pioneers, or indeed one of the most successful female entrepreneurs of all time, this biography is a great read. It recounts the inspiring story of the widow Veuve Cliquot's struggle to grow her fledgling champagne business in the early 1800s following the death of her husband. Set against the backdrop of Napoleonic France, Veuve Cliquot conquered not only the glass ceiling of sexism, but political and financial turmoil to grow Veuve Cliquot into a remarkable empire. As similar issues resurface in the modern era, her battle is a timely reminder that determination and daring can win the day. A beautifully written account that I couldn't put down."

--Abi Weeds, founder of organic natural skin care and makeup company Odylique

16. Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

"It was my first real exposure to Western literature and really opened my eyes. I was probably 11 or 12 years old, living in South Korea before we immigrated. Since then, I have reread it many times. The main inspiration for me is the utmost perseverance, planning, and dogged determination required to achieve one's goals despite encountering many hardships and setbacks."

--Lucas Roh, founder and CEO of the big-data platform Bigstep

17. I Love You All the Time by Jessica Elin Hirchman and Jennifer Elin Cole

"This is a children's book that I used to read to my daughters when they were three or four years old, and for some reason it has stuck with me even as they enter young adulthood. The message is simple: Remember those who have unconditionally loved and supported you through thick and thin; find the time, make the time. For me, it's namely my wife and kids. It's so easy to read one more email, take one more call, or work one more hour at the expense of those who have been there for me whether I'm successful or not. My ability to create lasting memories with my family will not be judged by how successful I've been, but by how successful I've helped them be. That single phase has entered my thoughts many times and is a good reminder of what's ultimately most important."

--Tracey Wiedmeyer, co-founder and CTO of InContext Solutions, a Web-based virtual reality solutions provider for retail

18. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable by Patrick Lencioni

"Lencioni's work reads like a script for a Mission Impossible movie. In this case, he takes a very talented protagonist, Kathryn Petersen, and drops her into a Silicon Valley company in turmoil. Her mission: Take a highly dysfunctional set of executives and turn them into a highly functioning leadership team before the company implodes or she gets fired. I have a particular passion for understanding how to transform a group of individuals into a high-performing team, as a great team does more for a company's results than anything else. Yet I've also struggled with how to communicate what makes great teams great and how to internalize that message. Lencioni takes a bit of the opposite approach, where he explains what makes a team not so great: absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability, and inattention to results. His lessons are simple and inspired, and I've found the book to be a road map for building great teams, drawing on the story countless times in my career."

--Jeff Somers, CMO for small-business insurance company Insureon

19. The Power of Broke by Daymond John

"[It] is essential reading for every aspiring entrepreneur with a big idea and limited resources. So many people assume that you need to have money to succeed--that's a false presumption. JR and I are living proof that passion and tenacity are more important than money to realize your goals. The Power of Broke, which I am lucky enough to be featured in, truly provides the tools and information needed to help you realize people of all financial statuses can find success, as long as you work hard and trust in yourself."

--Loren Ridinger, founder of Motives Cosmetics and SEVP of e-commerce platform Market America and Shop.com