From a journalist and martial artist to a quantum physicist, Gen.T honourees share the one book that shaped their success and changed their career trajectory
Successful people are often voracious readers, with many crediting their love for reading as instrumental in their ability to be effective leaders. Bill Gates is famously said to read at least 50 books a year, averaging almost one a week, while Elon Musk has said he can build rockets simply “through reading books”.
Reading can result in improved intelligence, higher levels of innovation and insight, and more effective leadership through an increase in emotional and verbal intelligence, according to the Harvard Business Review.
The best reading list, it suggests, is an eclectic one; leaders who read a variety of books and “sample insights in other fields, such as sociology, physical sciences, economics, or psychology, and apply them to their organisations are more likely to innovate and prosper.” Even reading fiction has positive benefits, from improving empathy to heightening understanding of social cues, both of them allowing leaders to work better with others.
Reading also has a whole host of health benefits: it can reduce stress by around 68 percent, lower your risk of Alzheimer’s, strengthen your neural pathways and with decrease mental decline by 32 percent.
Here, seven Gen.T honourees recommend the number one book that has helped shape their success over the years.
Cheng Ho
Founder, Choxue
Book How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Cheng says "I was first introduced to this book by my uncle when I was in high school. Initially, I was offended because I thought my uncle wanted to tell me that I didn't know how to make friends (and maybe he was right). However, I must say, this book completely opened my eyes and changed the way I talk to and approach people. Knowing how to communicate and work with people is key to success in life. This is a book I reread even today. I've even made a summary of the key points and wisdom in my office, so I can see it every day as a reminder."
