Seeing an individual of Indian origin make it big and putting India on the global map will forever be a matter of pride for all Indians. One such moment was when Satya Nadella was named the executive chairman and CEO of Microsoft. An inspiration for many, here are a bunch of Satya Nadella book recommendations to give you a sneak peek inside the tech genius’ mind.
Born in Hyderabad in a Telugu family, Nadella pursued his school education from Hyderabad Public School in Begumpet, Hyderabad and a degree in electrical engineering from the Manipal Institute of Technology in Karnataka. He later moved to the States to pursue a MS in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. He later did his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He joined Microsoft in 1992, and went on to succeed Steve Ballmer in 2014 as the CEO and John W. Thompson in 2021 as the Chairman of the reputed firm. Want to know what inspires the man who inspires millions? What he reads might help. So, here are the top 10 book recommendations by Satya Nadella.
Satya Nadella book recommendations
The Narrow Corridor by Daron Acemoglu
From the authors of the international bestseller Why Nations Fail, this Satya Nadella book recommendation focuses on the argument that countries around the world flourish or diminish on the power of their institutions, and not on culture or geographical features. The authors draw parallels from current affairs and historical events around the world to teach new theories about liberty and how to truly achieve it.
Buy The Narrow Corridor by Daron Acemoglu on Amazon
Prosperity by Colin Mayer
The book argues about how the basic fundamental of business that is taught and preached all around is wrong. Maximising shareholder profit is something that all business follow to the T, but Colin Mayer argues that when businesses and corporations only focus on profit, it is disastrous and damaging for every aspect of our societal being at large.
Buy Prosperity by Colin Mayer on Flipkart
Forged in Crisis by Nancy Koehn
The tagline of the book says “The Power of Courageous Leadership in Turbulent Times.” Celebrated Harvard Business School historian Nancy Koehn looks at five prominent people and what they have in common. The people Ernest Shackleton, Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Rachel Carson. She takes on a quest as to what about them is so inspiring. This Satya Nadella book recommendation is an engrossing case study of these five legendary figures.
Buy Forged in Crisis by Nancy Koehn on Flipkart
The Great Convergence by Richard Baldwin
Next on the list of Satya Nadella books recommendations is this book that discusses how between 1820 and 1990, how the wealthy nations today hold almost 70% of the world’s wealth. This is the result of the new-age globalisation, as opposed to in the 1800s. What has happened as a result of this is that big corporations and industries in the wealthy countries have outsourced intensive labour to the less fortunate countries. This book is an interesting take on world economics and politics.
Buy The Great Convergence by Richard Baldwin on Amazon
The Rise and Fall of American Growth by Robert J. Gordon
An America-centric book, this one walks us through a logical reasoning of why the standard of living in America is so high, but also why the future of the great nation is unsure after the Civil War. It goes on to show how technological inventions have greatly benefited the nation for so long, but also questions if the era of growth has come to an end.
Buy The Rise and Fall of American Growth by Robert J. Gordon on Flipkart
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
The Microsoft CEO surely likes inspirational tales and this Satya Nadella book recommendation is proof. This book is a story about how nine American working-class boys beat all odds and shone bright at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. That they would even make it to the Olympics was unlikely. But this team of shipyard workers and farmers made history as they showcased their talent in front of the world.
Buy The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown on Amazon
Mindset by Carol S. Dweck
Carol S. Dweck, the world-renowned psychologist was the person who introduced the concept of growth mindset to the world. In this book that’s a Satya Nadella favourite, she offers a more metamorphic perception of how to redefine success by working on building resilience and self-improvement. It all lies in the mind, so you have to train your mind.
buy Mindset by Carol S. Dweck on Amazon
Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg
Non violent communication is a mix of four very important aspects- consciousness, communication, language, and the means of influence. Why is it so important? It leads us to live a more meaningful and well-connected life, full of empathy. That’s what this Satya Nadella book recommendation is about.
All Images: Courtesy Amazon
Hero Image: Courtesy Brian Smale and Microsoft, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons; Featured Image: Courtesy Brian Smale and Microsoft, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Frequently Answered Questions (FAQs)
– What is Satya Nadella reading?
According to an article by Nick Hobson for Inc.com, when Satya Nadella stepped in as the CEO of Microsoft he gave all senior executives the book Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg as mandatory for better leadership.
– Which IIT did Satya Nadella study?
Satya Nadella did not go to an IIT.
– Why is Satya Nadella so successful?
Satya Nadella encouraged cultural change at Microsoft by emphasising teamwork, empathy, and an attitude towards growth. He has been effective in transforming Microsoft’s company culture into one that prioritises lifelong learning and development.
A journalism student who studied the subject only to meet SRK in person, she settled for the best way to meet him. Covering Entertainment throughout her career, and now Food, Health and Lifestyle as well, Sreetama is also a self-proclaimed plant mom. In love with all things slow and quiet, she can often be found hunting for quiet corners with a glass of wine in hand. Other loves include little, inconsequential things, like neatly tucked-in bedsheets and big, significant things, like whole cheesecakes. She dreams of being a baker and writing about food someday.
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