Tidjane Thiam, CEO Credit Suisse

«Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China» by Ezra F. Vogel

What it is:

It is about one of the greatest feats ever achieved: a day by day account of how Deng Xiaoping set in motion the transformation that lifted hundreds of millions of human beings out of poverty.

Why I recommend it:

It is a lesson in courage, audacity, and persistence: the power of the human mind and how much a small, united, dedicated team can accomplish. I have recommended this book to many friends over the years and keep coming back to it because I have read nothing better for many years.