Great Books That Shaped The B-School Elite

What do you prefer — real books or digital devices?

I read from my Kindle and my iPad (yes, I have both) when I want to digest quickly the contents of a book — I especially like to read novels this way. But I like to read from hard copies of books when the text is challenging, dense, or when I am likely to return to the book again and again. I underline important sections of the book, write notes in the margins, and turn down the corners of selected pages — all of this helps me when I return to the book later.

Apart from management books, which genres do you like best?

I enjoy reading biographies of leaders — right now I’m reading my way through the best biographies of the U.S. Presidents. This is more like a lifetime pursuit, since any one biography will introduce me to issues and other individuals that I will want to explore. I have just finished a very good biography of the 15th President James Buchanan, who is routinely ranked as the worst in U.S. History (authored by Jean H. Baker).

For reading on airplanes, I enjoy novels, particularly mysteries and action stories. Books by David Baldacci and Steig Larsson are examples.

If you are stranded alone on an island which is the one book you would like for company and why?

It depends on what kind of island (Japan, Britain, Wake, the classic desert island?) and the implications of “stranded”. Many avid readers would simply choose a very big, entertaining, book. “Stranded” implies more dire circumstances — there, maybe the Boy Scout Handbook or some guide to survival cuisine would serve one best. “Alone” implies the want of company and natural interaction with others to help center one’s place in the larger scheme of things — there, a source of personal inspiration such as the Bible would serve me best. I usually travel with several books in my briefcase so that if I am stranded alone at an airport, I have plenty of company.  Wherever you are, a book is an estimable friend.

 

 

Peter Fader of the Wharton School of Business

PETER FADER

Frances and Pei-Yuan Chia Professor, Professor of Marketing, Wharton School of Business

Which book has influenced you the most?

I’d say Moneyball by Michael Lewis. I’ve followed all that “sabermetrics” stuff for years, but seeing it cast as the central character in such a compelling book was a dream come true for me.

What do you plan to read next?

I rarely read books anymore – I find more enjoyment from poking around online and bumping into interesting articles and blogs. And when I do sit down to read a book, the choice is driven by serendipity or convenience. For example, it might be something that I found lying around the house or some other place. I can’t remember the last time I bought a book for myself (not including books directly related to my research/teaching activities).

How do you usually like to read — real books or digital devices?

Thus, it should come as no surprise that I don’t own (and have never even tried) any kind of e-reader.

Apart from management books, which genres do you like best?

I have no particular preferences. I enjoy well-written fiction, biographies, good science fiction, an occasional mystery or thriller, and thought-provoking non-fiction.

If you are stranded alone on an island which is the one book you would like for company and why?

It would probably be some kind of dense reference book that features lots of lists. As a kid I would spend days reading nerdy books like the Statistical Abstract of the US to The Baseball Encyclopedia to books of Billboard music charts. I can sit around making goofy lists all day long.

DON’T MISS: A DEAN’S SUMMER READING LIST FOR MBAS or MY STORY: FROM A DOT-COM BUST TO HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL

 

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