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Daniel Ek

Recommended Books

Daniel Ek is a Swedish billionaire entrepreneur and technologist. Ek is best known as the co-founder and CEO of the music streaming service Spotify.
9 books on the list
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Sapiens book cover
Sapiens
A Brief History of Humankind
Yuval Noah Harari - 2015-01-01 (first published in 2011)
Goodreads Rating
Discover the story of human history, from the first humans to walk the earth to today's modern society. Explore how we came to believe in gods, nations, and human rights, and how our societies were shaped by the Cognitive, Agricultural, and Scientific Revolutions. Sapiens covers it all, using insights from biology, anthropology, paleontology, and economics to challenge our beliefs about what it means to be human. Are we happier now than we were before? Can we change our behavior and influence the future? Dr. Yuval Noah Harari's provocative and wide-ranging book will challenge the way you think about our species and our place in the world.
Daniel Ek
2015-03-21T12:33:16.000Z
One of the most talked about books of the last couple of years, and for good reason. Both sobering and conservatively optimistic in equal measure, it seems even more relevant for us at the moment to learn from our socio-anthropological history.      source
Black Box Thinking book cover
Black Box Thinking
The Surprising Truth About Success
Matthew Syed - 2015-11-03
Goodreads Rating
"Black Box Thinking" explores the power of a positive attitude towards failure and its impact on success in any field. Using examples from the airline industry, the book shows how failure is taken seriously to ensure mistakes are not repeated. This approach can be applied to our personal and professional lives. Syed offers a radical idea that the most important determinant of success is an acknowledgment of failure and willingness to engage with it. With gripping stories and sharp-edged science, Syed explains the intimate relationship between failure and success and how to break free from failures to unleash our potential.
Daniel Ek
Since reading this book, I’ve literally incorporated this approach to problem solving into my everyday life. I’ve always encouraged those around me not to be scared of failure because I believe it’s the most valuable learning tool.      source
The Alchemist book cover
The Alchemist
25th Anniversary Edition
Paulo Coelho - 2014-04-15 (first published in 1988)
Goodreads Rating
Embark on a transformative journey with the tale of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who sets out from Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of buried treasure, only to discover the true wealth lies within. Paulo Coelho weaves a powerful and inspiring story full of wisdom and humanity, reminding readers of the importance of following our dreams and listening to our hearts.
Daniel Ek
I spent an inspiring evening with Paolo at his Rio home, around the time we were launching Spotify in Brazil. It was fascinating to talk to him about how this book came to be such a hit — he never backed down, and allowed people to read it for free in order to then boost sales — much like how Spotify’s freemium model was perceived in the early days.      source
Alex Ferguson book cover
Alex Ferguson
My Biography
Alex Ferguson - 2013-10-24
Goodreads Rating
Discover the story of the greatest manager in British soccer history with this inspiring and entertaining autobiography. Follow his journey from the tough shipyard areas of Govan to leading Manchester United to 13 Premier League victories and two Champions League wins. Learn about the seismic changes at the club and the creation of a purposeful and envied culture that has stood the test of time. Reflect on the psychology of management and the greatest rivalries in British soccer history. Don't miss out on this sensational read.
Daniel Ek
I struggled with whether or not to include this one, as I’m a Gooner (that means Arsenal fan, by the way), but the fact is that Sir Alex grew Manchester United into one of the best known brands today, and that’s what fascinates me about him.      source
Raising Girls book cover
Raising Girls
How to Help Your Daughter Grow Up Happy, Healthy, and Strong
Steve Biddulph - 2013-01-01 (first published in 2011)
Goodreads Rating
Raising Girls is an impassioned call-to-arms for parents of girls. In this practical guidebook, author Steve Biddulph shares the best thinking from around the world on how to raise confident, well-rounded daughters in an exploitative world. Biddulph teaches parents how to build their daughters' self-assuredness, encourage friendships, and equip them to learn and believe in themselves. This detailed guidebook teaches parents what matters for and to girls at which age, and how to build confidence and connectedness from infancy to young womanhood.
Daniel Ek
My two daughters are pretty spirited and I’m determined to raise them to stay that way, to know they can accomplish anything, and protect them as much as I can from the pressures they are going to face in this increasingly crazy world. This book has been super helpful to me in setting out a clear map of girls' developmental stages and how we can make sure we don’t sell out the potential or uniqueness of our daughters.      source
Poor Charlie's Almanack book cover
Poor Charlie's Almanack
The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger, Expanded Third Edition
Peter D. Kaufman - 2006-01-01 (first published in 2005)
Goodreads Rating
Discover the wit and wisdom of a successful businessman and investor with this book. It features talks, lectures, and public commentary from Charlie Munger, compiled with the encouragement and cooperation of Warren Buffett. Enjoy Munger's unique humor and insight as you learn about business, investing, and life.
Daniel Ek
I’ve been enjoying Charlie Munger’s speeches online for years, and this is the ultimate collection of the best of them. Watching “Becoming Warren Buffett’ on a recent flight reminded me how much of a legend Charlie is.      source
Guns, Germs, and Steel book cover
Guns, Germs, and Steel
The Fates of Human Societies
Jared Diamond - 2005-01-01 (first published in 1997)
Goodreads Rating
Explore the answer to the central problem in global history with Guns, Germs, and Steel. In this insightful book, author Jared Diamond looks at the broad movements of peoples and ideas on every continent since the Ice Age. He presents a biology-driven answer to The Rise of the West, focusing on geography, demography, and ecological happenstance. With a binocular perspective of an evolutionary biologist and a heart that belongs to the people of New Guinea, Diamond presents a well-rounded and evenhanded review of human history.
Daniel Ek
A brilliant Pulitzer Prize-winning book about how the modern world was formed, analyzing how societies developed differently on different continents. I like how this is written from a biologist’s point of view rather than purely based on history or anthropology.      source
Bass Culture book cover
Bass Culture
When Reggae Was King
Lloyd Bradley - 2001-09-04 (first published in 2000)
Goodreads Rating
Explore the fascinating history of reggae in Bass Culture. Lloyd Bradley leaves no stone unturned in this comprehensive dive into the genre, covering everything from murder and racism to major label gripes and ganja paranoia. With contributions from leading figures like Prince Buster, Horace Andy, Bunny Lee, and Dennis Bovell, this book is a compelling mix of informed analysis and intoxicating aural history. Experience the evolution of reggae from its Fifties soundsystem roots to contemporary dancehall, and discover how it became a global phenomenon.
Daniel Ek
This is such a great history of reggae music and the influences it has on other genres. Some awesome artists are covered here, many who kept their creative integrity and resolve in spite of huge and powerful odds…. lessons we should all respect.      source
Hit Men book cover
Hit Men
Power Brokers and Fast Money Inside the Music Business
Fredric Dannen - 1991-07-02 (first published in 1990)
Goodreads Rating
This controversial book delves into the cutthroat world of the pop music industry. Chronicling its evolution from Tin Pan Alley to the present day, author Fredric Dannen exposes the greed, ambition, and egos that fuel the industry, as well as the vendettas and power struggles behind the scenes. Copiously researched and documented, Hit Men offers an eye-opening look into the dark underbelly of one of America's largest and most lucrative businesses.
Daniel Ek
Still the essential biography of the music industry. Dannen is pretty ruthless in describing a time in the music business when hustle was the name of the game — although that’s pretty much the same today, to be honest. I joke that I used to have hair before I started working in the music business, but thankfully the staggering levels of corruption that Dannen describes no longer exist.      source