I have had the great good fortune in my over twenty years working with executives of having worked with some of the best minds in the world. This book is the codification of what they taught me - from their dreams of what their organizations can be to the obstacles that they confront every day and how they both address and transcend them.

And for exactly the same reasons, you want to read the opposite side of Collins' thinking. In this book he lays out a cautionary tale that executives can use to assess and determine whether your organization is starting to see the signs and portents of a downward cycle.

Edward De Bono is best known for his Six Thinking Hats (which is also a good read) but I like this book better for the executive reader. It's more directed toward what you need - now - as it focuses on the applied, tactical thinking necessary to get and stay where you want to go.

This was Philip Kotler's first trade book presenting not just what marketing is but what every executive needs to know about how to make marketing the strategic differentiator it needs to be in your organization.

On this one, go for the thinking - not the stories. It's not about whether you agree with what he's describing. It's about understanding how little things make a big difference and, particularly, what to look for in your organization that can make that difference.

This is one of those books that if you want to know how Google became Google, you need to read this one. It is the granddaddy of books on innovative organizations (circa 1962) and their management. The authors couldn't have known, but they were laying out the basis for the future.

This book is not an easy read. Deming rarely made it easy for executives - because, like me, he had unending faith in your ability to learn and apply what you need to know. This book gives you more than the theoretical underpinnings of "quality improvement." It gives you the keys to the kingdom of organizational knowledge and understanding.

If you've not read a book by Peter Drucker, this is a good place to start. Then, when he's captured your imagination for what is, what can be and how to get there, be prepared to find yourself developing a Drucker library. Also, as Drucker was one of Deming's favorite theorists, you'll see an interesting fit in their theories.

This book is slightly less well known than Sun Tzu's The Art of War, but, just as that book is an invaluable executive read, so is this. The key is to know when to fight - and when not to. Then you figure out how.

The dot com boom (and bust) provided a great deal of learning. This tale, beautifully written by a successful venture capitalist (think TiVo), provides guidance on how to balance a life of treasure-filled dreams with a fulfilling daily reality.

I love this book. Passionately. It was Dr. Seuss' last and, by far, his best. This book gives you the journey - howling Hackken-Kraks and all - with every expectation that you'll succeed. Because you will.