Six must-reads for startup honchos

Ted Leonsis, a former executive at America Online, is co-founder and partner of Steve Case’s Revolution Growth Fund and, as founder and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, majority owner of three DC pro sports teams. Startup honchos who want to end up like him should spend time with their nose in these six works, all hand-selected by Leonsis as the essential works for every budding entrepreneur to read.

The Business of Happiness
by Ted Leonsis
Leonsis himself is proof: Want to be more successful? Contentment is job one.


Creativity, Inc.
by Ed Catmull
Pixar co-founder expounds on the virtues of an inventive, original, enjoyable workplace.




Crossing the Chasm
by Geoffrey A Moore
How do you market high-tech products to lay consumers? This influential 2006 classic points the way forward.


Collective Genius
by Linda A Hill, Greg Brandeau, Emily Truelove and Kent Lineback
True innovation comes not from a single inspired leader but an entire creative team.



From the Other Side of the World
by Elmira Bayrasli
Why you’re as likely to find the next entrepreneurial genius
in Peshawar as Palo Alto.

Stop Playing Safe
by Margie Warrell
We’re all inherently risk-averse—but learning to embrace gambles might be the smartest thing you ever do.