Zell Lurie Institute Recommended Book Selection

Economics in One Lesson: The Shortest and Surest Way to Understand Basic Economics by Henry Hazlitt
"Classical economist view of the efficient allocation of resources in an economy and why that’s important and when there is interference (via governments, union, monopolies) all the things that go wrong. There is a fabulous chapter on why General Motors will some day fail. The book was originally published in 1946." - Tom Kinnear, Executive Director, Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan

The Aeneid by Virgil
"A founder's story of going from defeat (in The Trojan War) to success (the founding of Rome) and the sacrifices made along the way. There is a quotation in the psyche of all leaders: "And though his heart was sick with anxiety, he wore a confident look, and kept his troubles to himself." - Erik Gordon, Clinical Professor, Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan

The Towering World of Jimmy Choo: A Story of Power, Profits, and the Pursuit of the Perfect Shoe by Lauren Goldstein Crowe and Sagra Maceira de Rosen
"Not quite the founding of Rome, but the founding of the company that sells the high heels favored by the women of Sex and the City. However, the insights into entrepreneurship and the fashion industry, especially the latter are interesting for we who are fashion-challenged." - Erik Gordon

Poker Winners are Different by Alan N. Schoonmaker
"Poker success requires reading the context and reading people -- two skills every entrepreneur needs." - Erik Gordon

Competition: The Birth of a New Science by James Case
"Applies and extends game theory (think "A Beautiful Mind") to business and politics, trashing neoclassical economics along the way." Erik Gordon

In Search of Bill Clinton: A Psychological Biography by John Gartner
"Whether you loved the guy or thought he was the pomputous of slime, he knew how to attract people to his bandwagon, including some very talented people. I wish I had half his talent, at least in that regard." - Erik Gordon

Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace….One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
"My sister-in-law read it, my wife read it, and now I am reading it. Capitalizing on his idea, creating the plan and implementing the model for realizing his initiative all speak to the basic building blocks for any emerging 'business'." - Tom Porter, Managing Director, Frankel Commercialization Fund, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan

Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne
"BOS is all about identifying opportunities and positioning your business--the heart of all entrepreneurial endeavors." - Tim Faley, Managing Director of the Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan

Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne - Peter Adriens, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Ross School of Business; Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering; Professor, School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan

Investing in Sustainability by Rognvaldur Hannesson - Peter Adriens

Billions of Entrepreneurs: How China and India Are Reshaping Their Futures--and Yours by Tarun Khanna - Peter Adriens