"Goodbye Jumbo...Hello Cruel World"  - Louie Anderson - 272 pages - Penguin Books 1994
This book was a revelation. There were 11 kids in his family. They were poor. He had an alcoholic, abusive father. He turned to food for solace. He turned to Stand-Up Comedy for survival, and to run away. In his book, he stops running. He faces his life, his addiction to food (he got up to 360# at 6’-1”), and ultimately his victim-hood. Louie does several very healthy things to heal himself of his painful past and self-destructive present that no amount of money or fame could assuage. With the passing of his mother, he sells his million dollar home in Malibu, he sells all his junk and clutter from his Minnesota past, he reconciles the strained relations with siblings with a very simple strategy, Forgiveness.

"I shouldn't Even Be Doing This" - Bob Newhart - 256 pages - Hyperion (September 2006) If you know Bob then you know he's one of Americas treasures. Besides being a really nice guy, he tells the best stories. Even in print these stories come across great though you fans of Bob know how his delivery of a story make it that much better. You'll laugh out loud anyway.

It's Not Easy Bein' Me - Rodney Dangerfield - 2005 - 288 pages  His comedy came from his pain. “I lived in a tough neighborhood growing up. There was an Italian Restaurant near my house, Nunzio’s, formerly Vito’s, which served ‘Broken Leg of Lamb’, these guys were tough.” His story is unique. He started doing Stand-Up in New York at 16. Then at 28 left the industry to sell Aluminum Siding for 12 years. He had a family. At forty, he jumped back in with both feet. He passed away at 82 last year. He was an icon. He found the respect he never received as a child.

“Two Hearts” – Dave Marsh - 688 pages -  Routledge (October, 2003)
Bruce Springsteen's biography. Two Hearts is the definitive biography of one of the most important songwriters and performers of the last three decades. Critic Dave Marsh has traced Springsteen's career from its beginning, and has earned the singer's respect through his careful documentation and critical description of Springsteen's work.

“Gesundheit” – Patch Adams, M.D. – 226 pages - Healing Arts Press It’s interesting to read about the real guy once you have seen the film with Robin Williams.  Wisdom, humor and healing.  A Doctor that focuses on “Patient-Centered Health Care.”  He single handedly transformed the way the medical community views health care.
 

Keep it Going! (Les Schwab’s Pride in Performance) – 239 pages – Maverick Publications - He started selling tires in Central Oregon in 1952.  With almost 300 stores on the west coast, and coming close to a billion dollars a year in sales, it’s an extraordinary story.  He is 86 years young and he has 6000 people in his tire family.
 

  “Pour Your Heart Into It” – Howard Schultz & Dori Jones Yang – 351 pages – Hyperion – How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time.  It’s a modern day rags to riches story that I found fascinating.  Hey I love everything these guys do!  It’s my office away from home and clients.  Read it and learn.  This guy is smart.

“Ben Franklin’s Autobiography” – 1898 – Doubleday & McClure – 178 pages.  My copy is OLD.  I am certain you can find an updated version.  This one changed my life and attitude. Inspiring.

“Leading With My Chin” – Jay Leno – 278 pages – Harpers Collins  Leno is smart, humble and funny.  There is a reason his ratings are higher, much higher than Letterman. Oh did I mention he accounts for 29% of NBC’s profits?

“Leading With the Heart” – Coach Mike Krzyzewski (prounounced “Sha-chef-ski” or Coach K to the basketball world) 291 pages.  He is the John Wooden of his era.  The most respected and successful college basketball coach in the country.  Why, because he Wins and his kids (like Wooden’s) graduate and are good people.  Find out why.

“Direct From DELL” – Michael Dell – 236 pages. Harper Business-  He founded the company in 1984 with $1,000 his freshman year in college.  He had an unprecedented idea, bypass the middleman and sell custom built PC’s directly to end users.

“My Years With General Motors” – Alfred P. Sloan, Jr. 541 pages – Doubleday Anchor Book – This one is Bill Gates, Jr.’s favorite business book.  Need I say more?

“Hard Drive” (Bill Gates and the Making of the Microsoft Empire) 426 pages.  Two Seattle reporters wrote this unofficial biography, an odd blend of hatred and admiration, fascinating.

“The Road Ahead” – Bill Gates 331 pages. Penguin Books – This was his first book.  “As the economy shifts, people and societies who  are appropriately educated will tend to do the best.  Acquire new skills and interests throughout your life.  The individual must bear principal responsibility for his education.”  Sound advice from the World’s richest man.