Here's what the world's biggest business leaders have on their reading list

Reading books is a deeply personal experience. We form unique bonds with the characters we read about and throw ourselves into a different world. Whether fiction or fact, the books we read teach us something different and mould our lives.



Some of the world's biggest business leaders are avid Readers. Below is a list of 10 CEOs and the books they loved reading -- which should now be on your reading list for 2017!

1) Jeff Bezos: "The Remains of the Day"

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is a fan of the fictitious book The Remains of the Day that tells the story of a butler in post-war England. Bezos says he learns more from fiction than non-fiction.

Amazon's CEO is a fan of the book "The Remains of the Day"

2) Bill Gates: "The Catcher in the Rye"

Microsoft founder and one of the world's richest man enjoyed reading JD Salinger's coming of age novel that deals with teenage angst and alienation. Gates read the book when he was 13 and it has been his favourite since then. He finds the book "very clever".

Microsoft founder enjoyed reading J.D. Salinger's coming of age novel that deals with teenage angst and alienation

3) Steve Jobs: "How Will You Measure Your Life"

An unconventional book of inspiration and wisdom, How Will You Measure Your Life "deeply influenced" Apple's Steve Jobs. The book presents a way individuals think about our lives and find the satisfaction, happiness and direction necessary for a successful and happy future. With Job's stamp of approval, this book is definitely worth your time!

How Will You Measure Your Life 'deeply influenced' Apple's Steve Jobs

4) Tim Cook: "Competing Against Time: How Time-Based Competition is Reshaping Global Markets"

Apple's current CEO reportedly hands out copies of this book to colleagues and new employees. The book's central message is how "time is the cutting edge" to get ahead in your industry. Definitely a must read, whether or not you're an employee at Apple!

Apple's current CEO reportedly hands out copies of this book to colleagues and new employees.

5) Mark Zuckerberg: "Portfolios of the Poor: How the World's Poor Live on $2 a Day"

Facebook founder and CEO featured this book in his reading list. The book tackles the fundamental question of how the poor make ends meet.

Facebook founder and CEO featured this book in his reading list

6) Elon Musk: "Benjamin Franklin: An American Life"

The powerhouse and brains behind Tesla Motors and SpaceX enjoys reading about another successful multi-tasker. The book chronicles the life of Benjamin Franklin, a founding father of the US who was also a writer, inventor, scientist and diplomat.

The powerhouse and brains behind Tesla Motors and SpaceX enjoys reading about another multi-tasker and US Founding Father.

7) Indra Nooyi: "The Road to Character"

PepsiCo's CEO called this book one of the most influential ones she has read. David Brook's "The Return to Character" focuses on the deeper values that should inform our lives. According to Nooyi, the book "sparked a wonderful discussion with my two daughters about why building inner character is just as important as building a career."

PepsiCo's CEO called this book one of the most influential ones she has read.

8) James Gorman: "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy: A George Smiley Novel"

CEO of multinational financial institution Morgan Stanley is partial to spy novels. Another spy novel he enjoyed reading "The Spy Who Came in From the Cold".

CEO of multinational financial institution Morgan Stanley is partial to spy novels

9) Melanie Whelan: "The Happiness Advantage"

SoulCycle CEO was extremely moved by this book and has said it's a resource for her company. The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Anchor outlines how we can reprogramme our brains to become more positive -- and to capitalise on 'the happiness advantage' to improve our performance at work.

SoulCycle CEO was extremely moved by this book and has said it's a resource for her company

10) Richard Branson: "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings"

Founder of the Virgin Group, Branson enjoys Maya Angelou's I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. The coming of age story is Angelou's autobiography and explores themes such as racism, identity and literacy.

Founder of the Virgin Group enjoys Maya Angelou's coming of age story

This article originally appeared in Business Insider.