The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success, by William N. Thorndike

Who is the greatest CEO of the last 50 years? What is the most important job for a CEO? This book profiles eight “outsider” CEOs who have led companies that outperformed the S&P 500 index by more than 20 times and their peers by more than seven times. Despite their different industries and backgrounds, their grasp of the nature of business is surprisingly consistent. In this book, the author details these shared characteristics in operation management and capital allocation, which are of reference value for both managers and ordinary investors.