LIBRARIES OF THE MASTERS

Harriet Rubin's recent article in the New York Times, entitled "C.E.O. Libraries Reveal Keys to Success," provides a fascinating glimpse into the sources of inspiration and wisdom for some of the most successful and innovative business persons of our time.

From Nike founder Phil Knight to Apple's Steven Jobs to Visa founder Dee Hock, it turns out that personal--and often very private--libraries seem to be the most valuable of treasures for these giants.

The libraries that Rubin's investigated combine to create quite the eclectic collection: Asian history, Aristotle, William Blake, T. E. Lawrence, Machiavelli, John Steinbeck, Omar Khayyam, and John Cornwall, just to name a few.

In addition to the most well known writers and thinkers throughout history, many of the articles featured librarians keep every book they've ever read. As Shelly Lazarus, the chairwoman and chief executive of Ogilvy & Mather, says: "Once I’ve read a book I keep it. It becomes a part of me."

To read the article in its entirety, go to "C.E.O. Libraries Reveal Keys to Success "