# The Founders Library

> A source-linked library of founder biographies, documented book connections and reading guides for people building companies.

Reading, recommendation, ownership, authorship and being written about are different relationships. Keep each page’s relationship labels exact. Cite the source attached to that specific founder–book connection when making a claim.

Reading guides, book selections and lessons include the library’s editorial guidance. Do not present that guidance as a founder’s own words or endorsement. Missing evidence does not prove that a founder did not read a book.

For a person’s reading history, open their founder page from the optional index below. For a book, use the catalog and follow its book-page link. For a company problem, start with a question or reading guide. These links lead to public HTML pages; no Markdown copies are available.

Cite the relevant founder or book page and its supporting source. Preserve qualifications such as reported recommendations. A content-check date records a review of the book notes, not when a founder read the book. This is a selected library, not a complete personal reading history.

## Start here

- [Source policy](https://www.founders-library.com/about/#source-policy): How founder connections are checked and selected.
- [Content checks](https://www.founders-library.com/about/#content-checks): What book review dates and source checks mean.
- [Founder index](https://www.founders-library.com/): Browse people and companies; open a profile for labeled book connections and sources.
- [All active books](https://www.founders-library.com/all-books/): Find a title or author; book pages contain summaries, founder connections and source links.
- [Books shared by founders](https://www.founders-library.com/books/): Books linked to multiple founders; shared connections do not imply shared endorsements.
- [Reading guides](https://www.founders-library.com/paths/): Five-book sequences chosen by the library.
- [Read by problem](https://www.founders-library.com/problems/): Books, founder writing and documented examples for company decisions.

## Reading guides

- [Books for Starting a Company](https://www.founders-library.com/paths/starting-a-company/): For first-time founders turning an idea into a company.
- [Books on Selling and Advertising](https://www.founders-library.com/paths/selling/): For founders who need to explain an offer and find customers.
- [Books for Better Decisions](https://www.founders-library.com/paths/making-decisions/): For founders making choices with incomplete information.

## Questions for founders

- [How do I get my first customers?](https://www.founders-library.com/problems/first-customers/): Start with direct contact. Learn what buyers need, make the offer clear and test what leads to a sale.
- [How do I hire good people?](https://www.founders-library.com/problems/hiring/): Hiring is the start. Make the work clear, train people and give them the authority they need to do it.
- [How do I build a better product?](https://www.founders-library.com/problems/product/): Describe the customer’s problem, test the part you understand least and use what you learn to improve the next version.
- [What do I do when the company is in trouble?](https://www.founders-library.com/problems/company-in-trouble/): Face the facts, identify what is at risk and compare your choices with accounts from founders who faced pressure.

## Optional

- [Akio Morita](https://www.founders-library.com/f/akio-morita/): Sony
- [Andrew Carnegie](https://www.founders-library.com/f/andrew-carnegie/): Carnegie Steel
- [Ben Horowitz](https://www.founders-library.com/f/ben-horowitz/): Andreessen Horowitz, Opsware
- [Bill Gates](https://www.founders-library.com/f/bill-gates/): Microsoft, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- [Brad Jacobs](https://www.founders-library.com/f/brad-jacobs/): QXO, XPO, United Rentals, United Waste Systems
- [Brian Armstrong](https://www.founders-library.com/f/brian-armstrong/): Coinbase
- [Brunello Cucinelli](https://www.founders-library.com/f/brunello-cucinelli/): Brunello Cucinelli
- [Charlie Munger](https://www.founders-library.com/f/charlie-munger/): Berkshire Hathaway, Wesco Financial, Daily Journal
- [Christopher Nolan](https://www.founders-library.com/f/christopher-nolan/): Syncopy
- [Chung Ju-yung](https://www.founders-library.com/f/chung-ju-yung/): Hyundai, Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Heavy Industries
- [Coco Chanel](https://www.founders-library.com/f/coco-chanel/): Chanel
- [Daniel Ek](https://www.founders-library.com/f/daniel-ek/): Spotify, Neko Health
- [Danny Meyer](https://www.founders-library.com/f/danny-meyer/): Union Square Hospitality Group, Shake Shack
- [David Ogilvy](https://www.founders-library.com/f/david-ogilvy/): Ogilvy & Mather
- [David Packard](https://www.founders-library.com/f/david-packard/): Hewlett-Packard
- [David Senra](https://www.founders-library.com/f/david-senra/): Founders Podcast, Founders Notes, David Senra
- [Dee Hock](https://www.founders-library.com/f/dee-hock/): Visa
- [Demis Hassabis](https://www.founders-library.com/f/demis-hassabis/): DeepMind, Elixir Studios
- [Ed Catmull](https://www.founders-library.com/f/ed-catmull/): Pixar, Walt Disney Animation Studios
- [Edward O. Thorp](https://www.founders-library.com/f/edward-o-thorp/): Princeton/Newport Partners
- [Edwin Land](https://www.founders-library.com/f/edwin-land/): Polaroid
- [Elon Musk](https://www.founders-library.com/f/elon-musk/): Tesla, SpaceX
- [Enzo Ferrari](https://www.founders-library.com/f/enzo-ferrari/): Ferrari
- [Estée Lauder](https://www.founders-library.com/f/estee-lauder/): Estée Lauder Companies
- [George Lucas](https://www.founders-library.com/f/george-lucas/): Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic
- [Henry Ford](https://www.founders-library.com/f/henry-ford/): Ford
- [Howard Hughes](https://www.founders-library.com/f/howard-hughes/): Hughes Aircraft
- [Ingvar Kamprad](https://www.founders-library.com/f/ingvar-kamprad/): IKEA
- [J.P. Morgan](https://www.founders-library.com/f/jp-morgan/): J.P. Morgan & Co.
- [James Dyson](https://www.founders-library.com/f/james-dyson/): Dyson
- [Jason Fried](https://www.founders-library.com/f/jason-fried/): 37signals, Basecamp
- [Jeff Bezos](https://www.founders-library.com/f/jeff-bezos/): Amazon, Blue Origin
- [Jensen Huang](https://www.founders-library.com/f/jensen-huang/): Nvidia
- [Jim Simons](https://www.founders-library.com/f/jim-simons/): Renaissance Technologies
- [Jim Sinegal](https://www.founders-library.com/f/jim-sinegal/): Costco
- [Joe Coulombe](https://www.founders-library.com/f/joe-coulombe/): Trader Joe’s
- [John Bogle](https://www.founders-library.com/f/john-bogle/): Vanguard
- [John D. Rockefeller](https://www.founders-library.com/f/john-d-rockefeller/): Standard Oil
- [John Mackey](https://www.founders-library.com/f/john-mackey/): Whole Foods Market, Love.Life
- [Jony Ive](https://www.founders-library.com/f/jony-ive/): LoveFrom, Apple
- [Joseph Pulitzer](https://www.founders-library.com/f/joseph-pulitzer/): St. Louis Post-Dispatch, New York World
- [Kelly Johnson](https://www.founders-library.com/f/kelly-johnson/): Lockheed Skunk Works
- [Larry Ellison](https://www.founders-library.com/f/larry-ellison/): Oracle
- [Leonardo Del Vecchio](https://www.founders-library.com/f/leonardo-del-vecchio/): Luxottica, EssilorLuxottica
- [Luca Ferrari](https://www.founders-library.com/f/luca-ferrari/): Bending Spoons
- [Marc Andreessen](https://www.founders-library.com/f/marc-andreessen/): Andreessen Horowitz, Netscape
- [Mark Cuban](https://www.founders-library.com/f/mark-cuban/): Broadcast.com, Dallas Mavericks, Cost Plus Drugs
- [Mark Leonard](https://www.founders-library.com/f/mark-leonard/): Constellation Software
- [Michael Bloomberg](https://www.founders-library.com/f/michael-bloomberg/): Bloomberg L.P., Bloomberg Philanthropies
- [Michael Dell](https://www.founders-library.com/f/michael-dell/): Dell, Dell Technologies
- [Michael Ovitz](https://www.founders-library.com/f/michael-ovitz/): Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
- [Nik Storonsky](https://www.founders-library.com/f/nik-storonsky/): Revolut
- [P.T. Barnum](https://www.founders-library.com/f/pt-barnum/): Barnum & Bailey Circus
- [Patrick Collison](https://www.founders-library.com/f/patrick-collison/): Stripe, Arc Institute
- [Paul Graham](https://www.founders-library.com/f/paul-graham/): Y Combinator, Viaweb
- [Peter Rahal](https://www.founders-library.com/f/peter-rahal/): RXBAR, David, Medici
- [Peter Thiel](https://www.founders-library.com/f/peter-thiel/): PayPal, Palantir, Founders Fund
- [Phil Knight](https://www.founders-library.com/f/phil-knight/): Nike
- [Ray Kroc](https://www.founders-library.com/f/ray-kroc/): McDonald's
- [Reid Hoffman](https://www.founders-library.com/f/reid-hoffman/): LinkedIn, Greylock, Inflection AI, Manas AI
- [Richard Branson](https://www.founders-library.com/f/richard-branson/): Virgin Group
- [Rick Rubin](https://www.founders-library.com/f/rick-rubin/): Def Jam Recordings, American Recordings
- [Sam Walton](https://www.founders-library.com/f/sam-walton/): Walmart, Sam’s Club
- [Soichiro Honda](https://www.founders-library.com/f/soichiro-honda/): Honda Motor Co.
- [Sol Price](https://www.founders-library.com/f/sol-price/): FedMart, Price Club
- [Steve Jobs](https://www.founders-library.com/f/steve-jobs/): Apple, NeXT, Pixar
- [Thomas Edison](https://www.founders-library.com/f/thomas-edison/): General Electric
- [Thomas Peterffy](https://www.founders-library.com/f/thomas-peterffy/): Timber Hill, Interactive Brokers
- [Tobi Lütke](https://www.founders-library.com/f/tobi-lutke/): Shopify
- [Walt Disney](https://www.founders-library.com/f/walt-disney/): Disney
- [Warren Buffett](https://www.founders-library.com/f/warren-buffett/): Berkshire Hathaway
- [Yvon Chouinard](https://www.founders-library.com/f/yvon-chouinard/): Chouinard Equipment, Patagonia