“An Outstanding Book About Ceos Who Excelled At Capital Allocation.” — Warren Buffett 1 On Warren Buffett’S Recommended Reading List, Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholder Letter, 2012 Named One Of “19 Books Billionaire Charlie Munger Thinks You Should Read” In Business Insider. “A Book That Details The Extraordinary Success Of Ceos Who Took A Radically Different Approach To Corporate Management.” — Charlie Munger, Vice-Chairman Of Berkshire Hathaway Corporation “Thorndike Explores The Importance Of Thoughtful Capital Allocation Through The Stories Of Eight Successful Ceos. A Good Read For Any Business Leader But Especially Those Willing To Chart Their Own Course.” — Michael Dell, Chairman Of The Board Of Directors And Chief Executive Officer Of Dell What Makes A Successful Ceo? Most People Call To Mind A Familiar Definition: “A Seasoned Manager With Deep Industry Expertise.” Others Might Point To The Qualities Of Today’S So-Called Celebrity Ceos–Charisma, Virtuoso Communication Skills, And A Confident Management Style.

About the Author

William N. Thorndike is founder and a managing director of Housatonic Partners, a private equity firm. He is a graduate of Harvard College and the Stanford Graduate School of Business and has been a guest lecturer at the Harvard and Stanford business schools. He is a director of eight companies, and two not-for-profit organizations and lives in the Boston area with his wife and two children.