Why I Read — and Why I Share It.
Reading has shaped my thinking. I was 33 when I found a good book to a great companion early mornings and on airplnes. It’s where I go to sharpen my instincts, broaden my perspective, and connect ideas that influence my work in recruiting, business development, and mentorship.
On this page, I share an eclectic mix of books that have impacted me the most — titles that speak to leadership, resilience, character, entrepreneurship, and the power of relationships. Many of these books have played a direct role in how I advise clients, guide candidates, and navigate life.
If you have a recommendation — or want a recommendation — email joe@kreuzbd.com.
I’m always looking for the next great read.
📚 Recommended Books
New Reads

Goliathby Matt Stoller

Unreasonable Hospitalityby Will Guidara

Team of Rivalsby Doris Kearns Goodwin
Business & Career

Built Not Bornby Tom Golisano

Education of a Speculatorby Victor Niederhoffer

Fly Boysby James Bradley

Good to Greatby Jim Collins

I Love Capitalismby Ken Langone

Keeping At Itby Paul Volcker

Meet You in Hellby Les Standiford

Pour Your Heart Into Itby Howard Schultz

Scientific Advertisingby Claude Hopkins

Start-Up Nationby Shimon Peres and Shai Agassi

Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Aliveby Harvey Mackay
Men of Steel
The Story of the Family That Built the World Trade Center
by Karl Koch III and Richard Firstman
A behind-the-scenes look at the ironworking family responsible for raising the World Trade Center — a story of grit, risk, and generational craftsmanship.
View on Amazon
Life & Reflection

A Message to Garciaby Elbert Hubbard

A Vanished Worldby Chris Lowney

Atlas Shruggedby Ayn Rand

What Every Body is Sayingby Joe Navarro

Bruno Schulz: An Artist, A Murder, and the Hijacking of Historyby Benjamin Balint

Built to Lastby Jim Collins

Churchillby Martin Gilbert

CSIby Anthony Zuiker

Giftologyby John Ruhlin

Heroic Leadershipby Chris Lowney

How to Know a Personby David Brooks

The Killer Angelsby Jeff Shaara

King Ratby James Clavell

Lincolnby Gore Vidal

Napoleon on Napoleonby Andrew Roberts

Religious Literacyby Stephen Prothero

Swaggerby Jimmy Johnson

The Da Vinci Codeby Dan Brown

The Five Dysfunctions of a Teamby Patrick Lencioni

The Fountainheadby Ayn Rand

Keeping at Itby Paul Volcker

The Looming Towerby Lawrence Wright
Philosophy & Worldview

Outside Insightsby Patrick Burke

Shackleton’s Wayby Margot Morrell

Siddharthaby Hermann Hesse

The Alchemistby Paulo Coelho

The China Mirageby James Bradley

Death of a Salesmanby Arthur Miller

The Imperial Cruiseby James Bradley

The Things They Carriedby Tim O’Brien

Tiger Meet My Sisterby Rick Reilly

Trumanby David McCullough

Waking Up Gratefulby Pamela Say

Care of the Soulby Thomas Moore

John Adamsby David McCullough

A Man Called Intrepidby William Stevenson

Odd Girl Outby Rachel Simmons

Old Man and the Seaby Ernest Hemingway
Relationships & Communication

Absolutely Americanby David Lipsky

Candideby Voltaire

Citizens of Londonby Lynne Olson

Emotional Intelligenceby Daniel Goleman

Freakonomicsby Steven Levitt

Tattoos on the Heartby Greg Boyle

The 36-Hour Dayby Nancy L. Mace

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Peopleby Stephen R. Covey

What Every Body is Sayingby Joe Navarro