More than three decades ago, Warren Buffett introduced Bill Gates to the book that would change the way he thinks about doing business.

His recommendation, John Brooks' 1969 essay collection "Business Adventures," had been out of print since the '70s, but the Microsoft founder didn't let that deter him from devouring the compilation of cautionary tales and success stories from the world of Wall Street.

"Brooks' work is a great reminder that the rules for running a strong business and creating value haven't changed," Gates wrote in 2014.

If you want to succeed in business, executives like Gates suggest you'll find valuable guidance in books. Gates has said he reads about 50 books a year, the vast majority of which are memoirs and educational works about environmental science, public heal

See Full Page