Read by Richard Branson
What books does Richard Branson recommend?
Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group and a serial adventurer, reads with the same appetite he brings to ballooning and business, and these 32 book recommendations — gathered mostly from his Virgin.com blog and Literati book club — range across biography, history, and business and strategy. Branson names Antony Beevor's Stalingrad and Jung Chang's Wild Swans as his favorite books, and champions Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens for taking "daunting, complex themes" and breaking them into "a fascinating, simple narrative." Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom, Simon Sinek's Start with Why, and Matthieu Ricard's Happiness round out a list that mixes wartime history with entrepreneurial thinking and a genuine streak of humanitarian idealism — exactly the blend you would expect from a man who built an empire on the motto "screw it, let's do it."
Last updated January 2026 · Every recommendation cited to its original source.
Stalingrad
The Fateful Siege, 1942–1943
byAntony Beevor
1998494 Pages(41,392)
“My favorite books are Stalingrad by Antony Beevor and Wild Swans by Jung Chang.”
— Richard Branson
Source: Virgin.com Blog, 'Top 65 books to read in a lifetime'
Read by Richard Branson
byJung Chang
2003538 Pages“My favorite books are Stalingrad by Antony Beevor and Wild Swans by Jung Chang.”
— Richard Branson
Source: Virgin.com Blog, 'Top 65 books to read in a lifetime'
Read by Tim Ferriss, Barack Obama, Ray Dalio and 21 others
byYuval Noah Harari
2014443 Pages(1,100,000)
“The genius of Sapiens is that it takes some daunting, complex themes and breaks them down into a fascinating, simple narrative. I’ve always been fascinated in what makes humans human.”
— Richard Branson
Source: Virgin.com Blog, 'What I’ve read this year'
Read by Richard Branson, Sir Lewis Hamilton, Serena Williams and 1 others
Long Walk to Freedom
The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela
byNelson Mandela
1995656 PagesSource: Virgin.com Blog, 'Top 65 books to read in a lifetime'
Read by Richard Branson, Mark Manson, Steven Bartlett and 4 others
Start with Why
How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
bySimon Sinek
2009256 Pages“Simon’s understanding that it doesn’t matter what you do, but why you do it is such an important lesson in life. It gives us more meaning, more motivation and it helps us stay on the right path.”
— Richard Branson
Source: Literati Book Club / Virgin Blog
Read by Richard Branson
byMatthieu Ricard
2006304 Pages“Happiness is a book I wish I could hand to my younger self. I’ve often said that happiness isn’t the result of success; happiness can only lead you towards it.”
— Richard Branson
Source: Literati Book Club Selection
Just Mercy
A Story of Justice and Redemption
byBryan Stevenson
2014352 Pages“A powerful true story about the potential for mercy to redeem us. I've really enjoyed reading a huge variety of different books with my Literati book club this year... Just Mercy was one.”
— Richard Branson
Source: Virgin.com Blog, 'What I’ve read this year'
Read by Richard Branson
Just Kids
An Autobiography
byPatti Smith
2010304 Pages“One of the most enchanting books I’ve ever read. It reminded me that life is made richer by the people around you and no matter what direction you’re pulled in you can always come back to yourself.”
— Richard Branson
Source: Inc. Interview / YouTube
Read by Richard Branson
Net Positive
How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take
byPaul Polman, Andrew Winston
2021352 Pages“The words won me over with their relentless optimism and sharp-eyed vision of a sustainable future, where purpose-driven companies put people and the planet first.”
— Richard Branson
Source: Virgin.com Blog, 2021 Reading List
Read by Richard Branson
byAntoine de Saint-Exupéry
1939229 Pages“I chose this book because I believe it offers an invaluable outlook on human nature. So much so, I think everyone should read it before setting off into life’s unknown territory.”
— Richard Branson
Source: Literati Book Club / Virgin Blog
Read by Elon Musk, Richard Branson, Stephen Hawking and 2 others
byDouglas Adams
1995216 Pages“This is a legendary work of science-fiction.”
— Richard Branson
Source: Virgin.com Blog, 'Top 65 books to read in a lifetime'
Read by Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, Jordan Peterson and 11 others
byGeorge Orwell
1949328 Pages(4,800,000)
“If you haven’t read Orwell’s classic since high school, now might be the time to revisit it... it explains the unbreakable relationship between truth and freedom.”
— Richard Branson
Source: Inc. Interview / Virgin Blog
Black Box Thinking
The Surprising Truth About Success
byMatthew Syed
2015336 Pages“It advocates for changing attitudes towards failure, and understanding that the only way we learn is by trying things and altering our behaviour based on the results.”
— Richard Branson
Source: Virgin.com Blog
Read by Richard Branson
byBarack Obama
2020768 Pages“A raw and gripping look into his first term—an intimate telling of how he strived to achieve his goals for a better tomorrow. This memoir is an absolute delight to read.”
— Richard Branson
Source: Virgin.com Blog, 2021 Reading List
Read by Steve Jobs, Jensen Huang, Jeff Bezos and 5 others
The Innovator's Dilemma
When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail
byClayton M. Christensen
1997288 PagesSource: Richard Branson Blog, 2013
Read by Oprah Winfrey, Richard Branson, Chip Wilson and 4 others
The Power of Now
A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
byEckhart Tolle
1999236 PagesSource: YourStory 2024 Profile
Read by Tim Ferriss, Richard Branson, Ramit Sethi and 1 others
The Checklist Manifesto
How to Get Things Right
byAtul Gawande
2009224 PagesSource: YourStory 2024 Profile
Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future
Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future
byAshlee Vance
2015400 Pages“Elon Musk is a man after my own heart: a risk taker undaunted by setbacks... Ashlee Vance’s stellar biography captures Musk’s remarkable life story.”
— Richard Branson
Source: Virgin.com Blog
Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead
Women, Work, and the Will to Lead
bySheryl Sandberg
2013240 Pages“Lean In is essential reading for anyone interested in righting the balance.”
— Richard Branson
Source: Virgin.com Blog, 'Top 65 books to read in a lifetime'
Read by Ray Dalio, Sheryl Sandberg, Richard Branson and 1 others
Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World
How Non-Conformists Move the World
byAdam Grant
2016336 Pages“A wonderful book on how people can champion new ideas and how leaders can fight groupthink.”
— Richard Branson
Source: Virgin.com Blog, 'Top 65 books to read in a lifetime'
Read by Richard Branson
byLuke Rhinehart
1971560 Pages“A fascinating look at the role of chance in life. I chose it for my Literati book club as a cult classic that challenges conventional thinking.”
— Richard Branson
Source: Literati Book Club Selection
Read by Richard Branson
I Am a Girl From Africa
A Memoir of Empowerment, Community, and Hope
byElizabeth Nyamayaro
2021272 Pages“Her story is such an inspiring reminder of our common humanity and the power of persistence.”
— Richard Branson
Source: Virgin.com Blog, 2021 Reading List
Read by Richard Branson
The Emerald Mile
The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon
byKevin Fedarko
2013448 Pages“'The Emerald Mile' reminds us that our greatest limitations are often the ones we put on ourselves.”
— Richard Branson
Source: Virgin.com Blog, 2021 Reading List
Masters of Scale
Surprising Truths from the World's Most Successful Entrepreneurs
byReid Hoffman, June Cohen, Deron Triff
2021304 Pages“Reid Hoffman is a brilliant mind and this book captures great insights from some of the world's most successful entrepreneurs.”
— Richard Branson
Source: Literati Book Club Selection
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Frequently asked questions
What books does Richard Branson recommend?
His 32 recommendations include Stalingrad by Antony Beevor, Wild Swans by Jung Chang, Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari, Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela, and Start with Why by Simon Sinek.
What are Richard Branson's favorite books?
He has said, "My favorite books are Stalingrad by Antony Beevor and Wild Swans by Jung Chang." Both are works of twentieth-century history, one on the Second World War's brutal turning point and one on three generations of women in China.
Where do Richard Branson's book recommendations come from?
Most are drawn from his Virgin.com blog — including his "Top 65 books to read in a lifetime" and annual reading lists — alongside his Literati book club selections and interviews with Inc. His Twitter and various profiles supply the rest.
Has Richard Branson written any books?
Yes, eight of them, including Losing My Virginity (1998), Screw It, Let's Do It (2006), Business Stripped Bare (2008), and The Virgin Way (2014). His memoirs and business books chronicle Virgin's improbable rise across dozens of industries.
What genres does Richard Branson read most?
Biographies and memoirs lead, followed by history, business and strategy, and society and politics. His shelf pairs sweeping historical narratives with leadership books and stories of adventure and social change.
All 32 Books Richard Branson Has Recommended
- Stalingrad · Antony Beevor
- Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China · Jung Chang
- Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind · Yuval Noah Harari
- Long Walk to Freedom · Nelson Mandela
- Start with Why · Simon Sinek
- Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill · Matthieu Ricard
- Just Mercy · Bryan Stevenson
- Just Kids · Patti Smith
- Net Positive · Paul Polman
- Wind, Sand and Stars · Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy · Douglas Adams
- 1984 · George Orwell
- Black Box Thinking · Matthew Syed
- A Promised Land · Barack Obama
- The Innovator's Dilemma · Clayton M. Christensen
- The Power of Now · Eckhart Tolle
- The Checklist Manifesto · Atul Gawande
- Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future · Ashlee Vance
- Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead · Sheryl Sandberg
- Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World · Adam Grant
- The Dice Man · Luke Rhinehart
- I Am a Girl From Africa · Elizabeth Nyamayaro
- The Emerald Mile · Kevin Fedarko
- Masters of Scale · Reid Hoffman
- Homo Deus · Yuval Noah Harari
- One Hundred Years of Solitude · Gabriel García Márquez
- Shantaram · Gregory David Roberts
- A Brief History of Time · Stephen Hawking
- Into Thin Air · Jon Krakauer
- Play Nice But Win · Michael Dell
- Trailblazer: The Power of Business as the Greatest Platform for Change · Marc Benioff
- Wise Guy · Guy Kawasaki