Among the many resources available today for personal and professional development, books continue to help keep leaders more in tune with the times. Reading, whether management books that enhance business strategies or expand one's understanding of the world, is a fundamental pillar for the development of C-level executives. Reputation Feed selected four of the 2025 releases as suggestions to mark Writer's Day, celebrated in Brazil on July 25th.
Of the selected works, two are by authors who use their experience in the corporate world to contribute to other leaders. This is the case of Source Code: How It All Began, by Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, and also by How to Interpret the Financial Market, by Lawrence (Larry) G. McDonald, former vice president of Lehman Brothers.
In an increasingly complex and dynamic corporate landscape, the ability to absorb different perspectives and apply multidisciplinary insights is what sets true visionaries apart.
The third suggestion is Oswald de Andrade: Bad Savage, a biography of a controversial author who innovated with "cultural anthropophagy," written by Lira Neto, best known to date for his celebrated trilogy on Getulio Vargas. And the fourth is a collection of essays by the acclaimed Willa Cather, one of the most renowned North American writers of the 20th century, who delves into the writings of classic authors, offering reflections on the role of the writer.
Check out a summary of each of the books below:
Bill Gates – Source Code: How It All Began
Autobiography of the founder of Microsoft, chronicling his journey from childhood to the creation of one of the world's largest technology companies. It offers lessons on innovative leadership and reputation management in technology, especially relevant in the context of ethical AI and cybersecurity. One of its merits is the clarity with which the author articulates vision, purpose, and consistency—pillars that support any robust public image.
Companhia das Letras • 376 pages
Lawrence G. McDonald (Larry) – How to interpret the financial market
It addresses the (not always visible) signals that markets emit before disruptions. By blending behind-the-scenes insights from the 2008 crisis with current analyses, it teaches how to understand political cycles, systemic risks, and the forces that shape investor behavior. It's a powerful tool, revealing how risk perceptions, poorly communicated decisions, and a lack of listening to the external environment can undermine narratives of solidity.
HarperCollins • 304 pages
Lira Neto – Oswald de Andrade: Bad Savage
It's more than a biography. It deals with the symbolic construction of a reputation marked by rupture, contradiction, and originality. Oswald de Andrade—writer, cultural agitator, and central figure of modernism—shaped his image with an almost entrepreneurial strategy: he created slogans and became a brand himself. Only after his death would the country recover his legacy of defiance, a source for future artistic expressions, such as Tropicália.
Companhia das Letras • 528 pages
One of the most prestigious American writers of the 20th century, recognized with the Pulitzer Prize, Willa Cather (1873-1947) shares her impressions of names that marked an era and shaped modern fiction. The writer of My Antonia and The Pioneers! analyzes the styles and ideas of authors such as Mark Twain, Edgar Allan Poe, Walt Whitman, Henry James, Kate Chopin, Stephen Crane, and other key figures in classic literature. Essays and Criticism offers reflections on style, form, language, and the role of the writer.
Cabriolet • 85 pages
Essays and Reviews – Willa Cather
