Your Summer Reading List to Build Better Brands

What do the leaders building some of the industry's best brands read?

Across dozens of Stay StarryEyed podcast episodes, our guests have shared the books that have inspired them most.

This summer, we collected the best of them: the reads that keep coming up in convos with the leaders behind top brands.

Here's what made the list.

1. Atomic Habits by James Clear

Megan Lynberg, SVP Client Strategy, Datassential

Read for: Building systems that compound into real brand momentum.

Small, consistent actions beat big, occasional ones. A useful lens for brand leaders who want lasting change without waiting for a single, sweeping initiative to save the year.

2. The Ride of a Lifetime by Bob Iger

Eric Martino, President, Hard Rock Cafe Division, Hard Rock International

Read for: Leading iconic brands through reinvention without losing what made them iconic.

A firsthand account of steering Disney through its biggest acquisitions. Proof that protecting a brand's core and evolving it aren't opposing forces.

3. Good to Great by Jim Collins

Laurie Schalow, Chief Corporate Affairs and Food Safety Officer, Chipotle

Read for: Understanding what separates good companies from enduring ones.

The research is old but the discipline still holds. A reminder that sustained success comes from rigor and the right people, not charisma or a clever campaign.

4. Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink

Jen Dodd, CEO, Main Squeeze Juice Company

Read for: Leading teams that take responsibility instead of assigning blame.

Navy SEAL principles applied to business, built around a simple idea: leaders own everything in their world, no excuses. A useful gut check for anyone building a team or a franchise system.

5. Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull

Liz Giorgi, Co-founder and CEO, soona

Read for: Protecting creative culture as a brand scales.

Pixar's president on building an environment where original ideas can survive contact with a growing company. Essential reading for any brand leader trying to keep creativity alive past the startup phase.

6. From Impressed to Obsessed by John Picoult

Amy Eldredge, VP of Menu, Crumbl

Read for: Turning satisfied customers into evangelists.

A practical breakdown of the gap between a good experience and one that creates real loyalty. Especially useful for brands living or dying by repeat visits and word of mouth.

7. Start With Why by Simon Sinek

Esther McIlvain, Head of Marketing, Hawkers Asian Street Food

Read for: Anchoring every brand decision in a clear purpose.

The idea that people don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it. A foundational read for any brand trying to differentiate on more than product alone.

8. Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday

Marc Randolph

Marita Swift, VP of Strategic Growth, The Big Biscuit

Read for: Staying grounded while building a career or a brand.

A case for humility and discipline over self-promotion. A sharp companion for anyone navigating a career pivot or leading through growth without losing perspective.

9. For the Culture by Marcus Collins

George Felix, EVP and CMO, Brinker International (Chili's, Maggiano's)

Read for: Understanding how culture, not just data, drives what people buy.

A challenge to marketers who over-rely on demographics and algorithms. Argues that real brand relevance comes from understanding community and identity, not just target audiences.

10. Return on Courage by Ryan Berman

Greg Creed, former CEO, Yum! Brands

Read for: Making the bold move instead of the safe one.

A framework for building the courage to break industry norms, written for leaders who know playing it safe is its own kind of risk.

11. The Wealth Money Can't Buy by Robin Sharma

Jack Gibbons, CEO, FB Society

Read for: Defining success on more than one dimension.

A framework for measuring a well-lived life and career across wealth, wellness, wisdom, and more, not just the P&L. A grounding read for leaders scaling fast.

12. I'm Not Trying to Be Difficult by Drew Nieporent

Scott Lawton, Co-founder and Chairman, bartaco

Read for: Learning hospitality from someone who helped define it.

Stories from the restaurateur behind Nobu, Tribeca Grill, and Montrachet. A rare, candid look at what it actually takes to build and sustain legendary restaurants over decades.

13. Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara

Sam Torgerson, VP Global Sales, Viceroy Hotels & Resorts
Todd Smith, President, Swig
Amy Hom, COO, Barcelona Wine Bar

Read for: Turning ordinary moments into unforgettable ones.

The book behind the idea that hospitality is a mindset, not a department. Three guests, three different businesses, one shared belief in the power of small, generous gestures.