A Powerhouse CEO Shares Her Top Book Recommendations

In a recent conversation with Brown Harris Stevens CEO Bess Freedman, she recommended three of her favorite reads and why they belong on every book lover's must-read list. From a business best-seller to inspirational autobiographies, here are three of Freedman's recent favorites.

"I have so many [books] and I love them. It's hard to pick just one..." --- Brown Harris Stevens CEO Bess Freedman

"Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't" by Jim Collins

This #1 bestselling management book by author and business consultant Jim Collins is the perfect read for those in search of great tips on decision-making and how to achieve excellence.

Through its detailed analysis of what makes or breaks successful companies, Collins takes a closer look into 11 businesses and what sparked their transition from "good to great".

"I think [Good to Great] is a book that everyone should read." --- Brown Harris Stevens CEO Bess Freedman

"Finding Me" by Viola Davis

In her powerful memoir that immediately gripped readers upon its release in April, Academy Award-winning actress and philanthropist Viola Davis shares her journey through extreme poverty, prejudice, trauma, and Hollywood stardom.

Aside from its critical acclaim, "Finding Me" has been applauded by the masses for its ability to speak to readers with vulnerability, providing Davis' emotional retelling of her life and its ups and downs. In her discussion, Freedman shares that Davis' memoir can be easily connected with.

"...its inspirational to see how [Davis] came from such an environment of poverty and struggle...how she fought and really focused on her dream." --- Brown Harris Stevens CEO Bess Freedman

"Just Kids" by Patti Smith

New York Times Bestseller and winner of the National Book Award for Nonfiction, Patti Smith's "Just Kids" is an autobiography that Freedman guarantees all readers will finish in just two sittings.

In her intricate recount of her growth from youth into adulthood, world-famous singer-songwriter Patti Smith immerses readers into her artistic world filled with music, love, and self-exploration. In many ways, "Just Kids" is an ode to the gritty, underground New York City of the late sixties and early seventies.

"It's about history, it's about music... it's funky and fun. " --- Brown Harris Stevens CEO Bess Freedman

Watch the interview in full above. To learn more about Bess Freedman and her background, visit the Brown Harris Stevens website.