Hatching Twitter by Nick Bilton
If you want the messy, unvarnished story of Twitter, this is the place to start. Journalist Nick Bilton provides a deeply reported, novelistic account of the company's founding. This isn't a hagiography; it's a tale of money, power, friendship, and betrayal
among the four founders: Evan Williams, Biz Stone, Noah Glass, and Jack Dorsey. The book details the chaotic internal power struggles, Dorsey's initial ousting as CEO, and his eventual return. While Dorsey's own preferred narrative has shifted over the years, "Hatching Twitter" is widely considered the definitive, if dramatic, look at how the social media giant was born. It's less a book about Dorsey himself and more a gripping business drama where he is a central, complicated character.
The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande
To understand how Dorsey thinks about process and execution, you have to read "The Checklist Manifesto." Dorsey has repeatedly recommended this book, which argues for the power of simple checklists to manage complexity in fields from medicine to aviation. Written by surgeon and public health researcher Atul Gawande, the book makes a compelling case that even experts can reduce errors and improve outcomes by relying on simple, repeatable processes. For a leader who has managed two public companies simultaneously and champions minimalist approaches, the appeal is obvious. It provides a window into Dorsey's operational philosophy: mastering complexity isn't about genius, but about discipline and having the right system in place.
The Score Takes Care of Itself by Bill Walsh
Another staple of the Dorsey reading list is this leadership guide from legendary San Francisco 49ers coach Bill Walsh. Walsh took a failing football team and turned it into a dynasty by focusing relentlessly on the details of performance, a philosophy he called the "Standard of Performance." He believed that if every person in the organization executed their role to the highest standard, the final score would take care of itself. This focus on culture and process over obsessing about the final outcome is a core tenet of modern Silicon Valley leadership and one that Dorsey has frequently cited as an influence on how he builds and manages teams.
Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
You can't get a full picture of Jack Dorsey without exploring his philosophical side. He has called the "Tao Te Ching," an ancient Chinese text foundational to Taoism, one of his most prized possessions. Composed of 81 short, poetic verses, the book explores themes of humility, self-mastery, and finding harmony by yielding to the natural flow of the universe. Its lessons on leadership often emphasize acting with minimal force and embracing simplicity. This ancient wisdom seems to directly inform Dorsey's personal aesthetic, his minimalist lifestyle, and his belief in decentralized systems like Bitcoin. It's a key to understanding the 'zen' aspect of his public persona.
Becoming Steve Jobs by Brent Schlender & Rick Tetzeli
The comparison between Jack Dorsey and Steve Jobs is a common one in tech circles, and it’s a connection Dorsey himself seems to have studied. He has recommended "Becoming Steve Jobs," a biography praised for its nuanced portrait of the Apple co-founder. Unlike other accounts that focus on Jobs's harsh edges, this book details his evolution from a reckless young entrepreneur into a mature, visionary leader. It’s a story of growth, learning from failure, and maturation. For Dorsey, who experienced his own journey of being pushed out of his company only to return triumphantly, the parallels are clear. The book offers a more human look at a tech icon, revealing the journey behind the legend.
