The HP Way by David Packard
To understand HP, you have to start at the source. Co-founder David Packard’s book is the definitive guide to the management philosophy that defined the company for decades. Published in 1995, it details the principles of trust, respect for individuals,
and management by objective that turned a small instrument company into a beloved global leader. Packard explains, in simple and direct terms, how he and Bill Hewlett built a culture that prioritized contribution to society over pure profit, creating a fiercely loyal workforce and a model for countless other tech companies. It’s an essential look at the company’s foundational DNA before the turmoil of the modern era.
Bill & Dave by Michael S. Malone
While Packard’s book gives you the philosophy, this one gives you the full narrative. Journalist Michael S. Malone was given exclusive access to HP's archives to write this definitive history of the founders and their creation. Published in 2007, "Bill & Dave" tells the complete story of how two Stanford grads started a company in a Palo Alto garage with just $538 and ended up shaping the digital age. Malone argues that the "HP Way" wasn't a soft philosophy but a hard-nosed business strategy that fostered ferocious competitiveness. It provides the rich historical context for the company's entire journey.
Tough Choices by Carly Fiorina
No chapter of HP's history is more debated than Carly Fiorina's tenure as CEO. In this 2006 memoir, the first woman to lead a Fortune 20 company gives her side of the story. Fiorina details her efforts to transform a legendary but troubled company, the fierce internal battles she fought, and her perspective on the controversial merger with Compaq. She also addresses her abrupt firing, which became front-page news globally. It's a candid, first-person account of leadership under fire and a necessary read to understand the forces that reshaped HP at the turn of the century.
The Big Lie by Anthony Bianco
After the Fiorina era came one of the darkest chapters in HP's history: the boardroom spying scandal. BusinessWeek writer Anthony Bianco’s 2010 book dives deep into the ethical collapse that led HP's leadership to hire private investigators to spy on its own board members and journalists to plug media leaks. The scandal, known as "Spygate," resulted in congressional hearings and criminal charges. Bianco untangles the web of boardroom feuds, corporate espionage, and reputational damage, presenting a chilling morality tale about power and accountability inside one of America's most iconic companies.
Becoming Hewlett Packard by Robert A. Burgelman, et al.
This book takes a more academic, strategic look at the company's entire lifespan. The authors argue that HP successfully transformed itself six times to stay relevant amid massive technological shifts that destroyed its rivals. The book examines the distinct contributions of each CEO, from the founders to leaders like Lew Platt, Carly Fiorina, and Mark Hurd, analyzing how they navigated what the authors call the "paradox of corporate becoming." It frames HP's history as a continuous process of evolution and offers profound lessons on strategic leadership, making it a perfect read for those interested in the nuts and bolts of long-term corporate survival and reinvention.
