John Pepper’s love affair with books began when he was a child. He sought refuge and escape in books; he began to explore the world through them; he developed friendships, of a sort, with the authors whose writing inspired him.
Over time, he came to know many of his favorite authors personally. As he said later, “Reading let me know I wasn’t alone.”
He began to write about the books he was reading many decades ago—summarizing them, calling out passages that stood out for him, and reflecting on their timeless relevance and lessons.
Those summaries, captured in 100 Books That Shaped My Life – Reflections on a Lifetime of Reading, are like a fireside chat with John about the books he’s loved, what he learned from them, and what they still say to us today.
“In 100 Books That Shaped My Life, John Pepper has created an expertly crafted collection of insights and personal reflections, drawn from a lifetime of reading, learnings, and leadership. During the many years we worked together, he and I shared many of the leadership principles he shares in this book, including a strong belief in the importance of fueling your own curiosity to the greatest extent possible. Whether you’re an executive, a student, or simply someone who loves reading and learning as much as I do, you will find great value and wisdom in this wonderful book from a gifted leader.”
Bob Iger – CEO and Chairman, The Walt Disney Company, author of Ride of a Lifetime
“This is a vital, engaging, and monumental book about a reading life well lived. John Pepper is one of those rare souls who meet Henry James’s great admonition to always seek to be someone on whom nothing is lost, and Pepper’s careful, deeply felt account of what he encountered and took away from a lifetime of books proves him to be a human being of curiosity, insight, and imagination. Read this book – and then read the books John Pepper read. There could be no better armor for the battles of life.”
Jon Meacham – Pulitzer Prize-winning author of And There Was Light
“No American citizen exceeds John Pepper’s vision of civic consciousness. As a world historical businessman and unmatched supporter of public history, John now brings us this analytical diary from 42 years of his reading – well over 900 books and counting. He came of age in the 1950s and was a 1960 graduate of Yale as a history major. A large number of these works are American history and biography, and if you are lucky you are on the receiving end of John’s frequent reviews he writes for an email network. I know of no other book quite like this, a lyrical journey through one person’s love and fierce intellectual engagement with history and literature. This assemblage of a man’s reading life inspires awe, perhaps envy, and surely admiration. This is a living tribute to long-form reading that will make the book-lover stand up and shout for joy!”
David Blight – Yale University, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom
“100 Books That Shaped My Life book is a magnificent journey to 100 ports of call. At each of the 100 ports, fortunate journeyers are invited to enter and explore the profound wisdom, keen insight and lasting inspiration within a truly profound book. John Pepper, the sage and immensely impactful business leader and humanitarian, is the curator and conductor of this magnificent journey, having selected 100 books which significantly informed the course of his deeply meaningful life. John distills the essence of each book and shares, with great candor, the story of why and how it shaped him personally and professionally. His powerful storytelling inevitably engenders very deep reflection and significant personal growth within others – and it encourages all of us to keep journeying to seek knowledge, discernment, virtues, and opportunities to lovingly commune with those who are like and unlike ourselves.”
Janet B. Reid, Ph.D. – Founding Partner and CEO | BRBS World, LLC, Author of Intrinsic Inclusion,with Vincent Brown
“The outlines of John Pepper’s life of service in business and philanthropy are well-known. What few appreciate is the extraordinary degree to which John’s experience and character have been shaped by a lifetime of avid and exceptionally wide reading. His life has been a life with books from childhood on –with books of all sorts: histories, biographies, memoirs, novels, and much more. Here John gives us a series of portraits in miniature, his reactions to and thoughts about a hundred of the books that have mattered most to him. These are book reviews of a very special sort for they reveal as much about the author as they do about the books themselves. The themes that connect John’s essays show a steadiness of character that is as admirable in its way as the achievements of the books he describes with such affectionate detail. The list itself is a gift; the essays that accompany the list equally so. I feel lucky to have them in hand. They are a guide to reading and life – which as the essays make clear – are intimately entwined.”
Tony Kronman – Sterling Professor of Law, Yale Law School, author of True Conservatism
“Hands down, John Pepper has been the most influential role model in my 25-year career with Procter & Gamble. With this book, John’s influence takes on a new dimension. This is not simply a great and useful reading guide; it is a book about John Pepper – his journey, values, curiosity, compassion, love of reading. It is one of the 100 books I will cherish on my own shelf.”
Jim Stengel – President/CEO, The Jim Stengel Company, author of Unleashing the Innovators, with Tom Post
“Who would have expected that the former CEO of one of America’s iconic companies would offer us an engaging tour of 100 very good books, extracting ideas that resonate and identifying people – fictional and historical – with lessons to teach? John Pepper is as exceptional as the people he describes. His reflections on these books hit the mark as commentary, and at the same time they reveal much about the sensitive, caring, and supremely successful servant-leader who is our guide.”
Richard C. Levin – President, Yale University, 1993-2013
“John Pepper’s 100 Books That Shaped My Life is a gift to us all – a curated collection of outstanding books along with powerful stories of how John applied insights from these books in his distinguished career and lifelong service to others. It is a must-read for any lifelong learner and will trigger a renewed interest in the power of reading great books.”
David S. Taylor – former Chairman and CEO, The Procter & Gamble Company