2 Books Recommended by Satya Nadella (Plus an Honest Take on Hit Refresh)
Two books come up again and again when Satya Nadella talks about reading: Carol Dweck's Mindset and Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication. Add his own 2017 book, Hit Refresh, and that's the real core of his reading list.
So this list is short.
Table of Contents
Mindset, by Carol S. Dweck
This is the big one. Nadella has credited Dweck's idea of a "growth mindset for the culture change he pushed at Microsoft after he became CEO. The idea is simple. People who believe their abilities can grow learn more than people who think they're fixed. The book argues that this belief shapes how we deal with failure, feedback and effort.
The core idea is brilliant and could fit in one chapter. But the rest repeats it a lot, with sports and parenting stories. It's still worth reading once, especially if you manage people. If you want more on the same theme, see my list of best books on growth mindset.
Nonviolent Communication, by Marshall B. Rosenberg
Early in his time as CEO, Nadella famously asked his senior leadership team to read this one. It teaches a four-step way to talk through conflict: observe without judging, name your feelings, state your needs, then make a clear request.
It’s more useful than the Mindset book, and also more awkward. The scripted phrasing can feel stiff when you first try it out loud. However, it changes how you hear criticism, and that's rare for a self-help book. Read it slowly and try one step at a time.
Hit Refresh: an honest take on Satya Nadella's own book
Hit Refresh came out in September 2017, written with Greg Shaw and Jill Tracie Nichols. It's like three books in one. First comes his story: Hyderabad, cricket, coming to the US and joining Microsoft in 1992. Second is Microsoft's culture reset. Third is a look ahead at mixed reality, AI and quantum computing, plus a case for trust and ethics in technology.
What works: The personal chapters are the best part by far. He writes tenderly about his wife Anu and their son Zain, who was born with cerebral palsy. He shows how empathy at home shaped how he leads at work. Those pages feel real.
What doesn't: The middle section often reads like an internal memo, and the future-tech chapters have dated badly. In 2026, with Copilot and AI agents everywhere, his 2017 predictions feel quaint. It's a CEO book first and a memoir second.
Who should read it: Managers interested in changing a culture, and Indian readers curious about his journey. If you want a gripping founder story, skip it. Nadella has said the book's proceeds go to Microsoft Philanthropies.
Compare with other tech CEOs' reading lists
Nadella's list is short and focused on how people behave. Other tech CEOs read very differently. For contrast, see the books Bill Gates recommends (huge and full of science), Jeff Bezos's picks and Tim Cook's list.
Which CEO's reading list should I dig into next? Tell me in the comments, and have a look around Book Blabber for more frank picks. Happy reading!
Frequently asked questions
What books does Satya Nadella recommend?
The two books Satya Nadella has backed most clearly are Mindset by Carol Dweck and Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg. He credits Mindset with shaping Microsoft's growth-mindset culture. He asked his senior leaders to read Nonviolent Communication early in his time as CEO. Many longer lists online include titles that are hard to trace back to him.
Is Hit Refresh by Satya Nadella worth reading?
It's worth reading if you care about leadership, culture change or Nadella's journey from Hyderabad to Microsoft CEO. The personal chapters about his family and his son Zain are moving. The corporate middle and the 2017 tech predictions feel dry and dated in 2026, so treat it as a leadership book rather than a gripping memoir.
What is the growth mindset Satya Nadella talks about?
The growth mindset comes from psychologist Carol Dweck's book Mindset. It's the belief that abilities can be developed through effort and learning, rather than being fixed. Nadella made it central to Microsoft's culture, encouraging staff to be 'learn-it-alls' rather than 'know-it-alls' and to treat failure as a chance to learn.
Liked the article?
Join Book Blabbers WhatsApp group to bond over books, memes and quotes.
Subscribe to Book Blabber's Bulletin to get book summaries, reading tips and occasional hugs in your inbox.
Comments