If you are looking forward to making some important decisions in life, then isn't it a better idea to learn the basics from people who have been there and done that? It could be something as serious as starting a new business, taking on your dream job, tackling tough financial times or even making better investments. We've compiled a list of 7 books that look at the lives of the world's most influential business tycoons and we hope you take a few lessons from these wise men.

You will learn about the mind of Elon Musk and how he started building apps at the age of 12, about Satya Nadella's leadership style and Steve Jobs thirst for innovation. Jack Ma's rags to riches story and Warren Buffett's smart investment strategy should change your perception of the impossible.

So, here is a list of such life-changing stories which everyone should read at least once.

1. My Life and Work: Autobiography of Henry Ford

© Bol

This is the inspiring autobiography of Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company, originally published in 1922. If you are keen to find out how Henry Ford started out, how he got into the business, the strategies he used to become a successful and immensely wealthy businessman, and how he built a company that is functional to this day, then this is the book you should read. It is a book on the life of a founder who built one of America's most successful car manufacturing companies.

2. Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance

© Gandhi

With all that we've talked about Elon Musk, you should all know who the billionaire is by now. If you still want a deeper look into the life of Elon Musk and how he started, this is just the right book for you. You can trace his wildest dreams of space exploration to building the fastest ever electric cars and look at how he got to where he is now.

While reading his life's story you will see him as the real-life Tony Stark and side by side, and as the spirit of American invention and its new “makers.”

3. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

© Amazon

If you want a sneak peek into the life of Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple Inc, you shall not skip watching the movie Jobs(2013) and Steve Jobs(2015). While reading this book, you wil experience his initial days at college and his genius at visualizing the future of computers. His rivalry with Bill Gates and how he was eliminated from the company he built himself and how he returned to the top. If you are looking for some inspiration and leadership tips then is a great book!

4. Hit Refresh by Satya Nadella

© Karthik Chidambaram

Satya Nadella is the current Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft, succeeding Steve Ballmer in 2014. It is one of the latest autobiographies in the list, so if you are looking for a more current leadership style lesson from the industry then this will be your perfect read. Leadership, transformation, and positive company culture, this book covers it all.

5. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

© YouTube/Daniel Karan

In his biography, Phil Knight, the founder of Nike shares the inside story of Nike's early days. If you are a budding entrepreneur who is looking for some basic business lessons to go through the early days of running a startup, then this book is for you.

6. Alibaba: The House that Jack Ma Built

© AudiobookStore

This is the story of a man who was rejected several times by many universities and failed as many times as possible but still managed to build one of the biggest internet companies in China. The company's $25 billion IPO in 2014 was the world's largest, valuing the company more than Facebook or Coca-Cola. If you want to change your perception of the impossible then this is a must read.

7. Buffett: The Biography by Roger Lowenstein

© Amazon UK

Warren Buffett started from scratch, simply by picking stocks and companies for investment, and very smartly amassed an astonishing fortune. Want to know how much? According to latest reports, he is the world's 3rd richest man with a total net worth of $85.5bn. Read 'Buffett' to understand the minuscule details of investments and a story of a billionaire with a modest lifestyle.