What the CEO Wants You to Know
By Ram Charan
Crown Publishing, 2001 - 141 pages

This book is one of the most simple business books to read and is a very general book.  Honestly, it didn't cause any "earth shattering, business re-defining moments" for me but it is just a simple, concisely written book about the basics of business, which is why I liked it so much.  

I would highly recommend it to those that are looking to understand how businesses operate or those seeking a quick refresher on business basics.  I believe this book would be highest valued by those without extensive business backgrounds and by others that are seeking to understand why some companies are great whereas others are average.

Mr. Charan explains the most important element of businesses, generating cash, as well as taking numerous business concepts and approaches down to the most basic level. At 150 pages or so it is an easy read and can be read quickly for those seeking information quickly.  For those that aren't aware, Mr. Charan is a professor at Stanford and is heavily sought out corporations for consulting gigs.

The book is organized as follows:

Section 1 focuses on business language such as cash, margin, velocity, growth and customers and how the different parts of business work together.

Section 2 deals with Real World examples such as determining priorities and seeing the business from an investors perspective.

Section 3 is about getting things done, which is nice to see in business books.  At the end of the day, investors pay for execution.  It is rare that you will see a floundering CEO last for long.  The main topics of the section are how a business manager should be able figure out the big picture, get everyone organized (get rid of wrong people and keep the right ones) and then execute the business plan.  Issues addressed are human relations issues and how to organize groups.

Finally, the author has a short section that deals with thinking about the spirit of the business.  

Like I wrote earlier, this book is short and to the point.  It is ideal for those with little business experience or those just wanting a quick, effective book on business basics.  

About the Author: Ram Charan is a highly sought adviser to CEOs and senior executives in companies ranging from start-ups to the Fortune 500, including GE, Ford, DuPont, EDS, Universal Studios, and Verizon. He is the author of Boards That Work and the coauthor of Every Business Is a Growth Business and E-Board Strategies. Dr. Charan has written numerous articles for Harvard Business Review and other publications, including the Fortune cover story "Why CEOs Fail."He has a D.B.A and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and has taught at Harvard and Northwestern. He won the best teacher award at Northwestern's Kellogg School and was recently elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources.