Learnings from Leaders: the P&G Alumni Podcast John Pepper: 100 Books That Shaped My Life
Dec 13, 2025
John Pepper, former P&G CEO and lifelong reader, reflects on how 100 transformative books shaped his views on leadership, gratitude, and purpose. He recalls novels and memoirs that deepened his sense of dignity, friendship, and civic responsibility. He also discusses reading as a practice for reflection, resisting cynicism, and staying engaged with history and hope.
01:41:37
Fiction Reveals Civic Dignity
- Fiction conveys dignity and persistence in ways news cannot.
- In Grapes of Wrath John sees Ma Joad's quiet leadership and uses the novel to reflect on modern immigration and social justice.
1984 Warns About Modern Normalization
- Orwell's 1984 is a timely warning about propaganda, groupthink, and media fragmentation.
- John links Orwell's foresight to modern social media bubbles and normalization of violence and executive power.
Douglass Renewed Purpose Late In Life
- David Blight's Frederick Douglass biography rekindled John's sense of purpose at age 87.
- Douglass's lifelong speeches and relentlessness inspired John to find purposeful actions despite physical limits.
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Intro
00:00 • 5min
Why John Wrote This Book
05:04 • 3min
Early Reactions and Reader Responses
08:17 • 4min
How to Read the Book
12:29 • 2min
Crossing to Safety's Lessons on Friendship
14:32 • 8min
Gilead and Ordinary Transfiguration
22:43 • 6min
Openness, Secrets, and Leadership
28:30 • 3min
Memoirs That Mirrored His Leadership
31:30 • 9min
Lonesome Dove's Emotional Power
40:50 • 6min
Fiction's Value for Leaders
46:30 • 49sec
Steinbeck on Dignity and Persistence
47:19 • 6min
1984 as a Modern Warning
53:34 • 9min
Recommended Modern Parallel: Andor
01:02:21 • 2min
Frederick Douglass: Purpose and Perseverance
01:04:26 • 6min
John Meacham on History and Hope
01:10:09 • 6min
Avoiding Cynicism: Act Locally
01:16:21 • 4min
Gratitude, Aging, and Perspective
01:20:16 • 8min
Man's Search for Meaning and Leadership
01:27:53 • 2min
Books on John's Nightstand
01:29:58 • 4min
Authors He'd Bench-Chat With
01:34:08 • 3min
Challenge to the Next Generation
01:37:05 • 3min
Outro
01:40:31 • 54sec
#6403
• Mentioned in 8 episodes
Healing the Soul of America
Marianne Williamson
In *Healing the Soul of America*, Marianne Williamson explores the need for spiritual transformation in American society.
She argues that by reclaiming our voices as spiritual citizens, we can heal societal divisions and foster a more compassionate and just society.
The book emphasizes the importance of integrating spiritual principles into political engagement to create meaningful change.
#72189
100 Books That Shaped My Life
Reflections on a Lifetime of Reading
John Pepper
John Pepper's book compiles one hundred books that influenced his understanding of leadership, family, history, and purpose, pairing concise reviews with personal reflections.
Organized by themes—values, biographies, philosophy, history, memoirs, novels, and essays—the book narrates Pepper's life through literature.
It highlights how recurring reading shaped his relationships, leadership style, and sense of gratitude, often referencing specific works and authors.
Pepper preserves his original short reviews and adds later reflections showing how each work influenced him across decades.
The book serves both as a reading guide and a memoir-like testament to a lifetime of curiosity and learning.
#1
• Mentioned in 1,763 episodes
1984
George Orwell
Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism.
The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother.
Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative.
He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination.
The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.
#5099
• Mentioned in 10 episodes
Wild swan
Celeste De Blasis
Jung Chang's "Wild Swans" is a powerful memoir recounting three generations of women in China, from the early 20th century to the Cultural Revolution.
It offers a poignant and intimate perspective on the tumultuous changes that shaped modern China.
The narrative spans political upheaval, social transformation, and personal struggles, providing a rich tapestry of Chinese history.
Chang's vivid storytelling and unflinching honesty make this a compelling read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of China's past.
The book's impact lies in its ability to humanize history, revealing the profound impact of political events on individual lives.
#15024
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Frederick Douglass: Project of Freedom
David Blight
#4
• Mentioned in 697 episodes
Man's Search for Meaning
Viktor Frankl
The book is divided into two parts.
The first part recounts Frankl's harrowing experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz, between 1942 and 1945.
He describes the inhumane conditions and the psychological and emotional struggles of the prisoners.
The second part introduces Frankl's theory of logotherapy, which posits that the primary human drive is the search for meaning, rather than pleasure.
Frankl argues that meaning can be found through three main avenues: work (doing something significant), love (caring for another), and suffering (finding meaning in one's own suffering).
The book emphasizes the importance of finding purpose and meaning in life, even in the most adverse conditions, as a key factor in survival and personal growth.
#28526
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Three Sisters
May` Sinclair
Set in the rural landscape of Garthdale, 'The Three Sisters' by May Sinclair delves into the complex lives of Mary, Gwendolen, and Alice Cartaret as they face the challenges of their father's strict vicarage and their own desires for escape and love.
The arrival of Dr. Steven Rowcliffe disrupts their stagnant existence, leading to a series of events that expose the tensions within the family and the societal norms of the time.
#498
• Mentioned in 62 episodes
East of Eden
Paul Osborn
In 'East of Eden', John Steinbeck tells the story of the Trask and Hamilton families, set against the backdrop of California's Salinas Valley.
The novel is a modern retelling of the biblical story of Cain and Abel, focusing on the tumultuous relationship between Cal and Aron Trask, and their struggles with their father, Adam.
The book delves into themes of love, rejection, and the choice between good and evil, symbolized by the Hebrew word 'timshel', meaning 'thou mayest'.
The narrative is rich with characters like Samuel Hamilton, a kind and wise patriarch, and Kate, the embodiment of evil, whose past and actions significantly impact the lives of the Trasks.
#568
• Mentioned in 57 episodes
Lonesome Dove
Gene Walden
Lonesome Dove is a classic Western novel that follows the journey of two former Texas Rangers, Augustus McCrae and Woodrow F. Call, as they embark on a cattle drive from Texas to Montana.
The novel is renowned for its vivid descriptions of the American West, its exploration of themes such as friendship, loyalty, and the decline of the Old West, and its well-developed characters.
It is the third book in the Lonesome Dove series and is widely regarded as McMurtry's magnum opus.
#858
• Mentioned in 42 episodes
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain
George Saunders
#29656
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Leadership Is an Art
MAX DE PREE
In 'Leadership Is an Art', Max De Pree explores the concept of leadership as a form of stewardship, focusing on building relationships, initiating ideas, and creating a lasting value system.
He stresses the importance of defining reality and expressing gratitude, and highlights the role of leaders in stimulating effectiveness, developing and defending civility and values, and nurturing new leaders.
De Pree advocates for participative management, roving leadership, and a culture of respect and trust, emphasizing that good leadership is about serving the organization and its people rather than just achieving financial success.
#8103
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
Deadline
Tim Heald
#445
• Mentioned in 67 episodes
Too big to fail
The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System---and Themselves
Andrew Ross Sorkin
Too Big to Fail by Andrew Ross Sorkin provides a minute-by-minute account of the events surrounding the 2007-2008 financial crisis.
The book chronicles the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the subsequent efforts by Wall Street and Washington to save the financial system.
It is based on hundreds of interviews with top executives and regulators, offering a detailed and dramatic narrative of the crisis, including the motivations of ego, greed, fear, and self-preservation that drove the key players.
The book also explores the intricate web of decisions and actions that led to the crisis and the measures taken to mitigate its impact.
#72
• Mentioned in 221 episodes
War and Peace
Leo Tolstoy
Set during the Napoleonic Wars, 'War and Peace' follows the lives of several Russian aristocratic families, including the Bezukhovs, the Rostovs, and the Bolkonskys.
The novel spans from 1805 to 1820 and is known for its realistic detail and psychological analysis.
It explores the impact of Napoleon's invasion of Russia on the characters and society, delving into themes of love, family, war, and personal growth.
The novel includes historical events such as the Battle of Austerlitz, the Treaties of Tilsit, and the French invasion of Russia, intertwining historical and fictional elements.
#6407
• Mentioned in 8 episodes
Gratitude
Oliver Sacks
In 'Gratitude', Oliver Sacks writes a deeply moving and personal set of essays that explore his feelings about life, death, and the uniqueness of every human being.
The essays, written as he faced his own mortality, are a testament to his gratitude for the life he lived, the people he loved, and the experiences he had.
Sacks reflects on his regrets, triumphs, and hopes, and offers insights into what it means to live a good and worthwhile life.
The book is an ode to the gift of life and the importance of gratitude in the face of mortality.
#342
• Mentioned in 82 episodes
The grapes of wrath
John Steinbeck
Published in 1939, 'The Grapes of Wrath' is a powerful and poignant novel by John Steinbeck.
It tells the story of the Joad family, Oklahoma tenant farmers who are forced to leave their home after the devastating effects of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression.
The novel follows their arduous journey along Route 66 to California, where they face numerous hardships, including poverty, exploitation, and the loss of family members.
The book explores themes of family, survival, and the struggle for human dignity in the face of overwhelming adversity.
It also delves into the broader social and economic issues of the time, highlighting the conflict between the powerful and the powerless.
Steinbeck's work is known for its vivid portrayal of the human condition and its impact on American literature and society.
#7826
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
Crossing to Safety
Wallace Stegner
#1310
• Mentioned in 31 episodes
Gilead
Marilynne Robinson
In 'Gilead', Marilynne Robinson crafts a deeply personal and introspective narrative through the eyes of John Ames, a 76-year-old pastor writing to his seven-year-old son in 1956.
The novel explores themes of faith, forgiveness, and redemption as Ames recounts his life, his family's history, and the tensions between his abolitionist grandfather and his pacifist father.
The book is a meditation on the human condition, highlighting the beauty in everyday moments and the profound bond between fathers and sons.
It won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Critics Circle Award.
#8004
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
History Matters
David McCullough
David McCullough’s work is celebrated for his books on American history and biography.
He received the Pulitzer Prize for his books on Presidents Harry Truman and John Adams.
#3293
• Mentioned in 14 episodes
Personal history
Katharine Graham
In 'Personal History', Katharine Graham recounts her extraordinary life, from her childhood in a wealthy but emotionally isolated family to her marriage to the charismatic Philip Graham, who struggled with manic-depression and eventually committed suicide.
The book chronicles her transformation from a housewife to the chairman of The Washington Post, detailing her involvement in significant historical events such as the Pentagon Papers and the Watergate scandal.
Graham's memoir is praised for its frankness, candor, and historical significance, offering insights into her personal struggles, her professional growth, and the evolution of the women's movement and the media industry.
“Gratitude is contagious. It's something that becomes more powerful as you express it. It reminds me of how fortunate I've been — and through that privilege I feel I owe to do what I can for others.”
John Pepper, P&G’s former Chairman and CEO, needs no introduction. John has played many roles in business, community, service, and the lives of countless people. He returns to our podcast to discuss his new book, "100 Books That Shaped My Life: Reflections on a Lifetime of Reading, " which might just be the perfect gift this holiday season, for yourself or for anyone in your life who loves a good read.
"100 Books That Shaped My Life" is no mere book list — it is a life story told through the books that walked alongside John: as a husband, father, leader, citizen, and as someone thinking deeply about what matters most in the time we’re given. These are the books that shaped John’s understanding of history, democracy, gratitude, and hope — especially in the most recent chapters of his life.
Moving from Values, to Biographies, Philosophy, U.S. and Global History, Memoirs, Novels, and Personal Essays, 100 Books That Shaped My Life mirrors something true about John himself: a leader shaped not by one discipline, but by a lifelong curiosity across every discipline. In our conversation, John reflects on how a lifetime of reading helped him better live a lifetime — deepening his understanding of friendship, love, loss, courage, service, and the quiet beauty of everyday life.
John’s literary influences range from novelists like John Steinbeck, Oliver Sacks, Wallace Stegner, Marilynne Robinson, George Orwell, and Tolstoy, to memoirists such as Frederick Douglass, Katharine Graham, James Reston, and Michelle Obama, to historians and biographers including David Blight, Jon Meacham, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jill Lepore, and so many others. Woven through all of it is a deeply human narrative — his love for his late wife, Francie; his reflections on aging, family, and purpose; the leaders who shaped him; the lessons hard-won; and the quiet moments that stayed with him.
As Bob Iger put it, “Whether you’re an executive or simply someone who loves reading and learning, you will find great value and wisdom in this book.” And we couldn’t agree more. For anyone who enjoys learning from lived experience, this conversation — and this book — make a wonderful companion. It might even inspire you to reflect on everything you’ve read and learned along the way. Be sure to check out John Pepper’s "100 Books That Shaped My Life" wherever you get your favorite books.