Wikimedia Commons

Michael Dell

Founder & CEO, Dell Technologies

Technology founder and operator who built Dell from a college-room PC business into a global infrastructure company.

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Founder Technology Billionaire

1Book mentioned

2Books written

Books Michael Dell has mentioned

Michael Dell mentioned or cited these books. They are not counted as direct recommendations.

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Difficult Conversations

by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton & Sheila Heen · 1999

I think it was called Difficult Conversations.

Mentioned · Exact quote Source: TIME

Evidence details

Michael Dell Has Been a Tech CEO for 34 Years. He Has Some Advice For Younger Founders

Dell said a coach gave him the book in the 1990s, they discussed it for months, and constructive feedback conversations became incredibly important.

The quote is taken word for word from the source. It is a mention, not counted as a direct recommendation.

TIME · 2021-10-31 · accessed 2026-06-22

Article · Interview mention

In the TIME interview, Dell names Difficult Conversations while describing coaching around constructive feedback and difficult leadership conversations.

Amazon Audible Bookshop.org

Books by Michael Dell

Written by Michael Dell. Not counted as recommendations.

Technology Founder Memoir Business Model

Direct from Dell

by Michael Dell with Catherine Fredman · 1999

Michael Dell's account of Dell's direct-sales model, early growth, and operating lessons from building the company.

Amazon Audible Bookshop.org

Technology Founder Memoir Leadership

Play Nice But Win

by Michael Dell · 2021

Michael Dell's account of founder leadership, Dell's transformation, and the fight to take the company private.

Amazon Audible Bookshop.org