There are few books more influential and ubiquitous in Western culture than Plutarch's histories. Aside from being the basis of much of Shakespeare, he was one of Montaigne's favorite writers and so many others. His biographies and sketches of Pericles, Demosthenes, Themistocles, Cicero, Alexander the Great, Caesar, Fabius, are all excellent--and full of powerful anecdotes and strategies for the ambitious upstart.
Rich Roll Podcast 197 - Jesse Itzler