(By Ayesha Mohsin)
Steven Bartlett’s The Diary of a CEO is not just a book. It is a distillation of a deeply personal and often raw journey into the heart of modern entrepreneurship. Known for his wildly popular podcast of the same name, Bartlett brings his distinctive voice, authenticity, and hard-earned wisdom to the page with both style and substance.
At its core, this is more than a self-help manual or a business guide. It is a manifesto of intentional living. The “33 Laws” outlined in the book are not commandments etched in stone. They are reflections, drawn from sleepless nights, boardroom battles, moments of vulnerability, and the quiet revelations that come from honest introspection.
What makes the book shine is Bartlett’s ability to blur the lines between personal development and business acumen. He does not separate the leader from the human being. For him, character is capital. Integrity, emotional intelligence, discipline, and self-awareness are not soft skills. They are the hard foundation of lasting success. Whether he is talking about managing teams, finding purpose, building a brand, or dealing with fear, his lessons are rooted in lived experience, not recycled theory.
Readers will find the structure compelling. Each law is presented almost like a conversation. It is direct, sometimes challenging, but always insightful. Bartlett draws upon his own rise from a dropout to a multi-millionaire CEO, while also weaving in the voices of the many high-profile guests from his podcast. These are thinkers, founders, athletes, and artists who have lived their own versions of extraordinary.
What also stands out is the emotional honesty. Bartlett is not afraid to admit where he got it wrong. In fact, many of the most powerful “laws” are born not out of triumph, but out of missteps and regrets. That vulnerability, so rare in the business world, is what gives the book its soul.
Some may find parts of the book familiar. There are echoes of stoic philosophy, modern psychology, and startup culture. But Bartlett packages them with a fresh voice and hard-hitting relevance. He speaks the language of a generation raised on hustle culture, yet yearning for depth.
In the end, The Diary of a CEO is not just a book for entrepreneurs. It is for anyone who wants to live with clarity, lead with intention, and build something that matters. It may be a company, a career, or a life.
An honest, intelligent, and emotionally resonant guide for modern leaders. Steven Bartlett does not just tell you how to succeed. He reminds you why it matters.
