CHICAGO- United Airlines (UA) CEO Scott Kirby has revealed seven books he particularly enjoyed reading this summer, covering hospitality, aerospace, history, anthropology, science fiction, and literature.
United Airlines operates a major hub at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), where a selection of books from Kirby’s reading list is available through the airline’s Scott’s Shelf initiative.
United CEO Scott Kirby’s Summer Reading List
Kirby is known for maintaining a demanding reading routine. He previously said he spends about three hours reading each day, including newspapers, magazines, and books.
His latest list includes seven titles that reflect a broad range of interests:
| Book | Author | Main subject |
|---|---|---|
| Unreasonable Hospitality | Will Guidara | Customer service |
| The Impossible Factory | Josh Dean | Aerospace and Skunk Works |
| Freedom’s Forge | Arthur Herman | U.S. industrial production |
| The Sleepless Ape | David R. Samson | Human sleep and evolution |
| Sea of Tranquility | Emily St. John Mandel | Science fiction |
| The End of Eternity | Isaac Asimov | Time travel and science fiction |
| Tolkien and the Great War | John Garth | Tolkien and World War I |
The selection combines books directly related to business and manufacturing with fiction and academic subjects, Live and Let’s Fly reported.
Why Hospitality Made Kirby’s List
Will Guidara’s Unreasonable Hospitality focuses on the idea that exceptional service can transform an ordinary customer interaction into a memorable experience.
Kirby described the book as required reading for people working in the service industry. That subject has direct relevance to an airline such as United, where customer service plays a central role in the passenger experience.
The book examines how companies can create stronger customer relationships by paying close attention to individual needs and experiences. For an airline CEO, its focus on service provides a clear connection to the challenges of managing a large passenger operation.
Aerospace Lessons From Lockheed’s Skunk Works
Josh Dean’s The Impossible Factory examines Clarence L. Johnson and Lockheed’s Skunk Works program, which became known for developing advanced aircraft under demanding timelines.
The subject is particularly relevant to aviation because Skunk Works played a major role in programs that produced some of the most notable aircraft in U.S. aviation history.
Kirby has identified the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird as his favorite aircraft. He said he would like executives and employees at Boeing, Airbus, GE Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce to read The Impossible Factory and consider its lessons about developing and manufacturing aircraft and engines more quickly.
The recommendation also highlights a major issue facing the commercial aviation industry. Aircraft production delays, supply-chain constraints and engine-related problems have affected airlines and manufacturers, limiting the pace at which new aircraft can enter service.
Kirby’s interest in the Skunk Works model therefore extends beyond aviation history. It reflects an interest in how aerospace companies can organize engineering and manufacturing programs to deliver complex products efficiently while maintaining safety requirements.
Freedom’s Forge Focuses on Industrial Mobilization
Arthur Herman’s Freedom’s Forge examines the industrial mobilization of the United States during World War II.
The book looks at how American industry expanded production on an enormous scale during the conflict. Its focus on manufacturing capacity and industrial organization provides another connection to Kirby’s interest in aerospace production.
Unlike The Impossible Factory, which centers on a specific aerospace development culture, Freedom’s Forge explores industrial mobilization on a much broader scale.
The Science Behind The Sleepless Ape
David R. Samson’s The Sleepless Ape takes a different direction, examining human sleep and how sleep evolved alongside humans as a social species.
The subject also connects with Kirby’s previously discussed personal routine. He has emphasized the importance of maintaining approximately 8.5 hours of sleep each night.
The inclusion of the book demonstrates that Kirby’s reading interests extend beyond subjects directly connected to airlines, business, and aviation.
Kirby’s Longstanding Interest in Science Fiction
Three books on the latest list connect with Kirby’s established interest in fiction and science fiction.
Emily St. John Mandel’s Sea of Tranquility explores time, history and interconnected lives across different periods. Kirby has also highlighted Isaac Asimov as his favorite author.
He described Asimov’s The End of Eternity as the best time-travel novel he has read.
Kirby previously identified Asimov’s The Last Question as his favorite book, although the work is actually a short story. His broader reading history has also included The Three-Body Problem and other science fiction titles.
John Garth’s Tolkien and the Great War examines the impact of World War I on J.R.R. Tolkien and the experiences that influenced his literary development.
Kirby has previously described Tolkien as another favorite author, placing the book within a longer-running interest in Tolkien’s work.
A Reading List That Extends Beyond Aviation
Kirby’s latest recommendations cover several distinct subjects rather than focusing exclusively on management or aviation.
The list moves from customer service and aerospace engineering to industrial history, human evolution and science fiction. That range is consistent with Kirby’s earlier comments about reading across multiple disciplines.
In a previous reading-list discussion, Kirby said he reads the Wall Street Journal and New York Times, several monthly magazines and one to two books per week. He has also said that reading across a wide range of subjects helps people continue learning and connect ideas when dealing with unfamiliar situations.
That approach provides context for the variety of books he recommends. Some titles relate directly to running an airline, while others address subjects far removed from commercial aviation.
Scott’s Shelf at United Airlines
United has also turned Kirby’s reading recommendations into a physical feature for employees and customers.
The airline created Scott’s Shelf, a selection of books Kirby has enjoyed. The collection has been available at the United Club in Terminal C at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), near gate C123.
United employees can also find a library collection at the airline’s Corporate Support Center in Chicago.
The initiative gives passengers and employees access to books that Kirby has personally recommended, extending his reading list beyond social media.
The Seven Books on Kirby’s Latest List
Kirby’s updated summer list is:
- Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
- The Impossible Factory by Josh Dean
- Freedom’s Forge by Arthur Herman
- The Sleepless Ape by David R. Samson
- Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
- The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov
- Tolkien and the Great War by John Garth
The selection provides a snapshot of the subjects that have captured the United Airlines CEO’s attention, ranging from airline-relevant topics such as service and aerospace manufacturing to history, sleep science, and speculative fiction.
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