The Ride of a Lifetime – Bob Iger

As a lifelong Disney fan, I knew I was going to enjoy The Ride of a Lifetime. What I didn’t expect was just how much I would learn about leadership.

I’d already admired Bob Iger as the CEO who oversaw one of the most remarkable periods in Disney’s history, but after reading this book, and later watching his MasterClass, I came away with an even greater appreciation for the way he leads.

This isn’t just a book about Disney. It’s a book about making difficult decisions, earning trust, leading through uncertainty and staying true to your values when the stakes couldn’t be higher.

One of the stories near the beginning of the book has stayed with me ever since I read it. Bob Iger describes receiving devastating news while he was overseas for the opening of Shanghai Disney Resort. The contrast between celebrating such a significant milestone and having to immediately deal with an unimaginable tragedy back in the United States was incredibly powerful.

I won’t spoil the details for anyone who hasn’t read the book, but what struck me wasn’t simply the event itself. It was the way he describes leading through one of the darkest moments imaginable for a company whose entire identity is built around creating happiness for families.

That stayed with me. Not just because I’m a huge Disney fan, but because it reminded me that every leader, no matter what industry they work in, will eventually face moments they never expected. The measure of leadership isn’t whether those moments happen, it’s how you respond when they do.

Throughout the book, Bob Iger shares lessons from decades of leadership, including guiding Disney through major acquisitions, embracing innovation and protecting a culture that millions of people feel emotionally connected to. What makes the book so engaging is his honesty. He doesn’t present leadership as a series of perfect decisions. Instead, he reflects on the judgement, humility and resilience required when there isn’t an obvious right answer.

The qualities he returns to again and again, curiosity, integrity, optimism, decisiveness and respect are just as relevant in health and social care as they are in global business. Care leaders also face complex decisions every day. They balance quality, financial pressures, regulation, workforce challenges and the wellbeing of both the people they support and the teams who care for them. While the settings couldn’t be more different, the leadership principles are remarkably similar.

One lesson that particularly resonated with me is the importance of remaining calm during difficult times. Teams naturally look to their leaders for reassurance, and the way a leader responds to pressure often shapes how everyone else responds too. I’d also highly recommend Bob Iger’s MasterClass alongside the book.

Watching him explain his leadership philosophy in his own words adds another dimension to many of the lessons in The Ride of a Lifetime. The two complement each other perfectly, and I found myself taking just as many notes while watching the MasterClass as I did while reading the book.

This is one of those books that reminds you leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about having the character to make thoughtful decisions, take responsibility when things go wrong and never lose sight of the people you’re leading.

Editor’s Rating: ★★★★★

Who should read it? Leaders, aspiring leaders, entrepreneurs and anyone interested in how values and judgement shape long-term success.

Why it’s in the Leadership Library: Because great leadership isn’t tested when everything is going well, it’s revealed in the moments that matter most.