The entire history of the human species is an inspiration and motivation, depending on what you choose to read into it. We are practically an infinite collection of case studies in creativity, innovation, perseverance, adaptability, beating the odds... your question is actually very hard to answer because so many great examples come to mind.
As for reading, a few things popped into my head in no particular order:
The Greatest Salesman in the World, by Og Mandino
Emerson's Essays, particularly "Self Reliance"
Biographies of people like James Clerk Maxwell and Tesla
If, by Kipling
Any of Bucky Fuller's books
And really, just look around at what people are doing in our industry. Our peers are a constant source of inspiration. I see what some of my friends are doing the field of IoT and it makes me want to get up every day at 4am and hack until my fingers fall off.
As for reading, a few things popped into my head in no particular order:
The Greatest Salesman in the World, by Og Mandino
Emerson's Essays, particularly "Self Reliance"
Biographies of people like James Clerk Maxwell and Tesla
If, by Kipling
Any of Bucky Fuller's books
And really, just look around at what people are doing in our industry. Our peers are a constant source of inspiration. I see what some of my friends are doing the field of IoT and it makes me want to get up every day at 4am and hack until my fingers fall off.