Final answer:
Don Corleone chooses his youngest son, Michael, to succeed him as the head of the Corleone family in the novel and film series 'The Godfather'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The person Don Corleone picks to take his place as head of the Corleone family is his youngest son, Michael. This decision is a central plot element in the novel The Godfather, which was written by Mario Puzo and later adapted into a highly successful film series directed by Francis Ford Coppola. At the start of the story, Michael is initially presented as reluctant to be involved in the family's organized crime business. However, as events unfold, he eventually takes on the mantle of the family leader. His transformation from a college-educated, wartime hero to a ruthless mafia boss is one of the most significant character arcs in the story.