A few thoughts on this list:
- Want to learn more about how I get through so many books? Lucky you! Since writing the original version of this post, I’ve outlined my entire system in this post HERE (NOTE: This too needs an update, but it’s a solid overview).
- This list is focused exclusively on traditional business books, broken down by topic. That said, I did include a small personal development section. This is always a rate limiting factor on professional development.
- I don’t actually read too many new business books these days. Overall, about half the books I read are re-reads.
- Most of the new books I read tend to come from other fields: philosophy, history, biographies, religion, etc. Maybe one day I’ll do a list of these too. But that day is not today.
- My speed and volume of consumption isn’t something that will make sense for most people. My suggestion is to focus on the topic you think would have the biggest impact on your professional effectiveness.
- Books are awesome, but they’re really just one piece of the puzzle. Most adults don’t truly learn without putting their knowledge into action. This usually requires some kind of “learn-by-doing-with-feedback” component.
Would love for you to leave a comment and let me know if there are other must-reads you’d add.
BOOKS!
Personal Development
Poor Charlie’s Almanack – Peter Kaufman
“All I Want To Know Is Where I’m Going to Die So I’ll Never Go There” – Peter Bevelin
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen R. Covey
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant – Erik Jorgensen
The Compound Effect – Darren Hardy
Business Strategy & Operations
Good to Great – Jim Collins
Cadence – Pete Williams
Traction – Gino Wickman
The E-Myth Revisited – Michael E. Gerber
12 Week Year – Brian Moran
Communication
Thanks For the Feedback – Douglas Stone & Sheila Heen
Crucial Conversations – Kerry Patterson
Radical Candor – Kim Scott
The Elements of F*cking Style – Baker and Hansen
Bird By Bird – Anne Lamott
Leadership
Leaders Eat Last – Simon Sinek
The Lapsed Anarchist’s Guide to Being A Better Leader – Ari Weinzweig
Extreme Ownership – Willink and Babin
Leadership and Self Deception – The Arbinger Institute
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership – John Maxwell
Management
First Break All the Rules – Gallup Press
Growing Great Employees – Erika Andersen
The Hard Thing About Hard Things – Ben Horowitz
Principles – Ray Dalio
What Got You Here Won’t Get You There – Marshall Goldsmith
Culture
Tribal Leadership – Dave Logan & John King
Delivering Happiness – Tony Hsieh
The Advantage – Patrick M. Lencioni
Legacy – James Kerr
The Speed of Trust – Stephen R. Covey
Marketing
Influence – Robert B. Cialdini
Getting Everything You Can Out Of All You’ve Got – Jay Abraham
Building A StoryBrand – Donald Miller
Priceless – William Poundstone
Alchemy – Rory Sutherland
Sales
To Sell Is Human – Daniel H. Pink
Ultimate Sales Machine – Chet Holmes
SPIN Selling – Neil Rackham
You Can’t Teach a Kid to Ride a Bike at a Seminar – David Sandler
Ultimate Sales Letter – Dan S. Kennedy
Customer Service
Secret Service – John DiJulius
Peak – Chip Conley
Setting the Table – Danny Meyer
Never Lose a Customer Again – Joey Coleman
Business Finance
Simple Numbers – Greg Crabtree
Profit First – Mike Michalowicz
Profit First for Microgyms – John Briggs
The Ultimate Blueprint for an Insanely Successful Business – Keith Cunningham
Financial Intelligence – Bergman, Knight, Case
Networking
Never Eat Alone – Keith Ferrazzi
How To Win Friends and Influence People – Dale Carnegie
The Go Giver – Bob Berg
Time Management
Getting Things Done – David Allen
Essentialism – Greg McKeown
Deep Work – Cal Newport
The One Thing – Gary Keller
Goals! – Brian Tracy