October 21, 2009

101 Business Books Everyone Can Learn From

Posted by Brad Egeland

I was contacted by Amber Johnson from Accredited Online Colleges about a new article they had posted on their site – she was asking if I was interested in sharing it with the PM Tips readers. They have compiled a list of 101 business books that anyone can use and I found it to be a very useful and comprehensive list. It’s really too long to share here in it’s entirety so I’ll include the first few relevant sections and let you peruse the rest at their site. The full article and list can be found here. Please read on….

From communicating to handling personal finances, from generating ideas to marketing them, become your ultimate you by developing the skills and intellect of a shark-like business person. The must-have business books below are conveniently linked to their Amazon pages, so you can buy and have them delivered straight to your door. Even if you don’t have a passion for business, do yourself a favor and check out these great reads. You’ll find yourself negotiating your way to the top of whatever career you choose.

Top Twenty

These 20 titles are the best of the best in the world of business.

Atlas Shrugged: by Ayn Rand. A true business classic with a page-turning plot.
10-10-10: by Suzy Welch. When you’re facing a dilemma, ask these three questions: What are the consequences of my decision in 10 minutes? In 10 months? And in 10 years?
The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression: by Amity Shlaes. Look back and forward at the status of mankind in the midst of economic despair.
The Informant: by Kurt Eichenwald. A classic tale of business wheelings and dealings.
American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House: by John Meacham. Read and study Jackson’s place in business and political history.
Street Fighters: The Last 72 Hours of Bear Stearns, the Toughest Firm on Wall Street: by Kate Kelly. These men and women went down, but not without a good fight.
House of Cards: A Tale of Hubris and Wretched Excess on Wall Street: by William D. Cohan. As we all know, pride comes before the fall. Learn from the fatal mistakes of those who have gone before us.
How The Mighty Fall: And Why Some Companies Never Give In: by Jim Collins. Resilience and perseverence will take you far in life, as this book demonstrates so clearly.
The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger: by Marc Levinson. Today’s look at industrialism.
Selling the Wheel: by Jeff Cox and Howard Stevens. Advertising, marketing and branding are essential parts of everyday life, so apply these techniques to your own life and watch your reputation skyrocket.
The Wealth of Nations: by Adam Smith. Look deeper into the world economy with this revealing guide.
The Functions of the Executive: by Chester Barnard. Who are the CEOs and company presidents, and what, exactly, do they do? This book demands the destruction of figureheads, and that those in charge not forget how they got there.
The Human Side of Enterprise: by Douglas McGregor. Although it doesn’t always seem like it, the world is still made of people, not money. This great book will show you how to look at business and negotiations on the ground level.
The Wisdom of Crowds: by James Surowiecki. Take a look at the way people gather to make a difference.
The World is Flat: by Thomas L. Friedman. This book details the most interesting developments of the 21^st centry.
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t: by Jim Collins. Discover the secrets to going from mediocre to out-of-this-world in whatever your field.
The Secret Language of Business: How to Read Anyone in 3 Seconds or Less: by Kevin Hogan. Develop the people skills you need to get through life and through your career successfully.
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference: by Malcolm Gladwell. If “the devil is in the details,” this book will show you where to look.
Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies: by Jim Collins. Whatever you do, you’re probably in it for the long haul. Read this book to find the most important ways to make your business ventures last.
In Search of Excellence: by Thomas J. Peters. Become the best you, whoever you are, and whatever you do, and then become even better with the help of this book.

Management Skills

Whether you’re in charge of people, products or projects, these books contain everything you need to know about becoming a better, more effective, more efficient manager.

The Unwritten Laws of Business: by W.J. King. This etiquette and professionalism guideline will undoubtedly improve your managerial and relational skills.
First, Break All the Rules: by Marcus Buckingham & Curt Coffman. A nonconformist view of managing and building relationships.
12: Elements of Great Managing: by Rodd Wagner & James Harter. Look at the key characteristics of successful managing in today’s work environment.
Growing Great Employees: by Erika Andersen. Hire the right people, then develop them into your star employees.
Hiring Smart: by Pierre Mornell. This is another great guide for conducting the best and most productive interviews.
The Essential Drucker: by Peter F. Drucker. Sixty years of managerial skills, all rolled into one, easy-to-read book.
Tribes: by Seth Godin. Lead by using the most basic rules and theories of interpersonal relationships.
The Halo Effect: by Phil Rosenzweig. Read about the nine “business delusions that deceive managers.”
The New Leader’s 100-Day Action Plan: by George Bradt, et al. So, you’re in charge…what next? Find out how to make your first 100 days your ultimate advantage.
Judgement: by Noel Tichy & Warren Bennis. Make good calls, and be confident about your decisions with this great guide.

Effective Communication

There’s a reason some of the most successful people today are businessmen and women, and it has much to do with their communication skills. Read these books to learn how to talk, give presentations, interview, and debate like a professional.

Business Communication: by Carol Lehman and Debbie DuFrene. Get the basics of business communication here.
Harvard Business Review on Effective Communication: by Harvard Business School Press. Harvard has one of the top ranking business schools in the country, so read this publication for the best advice.
Business Communication: Process and Product: by Mary Ellen Guffey. It’s true that communication skills don’t come overnight. If you want to do it right, follow these rules.
Messages: The Communication Skills Book: by Matthew McKay. Avoid miscommunication by reading this book.
People Skills: How to Assert Yourself, Listen to Others, and Resolve Conflicts: by Robert Bolton. Bolton’s self-help guide shows you how to handle the toughest aspects of conversation.
101 Ways to Improve Your Communication Skills Instantly: by Bennie Bough. Unlike other books, this awesome guide shows you how to make important changes, fast.
The Art and Science of Communication: Tools for Effective Communication in the Workplace: by P. S. Perkins and Les Brown. Indeed, effective communication is an art, and an interpersonal science, and this book has what you need to develop the right techniques.
Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High: by Kerry Patterson, et al. The most important interactions you’ll have in life will involve huge negotiations, so make sure you put your most powerful words forward.
Great Communication Secrets of Great Leaders: by John Baldoni. Learn from the gurus, and follow in their powerful, successful footsteps.
Conversationally Speaking: Tested New Ways to Increase Your Personal and Social Effectiveness: by Alan Garner. The best thing about this book is that its advice is new but just as effective as the older ways of looking at communication.