10 Books Manager Must Read

When you want to become better, you need to read book. There is no other way to learn management, become a better leader faster then to read a book. People are paying 10 000 USD for a workshop when you can read a book that is written by the same person / author. By these books and read it to become better person. These books are based on real practice, starting from management books, up to start ups. Every book has a link to the Amazon where you can buy paper version faster. I read all these books, one books takes 1 month if you read with a slow pace.

Must read management

  1. Good to Great – Collins Jim
  2. How to win friends and influence people Author: Dale Carnegie
  3. The 21 irrefutable laws of leadership John C. Maxwell
  4. The art of war Author: Sun Tzu
  5. Habits of highly effective people Author: Stephen R. Covey
  6. Good to Great – Jim Collins 
  7. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Jim Collins
  8. The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less
  9. The 4-Hour Work Week – Ferriss Timothy
  10. TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking
  11. The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness
  12. The Personal MBA 10th Anniversary Edition
  13. Don’t Believe Everything You Think: Why Your Thinking Is The Beginning & End Of Suffering
  14. The Power of Discipline: How to Use Self Control and Mental Toughness to Achieve Your Goals
  15.  The 48 Laws of Power

People management Books

  1. Managing Difficult People: A Survival Guide For Handling Any Employee Paperback – Marilyn Pincus
  2. The Way of the Shepherd: Seven Secrets to Managing Productive People Kindle Edition  by  Kevin Leman  (Author), William Pentak 
  3. The First-Time Manager (First-Time Manager Series) Kindle Edition  by  Jim McCormick 
  4. Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter” – Liz Wiseman
  5. Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High” – Kerry Patterson

Market Strategy Books

  1. Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works by A.G. Lafley & Roger L. Martin
  2. Good Strategy Bad Strategy by Richard Rumelt
  3. The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton M. Christensen
  4. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
  5. Zero to One by Peter Thiel
  6. Blue Ocean Shift by W. Chan Kim & Renée Mauborgne
  7. Design a Better Business by Patrick Van Der Pijl, Justin Lokitz & Lisa Kay Solomon
  8. Business Model Generation by Alexander Osterwalder & Yves Pigneur
  9. Loonshots by Safi Bahcall
  10. Seeing What’s Next by Clayton M. Christensen, Scott D. Anthony & Erik A. Roth

Start up management

  1. The Hard Thing About Hard Things – Ben Horowitz
  2. High Growth Handbook – Elad Gil
  3. Measure What Matters – John Doerr
  4. The Startup Owner’s Manual – Steve Blank & Bob Dorf
  5. Founders at Work – Jessica Livingston
  6. Blitzscaling – Reid Hoffman & Chris Yeh
  7. Startup CEO – Matt Blumberg
  8. Venture Deals – Brad Feld & Jason Mendelson

Product Ownership Book

  1. Inspired: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love – Marty Cagan
  2. Empowered: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Products – Marty Cagan & Chris Jones
  3. Lean Product and Lean Analytics – Ben Yoskovitz & Alistair Croll
  4. Scrum Product Ownership: Balancing Value from the Inside Out – Robert Galen
  5. The Lean Product Playbook – Dan Olsen
  6. Product Roadmaps Relaunched: How to Set Direction While Embracing Uncertainty – C. Todd Lombardo, Bruce McCarthy, Evan Ryan & Michael Connors
  7. Continuous Discovery Habits – Teresa Torres
  8. Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making – Tony Fadell
  9. Escaping the Build Trap – Melissa Perri
  10. Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products – Nir Eyal

Business Books Review

Good to Great by Jim Collins buy on Amazon1. Good to Great – Jim Collins  

General feedback: Business book number one. Company management is key in the corporate growth. Good to Great is a research-backed exploration into why some companies manage to break through the ceiling of mediocrity to become outstanding over time, while others remain stuck. Collins distills the characteristics of companies that made the leap and sustained greatness, offering actionable lessons. The book delves into leadership styles, corporate culture, and strategic decisions that were pivotal in turning good companies into exceptional ones. With its focus on long-term success, the insights from this book are invaluable for anyone looking to understand how businesses scale successfully. If you want to know how to turn a small company into something big, become the next Apple company, and be more of a market leader, this book is for it. Company management is described in details but more as a retrospective rather what to do now. Check out how to manage a company based on the mistakes of others.  

Who will benefit:

  • CEOs, executives, and business owners;
  • Strategic planners and team leaders;
  • Anyone involved in growing or transforming organizations;

What you will learn:

  • Key principles like the Hedgehog Concept, Level 5 Leadership, and getting the right people on the bus
  • The importance of discipline and focus
  • How great companies maintain momentum over time
  • Improve vision and tactics
  • Strategic company management 

2 How to Win Friends and Influence People – Dale Carnegie

General feedback:
Yes, the book is old, it was published in 1936, How to Win Friends and Influence People is a timeless classic that focuses on the importance of effective interpersonal communication and relationship-building. The book offers practical advice on how to handle people, make them feel valued, and persuade them to your way of thinking without being manipulative. Its simple yet profound principles have stood the test of time and remain relevant in all areas of life—from business negotiations to personal relationships. Carnegie’s techniques emphasize empathy, sincerity, and positive reinforcement.

Who will benefit:

  • Salespeople, managers, delivery managers and networkers
  • Anyone looking to improve relationships personally or professionally
  • Public speakers and communicators

What you will learn:

  • How to convince people to do what you need and keep them happy
  • How to give any information in a positive way
  • How to make people like you and win them over to your way of thinking
  • The power of empathy, active listening, and praise
  • Techniques to handle criticism and influence without manipulation

3. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership – John C. Maxwell

General feedback:
John C. Maxwell’s The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership offers clear principles that have shaped the way leaders build influence and guide teams. Based on his decades of experience in leadership coaching, company management Maxwell breaks down the key laws that every leader should know to lead effectively. Whether you’re at the helm of a small startup or managing a large corporation, these laws provide insight into the qualities and actions that define successful leaders. The laws range from understanding the power of influence to fostering personal development and loyalty within your team. Other words you will be able to see the importance of feeling confident, how self esteem can impact your behavior and what you can do to be a better version of yourself.

Who will benefit:

  • Emerging and seasoned leaders
  • How to change your attitude from loose to a winner
  • Team managers and entrepreneurs
  • Coaches and HR professionals

What you will learn:

  • The importance of influence, vision, and process in leadership
  • How to build trust and lead with authenticity
  • Practical leadership laws like the Law of the Lid and the Law of Addition

4. The Art of War – Sun Tzu

General feedback:
One of the oldest and most revered texts on strategy, The Art of War offers profound insights into leadership, military strategy, and conflict resolution. Though initially written as a guide for warfare, its principles have transcended time, finding application in modern business, politics, and even personal growth. Sun Tzu’s philosophy emphasizes adaptability, the strategic importance of information, and psychological tactics to outmaneuver opponents. It’s a short yet dense work that challenges readers to think strategically in all areas of life.

Who will benefit:

  • Strategists, entrepreneurs, and negotiators
  • Basic hits that could help you in tactics on your job
  • Business leaders facing competition
  • Anyone interested in mental discipline and conflict resolution

What you will learn:

  • Strategic thinking and preparation
  • How to exploit opportunities and manage risk
  • The power of adaptability, deception, and knowing your enemy

5. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen R. Covey

General feedback:
Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a cornerstone of personal development literature. The book is a guide to living a principle-centered life, teaching readers to align their actions with their values. Covey emphasizes both personal and professional growth, focusing on taking responsibility for one’s own life and creating lasting change through incremental habits. It’s a holistic approach that blends productivity, character development, and deep self-awareness.

Who will benefit:

  • Professionals and students
  • Team leaders and individuals seeking personal growth
  • Coaches and mentors

What you will learn:

  • How to prioritize what matters most (urgent vs important)
  • Principles like proactive behavior, synergy, and sharpening the saw
  • A framework to align personal and professional goals

6. The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less – Richard Koch

General feedback:
Koch’s The 80/20 Principle explores the idea that 80% of outcomes come from just 20% of the efforts. This book focuses on identifying and maximizing the high-impact activities in both business and personal life. It challenges readers to think critically about where they invest their time, money, and energy, and it teaches strategies to leverage minimal effort for maximum reward. This book offers a mindset shift towards efficiency and greater focus on what truly matters.

Who will benefit:

  • Entrepreneurs and productivity seekers
  • Business analysts and strategists
  • Time-stretched professionals

What you will learn:

  • How to identify the 20% that gives you 80% of results
  • Where to focus in business, relationships, and goals
  • How to eliminate low-value activities and optimize effort

7. The 4-Hour Work Week – Timothy Ferriss

General feedback:
Tim Ferriss’ The 4-Hour Work Week challenges conventional ideas about work, offering strategies to escape the 9-to-5 grind and build a life of mobility, independence, and passive income. Ferriss shares his own experiences as a “lifestyle entrepreneur,” discussing methods like outsourcing, automating tasks, and optimizing time to create more freedom. It’s a bold and unconventional approach to productivity and wealth-building that has resonated with people seeking to live life on their terms.

Who will benefit:

  • Aspiring digital nomads
  • Entrepreneurs and freelancers
  • Anyone seeking to escape the 9-to-5 grind

What you will learn:

  • Techniques for time management and remote work
  • How to build passive income and scalable businesses
  • The power of elimination, automation, and delegation

8. TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking – Chris Anderson

General feedback:
This book is an insider’s guide to creating and delivering powerful presentations, straight from the curator of TED Talks. Anderson provides insights into the art of public speaking and how to captivate an audience with compelling stories and ideas. He shares tips on how to structure your talk, the importance of delivery, and the best practices for using visuals effectively. If you’ve ever been inspired by TED Talks, this book teaches you how to emulate their magic.

Who will benefit:

  • Public speakers and presenters
  • Leaders and educators
  • Content creators and storytellers

What you will learn:

  • How to craft a compelling narrative
  • Body language, visuals, and delivery techniques
  • What to avoid to keep your audience engaged

9. The Psychology of Money – Morgan Housel

General feedback:
The Psychology of Money dives deep into the behavioral side of finance, explaining how emotions, biases, and personal experiences influence financial decisions. Housel emphasizes that financial success is more about mindset and behavior than technical knowledge. The book offers insights into why people make irrational financial choices and provides a more psychological approach to wealth-building that avoids typical “get rich quick” schemes.

Who will benefit:

  • Investors and savers
  • Anyone struggling with money mindset
  • Financial advisors and coaches

What you will learn:

  • The role of emotion and ego in financial success
  • Why patience and consistency matter more than brilliance
  • Real-life stories that highlight timeless money lessons

10. The Personal MBA (10th Anniversary Edition) – Josh Kaufman

General feedback:
Kaufman’s The Personal MBA offers a concise and actionable approach to business fundamentals, without the need for a formal MBA program. Drawing on the core concepts of top business schools, Kaufman breaks down key principles in areas such as marketing, sales, operations, and finance. The book is perfect for self-learners who want to understand how businesses work from the ground up.

Who will benefit:

  • Aspiring entrepreneurs
  • Self-learners and side-hustlers
  • Managers and startup founders

What you will learn:

  • Core concepts in sales, marketing, productivity, finance, and systems thinking
  • How to think like a business strategist
  • Practical tools for running or improving a business

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