20 best books on business
Books written in the genre of business literature, began to overtake the sales of works of other stylistic trends. This is explained by the fact that modern realities have pushed many people to engage in self-education, improve personal growth and create for themselves all the conditions necessary to achieve the highest results and obtain financial stability and independence. We collected the top 20 best business works, some of which were created decades ago and still have not lost their relevance, while others only came out, but have already won admirers not only among the managers, but also among the business elite.
Top Business Books
| Nomination | a place | Name of product | Rating |
| Top Business Books | 1 | Rework | 5.0 |
| 2 | From good to great | 4.9 | |
| 3 | Stop dreaming, get busy! Cal Newport | 4.9 | |
| 4 | Do not be afraid to act, Cheryl Sandberg | 4.8 | |
| 5 | Purpose. Continuous improvement process | 4.8 | |
| 6 | Business at the speed of thought, Bill Gates | 4.8 | |
| 7 | Nude business, Richard Branson | 4.7 | |
| 8 | Seven skills of highly effective people | 4.7 | |
| 9 | Art of making deals | 4.6 | |
| 10 | The Power of Habit, Charles Dahigg | 4.6 | |
| 11 | #Girlboss, Sofia Amoruso | 4.5 | |
| 12 | Business from scratch. Lean Startup Method for Quickly Testing Ideas and Choosing a Business Model | 4.5 | |
| 13 | Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill | 4.5 | |
| 14 | The richest man in Babylon | 4.5 | |
| 15 | How to win friends and influence people, Dale Carnegie | 4.5 | |
| 16 | How to put things in order, David Allen | 4.4 | |
| 17 | It won't be easy, Ben Horowitz | 4.4 | |
| 18 | Flexible Consciousness, Carol Duke | 4.4 | |
| 19 | Act as a leader, think as a leader, Erminia Ibarra | 4.3 | |
| 20 | Myself an MBA. 100% self-education | 4.3 |
Rework
Book author: Jason Fried and David Heinemeyer Hansson
Rating: 5.0
First place ranking goes to the book, written in collaboration with Jason Fried and David Heinemeyer Hensson. This is not just another advice, this is a real guide to action that you should pay attention to. Two successful entrepreneurs were able to open their eyes to the well-established rules of doing business, following which you can go a long way towards success and not always achieve your goals. Immediately after the publication of the book was an incredible success. And even skeptics were able to appreciate the new ways of organizing business.
Authors can be trusted. These are two practices that founded the legendary company 37signals. Today, its products are used by millions of people in different parts of the globe. They will share their experience and tell in which direction to move, whether it is necessary to develop further, how to plan a business correctly and what mistakes to learn in order to achieve real results.
REWORK can be a guide for aspiring entrepreneurs, but also those who already have a very successful business can learn a lot of interesting things. Our experts advise not to postpone the product until later, in order to increase efficiency tomorrow and feel not the burden of responsibility, but incredible freedom and ease, which brings not only satisfaction, but also a tangible income.
From good to great
Book author: Jim Collins
Rating: 4.9
For a decade, the book does not lose its popularity and is among the world's top best works of business literature. Jim Collins worked in well-known corporations, taught at Stanford University, collaborated with many public organizations. Today he runs a laboratory that studies management problems and advises company executives.
For several years, the author and his team collected information, surveyed managers, researched successful and not-so-successful companies, which led to writing a book in which you can learn how to become a competent manager and create your own business empire. The difference of this work from other business literature is that all principles were applied by many companies, and the result was stunning.
Why such a name? J. Collins believes that not “the best is the enemy of the good,” but “the good is the enemy of the great.” He invites you on an “intellectual journey” so that the reader can understand how, with the desire and effort, you can turn a small business into a great company. This book is an encyclopedia for creating a successful business, so familiarity with it is necessary if your level is not just a good project.
Stop dreaming, get busy! Cal Newport
Author: Calvin Newport
Rating: 4.9
Calvin Newport, a professor of computer science at Georgetown University, author of self-improvement books, maintains a blog about students and graduates. The book-message from our rating will allow us to understand what “perfect work” actually means. Examples of real people will help you to understand yourself and decide what is more important for you: to dream and change jobs, moving from place to place, or master skills and seek professionalism to achieve your goals.
Many people are waiting, thinking that once they are lucky, they are waiting for the happy moment when reality coincides with that very dream. The author in an ironic manner convinces many that it is time to stop fantasizing, it is time to act, and then success will not take long.
The book is written in clear language, read easily and quickly. It gives you the opportunity to understand yourself and, finally, decide to become successful and enjoy pleasure and income from an existing business, develop it further and develop yourself. The arguments of the author are not unsubstantiated. They are supported by the results of numerous scientific studies. If you are tired of chasing a dream, then this work will be a great incentive for your future career.
Do not be afraid to act, Cheryl Sandberg
Book author: Cheryl Kara Sandberg
Rating: 4.8
Sheryl Kara Sandberg knows firsthand about success. Having gone from an assistant in research work at the World Bank to an operating director of Facebook, she became the only woman in the management of the company. Previously, she held senior positions in the US Treasury Department, collaborated with Google, Starbucks, Walt Disney. It annually enters the list of the most influential people on the planet, is a dollar millionaire.
The author raises the issue of gender inequality and tells women how to achieve success in the world of men, which, according to the unspoken rule, is practically closed to the weak half of humanity. Today, only 4% of the leaders of influential global companies are women. The practitioner will tell you how to solve important problems: when to ask for a promotion, how you are not afraid to start everything from scratch, how to plan maternity leave, and most importantly, how to find a balance between career and family life.
The book calls not to hide their ambitions, but to meet the dream. On the example of successful top managers of large corporations and on his own example, Sandberg tells women how to become a full-fledged person and self-actualize in business not to the detriment of personal life and family.
Purpose. Continuous improvement process
The author of the book: Eliyahu M. Goldratt, Jeff Cox
Rating: 4.8
In our ranking, we offer to familiarize yourself with the acclaimed business book of two successful authors. Eliyahu M. Goldratt is known as the creator of bestsellers in the genre of business literature. For several decades he worked for a company in the field of production technology optimization. Jeff Cox is no less popular among readers, specializing in the creation of business novels.
After reading the book, you can understand that everyone can become a successful entrepreneur, the main thing is not to be afraid of your desires and go ahead boldly. "Purpose. The process of continuous improvement "is intended for a wide range of readers. Written in clear and accessible language, it looks more like a work of art.
The novel will help people who are faced with difficulties, to think calmly and analyze problems. Applying the methods proposed by the authors, in practice, one can learn to see the causal relationships between planning and results. Business analysts will help build a sound policy, improve production efficiency and achieve unprecedented success. The described method is suitable for any areas of activity, it has been tested in small and large companies aimed at financial results.
Business at the speed of thought, Bill Gates
Book author: Bill Gates
Rating: 4.8
There is no such person in the world who would not have heard of the legend of the computer business of William Henry Gates III, widely known as Bill Gates. His main achievement is the creation of Microsoft. The American entrepreneur has repeatedly headed the lists of the richest people in the world and was ready to share with readers the secret of his success. The book was first published in 1999 and is designed for managers and professionals who are committed to making business projects efficient and profitable.
Gates tells in detail about all the nuances of creating and organizing his own business, based on the use of information technology. Interestingly, the author believes that they are not just an end in themselves, but an effective tool for building and running a business. He argues on the example of Microsoft Corporation and other equally well-known and large corporations, shares his experience and talks about all the stages of formation and coming to financial stability and success.
Despite the fact that the book was created almost 20 years ago, all the described methods still do not lose their relevance. We recommend it for reading, in order not only to take advantage of the experience of business practice, but also to find out the reason for the success of one of the most famous entrepreneurs of the planet.
Nude business, Richard Branson
Book author: Richard Branson
Rating: 4.7
The author of the book selected in our rating, many people know as a successful entrepreneur, actor, athlete. She is an updated version of his previous autobiographical works and talks about all the stages of developing her own business. Today, his corporation includes more than 400 companies of various fields of activity. And from whom to learn and gain experience, if not from one of the most influential British businessmen?
The work used real quotes from the author's notebook. He tells about all the ups and downs of his company, how to cope with financial crises, and all this will be described in the smallest detail with maximum useful information. Many will be interested to know how Branson negotiates, what qualities, above all, they pay attention to when hiring at his company, how to make a career and move up the career ladder, who is his idol in the business elite.
The book is easy to read, understandable for beginners, not overloaded with definitions. The author advises to stop, digest information and think over the arguments and aspects proposed in the work. “Naked business” is recognized as a bestseller among the world business literature, and you will lose a lot if you lose sight of the book.
Seven skills of highly effective people
Book author: Stephen Covey
Rating: 4.7
Stephen Covey - professional speaker, management consultant, expert in management. "Seven skills of highly effective people" was included in the list of the most influential books on business. As the author noted, this work is the result of the work of many people. Work on it began in the seventies of the last century, when Covey wrote his doctoral dissertation.
The book raises many questions and makes you think about many of them. The main thing is the organization of your own life. Further success and well-being depend on this. The author proves that you need to live as you want, and not as others expect from you. An important component of success is principles. It is they who are the basis of our existence, and choosing the right ones will easily and simply move forward.
The writer touched on various aspects of our lives. First of all, we must remember that there is no such thing as “no choice”. He is always there, the main thing is to adequately perceive the situation, and then many problems will recede into the background. As for success, after reading you begin to understand that it is not measured in money, this is a relative concept, and each has its own idea of happiness. Experts recommend enjoying the author’s fascinating writing style, increasing your self-esteem and making your life bright and interesting.
Art of making deals
Author of the book: Tony Schwartz
Rating: 4.6
If you want to understand the reasons for the success of a well-known entrepreneur, and now the current US President Donald Trump, then this book is rated for you. It describes the working life of a businessman, but to the smallest details, which allows you to find out how negotiations are conducted, what events are planned, how large deals are made. A huge number of examples will help to learn how to behave in a given situation, and what every entrepreneur should strive for.
It is noteworthy that the author is not afraid to tell about his defeats. Errors that were made during the negotiations were thoroughly analyzed and appropriate conclusions were drawn so that they would not be repeated. The author treats competitors with great respect, setting an example of civilized communication with rivals. And another important message from D. Trump: it’s worth doing business not for profit, but for pleasure, and then financial well-being is guaranteed for you.
The work is written with a great sense of humor. The reader sees the positive vital attitude of the author, behind which is the strength of character and the ability to achieve goals. Each written line motivates to action, therefore the “Art of making deals” should become a reference book for every entrepreneur.
The Power of Habit, Charles Dahigg
Book author: Charles Dahigg
Rating: 4.6
Charles Dahigg, an American Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, was a full-time reporter in a prestigious publication, and today is part of The New York Times team. In his work, he raises the question of the impact of habits on privacy and business, helps to abandon many of them and include logic to avoid the usual reactions and become master of the situation.
Have you ever wondered why you do this, and not otherwise, why you first make the bed in the morning and then brush your teeth, and not vice versa, why your whole life is composed entirely of patterns that form it? The author does not only show the negative side of habits. They also have a positive impact, often saving in unforeseen situations. C. Dahigg throughout the story gives examples of people and companies in which the reader will see the influence on their habits. In the final we will get acquainted with the guide to action, which is worth paying special attention to.
After publication, the book for a long time kept in the tops of the best works, therefore, our experts recommend studying it and trying to change their behavior to achieve real goals in their personal lives and career building.
#Girlboss, Sofia Amoruso
Book author: Sofia Amoruso
Rating: 4.5
Sofia Amoruso is a vivid example of how you can go from a simple unemployed to a business woman with a million bank account. Her story reminded of a fairy tale about Cinderella. To get medical insurance, Sofia settled into the library, where she began to learn a lot of new things and discovered the endless possibilities of the Internet. At 22, she founded a vintage clothing store and initially worked alone.
The book selected for rating is not just a guide to action or a guide for doing business. Written in an easy, accessible manner, it is not devoid of irony and fun moments. At the beginning of Sophia’s way, unscrupulous people met, as she called “mean” girls and boys, and the experience of communicating with them helped avoid many mistakes in the future.
The writer gives advice on how to competently hire and dismiss employees, what qualities in them she values most, how to control financial flows. Amoruzo will also talk about how a woman feels in the modern business community, where men play leading roles. If you not only believe in a miracle, but are also ready to work and achieve your goals, then an interesting story about an ordinary girl who has become the owner of a fashionable empire will surely seem not only fascinating, but also useful.
Business from scratch. Lean Startup Method for Quickly Testing Ideas and Choosing a Business Model
Book author: Eric Rees
Rating: 4.5
The author of the book, Eric Rees, is an American entrepreneur who will tell by example how to create a business and implement new ideas. Based on successful and disastrous experiences, he developed a method-based management methodology that helps start-ups to survive. At the heart of his work is the Japanese concept of lean manufacturing. It means getting rid of activities that are useless and bring no results.
The author proves that thrifty is not cheap. The goal of an economical startup is to reduce the inefficient use of time and resources, quickly test ideas, confirm them with real facts and constantly adjust the established business model. And only after that you can start investing in the project.
The book was included in the list of the best works in the genre of business literature in 2011. After studying the real experience of the writer, you can abandon the tools that do not work, and adopt the actions that are valuable for business. E. Rice once again proves that it is not luck or luck. The scientific approach used in practice will open up new ways and opportunities for a successful future.
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
Book author: Napoleon Hill
Rating: 4.5
Napoleon Hill, born in the nineteenth century, is recognized as one of the greatest success writers. “Think and Grow Rich” was published in 1937, and at the time of the author’s death in 1970 more than 20 million copies were sold, which was an absolute record. Experts believe that the work of N. Hill is a classic manual for creating wealth. The modern reader is presented an amended edition, taking into account the realities of our time.
A clear plan, which offers the author, followed by people for several decades. It is suitable not only for business planning, but also for all spheres of life. The author has collected information for many years and analyzed the success story of 500 of the richest and most influential people in the world. It is safe to say that the work is based on real stories and there is no reason not to trust the author.
As Hill himself noted, Andrew Carnegie nudged at his twenty years of research.Simple at first glance, the truths lead to really stunning results, which was proved by people who actually made the state. The book from the rating is not just recommended for reading, it will help the reader to choose the right path and become successful and happy.
The richest man in Babylon
Book author: George S. Cleyson
Rating: 4.5
An interesting, exciting book designed for those who seek welfare and independence. The author reveals the secret of how to accumulate capital, save it and make it work for you. He motivates for further actions and proves that the result is directly proportional to the effort applied. George S. Cleyson published his first essay in 1926. "The richest man in Babylon" is recognized as a classic of economic literature.
Why Babylon? In the ancient state, the residents already understood the laws of success and already at that time used the concepts of “money”, “goods”, “investments”. The financial stability of the state is proof of the correctness of the choice of policy and the path of its action. The reader will like the style of the story. This is not a textbook with strict and sometimes incomprehensible terms. This story is a parable of a person who tells how he became the richest citizen of the state, although he was as poor as the majority of citizens.
This business book is recommended not only for start-up entrepreneurs. She will help teenagers understand what they really want from life. The older generation learns how to increase finances and come to stability and independence.
How to win friends and influence people, Dale Carnegie
Book author: Dale Carnegie
Rating: 4.5
The legendary speaker, teacher and psychologist, thanks to his work, not only encouraged many people to successfully move forward, but he himself proved the correctness of his methodology, becoming a dollar millionaire. The book, included in the rating, was published in 1936 and for decades has been a desktop guide to action. Many rich people of the world confirm that it was she who became the beginning of their financial well-being and success.
Carnegie urges, above all, to understand himself and in relationships with others. It is our complexes and uncertainty that inhibit further personal growth. Having defeated fears, having learned to communicate correctly, many followers improved relationships within the family, were able to create their own business and manage a team with a large number of employees. The work provides examples of life stories that will help in a particular situation to develop a style of behavior and prompt the correctness of actions.
Tips, at first glance, are very simple: smile more, show interest to other people, listen carefully to the interlocutor and speak on those topics that interest him first of all, and not you. The author has paid attention to the ways of self-location, changing a person without hurting him and improving his family life. Definitely: this business book is recommended reading.
How to put things in order, David Allen
Book author: David Allen
Rating: 4.4
How to bring your thoughts and affairs in order will tell you David Allen, world famous expert and consultant to improve personal productivity. This business book has become a bestseller and translated into several dozen languages. It will be useful both for beginners and those who are already familiar with the author's methodology, which helps to correctly allocate time for work and personal life, while getting satisfaction from what has been done.
You will learn to collect information and choose the most important of it, keep your mind clear and cope with any, even the most difficult, set tasks. The writer, on the basis of a twenty-year study, will reveal the secret of how to avoid the stress arising from the backlog.
The book of D. Allen was appreciated by people of different professions.The correctness and real action of the methodology was confirmed by businessmen and financiers, teachers and students, actors and directors, and even servants of different faiths were able to free themselves from the stress of everyday worries. It does not matter who you are, a big businessman or an ordinary housewife, we are sure that the publication will definitely benefit you and help you organize your life. Work and live without stress and anxiety!
It won't be easy, Ben Horowitz
Author of the book: Benjamin Abraham Horovits
Rating: 4.4
The author of the acclaimed business book, Benjamin Abraham Horowitz, is an American entrepreneur, blogger and investor. His knowledge and experience were collected in the work included in the rating, which helps startups to stay afloat and avoid difficulties in the beginning. The writer belongs to the category of people who do not wear rose-colored glasses and immediately admit to themselves and others that business is not just financial stability, it is a difficult and time-consuming process and will not be easy throughout the journey.
He objectively assesses all the difficulties and, using his own example and the example of other successful entrepreneurs, examines each action, suggesting how to behave in a given situation. You will be able to find out what to do if the employee to whom you had high hopes did not justify them, how to dismiss and deduct subordinates, if the need arises, and consider many other difficult issues.
The book is easy to read, the style is quite understandable, the style of the story is not devoid of humor. You can read not just the next theoretical advice. Everything is supported by the practice, which is recommended to both newcomers and already existing entrepreneurs “It won't be easy” as one of the best editions of modern business literature.
Flexible Consciousness, Carol Duke
Book author: Carol Duck
Rating: 4.4
An internationally known expert in the field of motivation, a professor at Stanford University has created a book that has helped millions of people believe in themselves and change their lives for the better. The work is based on the results of a twenty-year study, which the author was able to offer a revolutionary concept of personal development.
It is noteworthy that K.Douk was not going to publish her research project, but her students insisted that she share her discoveries with all the people who are interested in such issues. The book helps to look not only at the development of the psychology of adults, but also of children. You will learn why talent and intelligence are not the most important components of success, how often they do not help in achieving the goal, but only hinder, how to improve the child’s performance and the manager’s performance.
The reader will be able to determine what type he belongs to: people with a fixed or flexible consciousness. The first for further growth will have to make an effort to change their outlook. The latter correctly go to their goal, not relying only on innate talent. They work and achieve the highest results. The book is recommended for reading a wide range of readers.
Act as a leader, think as a leader, Erminia Ibarra
Author of the book: Herminia Ibarra
Rating: 4.3
If your goal is to become a leader in all spheres of life, then the book of Erminia Ibarra selected in the rating business is just what you need. A world-renowned professor and teacher creates his own concept for success, which will teach the basic rules. By following them, you can become a person who is respected, trusted and admired. The simple principles outlined in the book can lead to truly amazing results.
As E. Ibarra states, in order to learn to think as a leader, one must act as a leader. Her methodology has helped many managers climb up the career ladder and make a dizzying career. Not only for professionals, it has become a desktop guide to action. Beginners who are just starting their way can immediately find out which direction to go in order to reach a high level in the managerial sphere as soon as possible.
The work will help conduct a competent self-analysis and to identify the cause that hinders the increase in your self-esteem. Many will be surprised by the author’s methodology, which goes against the generally accepted concepts. Some readers noted that the book is too heavy for perception, there are many tables and graphs in it. But if you really want to become a leader, then you should not wait for easy and simple ways to achieve this.
Myself an MBA. 100% self-education
Book author: Josh Kaufman
Rating: 4.3
Josh Kaufman is one of the most famous business coaches to date, which offers no cost to spend on expensive education, because even the most prestigious universities do not always provide proper education. Template programs are not always useful for the development of their business, so the author has created a methodology that can provide the level of knowledge necessary for a successful and financially stable future.
The author will introduce the basics of entrepreneurship and marketing, explain the concepts of the psychology of personal growth and design of business models. The value of the proposed methods is that he went through self-study from the very beginning to the end, as he already worked in a large corporation and there was simply no time and opportunity to get an education. His goal was realized, and he shared his results with other people. The pages contain information from the best business books of all time, so you don’t have to learn tons of study guides.
Many readers sent their comments to the author, in which there were words of gratitude for valuable advice and competent training, for saved finances, which would have been spent on paying for the studies, housing, travel and other expenses.
Attention! This rating is subjective, is not advertising and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you should consult with a specialist.
