20 Business Books Every Business Owner Must Read

A good business book can do much more than just fill the minutes of your commute; it can inspire you, provide needed advice and ideas, and keep your thoughts running on the cutting edge of your industry. But with thousands of business books being published every year, how do you know which ones to spend your time on?

The following business books are must-reads. They're the ones that can make a difference, both to your company's overall success and to your personal career.

1. Leaders Eat Last  - by Simon Sinek

Some teams pull together and some don't, and Simon Sinek aims to help you be the leader of a team that works together to achieve your organization's goals.

2. The Happiness of Pursuit by Chris Gillebeau

Author Chris Gillebeau examines why "questers" (people with a fervent desire to achieve a goal) are happier people. 

3. How to Speak Money by John Lanchester

Not every business person feels comfortable "speaking money," and Lanchester's book is a guide for those who want to be fluent. 

4. Good Leaders Ask Great Questions by John C. Maxwell

How can questions be used to your advantage? This book explains how to ask the kinds of questions that will make a difference, both to you and to the people you lead.

5. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Dale Carnegie's classic business self-help book is as relevant today as it was when it was published in 1936. 

6. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

Another classic, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has been helping busy professionals to manage their lives for several decades. 

7. Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson

There's a reason Who Moved My Cheese? spent five consecutive years on the best-sellers lists: everyone can relate. This business fable is a metaphor for what you want to have in life.

8. The One-Minute Manager by Kenneth Blanchard and Spencer Johnson

Managers in need of simple solutions ought to read The One-Minute Manager, another business classic that has sold over 13 million copies.

9. The Effective Executive by Peter F. Drucker

If you're spinning your wheels no matter how hard you work, The Effective Executive may have answers for you. It teaches you how to prioritize and spend your time doing things that matter.

10.True North: Discover Your Authentic Leadership by Bill George

This book acts as a workbook of sorts to help leaders, whether fledgling or experienced, to find their true purposes.

11. Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity by Hugh MacLeod

Hugh MacLeod knows what he's talking about. Ignoring everybody has landed him a successful career. 

12. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and in Business by Charles DuHigg 

The patterns in our brains can fundamentally change when we change our habits, and the results are lasting and powerful.

13. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Understanding how we think can have a big impact not only on the way we manage our own lives but also on the way we interact with others.

14. The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There are No Easy Answers by Ben Horowitz

This book is especially helpful for people involved with start-ups.

15. The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials Into Triumph by Ryan Holiday

Holiday re-introduces Stoicism and explains why this Greco-Roman ideal is relevant now. 

16. Inbound Marketing by Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah

The Internet has changed the way people live, work, and do business. Inbound Marketing explains how market your business more effectively.

17.The Dip: A Little Book That Teachers You When to Quit (and When to Stick) by Seth Godin

Not every project ends well: the trick is knowing when to get out and when to stick with it. Godin provides tips on knowing the difference.

18. The Innovator's Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail by Clayton M. Christensen

Knowing how and when to abandon old business practices for new is a big problem in many industries. Christensen offers insights on when to adopt new technology.

19. Why We Buy by Paco Underhill

The science of shopping is unpacked in this engaging book by revolutionary retail guru Paco Underhill.

20. The Lexus and the Olive Tree: Understanding Globalization

by Thomas L. Friedman

Globalization has affected virtually every industry and human on earth. Understanding globalization can give your organization a decided edge.

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