Best Business Books
Book? Book? Book? Reddit. Reddit. Reddit.
Megan asked me to list the books I’ve found most helpful in my business life.
As I don’t profit from endorsing anything on this blog (other than my ebook) I’ve used Wikipedia (if available) instead of commercial links. So if you buy these books, you’ll be wiser but I won’t be richer*.
Thus my list is merit based:
Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway. Susan Jeffers
This book gave me the courage to abandon my human resources career, into which I’d poured massive effort. I cashed in my superannuation to fund a year of creativity. I then became a copywriter and have not once regretted my decision.
The E Myth. Michael Gerber
This book taught me that if you open a pie shop because you love making pies, you’re in for a big shock. At least half your time will be spent on the business, rather than in it. The book also showed me how to systemise my operation to maximise my pie time.
Purple Cow. Seth Godin
While I don’t actually remember much of this book, it lead me to Seth’s many other books, products and blogs, which have yielded vast amounts of education, inspiration and motivation. Seth really is one of today’s great thinkers – both in and beyond business.
The Secret. Rhonda Byrne
Though, like many people, I saw this on video, there’s also a book. This was the first time I’d considered myself part of (and made of the same stuff as) the Universe. It even made me capitalise Universe when it wasn’t technically necessary. A rare feat!
The Science of Getting Rich. Wallace D. Wattles
I listened to this book on CD in my car. I then listened to it 40 more times. It taught me to decide what I wanted, to ask for it, to work for it and to be grateful for everything else until it arrived.
Now it’s your turn! You can supercharge this exercise by adding your favourite books and telling us what’s great about them. As with our tax discussion, we’ll build a handy hit list to help everyone sort the classics from the crud.
* Actually, scratch that. I just worked out how to create an Amazon store!
Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.
My favourite books include:
Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg (for writers looking for inspiration)
The Power of Less by Leo Babauta (the Zen Habits guy, on how to simplify your working life…)
The E Myth by Michael gerber (this is indispensable for anyone starting a small business)
Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (how to get into the state of flow in your work)
Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds and Beyond Bullet Points by Cliff Atkinson (best ever books for people who need to pitch ideas and make presentations)
(And lots of others if I stop to think, so I won’t…)
Good on you, Joanna! As you’re a gun writer, I was hoping to learn what you read. Please don’t stop that list on our account! The more the merrier.
Hi Joanna & Paul :- )
Geez, I can’t remember all the books I’ve read and tapes (oops! showing my age there
), and CDs/Vidoes/DVDs that I’ve listened to & watched over the years…however, here’s few of the notable ones that come to mind:
Maverick – Ricardo Semler
Think & Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill
Most of good ol’ Dale Carnegie’s stuff
Bob Proctor – CDs/Videos
Peter Daniels – CDs/Videos
Anthony Robbins – CDs/Videos
You Can Heal Your Life – Louise L Hay
The Quiet Revolution – Dr Jim Cairns
Most of Lionel Murphy’s stuff
Tomorrow’s Children – Junie Morosi
and neither last or least, Small Business Owner – a blog by Paul Hassing :- )
Cheers
Stephen G
Great tips all. I will look up some of these books.
I’ve read the A, B, C and D Myths, but they haven’t helped much.
Tried to borrow The Secret from the library but it was a secret.
Couldn’t find the damn self-help section for similar reasons.
Many thanks for your kind inclusion, Stephen! If you get a chance, I’d love to know why this list came to mind ahead of all the other titles you could name if you concentrated.
An explanatory line on each your top ten titles would be very useful to other readers. In other words: ‘What have the Robbins ever done for us?!’
Very funny, Ad! There’s some fine cartoon material in your response. After your Master’s, of course.
Oh crap! You want me to concentrate?…It’s a big ask :- )
Interetingly, I seem to trained my memory to remember function more than titles. For example: I can tell you whether or not I’ve seen a movie and how I felt about it, but don’t ask me to regail the title, actors or story…same goes for books :- )
As for the ‘why’ of this list; that’d be a fairly long story, but I’ll give it some thought and see if I can abridge…later…I’m a bit busy just now :- )
Cheers
Stephen G
Recently, I have enjoyed The Long Tail, Groundswell and The Tipping Point.
Older faves are The Goal & The Innovator’s Dilemma.
I hope to find a book called “Sleep your way to a million dollars” but it hasn’t appeared yet.
Dear Stephen, if pushed for time, just give us your SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT BOOK EVAR and the reason for it.
Nice to see you, Matt; great titles! I’ve been hearing about The Long Tail for ages; I’d better step on it! Best regards, P.
Love the Tipping Point – have you read Malcolm Gladwell’s latest – Outliers? It’s a riveting read (though ‘read’ isn’t quite right as I listened to it as an audio book..)
Both he and Seth Godin are brilliant!
There’s a truckload of titles for me to catch up on in here. I’m delighted at how everyone’s taking the time to respond.
Morning Folks :- )
Ok Paul! I’ve been chewing on my very first noSh-it! Wood-Fired Pizza (made last night), which was ‘FAAARRRRKIN’ YUMMY’ (even if I do say so myself:- ), and your ‘throwing down of the Gauntlet’, issued at ‘Comment 9′ :- )
Not too busy today, so be afraid…be very afraid :- )…
Re: Why that list came to mind…? I was just trying to stay within topic really…you know me? I can wander off for a few parsecs and to me it’s not wandering :- ) These are titles that I considered met the criteria of ‘help in business life’ in a conservative sense.
But if you want to know the ‘SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT BOOK EVAR’? :- ) Actually it was a series of 7 books that I read when I was about 20.
These books were important to me in a life changing way:
‘Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever & White Gold Weilder’ by Stephen Donaldson (there, I remembered the author’s name, so it must have been good :- )
These books were, in a very terse nutshell, about a divorced lepar in denial, his wedding ring and an alternate reality. It really appealed to my ‘messiah complex’ :- ). Are you enthralled yet? :- )
The message I got from these books was about being ‘true to myself’. I have been aspiring to be so ever since.
Another book that I would consider even better, though arguably less important in a ‘meaning of life/business life’ sense; only because I read it a few years later is:
‘Labyrinths’ by Jorge Louis Borges (without a doubt my favourite writer EVAR :- )
Other very influential authors that come to mind are:
Shirley Mclane, Faust, Herman Hesse, William Blake, Franz Kafka, Goethe, Shakespeare (& Manly P Hall), Jung, Marx, George Herbert Mead, Madame Blavatsky, Shankaracharya, Patanjali, etc, etc etc…
Which reminds me…have you noticed the similarity between many of today’s popular ‘business books’ and ’self help books’?
They all seem to have the following common thread:
Decide what you want do and/or be, then give it your best shot and keep giving it your best shot!
What have the ‘Robbins’ ever done for us? They have done what good folks do with a cuppa over the fence, only louder :- )
There you go…does that get me off the hook? :- )
Cheers
Stephen G
Thank you, Stephen. That should just about cover it!
I’m thrilled to bits at your pizza news and hope we can persuade you to post your piccies. Bugger living the dream; you’re EATING it! HEARTY congratulations!
For those who have been following Stephen G’s progress, check out these pics of Stephen’s first pizza:
Yum! Love that pizza (and the Thomas Covenant books, thanks for the reminder!)
Nice one Megan! How cool to have our very own dea in machina. Imagine what you could do with a quiver and a couple of hounds!
Stephen, your earnest modesty protest has been noted and ignored. This news is too good to sweep under the trailer. Onward to victory!
Well, I continue to be gobsmacked by you guys (especially our beloved ‘Deep Ocean of Mystery’ Megan :- )
I’m embarrassed and humbled…mostly embarrassed :- P I’m always a bit ‘iffy’ about pictures of pizzas…unless they are taken professionally they always seem to come out like sunburnt road-kill. Thankfully, you guys have fine imaginations and can adapt :- ).
For now you’ll have to take my word that although it looks a bit (insert appropriate road-kill related expletive here), it was the best bluddy pizza I’ve ever had (even if I do say so myself :- ).
The scary part is that now I have to repeat it…a lot…on demand…professionally even! So I now have about 2-3 weeks to progress to professional speed…piece o’ cake…according to my calculations based on the time it took me to make my first pizza last night, I reckon I can make 100 pizzas in about 8 months…Hahahahahahahaaaa! :- ) So no worries ey? :- P
Who is that debonaire chap with the oar in his hand? Does he plan on rowing that contraption somewhere? Talk about ‘The Old Man & the Pizza Oven’! :- )
Butt Seriously guys…A big fat and heartfelt thanks :- )
Cheers
Stephen G
PS And thanks to you too Joanna, and you are most welcome :- )
Tom Peters- ReImagine! By far the best book Ive ever read!
I just Bookmarked your website Lane…looks really useful…thanks
Cheers
Stephen G
Thank you, Lane. For triple bonus points, can you tell us why it was so good and what it did for you?
a couple of books that have influenced me:
- Getting Things Done by David Allen
- Reality Check by Guy Kawasaki
- Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki
Next up will be Seth Godin’s work
cheers
Nick
Thanks very much, Nick. It’s great to have your thoughts. Best regards, Paul.
The Cluetrain Manifesto – Levine, Locke, Searls, Weinberger
The byline on this book is: The end of business as usual. Which was kind of funny because when I first read it I didn’t think it was a business book. It used language that was ordinary, or everyday speech.
It was fascinating because it spoke about a brave new frontier, why it was important, how it should be protected, and how it would change the way we live our lives. Despite that description, it didn’t read like sci-fi either. It sounded real.
What was that new frontier? The internet of course.
What was significant about it, especially given it was written at the time of massive venture capital fundings for ridiculous and pathetic business models based on ecommerce, was that its focus was on real people – the everyday users. It didn’t treat the internet as a vehicle for get rich quick schemes, a way to maximise sharholder value etc.
It taught me the internet is a place, a place where people communicate and connect with each other, and they can and will do so easily. The authors accurately predicted that that by means of the internet authourity would become decentralised, heirachies would be subverted, and credibility would be much harder to purchase in 30 second televised increments. Most importantly, it showed me that honesty and transparency would be rewarded.
It is about communication, and why the internet would change things in far more fundamantal ways then deciding to buy dog food online.
(PS – they’ve just released a 10th Anniversary edition, which has been updated. I’m looking forward to reading that also.)
Thank you for taking the time to write such a ripper review, Stephen. Amazon’d kill for that kind of content. You’ve left all of us richer for your comment. Best regards, P.
Awesome Stephen…many thanks…I share your views (& the book’s), about the Internet and what it is ‘actually’ doing.
Actually, to me this blog and the great folks on it, embody just those values…which is why this is the only blog that has ever engaged me for any length of time.
With ‘commenters’ such as your good self, it’s real and valuable and makes the ‘virtual’ tangible.
Cheers
Stephen G
I just finished this book”Why You’re Dumb, Sick & Broke and How to Get Smart, Healthy & Rich!” by Randy Gage.
This new business movie ”The YES Movie” featuring all famous business book writers, youtube trailer:
Thank you, Paul. Randy Gage certainly tells it like it is!
Egad! I’ve just created an Amazon book store, in which one can buy all the books I mentioned and more. I had no idea it was so quick and easy:
http://astore.amazon.com/thefeiemp-20
I will shortly see about adding everyone else’s book suggestions, so we have them collected in one easy-to-generate-commission-for-Paul repository.
If you’re at a loose end today, perhaps you can look into creating your own store for a bit of passive income. Big thanks to Michael at http://www.qdosology.co.uk/shop.aspx for giving me this idea.
Cor struth! This is like shooting fish in a barrel!
http://astore.amazon.com/thefeiemp-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=2
If, perchance, you don’t like the idea of my listing your fave books in my book shop, just say the word and I’ll delete them instantly.
Dear Paul,
Why on Beetjuice (oops! Freudian slip
), Earth would you remove your new book shop just because one of us don’t like it?
It’s yours…if it’s worth doing, screw us mate…there’ll always be some sad bugger out here with a pair of secateurs and a medieval disdain for poppies over a millimeter tall
Go forth and multiply Good Sir
Cheers
Stephen G
Many thanks for your ringing endorsement, Stephen!
I wouldn’t close the shop, but I would remove tomes which, but for contributors like you, I’d not have encountered.
Those who suggested these titles may well wish feature them in their own book shops. I didn’t want to ride the tweep’s back, if you get my drift.
If that was the case mate, then we’d have a Battle Royale on our hands…hasn’t Amazon got nearly everyone’s favourite books for sale? ;-P
Ride the Wild Twurf Good Sir
Cheers
Stephen G
Some of my favourite’s
The 4 Agreements – Don Miguel Ruiz – Basic life principals for day to day living
Jonathon Livinston Seagull – Richard Bach – living beyond limits ( this is one of my all time simple and powerfull favourites)
Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill- Upgrade your thinking upgrade your life
The message in all of the above is probably the similar…
People who inspire me (and therefore whose books I read) are those who “follow their spirit unconditionally and without hesitation”
Other favourite books:
Gregg Braden. The Isiah Effect
Manly P Hall. Everthing
Cyril Scott. The Initiate Series
Madame Blavatsky
Kahil Gibran – Poetry
Ensha
Thank you and welcome, Ensha. There are some absolute rippers in your list. I’m grateful you took the time to share them with us. Best regards, Paul.
Just submitted a list with comment Paul, but post not showing up. Tried a resubmit and got WP error message about a duplicate
Hope to manifest a list in due course!
Hanging on the coat-tails of this page; cheers for retweeting the link for stragglers.
Also pondering the rising frequency of like-minded instant instances circumnavigating the globe (or passing through it via low-frequency particle/wave beam): you and I evidently laboured to creative inspiration without fanfare, marching band or angelic harps to produce simultaneously published Amazon eStores.
What to leave out? Curbing my enthusiasm to list beyond your parameters is proving tortuous, but the upside is benefiting from editing bootcamp
Seth Godin’s works have yet to grace my bookcases (Stephen G will testify with splendid pithy oath to sight of shelves laden with 250+ of my business title preferences), however I concur with the remainder of your own fair list Paul. Clearly, I’ve been inattentive so thanks for the postcard.
Therefore, in an effort to add dimension without straying too far towards the cream of five hundred or so of my self-development/spiritual growth titles nestling cover by binder on further pseudo-libraries elsewhere about the premises (available for inspection if you ask nicely), I offer the following marvellous, inspirational on-topic off-beat authors’ for wisdom gain:
Looking Out For #1 by Robert J. Ringer (1977)
Chronologically, this takes the initial bow given I first read it in 1982 as an impressionable, intense 18-year old. 20:20 hindsight and all that, I perceive it today through more enlightened eyes however, it’s an excellent primer for heading towards the apex of Maslow theory prior to breaking through the self-limiting ozone layer of sole concern with earthly personal and business interests in pursuit of spiritual awareness and servitude. The entrepreneurial, nay, impresario author regales humorous tales of humiliation, fortunes won, lost and accumulated again, imparting observations on the absurdity of society power-plays and wise tips to extricate one’s intrepid self from the snares and hazards in relationships, social circles, business dealings and life, towards time, creative, financial and moral/ethical freedom.
Synchronicity: the Inner Path of Leadership by Joseph Jaworski
Lawyer son of a Watergate/Nixon impeachment prosecutor, the author is one of the world’s thought leaders and luminaries in his own right. Former global policy advisor to the petroleum conglomerate Royal Dutch Shell group, founder of the American Leadership Forum, he takes the reader on a personal journey via the debris of his own private life failings amid corporate world success to a destination of intuitive decision-making, responsible collaboration, harmonious relationships and ethical planning. Read it in 2002. A must.
The Seed Handbook by Lynne Franks
All too few female writers in business, but this is a standout by any comparison for would-be start-ups, especially those with a care for spiritual understanding. A workbook, a mentor, a visionary experience in one.
The Richest Man In Babylon by George S. Clason (1926)
Reprinted countless times, my copy from 1988 and first read in 2002. The prototype all wealth creation guru’s seem to follow and preach from. Genius. A parable to rival anything bearing Ancient Greek philosophical status.
Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
The first in a series of books, boardgames, DVD’s, seminars and emarketing communications self-evidencing the power and wealth behind a simple premise: academic teaching is designed to churn out a security-conscious labour-force slave to the dollar earned. Street smarts gained from fiercely-independent business ownership/investments yields passive income offering similar desirable outcomes to the aforementioned Babylonian. Principally espouses the virtues of taking responsibility for educating oneself in the sacred art of financial literacy. Having learned the hard way, I can vouch for the message, if not wholly for the messenger. Revered and despised, the author’s works are nevertheless valuable if wishing to make the transition from poverty to self-sufficiency, even if offended by the notion of Rich.
As A Man Thinketh by James Allen
In the mould of Napoleon Hill, but less of the bootcamp and more of the mystic retreat.
What We Ache For by Oriah Mountain Dreamer
Searingly intimate instruction for opening to one’s Muse, or indeed any creative-driven endeavour. Author of The Invitation, itself a classic. Guys, pay attention to women’s writing, it is a blessing and an insight into the right way to do and be pretty much everything in this mad patriarchal world. The only book combining creativity, writing and for me the business of writing about business to have ever unblocked and unlocked me.
The Life You Were Born to Live by Dan Millman
Former Olympic athlete turned spiritual guru, he of The Way of The Peaceful Warrior. Numerology made accessible and magically relevant; piercing accuracy that is hard, in my 12 years of practicing awareness of, to be dismissive of. Okay, it’s out of chronological order, but deliberate given the subject. Adds depth to astrological insight, allowing the development of timing: critical business facet. Ebb and flow with your own rhythm instead of against the grain of life. Absolutely changed my life.
That sound you can hear is the wince in pain, of tearing my fingers away from the keyboard lest I continue into next month with this…
Dear Michael. Sorry you had technodrama. I think it was just a delay, rather than a glitch. My understanding is that once we’ve approved one of your comments, the system lets you in evermore. Is that right, Megan?
Thank you for this wonderful list and your fantastic descriptions. Your comment is the stuff of dreams for me, so please don’t tear your fingers on my account. I’m hoping this blog will stand for a long time, so there’s no limit to what our list contain.
If you have a mind to load a pic of all your books on to a hosting website, this blog can take a link to it. I think it’d be very interesting for others to see your books. Perhaps we can all do likewise. It’d make for a fascinating comparative study.
I feel very lucky to have garnered such a generous, well informed reader as yourself, Michael. I greatly look forward to your return. Best regards, P.
Yep that’s correct… once we’ve approved your first comment, future comments should appear immediately. Stops our many friends who comment about various pharmaceuticals
Thanks for stopping by Michael, welcome!
Thanks, Megan. You’re so quick to respond! It sure is great to have you behind our scenes.
Let it be recorded on this fine day, that in the Court and County of Earth, that Stephen G did under oath, testify that the Mr Michael Martin (key witness of the Crown), spake in sooth.
Yep! Seen the bookshelf
Cheers
Stephen G
Oh…and have considered the eBook of this blog as an edifying edition for addition to that list?
Cheers
Stephen G
Few things would give me greater pleasure than turning this blog into an ebook (or bbook) Stephen.
However, the fantasy requires a rich, respected, global publisher to handle all technical and distributive matters.
I wake each morn with the hope in my heart that THIS day will deliver a publishing offer for one (any one!) of my blogs. Perhaps tomorrow…
Yep! I hear ya Cobba.
I thought I’d pop these links up, NOT with the intention of pressuring you into taking any kind of pre-emptive action, but just as a reference for later. They seem to be reasonable starting points:
http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/01/20/how-to-turn-your-blog-into-a-book/
http://www.top10tech.com/web/2008/03/22/blogging-tips/turn-your-blog-into-a-book-three-tools/
Cheers
Stephen G
PS Will update soon, probably on I ROBOT ( http://mybrc.myobnet.com/2009/08/04/i-robot/ ), and/or Naming Rights ( http://mybrc.myobnet.com/2009/05/07/naming-rights/ ), regarding some of my so far, apparent victories on several and simultaneous battlefronts…pretty busy right now…trying to take advantage of the opening I have before me…Wow! It looks like I might actually be able to sell some pizzas this week
More later…
Thank you, Steven. These look like jolly good links. And even if I’m a bit slow off the mark, our other readers will doubtless find them intersting too.
Very keen to see your updates. Particularly any victories. Please do keep us posted.
Hey Paul,
I wound up here through a comment on my blog from Michael (comment #36). Great stuff. I love the books you’ve got listed and a few – The Secret, The Science of Getting Rich – are personal favs.
The post was great, but the comment section is a hoot! What a great community.
This is me subscribing…
Cheers
George
Hi George! It’s great to see you in here. Thanks for your kind comment. Your site looks interesting. I was taken by that Raising Malawi banner, having just read The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind.
AND you’ve got an ebook out yourself!
Thanks also for subscribing; that’s a real vote of confidence in our work. Hope to see you again soon. Best regards, Paul.
BIG thanks to you too, Michael, for sending us such an interesting fellow!
One I forgot the other day….hiding at the back of my mind.
Og Mandino – an oldie but a goodie
Good on you, Ensha. I’ll add it to the shop. Many thanks!