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Book Review Friday: My Top Ten Favorite Business Books

Rather than reviewing one book this week, I thought I would share my favorite business books. I get asked this question regularly, most recently when I was lecturing at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Business School earlier this week.

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/MistikaS, Image #4257988

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/MistikaS

I have blogged on this topic previously. However, it has been almost two years. Since that time, my list has changed. Only four of the previous ones are on the new list. However, all twenty (the previous list and this one) are excellent.

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Here are my current top ten favorites (Note: these are all Amazon affiliate links). They are listed in alphabetical order, but with no specific priority:

Again, I purposely did not include any Thomas Nelson books. I don’t want to get into the politics of why I included one author and not another. As I said previously, I read everything by John C. Maxwell. He is my friend and my mentor, and I highly recommend anything he has written. If you are new to his work, start with The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.

Question: What are your favorite business books? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Posted on November 14, 2008

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  • Calin

    The most important business books:
    -7 Habits for Highly Efficient People, Stephen R. Covey – it lays the foundations for a true leader by helping you have the personal succes first

    - The 7 Habits for Managers: Managing Yourself, Leading Others, Unleashing Potential [7 HABITS FOR MANAGERS D]- Stephen R. Covey – same principles applied to leading others

    - Jack Welch – Straight from The Gut

    - All the books written by Richard Branson founder of Virgin

    - Good to Great – Jim Collins

    - Ken Iverson – Plain Talk (inspired to buy it after reading about Nucor corporation)

    - Built to Last – Jim Collins

    - From Worst to First: Behind the Scenes of Continental's Remarkable Comeback – Gordon Bethune

  • Calin

    I forgot a very very important book read:

    - First, Break All The Rules by Marcus Buckingham & Curt Coffman

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  • http://twitter.com/jasonmoffatt Jason Moffatt

    Groovy list. We just read Tim Sanders “The Likeabilty Factor” in my book club. Pretty stellar book. Great dude.

  • Anonymous

    This is a great list. From books I read this year, I would add Rework, Linchpin and Presentation Zen to the list.

    My list: http://www.itsworthnoting.com/toolkit/

  • Gerard Byrne

    Excellent list. Thanks. Gerard, Townsville Australia

  • http://agirlatthewell.wordpress.com Janet

    I’m a big fan of “First Break all the Rules”. I manage employee engagement for my company and it’s remarkable how accurate results can be with 12 simple questions.

  • Anonymous

    Wonder how this list has changed over the past 2 years?

  • Anonymous

    I know you didn’t include any Thomas Nelson titles, so you wouldn’t have included this one, but I found Scott McKain’s Collapse of Distinction very good. The subject matter may be duplicated in some of these others, but the whole point of focusing on what you do and doing it well, rather than copying the competition, struck me with that book.

    Admittedly, when I read “business” books I’m looking with an eye toward church application. Usually with a fearful eye of “how are they going to warp this at the next church leadership seminar.” But some are still quite helpful.

    I’m adding a few of your suggestions to the wish list as well.

  • Cynthia Hopkins

    The Dean of the School of Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship at Regent University, Dr. Bruce Winston, has recently released his book, Be A Leader for God’s Sake, in PDF format.  It is a wonderful book on servant leadership that I love so much that I have actually purchased it for  friends and colleagues.  Now everyone can download it for free!

    http://www.bealeaderforgodssake.org/

    • http://michaelhyatt.com Michael Hyatt

      I love that table!

  • http://farmnwife.com judi @ farmnwife.com

    I am reading “Launch” right now. It is excellent.

    “You Are the Message” by Roger Aisles should be required reading for everybody. Love that one

  • http://www.dwaynes--world.blogspot.com Dwayne Morris

    Leadership is Dead, Kubicek
    Poke the Box, Godin
    Tribes, Godin

  • Tad

    I recommend “Seeking Wisdom- From Darwin to Munger” by Peter Bevelin. A great book about how we think and about human psychology and reasons for common misjudgments.

  • michael kilpatrick

    Wow- I thought that I had a pretty good business library but I only have 3 of your top ten – amazon and audible here I come!!!!

  • http://twitter.com/peciriacks Patrick Ciriacks

    Nice list!  Some of my favorites:
    1. Out of the Crisis – Dr. W. Edwards Deming – tough read, but amazing wisdom
    2. Seven Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen Covey
    3. Leadership is an Art – Max DuPree
    4. The Fifth Discipline – Peter Senge
    5. Now Discover Your Strengths – Marcus Buckingham

  • http://stopdoingnothing.com Patrick Allmond

    Great to see that I have 4 of the same ones that you like. 

    I’d also suggest people get a chance to review some great relationship basics from Dale Carnegie “How to win Friends and Influence People”. Cheesy name, but the information in there is invaluable. 

  • Joe Lalonde

    Thanks for bringing the list back to the forefront. I wasn’t reading you at the time you posted this but I love to see the reading lists of those I respect.

    Has the list changed at all since you posted this 2 years ago?

    • http://michaelhyatt.com Michael Hyatt

      My most current list is the link at the top of this page: “My Bookshelf.”

      • Joe Lalonde

        Thanks for the link to your current list.

  • Bridget

    Love your list!  I found a few new books from it that I will be digging into!  I would highly recommend a few more:
    1.  The Speed of Trust – Stephen Covey Jr.
    2.  Integrity Selling – Ron Willingham ( This book has made me more money in sales than any book I have ever read! )
    3.  Maximum Achievement –  Brian Tracy – This book should be read by every boss, teacher or parent.  It is about the impact of what we believe about ourselves based on what someone, usually a parent, teacher or person of influence told us as a child. It gives us a great tool to help us understand how we can change the thought processes that are holding us back from reaching our potential.  

    Thank you all for sharing your thoughts!

  • Eccle0412

    if only we all read more and shared knowledge.  Thank you for your example and inspiration.

  • http://twitter.com/iDreamCulture Andy & Janine Mason

    Built to Last by Collins
    How the Mighty Fall – Collins
    Transformation – Silvoso
    31 Chapters of Proverbs…one daily 
    But best of all the LIVING BOOKS – mentors, friends and leaders who are still operating their own businesses or are in the ‘sage’ season of life being able to pour into those younger than themselves.Thanks for what you are giving us Michael!

  • http://twitter.com/owenmorgan Owen Morgan

    This was really helpful – thanks – unfortunately I won’t be using your affiliate links as I’m purchasing in the UK. 
    I’ve read one or two, I am ordering all the others :)

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  • Grenae Thompson

    My favorite business book is “The Stress Effect: Why Smart Leaders Make Dumb Decisions—And What to Do About It.” I will be glad to send you a complementary book  for your bookshelf if you are interested. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and wisdom.

  • http://www.forward-living.com W. Mark Thompson

    Like almost all of these and the others I haven’t gotten to.
    Curious if you’ve got a new list these days.
    Would love to see if you do.

  • Anonymous

    Excellent list. Two that I would put on my list are James Autry’s The Servant Leader and Steve Farber’s Greater Than Yourself. Autry presents the application of servant leadership concepts to management and business leadership, without the Christian doctrinal discussion that often accompanies the topic. Farber’s fable describes the truest form of leadership, helping others be their greatness, even when that is greater than yourself.

  • http://twitter.com/kirkweisler Kirk Weisler

    Love your list… I would add 
    “Leadership and Self Deception”  =
     The 7 Habits,   -
    Poke the Box by Seth Godin  -
    Good to Great  -
    Everything I need Know I learned in Kindergarten…and of course… 
    “Orbiting the Giant Hairball by Gordon McKenzie

  • Frontporchdoctor

    Recent reads for me that I loved – The Progress Principle / Orbiting The Giant Hairball / Influencer / the Creative People Must Be Stopped

  • Joel B

    Thanks so much.  This is a great list of books I truly need

  • http://anytodo.com Any To Do

    Great list of motivational and inspiring books! I’d like to add a couple myself, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill,  as mentioned by another reader earlier is, to me, the basis for many other inspirational books which have been written since and is still incredibly relevant and inspiring, even after 75 years (it was originally published in 1937). Another is Stephen Covey’s ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ and his follow up book ‘First Things First’ which I believe is really key to getting priorities in the right order. Finally, The E-myth Revisited by Michael E Gerber is a must read for any business owner.  

    • http://www.jmlalonde.com Joe Lalonde

      Thanks for sharing your list. 7 Habits is a great book along with E-Myth Revisited. I’ve heard great things about Think and Grow Rich but have yet to read it.

  • Lilibet King

    I would add Patrick Lencioni to the list.  The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team is excellent, as is Death by Meeting.  He cuts to the heart of the problem while telling a fable, and the leadership insights are valuable.

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