2 years ago

This article showcases our top picks for the Business Books For Students. We reached out to industry leaders and experts who have contributed the suggestions within this article (they have been credited for their contributions below).

We are keen to hear your feedback on all of our content and our comment section is a moderated space to express your thoughts and feelings related (or not) to this article This list is in no particular order.

7 Steps to Success by Buck Martinez

This product was recommended by Jamie Levin from Ace Leadership Group

7 Steps to Success provides a clear and insightful roadmap for those who are continually working to define their purpose in a world full of obstacles in the journey we call life. Complete with real life lessons, valuable insight from recognized leaders and just the right amount of inspirational messaging, this publication is fitting for all generations, but has been found to really resonate and having the biggest impact with today’s youth.


Your Winning Formula by Buck Martinez

This product was recommended by Jamie Levin from Ace Leadership Group

Your Winning Formula challenges you to become a transformational leader capable of developing a powerful and impactful vision that will influence others to follow you. Our country is desperate for young leaders capable of wearing the armor that protects against merciless and hateful attacks against our fundamental principles such as hard work, respect for others and self, earning trust, and sacrificing for others and country. You will learn the critical tools necessary to develop your brand, the positive values and qualities that you will unleash on the world, and you will do it with a loud voice that many will hear and welcome. Be confident, poised, and strong as you begin your quest to be a transformational leader, and always remember, Stand Up and Be Yourself. Don’t let others intimidate, threaten or harass you into accepting their baseless and false narratives. You can be the transformational leader that influences others to carry your message in a proud and bold manner. Without your leadership, we will continue slipping behind as a country. You, and America, were made for greatness. Be the one that makes it happen; don’t wait for someone else to lead. You can be a difference maker.


Building Blocks of Leadership by Buck Martinez

This product was recommended by Jamie Levin from Ace Leadership Group

From television, internet, and social media, today’s students are being bombarded with many and confusing messages. Without the proper foundation, our students can be influenced to make the wrong decisions that will affect them for the rest of their lives. This book is intended to provide a foundation to our young men and women. With candid discussion and illustrations, our young men and women will have the opportunity to understand and apply valuable lessons that will serve as a foundation for life.


The Power of Positive Thinking by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

This product was recommended by Linda Shaffer from Checkr

This book is all about how businesses can take themselves from good to great by making small changes and improvements. It’s a fascinating read with lots of real-life examples, and it’s sure to give students plenty to think about in terms of how businesses operate. While there are a lot of other great business books out there, this is my top pick for students. It’s an easy read that’s packed with valuable information, and it’s sure to get students thinking about how they can take their own businesses to the next level. Students can glean a lot from this book, including the importance of setting goals and staying focused, as well as the value of teamwork and collaboration.


getting to yes by Roger William Fisher Ury Roger Fisher

This product was recommended by Iris Stephan from Stephan Immobilien

Especially young people just starting their business career often have the problem of being taken seriously in negotiations. This easy-to-read classic gives you the tools to excel in negotiations and achieve your goals. Probably one of the most valuable books you will ever read.


The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton M. Christensen

This product was recommended by Kshitij Nigam from Cheef Botanicals

This book has been made famous by business leaders all around the world, like Jeff Bezos, Malcolm Gladwell, and Steve Jobs, and for good reason. You can learn business from professors, but nothing prepares you for the industry’s ins and outs sans theories. Understanding the current scene of businesses can aid students both in their day-to-day purchases and if they one day think of starting a business. Clayton M. Christensen’s addition to business has been invaluable. In this book, he shows business managers how to lead the market, by capitalizing on emerging trends in business and choosing wisely between the old and new in business practices.


Zero to One by Peter Thiel

This product was recommended by Deepanshu Bedi from Exhalewell

I recommend Zero to One by Peter Thiel because it provides a new way of looking at the world and thinking about the future. It offers a clear and concise explanation of how businesses grow and make money, which is crucial for anyone who wants to start their own business. This book provides valuable insight into how startups should approach growth opportunities to succeed in today’s economy. I think it’s essential for students to be exposed to new ways of thinking, especially when they’re beginning their careers. Thiel offers insights and ideas that are not widely discussed, which can help students develop their own unique perspectives on business, technology, and society.


The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

This product was recommended by Oliver Hudson from Word Finder

In this book, Horowitz narrates the realities of running a business. The business book teaches how to do things right when even your carefully crafted plans don’t go the way you want. The book concentrates on the sad realities of entrepreneurship. It also talks about the screwups that occurred while leading larger corporations.


Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki

This product was recommended by Louis Russell from Kuhamia

This book is absolute gold for someone who wants to start their career in business, as it stresses the fact that there is no better investment than investing in knowledge. It teaches you the basics of financial literacy and about the fundamental *differences between assets and liabilities.* It is a complete package of suggestions, opinions, and self-experienced examples on ways to accelerate your financial sphere. It takes you deep inside the world of financial literacy and business management fundamentals. This book has provided a fundamental understanding of the business sector’s dynamics or mechanisms.


Creating Magic by Lee Cockerell

This product was recommended by Cassie Tucker from CAMM Media

Creating Magic, as a business book suggestion for students. Lee Cockerell is the former Executive Vice President of Walt Disney World. After dropping out of college, he rose through the ranks with both Hilton and Marriott, before leading a team of 40,000 Cast Members at Disney. Creating Magic tells of Lee’s 10 common sense leadership and business strategies that he adopted during his time at Walt Disney World. I read this book while in college, working at Walt Disney World, it inspired me to improve my leadership skills at a young age so that I might lead others well later in my career. Fast forward, I own a business and lead a team of contractors. I utilize these principles that Lee taught every day.


The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham

This product was recommended by Mukesh Sharma from Byaj Book

The Intelligent Investor is written by Benjamin Graham, who was a professor at Columbia University. The Intelligent Investor teaches students how to invest intelligently and avoid common mistakes that people make when investing their money. focuses on understanding the fundamentals of investing, including stocks, bonds, and inflation. He also discusses ways to measure risk and the importance of diversification.


Marketing Management by Philip Kotler

This product was recommended by Mukesh Sharma from Byaj Book

This book is written by Philip Kotler, a marketing professor at Kellogg School of Management. This book has been on the bestseller list for more than three decades and has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. This book is not just about marketing management but it also covers topics such as marketing strategy, market research, and marketing planning. Philip Kotler’s Marketing Management: A Strategic Approach to Marketing Planning provides students with the tools they need to succeed in today’s business world.


Dare To Launch by Anne Cocquyt

This product was recommended by Veronica Thompson from Everyday Power

If you are a business beginner, then you ought to read this book. This book gives actional advice that is very useful for starting and budding entrepreneurs. It also gives strategies and templates so you can set up your business to success. This book will give you everything you need to know in starting, launching, and even funding your business.


Drive by Daniel H. Pink

This product was recommended by Khamis Maiouf from Book of Barbering

This book will help you take charge of what drives you. Learn how you are being hurt by old motivational techniques that don’t work and do the opposite of what you want. Check out this book. It will save you years of wasted work, especially if people around you and at work have high expectations of you and you find that frustrating. It could save your job and your life in general. It could save you hours, days, or even years of trying to figure out why you can’t get yourself to do things. So easy to understand and so true.


The Fifth Discipline by Peter M. Senge

This product was recommended by Shaun Martin from Cash For Houses

The fifth discipline is to turn companies into learning organizations and build learning environments. The author explains the five disciplines and seven learning impairments we’ll all face. The author wants us to recognize that our troubles are created by our actions and incapacity to locate the main cause. He teaches us how to discover naturally recurring patterns in nature, how people react to them, and how to mitigate their negative consequences by gaining leverage on each pattern. Using the ideas in this book, you might be able to make positive changes at work, in your community, and in your own life.


Innovation and Entrepreneurship by Peter F. Drucker

This product was recommended by Will Yang from Instrumentl

This book is considered a classic in the business world. Drucker covers topics such as market analysis and finding opportunities, developing innovative products and services, and starting and running a successful business. The book also contains excellent illustrations of how sectors have transformed from being product-centric to customer-focused. Drucker’s framework is based on years of research and real-world experience, and it has been proven to be an invaluable resource for entrepreneurs around the world. If you’re a student with big dreams of starting your own business, this is a must-read.


Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim

This product was recommended by Kathleen Ahmmed from USCarJunker

Despite being released in 1994, Blue Ocean is a business strategy book that has withstood the test of time, as the methods explored in this book have continued to influence business growth for many entrepreneurs over the past few decades. In this book, authors W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne aim to show entrepreneurs the value of seeking out “blue oceans,” which are essentially market areas where existing consumer demand has not yet been satisfied. This way, business leaders don’t have to compete for market space but instead create new markets for themselves, which makes it a great book that can help students to better understand the steps needed to get there by offering up practical tips on strategy formulation, implementation, and more.


Humor, Seriously by Jennifer Aaker

This product was recommended by Paige Arnof-Fenn from Mavens & Moguls

On a lighter note I suggest Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life (And How Anyone Can Harness It. Even You.) by Stanford professors Jennifer Aacker and Naomi Bagdonas. They teach one of the most popular courses at the business school there and take an academic approach to make a compelling argument on how and why incorporating humor in your business and as a leader can be very powerful. Humor helps achieve business objectives, build more effective and innovative organizations, cultivate stronger bonds, and capture more lasting memories. Every executive can learn something and the data supports their approach. We’ve all been through a lot the past 2 years, it’s nice to balance the intensity of the pandemic with a light and fun read. Most are dry and put you to sleep but when is the last time you read a business book with great tips that made you laugh and smile throughout?


How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie

This product was recommended by Eva Decker from iDigic

A book that every student should read and learn from is How to win friends and influence people. The book teaches and imparts different lessons about approaching someone for friendship, tips, and strategies to talk to others. The book gives entrepreneurship tips and tells you, if you are generally interested in people, show your interest. And lastly, the book gave one very critical piece of advice: if you want to excel in life, do it yourself without comparing or criticizing others.


Managing Oneself by Peter F. Drucker

This product was recommended by Michael Gardon from Career Cloud

In Managing Oneself, author Peter Drucker prompts self-assessment through identifying and honing your most valuable skills while improving your weaknesses. Having awareness of self, and learning how to utilize your strengths, leads you on the journey of purpose, self-worth, and value-driven work.


Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

This product was recommended by Serenge Daniel from TruePeopleSearchFast

This book is filled with stories of many successful men from one generation in its 238 pages. It is one sure way to inspire students to aim for more and never give up. It educates on the concept of greatness and how it is achieved. It is also packed with quotes and lessons that can form part of their guiding principles in business.


What to Do Next by Jeff Henderson

This product was recommended by Devin Duke from HarperCollins

For students who aren’t sure what is next after college, this practical guide from business leader Jeff Henderson will help you reevaluate your purpose and determine your next best step. Navigating what’s next in life–whether in your career, personal life, or relationships–often brings a level of uncertainty and anxiety and presents more questions than answers. Entrepreneur, speaker, and pastor Jeff Henderson has experienced this firsthand–first when he left his marketing position at Chick-fil-A to start a church and nonprofit, and then again when he left that nonprofit in the middle of a global pandemic to . . . well, he didn’t know. He just knew he needed to make a move. This insightful book outlines the process he used to determine the next best step for him and how you, too, can pursue more meaning and purpose in your life and work. Sharing personal stories and best practices he’s learned along the way, he eloquently and practically guides you through the minefield of knowing what’s next by helping you: * Take the Career Risk Calculator and discover if you’re ready for change * Plan for change–both the changes you want and the changes you can’t see coming * Cultivate optimal options in your life that will guide you to better decision-making when the time comes * Identify what to do and what not to do when making decisions about what’s next * Exchange fear, confusion, and hopelessness for confidence, freedom, and purpose The next chapter of your life starts today, with one simple step. And you’ll know how to take that step because you know What to Do Next.


The Founder’s Dilemmas by Noam Wasserman

This product was recommended by Benjamin Basic from Fast Food Menu Prices

Former Marshall professor Wasserman’s book laid the groundwork for one of the most popular classes when he taught at Harvard Business School, and it became equally popular at Marshall. Based on his academic research into early decision-making that can make or break a startup, this is required reading for all entrepreneurs.


The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss

This product was recommended by Benjamin Basic from Fast Food Menu Prices

In The 4-Hour Workweek, Ferris argues that the idea that success comes from hours and hours of grueling hard work without rest is flawed. Instead, he instructs readers on how to redesign their lifestyle and focus on freeing up time through several strategies, like prioritizing important things, learning how to automate income streams, and dropping unproductive tasks.


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