Experts Tell Us the Best Books on Product Strategy

Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash
1 year ago
This article showcases our top picks for the Books on Product Strategy. 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.

The Startup Owner’s Manual by Steve Blank

This product was recommended by Iryna from simple.app

A fundamental guide to launching a startup using the Customer Development methodology. According to this approach, you need to get out of the office as early as possible and test your business model on real consumers, make sometimes very significant changes to the original idea, and then get out again and test the new model – and never stop this iteration process. The book not only describes the experience of creating startups but also gives a clear methodology of how new businesses are created, step by step.

Inspired by Marty Cagan

This product was recommended by Patrick Sinclair from All Home Robotics

In the book, thought leader in this area, Marty Cagan walks us through how companies like Amazon, Google, Apple and Tesla have created tech products that won over billions, and how readers can do the same by structuring an organization to deliver tech products that customers will love. I personally found it to be a great read, and would recommend it to all aspiring product strategists.

Strategize by Roman Pichler

This product was recommended by Melanie Bedwell from Olipop

Strategize: Product Strategy and Product Roadmap Practices for the Digital Age by Roman Pichler helps businesses create a strategy to actually get their products sold. The book is written in an engaging style that can be understood by anyone and the information can be applied to any industry. I like that the book is divided into two parts. The first section discusses product strategy, KPIs, and vision, whereas the second dives into product roadmapping.

The Product Mindset by David H. DeWolf

This product was recommended by Marcus Hutsen from Patriot Coolers

They suggest that rather than keeping product development separate from other departments, leaders should make sure that stakeholders from all areas are looped into the development process. That way everyone from IT to Marketing has a profound and detailed understanding of what the product is and how it works. Not only are they better equipped to perform their function in support of the product, but as true stakeholders who have invested their time in the development process, they are more likely to feel inspired and motivated.

Product Strategy by Gary Metcalfe

This product was recommended by James Parsons from Content Powered

Gary Metcalfe provides insightful ideas beyond the basics of product marketing. His agile techniques can help marketers and product strategists, like me, optimize content strategies for new products for launching across digital channels and even offline.

Launch by Jeff Walker

This product was recommended by Lorraine Daisy Resuello from Connection Copilot

It got a paperback copy in 2018. This book taught me strategic ways to launch and position a product in the market that gains a high trust rating and long-term memory retention. Jeff Walker’s product launch formula is practical, targeted, and timely. Product managers and marketing specialists can learn the do’s and don’ts of product launches to make a powerful brand.

Hooked by Nir Eyal

This product was recommended by William C. from YourDigitalAid

When I first started reading this book, I thought it was a tad rubbish. However, when Mr. Nir Eyal started to dive deep into how products like Twitter, Facebook and even Apple created products that were addicting – I was fascinated. The concept of the Hook model is awesome, and I would urge every product person to read it. It’s the concept of building a habit and providing micro-benefits which give people a small bit of chemical stimulation.

Zconomy by Jason Dorsey

This product was recommended by Luke Lee from PalaLeather

This book is a must read when your primary target is Gen Zs. Businesses nowadays still have their business model and processes based on what used to work with older generations. This book helps brands design products, sell, and market, based on how the Gen Z shops and behaves. It helps companies quickly adopt and embrace Gen Z thinking to reshape their processes and make it more appealing to this group of consumer trendsetters..

Product Strategy for High Technology Companies by Michael McGrath

This product was recommended by Kimberly Silva from FindPeopleFirst

This book focuses on the tips and tricks associated with the product strategy to implement in this 21 st century. The author discusses some of the successful strategies adopted by giant technical leaders in the market like IBM and Apple to enhance their business growth and productivity. Beginners and professionals can read this book to redefine their perspectives on product strategies.

Product-Led Growth by Wes Bush

This product was recommended by Lucia Jensen from WeLoans

The author wrote this book with the sole intention of helping young entrepreneurs and business people understand how to elevate customer experience from the value your product provides them. In his book, Wes Bush outlines methods that can enable a brand cut its acquisition costs and boost sales in ways that seemed impossible before. Each chapter of the text has different key points to help your business grow.

Escaping the Build Trap by Melissa Perri

This product was recommended by Phi Dang from Sidepost

If you’re looking for a book that covers essential product strategy principles and offers actionable advice, “Escaping the Build Trap” is a great choice. Perri, the author, is the CEO of a product management consultancy, so she knows her stuff. The book is rated 5 out of 5 stars on Amazon.com, and contains only 200 pages, making it a quick read. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced PM, you’re sure to get value out of this book.

Beyond The Prototype by Douglas Ferguson

This product was recommended by Daniel Chen from Airgram

If you’ve completed a design, then it’s time to launch! Douglas Ferguson shares his secrets on how to successfully release that product. Through compelling stories and examples, this guide will walk you through six essential steps for successful product launches so that you can make your launch a success like Adobe, who in 2010 launched their Photoshop Web Prototyping System which generated $75 million in sales within three months of the launch, or even Google who revealed their revolutionary self-driving car to the public in 2014.

Inside Your Customer’s Imagination by Chip R. Bell

This product was recommended by James Jason from Notta AI

Have you ever seen a product that amazed you, but were not sure what it was or why? Has it ever been hard to describe how something or someone makes you feel? In Inside Your Customer’s Imagination, author Chip Bell takes us on an imaginative journey to help us understand – through the use of examples from Marriott, how partnering with our customers can help us discover an insight that we can transform into a treasure trove of innovations and process improvements. Whether your idea is for your next blockbuster product or just a great new way to improve customer satisfaction at your hotel, this book will help you take your business to the next level.

Blue Ocean Strategy by Roger Wayne

This product was recommended by Stella Scott from EasyPaydayLoan

Recognized as one of the most iconic and impactful strategy books ever written, Blue Ocean Strategy addresses the most pressing product-related questions readers have asked. Based on a study of 150 strategic moves, the authors argue that lasting success comes not from battling competitors but from creating blue oceans – untapped new market spaces ripe for growth. This book is an excellent choice to learn product strategy because it presents a systematic approach to making the competition irrelevant and outlines principles and tools any organization can use to create and capture their blue oceans.

The Pricing Model Revolution by Danilo Zatta

This product was recommended by Stella Scott from EasyPaydayLoan

This book is an essential and engaging blueprint for building an enduring competitive advantage with insightful pricing models. The Pricing Model Revolution avoids an overly academic perspective in favor of providing practical guidance you can apply immediately to start generating more revenue. From many corporate case studies in different industries and geographies, the book contains expansive descriptions of freemium, subscription, and many innovative techniques like neuropricing. In the book, you also learn how to identify the best monetization approaches for your products and execute the one that makes the most sense for your business.

Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller

This product was recommended by Jonathan Gron from OwlRatings

Building a StoryBrand will help you understand the importance of crafting narratives that allow customers to connect with your product and brand. Customers have a fine-tuned ability to tell whether an organization is just trying to sell them something or if they’re really concerned about getting them involved and helping them reach their goals. When businesses are able to create products that work alongside customers instead of merely trying to push product, it creates a better customer experience making the business more likely to succeed. These 7 key elements will increase your chances of engaging customers and driving increased sales.

Product Management’s Sacred Seven by Parth Detroja

This product was recommended by Jason Cordes from CocoLoan

The Sacred Seven of Product Management is a comprehensive resource that will teach you the essential knowledge and abilities you need to become a world-class PM who can be hired anywhere. Inside Product Management’s Sacred Seven, you’ll find real-world examples from more than four dozen firms, interview strategies that have been tried and true, and free access to an online library of supplementary video content.

Productize by Eisha Armstrong

This product was recommended by Jason Cordes from CocoLoan

Real-life case studies and experiences from professional services leaders who have successfully led their firms to build more scalable services and products are included in Productize. It also comes with over two dozen tools and templates to assist your team in putting the methods into action, so you don’t have to start from a blank.

The Lean Startup by Eric Ries

This product was recommended by Chris M. Walker from Superstar SEO

This book is all about how to start and grow a business in today’s world. It covers topics such as how to create a minimum viable product, how to get your first customers, and how to measure progress. The Lean Startup is a must-read for any entrepreneur who wants to create a successful business..

The Lean Product Playbook by Dan Olsen

This product was recommended by Chris M. Walker from Superstar SEO

The best things about this book were the diagrams and formulas. This book is without a doubt one of the most useful guides I’ve ever read, this book focuses on specific aspects of product strategy, such as pricing or marketing.

Swipe to Unlock by Neel Mehta

This product was recommended by Madilyn Hill from TruePersonFinder Inc.

This book enables you to make the right strategic decision for products. It is a comprehensive approach to product strategy using the latest concepts and technology. Swipe to unlock is an ideal book for anyone working in product management or involved in product strategy. Learn how to decode tech’s biggest buzzwords and how technology is changing society. It includes important topics like software development, business models, hacking and security, future trends, technology policy, emerging markets, cloud computing, and much more.

Activate Brand Purpose by Scott Goodson

This product was recommended by Christian Velitchkov from Twiz LLC

The greatest challenge for most leaders is to activate the right action purpose of the business. Based on different statistics, consumers are a lot more likely to purchase products from businesses that are here for a cause they care about. These are some strategies that are usually ignored in a product strategy. This book talks about some hidden aspects of product strategy and some tips that can make your product management tenure less stressful.

Naked Statistics by Charles Wheelan

This product was recommended by Colton Horn from Breinfuel Inc

Data is one of the most integral aspects of product management. Starting from battling the averages to political polls and medical research. Product strategy is all about using the right data and statistics and creating the right solutions for the industry. This bestseller offers you innumerable effective tips and tricks to leverage your data in the most productive manner.

Everybody Wants To Rule The World by R Ray Wang

This product was recommended by Colton Horn from Breinfuel Inc

This book is all about elaborating on different strategies and aspects that make a certain company thrive or crush the global business landscape. Among the biggest digital giants, only your product strategy can help your business get noticed. This book enlists some considerable case studies and research to carve out a perfect product strategy for different businesses.

Telling Your Data Story by Scott Taylor

This product was recommended by Jack Klauber from Everyday Dose

Your data plays a significant aspect in your product strategy. This book acts as a practical guide to explaining and understanding the strategic value of data management in your product strategy. The need for data is limitless, and by leveraging the right data and analytics, you can create some of the most revolutionizing products in the market. Thus, this book gives you a plethora of different insights into understanding and using the data in the right ways.

David Friedland

Bit of a gear addict.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Don't Miss

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

The Best Leadership Books For Business

This article showcases our top picks for the Leadership Books For Business.
Photo by Pixabay

The Best Strategy Books For Beginners

This article showcases our top picks for the Strategy Books For Beginners.