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This article showcases our top picks for 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.
This product was recommended by James Francis from Mozillion
A change from the mass of business theory text books, Twelve And A Half tackles the emotional and mental side of business performance, revealing the twelve essential emotional skills that are integral to life and business.
This product was recommended by James Francis from Mozillion
Gives a unique perspective on the art of marketing your business. A fresh angle on building trust, positioning your business, why the old approaches to advertising and branding no longer work and how storytelling helps people understand your cause.
This product was recommended by Joseph Greene from Trinidad Birding
The First 90 Days by Micheal Watkins is a must-read for anyone studying business and anyone who wants to start running a successful business. The book outlines and explains what needs to happen in the crucial time period of the first 90 days of a business for it to either succeed or fail. What I love about Watkins’ writing, and why I think it’s a fantastic book for students, is that everything is written clearly and concisely, this book doesn’t feel like it’s talking down to you, instead, it feels like it’s teaching you something that you need to know.
Dale Carnegie was born in 1888, and he wrote this classic book in 1936. In his book, he taught people to become popular and influential. He taught them how to win friends and influence people.
Think & Grow Rich is a 1937 bestseller written by Napoleon Hill. In this book, he taught people how to achieve success and prosperity. Learn how to get rich by learning from those who have already achieved success.
The E-Myth Revisited is a 1987 book by Michael Gerber. In this book, Gerber teaches people how to build their own successful companies. He teaches us how to create a unique selling proposition (USP) and differentiate our company from competitors.
Jack Canfield is the author of many books including Chicken Soup For The Soul series. His latest book is called The Success Principles. In this book, Jack Canfield teaches us how to achieve success in any area of our lives.
The One Minute Manager is a 1979 book written by Kenneth Blanchard. In this book, Blanchard teaches us how to lead others and manage employees effectively. He teaches us to use the 5 second rule and give feedback to our employees.
This product was recommended by Erika Barnes from Petsmitten
I loved reading this book when I was first studying and wanted to start my own business because it includes such a vast amount of information that every single business owner would need. The concepts it explores are very easy to understand, even for a newbie business student, and I love the inclusion of flow diagrams and other infographics to make these ideas easier to follow.
This product was recommended by Ramal Ibrahimov from DollarBakers
A student’s fundamental knowledge plays a very important role in making big decisions that determine his or her future. Fundamentals have always remained relevant despite how technology shaped our lives. The book written by Malcolm Gladwell, the author of the famous 10,000 hours rule, is a great point to start from. In addition to hard work, Gladwell mainly emphasizes the role of factors, mostly external, that might play crucial roles in achieving success. The point of view that Gladwell expresses in his book is very unique and thought-provoking.
This product was recommended by Tim Prescott from Certainly Cars
All other books help you to prepare for the best outcome, but this book helps you get in right mindset to be ready for the unexpected in the business world. How will you react when things go wrong, especially when it was very unlikely that it was supposed to occur? This book provides you with the framework to think through the potential impact of unpredictable events and how you can prevail during those times.
This product was recommended by Tim Prescott from Certainly Cars
The author of this groundbreaking book is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and delivers first-hand scientific evidence about how one’s grit or perseverance can determine their success instead of just pure talent or skill-level. This is a great message for high school or college students thinking about their future business careers and proves that you can truly out-work others to achieve a high level of success, even if they have higher IQs or better grades than you. The book also recommends how to develop and encourage this habit of sticking to something in your own life.
This book is the perfect book for anyone looking to begin their own startup. Typically, students don’t have access to a lot of capital at the beginning of their business journey, and this can be discouraging. This book teaches you a business model for how to run your business efficiently and how to be more successful without needing a lot of capital.
This product was recommended by James “Jimmy” Watts from Own The Grill
Because it’s a book that explains and teaches its reader how to develop the everyday skill set that you should be using to increase your chances of success in any chosen field of endeavor. And having sold more than forty million copies worldwide, it has proved itself to be an effective medium for both personal, and professional change, within its ever-increasing fanbase.
This product was recommended by Daniel G. Leone from NJ Law Results
I really enjoyed how this book combined business ideas with social change and true, creative innovation. This is perfect for students who want to explore unique business ideas that may challenge the typical business norm. The other great thing about Do Good Well is that it shows you how you can put the theories and ideas into practice; it shows rather than tells, which is perfect for students who may not yet know how the business world works.
This product was recommended by John Kistler from Kistler Law Firm
This book is a life changer and taught more about how to handle business than any class in my University. University classes really only teach about the mathematical parts of business but lack the human element. It really gets you into the mind to establish strong business relationships that can propel your career forward.
This product was recommended by Meera Watts from SiddhiYoga
Ben Horowitz’s The Hard Thing About Hard Things is one of those books that makes reading seem like watching a movie. You will get a peek into his chaotic and challenging world as he attempts to launch his enterprise. Ben has given a detailed account of his life, from the moment he first had the idea to launch his own company to how he dealt with some potentially challenging issues. He has talked about his own hardships, the lessons he gained from his own journey, and the actions he and his team took to start his firm.
Creating a business requires passion. Good to Great helps aspiring entrepreneurs focus on discovering their passion and bringing it into their business to make it successful. The book isn’t too complex, and it introduces concepts that a student can easily understand. Starting a business may be daunting, so it’s important to set the foundation for success, and picking up this book can show you how to better use your limited resources to maximize the results.
This product was recommended by Rohan Kadam from Biking Know How
Marc is amazing! This book literally has everything one needs to know about e-Commerce and making money online. The book has many successful case studies regarding eBay’s success, dropshipping, amazon marketplace, and much more. It’s one of those ‘eternal’ books that you keep referring to, as it is packed with terrific resources, action checklists, and superlative strategies that every online marketer should employ. A must-read for anyone who wants to promote anything on the web.
This product was recommended by Span Chen from The Karate Blog
In Thinking, Fast and Slow (2011), Kahneman closely examines the constant battle for dominance between the two main systems of the human brain. You’ll learn how the conflict between these conscious and automatic systems leads to errors in memories, which consequently affects how a person forms judgments and makes decisions. Every college student will find this book useful, particularly learners who wish to pursue human resources and training/development careers.
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?
This book is a good business book for students because it provides them with motivation, inspiration and the tools they need to succeed in their chosen field. The book covers topics such as goal setting, time management and self-discipline – all of which are essential for any aspiring entrepreneur. By reading this book, students will learn how to take control of their lives and create the future they want. This book is an essential read for anyone who is serious about achieving their dreams. This gives them practical advice on how to turn their dreams into reality.
This product was recommended by Kevin Huang from Ambient Home US
The Personal MBA is a comprehensive business book for students in business school who are considering pursuing an MBA or those who are in a different field of study but want to start a business. Kaufman shares principles and strategies essential to building a thriving business. He assures the reader that business school is not a requirement to do this. Topics covered include value creation and delivery, sales and marketing, finance, leadership, systems, and even the human mind and emotions. The book is aptly titled because it serves as a business handbook in place of getting an MBA, saving you thousands of dollars.
This product was recommended by Chandler Rogers from Relay
This book should be on everyone’s essential reading list. Lewis is a master who has written a book filled with so many lessons, yet it reads like a detective thriller. His writing is clear and his ability to break down ideas for understanding is impeccable. Students and newcomers to business alike can benefit from this read.
