The Best Business Books For College Students

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1 year ago
This article showcases our top picks for Business Books For College 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.

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

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Malcolm Gladwell, a well-known New Yorker author, has written a non-fiction book that is just as fascinating as his articles. He views the tipping point as the point at which a specific concept or action crosses a line and takes off like wildfire. This book is simple to read. It also makes you think. Like anything else, there are several situations that apply to business. The theme of the book was trends—how they emerge, how they spread, and who is responsible for them. Although some portions of the book may seem inadequate in the era of social media, the most important lessons are still applicable to any aspiring entrepreneur.

Giants of Enterprise by Richard S. Tedlow

This product was recommended by Max Whiteside from Breaking Muscle

Tedlow offers a fascinating read of life lessons if you wish to learn from the experiences of business titans. The works of Thomas Watson, Henry Ford, Robert N. Noyce, Sam Walton, Andrew Carnegie, and George Eastman are discussed in the book. The book is a wonderful resource for students looking for inspiration and who want to learn the universal lessons taught by the greatest businesspeople of the 20th century. Given that Tedlow is a historian, the writing tends to have an academic ring to it.

The Big Short by Michael Lewis

This product was recommended by Shad Elia from New England Home Buyers

This book examines the factors that contributed to the slump between 2007 and 2009 in great detail. The author researches the factors that contributed to the crash, including the real estate bubble and the credit default swap market. It also examines Wall Street’s unethical actions. Because of this, it makes for an interesting read for business-minded college students.

The Startup Owner’s Manual by Steve Blank

This product was recommended by Dennis Shirshikov from Awning

The Startup Owner’s Manual by Bob Dorf and Steve Blank is the best business book out there for college students. Many college students are interested in starting their own businesses and this book is the no-nonsense instruction manual to doing just that. The process of starting and running a company is better than any MBA degree available.

Personal Finance for Dummies by Eric Tyson

This product was recommended by Natalia Morozova from Cohen, Tucker & Ades P.C.

Personal Finance for Dummies, 9th Edition by Eric Tyson is an excellent book for college students looking to enter the world of business and finance. This all-inclusive book includes a wellspring of financial insight on everything from budgeting and investing in mutual funds to understanding different types of insurance—newer topics include cryptocurrency, technology, and even millennial lifestyle changes. Personal Finance for Dummies provides pivotal information to make well-informed business investments, and is an excellent resource for a college student to help build financial literacy.

The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber

This product was recommended by Linda Shaffer from Checkr

This book is a great read for anyone who wants to learn more about entrepreneurship and the lean startup approach. It provides a detailed account of why most small businesses fail and what can be done to avoid these pitfalls. It also offers a lot of helpful advice for anyone who is thinking about starting their own business.

The Lean Startup by Eric Ries

This product was recommended by Michael Green from Winona

The Lean Startup: How Constant Innovation Creates Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries is a must-read for anyone with dreams of starting a business. I credit this book for empowering rapid user growth on Winona’s telehealth platform. A big lesson the book drives home is that nothing in a company should ever be set in stone. It’s important to continually adapt and pivot when there is a clearer alternative path.

Extreme Productivity by Robert C. Pozen

This product was recommended by Colleen Colodany from KidsWiki

Extreme Productivity: Boost Your Results, Reduce Your Hours by Robert C. Pozen will be a great start for a student. As the book shows up practical ways to manage time. Introducing us to Extreme productivity and teaching us how efficiency is the most important factor.

The Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki

This product was recommended by Amanda Loeffler from Amanda Loeffler Notary Services

In my Entrepreneurship class in Business school this was required reading and I’m grateful for it. It’s a short read that gives you a road map of how to take an Idea and turn it into a Business. Highly recommend for anyone in Business School!

The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco

This product was recommended by Kate Smith from ZippiLeather

This book is all about creating wealth and achieving financial freedom. It’s packed with great information and perfect for anyone who wants to learn more about money and how to make it work for them.

How to win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie

This product was recommended by Camilla Henderson from FastdayLoans

The nuggets Andrew Carnegie gave back in the 30s apply effectively to any individual initiating a prospective business or learning to create a successful trade. Ideally, any business person ought to be genuine to attract the market; he should always be happy to stimulate a positive vibe with customers through engagement and feedback. He or she should be a good listener to meet consumer needs or stakeholder expectations. Finally, they should be able to control their emotions to avoid disrupting positive relationships with the market. Notably, Carnegie employs personal delations to determine how businesses shape their market to meet their strategies and market demands. Influencing customers and other stakeholders is a top goal in driving sales and exploring winning opportunities.

The Essays of Warren Buffett by Lawrence Cunningham

This product was recommended by Camilla Henderson from FastdayLoans

Years of trading and competing in the market endowed Warren Buffet with key information that he shared through letters to investors of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. The letters were random messages to the shareholders that explained the principles of sound business practices. Warren curated the content to value money as the end goal in every stage of business and the number one rule. Ideally, shareholders have invested intending to stimulate returns in their company. Warren defines the management strategies business students can look up to while initiating their startups. Warren further teaches the investor how to insulate themselves from market risks while evaluating the intrinsic benefit of any investment made. This helps to influence managerial practices on the staff and stakeholders in general. It is the ideal copy for any business student venturing into the market.

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

This product was recommended by Deepanshu Bedi from Holistapet

This book teaches how to break free from the cycle of paying bills and then waiting for the next paycheck. It’s about how essential financial literacy is for being successful. It’s great for teens so that they can start their journey to financial freedom as soon as they can.

Lucky Or Smart? by Bo Peabody

This product was recommended by Deepanshu Bedi from Holistapet

This book is about how the author achieved being a multi-millionaire. He gave tips on how to maneuver the industry and shared lessons he picked up throughout his journey. It explains the difference between being lucky and smart in the business world and how to take advantage of it.

I Will Teach You to Be Rich, Second Edition by Ramit Sethi

This product was recommended by Deepanshu Bedi from Holistapet

This is basically an adulting book about finances. It teaches how young adults and teens can live without worrying about finances, with steps on what to do with money, where to invest and how to pay debt.

UNSCRIPTED by MJ DeMarco

This product was recommended by Robb McQueen from Vitalized Future

Unscripted is the step-by-step blueprint on escaping the rat race and becoming wealthy. It covers everything you need to know about being a successful businessperson, including: How To Change Your Mindset For Success (Arguably the most important section…) Which Distractions You Need To Avoid To Become Successful (Very important!) Why Most Businesses Fail (The main reason Is eye-opening) How To Invest Your Wealth For Long-Term Passive Income (So you never have to work again!) Unlike other business books, it doesn’t sugar-coat information and promise self-help BS like If you follow your passion, you will become a millionaire!.

The Art Of War by Sun Tzu

This product was recommended by Aviad Faruz from Faruzo

Sun Tzu’s Art of War is my book recommendation for college students. This book was written over 2,000 years ago, yet it is still relevant today. Sun Tzu outlines principles that can be applied to any area of life, including business. He emphasizes the importance of understanding one’s enemy and using strategies that aim to achieve one’s goals with the least amount of conflict. The book provides a clear and concise framework for thinking about strategy and competition, and it offers valuable insights into human psychology and how to use that knowledge to your advantage.

Zero to One by Peter Thiel

This product was recommended by Andre Flynn from GadNets

The book I would like to recommend is Zero to One by Peter Thiel. You can buy it from an E-commerce website like amazon. If you are aiming to start a business as a young inexperienced entrepreneur, it is important to thoroughly grasp all the pros and cons of your every move. In the book, the infamous business personality Peter Thiel has discussed the problems you might have to face. He has included many tools and checklist in the book to verify whether you are going in the right direction. he has also explained how promotion and distribution plays a significant role and why small starts can be the launch of something big.

Personal Finance for Teens by Carol H Cox

This product was recommended by Marijke van Breda from Oliver Wicks

If you a high school student, soon to be a graduate and heading off to college or to work full time? Or wish they had been given guidance on money matters before finishing school. This book answers that need. In Personal Finance for Teens Carol H. Cox offers practical advice on how to build a rock-solid financial foundation for life after high school. Now is the time for young adults to get a handle on their finances before life gets more complicated. Carol covers how to choose, open, and manage a student checking account; network, write resumes, and impress interviewers; control spending and achieve savings goals; build a high-ranking credit score and manage credit cards wisely; assess the cost of car ownership and select an affordable car; evaluate college from a financial perspective; and take advantage of time and start building a retirement account now. This book is a great reference tool for any library and great graduation present for recent or soon-to-be grads. Personal Finance for Teens is the book that every teen needs to read before leaving home.

Business Studies For Dummies by Richard Pettinger

This product was recommended by Elijah Miller from RC Ride On Cars

Don’t be fooled by the title, as it’s a smart, quick introduction to business studies for students who might not have been fortunate enough to get a grounding in business in high school. This book will bring any and every student up to speed in an easy-to-digest and understand structured guide to the world of business and all that it entails.

Start Your Own Freelance Writing Business By Laura Pennington Briggs

This product was recommended by Jerry Han from Prize Rebel

Even if they aren’t a writer, this engaging and informative read prepares them for joining the gig economy. Additionally, it gets them thinking like an entrepreneur before they graduate. This matters because shifting their mindset will aid them whether they open a business or work for someone else.. Laura explains everything in an easy to understand manner that helps set a great foundation for a side hustle. As more companies shift to remote work, this highlights the benefits of experimenting with it. Graduates will be able to more effectively compete as they talk to potential employers about their experience working from home.

The Snowball by Alice Schroeder

This product was recommended by Jeremy James from Blue Water Climate Control

The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life. It is a detailed account of the author and also an investor. The book takes us through a journey of his life and with his colleagues. The book not only talks about his success but also about his frailties which makes the book worthwhile because, when reading about business, I don’t just want to know about how successful he is or how great he is. I want to know about their *mistakes and their shortcomings*. The book has described everything perfectly and summed up most of what you need to know about business.

Good to Great by Jim Collins

This product was recommended by Scott Krager from WODReview

The complete name of this book is Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Others Don’t. Just as the name sounds, it is indeed a moving idea that this book provides to the readers. The book sets out several studies and gives a good amount of learning to the readers. One time read or more, it only increases your worth every time you come across the pages of this book. One of the advantages of this book is its perspective to examine the *companies that are ordinary* and portrays studies to show how to uplift them to be in a great position in a simplified use of language and examples.

Why Not Ask? by Christine McKay

This product was recommended by Jennifer L. Horspool from Engagement PR & Marketing

A must read for college students is Why Not Ask? A Conversation About Getting More by Christine McKay. If you go into a negotiation, but do not know anything about your counterpart, you could find yourself the underdog in that negotiation. Emphasizing research and preparedness, McKay shows readers how they can get more of what they want out of every negotiation by understanding the components that go into it. As a college student, understanding that you are negotiating with a person, rather than the entire company, will help you ask better questions and understand the mutual benefit the negotiation will give to both you and your counterpart. This book is a great resource for students to outline what an effective negotiation entails and tools and techniques to get more of what you want simply by knowing how to ask for it; because after all, most every conversation in life is a negotiation of some sort.

Everybody Writes by Ann Handley

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

Handley argues that in an online world everyone is a writer so you need to learn how to create content that attracts and retains people’s attention. She provides practical tips, easy grammar and usage rules that are valuable whether you are working with a big brand or startup these are best practices that will make your writing better. Great advice we can all benefit from now more than ever.

David Friedland

Bit of a gear addict.

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