The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses
Eric Ries
It’s a must read at my company and we’re not alone.
Lean Customer Development: Building Products Your Customers Will Buy
Cindy Alvarez
Cindy’s approach is simple and powerful. I’m such a fangirl that I have a signed copy.
Inspired: How To Create Products Customers Love
Marty Cagan
A few years ago I interviewed at at starup that insisted everyone read this book. The book is great, the startup not so much.
Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard
Chip Heath and Dan Heath
I’ve spent my career pushing for change and it’s hard. The Heath brother’s simple framework and stories in this book are inspiring.
Getting Naked: A Business Fable About Shedding The Three Fears That Sabotage Client Loyalty
Patrick Lencioni
I am in the services business and Lencioni’s approach for working with clients described what I do when I’m at my very, very best and I try to always be this open with clients.
Scaling Up Excellence: Getting to More Without Settling for Less
Robert Sutton and Huggy Rao
Sutton and Rao spent seven years researching this book and you can tell that it’s the result of a very through effort. It’s also actionable and easy to read.
Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability
Steve Krug
This is a classic that everyone in product development should read.
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
Robert B. Cialdini
Cialdini is a marquee expert in behavioral science and this his most important book.
Getting Past No: Negotiating in Difficult Situations
William Ury
I do a lot of negotiating and coaching my team on negotiating. This book has lots of helpful techniques.
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
Carol Dweck
This is not a book I read for business. The most important thing I want my daughter to learn is to not be afraid of taking on challenges and to be willing to do the work and overcome challenges along the way. When I accidentally came across Dweck’s work I was thrilled to discover that what I wanted had a name. As I read it, I discovered how important a growth mindset is to business and if you manage people at all this book is worth your time.
I have Eric Ries’ new book but haven’t read much more than a few pages. I’m excited to read more. I’m a fan of Steve Blank, Laura Klein and Ash Maurya but haven’t gotten their books yet.
Image: I took this image of The Bridge of Sighs while visiting Cambridge after I finished graduate school in Edinburgh.