It has been said that a wise man learns from his mistakes, but a wiser man learns from the mistakes of others. Venturing into a new endeavor, such as business, for the first time can be daunting and confusing. Reduce your time on the learning curve by absorbing insight from some of the volumes that top executives and successful entrepreneurs consider the best books on business.
These are some of the most important books to read to get an insight into the fundamentals of modern business, marketing and the economy. If you don’t have the time to read all of these, business book summaries of these and other important works can be found online in order for you to get the most out of your time!
“Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…And Others Don’t,” by Jim Collins
This is one of the most recommended books by CEOs and other business people on how to build a successful business. After analyzing a list of 1,435 companies, Collins and his research team chose 11 to focus on, including Walgreen’s, Gillette, and Wells Fargo. They found common traits that successful companies share, such as outstanding products or services and disciplined corporate cultures.
This book is an excellent introduction to business fundamentals and has sold millions of copies since its first publication. Jim Collins is a renowned business writer and researcher who holds a business degree from Stanford University and honorary doctorates from the University of Colorado and Claremont University. He writes regularly in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Fortune, and other highly regarded business journals.
“The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century,” by Thomas Friedman
This acclaimed, best-selling book discusses the phenomenon of globalization. Modern businesses should use modern communications technology not as something relevant to the future but as a way to hook up to the international entrepreneurial community. This book is a comprehensive look at how this connectedness translates to the global marketplace. Thomas L. Friedman has won three Pulitzer Prizes as a foreign affairs columnist for the New York Times. He has written several authoritative books on globalization and the international economy.
“Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust by Chris Brogan,” and Julien Smith
This book delves into how successful businesses use social networks to impact a brand’s influence, reputation, and profits. Social media has leveled the playing field and enabled all businesses to have equal access to information and the ability to communicate with potential collaborators and customers. It is imperative that modern entrepreneurs utilize the Internet effectively, and this book offers key insight into how to do so effectively. Chris Brogan and Julien Smith are CEOs, publishers, and New York Times bestselling authors who specialize in business topics.
“Permission Marketing: Turning Strangers Into Friends and Friends Into Customers,” by Seth Godin
Most advertising companies engage in interruption marketing by breaking into potential customers’ attentions, hoping to distract them from whatever they are doing. Permission marketing coaxes consumers to accept advertising voluntarily. This book offers an explanation of the concept and a strategy to implement permission marketing. Seth Godin is the author of a number of bestselling books on business and marketing. He is also the founder and CEO of the most popular marketing blog in the world.
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