If you’re fascinated by the lives of successful people, such as Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, whether it’s their interviews or blog posts, you may have noticed that many of them have one thing in common – they read books. Exploring the appropriate literature, particularly the best business book, will provide you with an understanding of the paths of numerous leaders and the ways they attained their success. Books for first-time managers will help broaden your perspective and inspire you to reach new heights. Reading such books is especially useful for young professionals, but project managers looking to improve their skills should also dive into this literature.
Our article featuring must-read books for managers in 2025 will be of interest to both beginner managers starting their careers and experienced executives. All the books in this list will help develop key competencies for building a successful career, such as leadership, emotional intelligence, and team building. This collection is based on recommendations from Michal Kurzanowski, who has been leading OC24 Limited for the past 6 years. Michal also regularly shares his book discoveries in management.
Life coach Anthony Robbins is used to reading about 100 books a year, most of which are about psychology and physiology. The creator of the social network Facebook believes reading is essential. His minimum is one book every two weeks. And Warren Buffett even claims that a successful person should read at least 500 pages a day. Reading books significantly influences personal growth, aiding individuals in discovering motivation, nurturing initiative, and accomplishing their goals more efficiently.
*According to Google Trends, the query “books for managers” is relevant for people from different countries.
Which Books Do We Recommend Managers Read?
Below are the books to read for managers that we recommend to anyone looking to improve their skills in modern business or startups. We believe that all of the publications listed here can be applied to your work, as they offer plenty of valuable insights.
Start with Why by Simon Sinek
This publication kicks off our list of the best management books, a bestseller by Simon Sinek. It was published from mid-June 2016 to mid-June 2017, and over 171,000 copies were sold. The book was written by a motivational speaker and a consultant on leadership in businesses. With this publication, you’ll be able to boost your productivity, find answers to questions about running a successful business, set the right goals, and inspire other employees.
The main idea of the text is that every successful leader and entrepreneur starts with the question, “Why.” This helps define the mission and set the right goals. Our CEO thinks that this is a really basic book in terms of how to approach projects, company, and life in general. According to social media platforms like Reddit and LinkedIn, many successful business owners and top executives are reading.
Good to Great by Jim Collins
If you’re interested in marketing, we recommend reading the book by Jim Collins. He’s a business consultant with an MBA from Stanford University. This is one of the top books of all time, with more than 4 million copies sold. In the text, you’ll find principles on how mid-level companies can achieve outstanding results and maintain them for the long term.
How to Manage in Times of Crisis by Ichak Adizes
It’s also worth looking for business inspiration in the publication How to Manage in Times of Crisis by Ichak Adizes. He’s a well-known international expert in management and organizational transformations. The text inspires trust both in beginner managers and experienced executives. The main idea focuses on how to manage a company during crisis times. It also discusses how incompetent leadership can lead to the complete collapse of the entire company.
Who: The A Method for Hiring by Geoff Smart and Randy Street
A publication from 2008 on our list that isn’t particularly new but continues to remain relevant today. The book was designated as a New York Times bestseller. The writers —consulting firm creator Geoff Smart and managing partner Randy Street—performed an exceptionally thorough task. They carried out more than 1,300 hours of discussions with 20 billionaires and 300 CEOs. Based on the information gathered, they developed a unique hiring practice—you’ll be able to find and attract top and talented specialists to your team. As a result, this will lead your company to increased profits.
The Pursuit of Prime by Ichak Adizes
Another publication from a management expert. In this one, Ichak Adizes describes the main life cycle of every company and offers advice on how to reach the “Prime.” This is the business period when the company is at its best stage of development.
How the Best Leaders Lead by Brian Tracy
Brian Tracy is a globally recognized motivational speaker and accomplished entrepreneur. The publication rapidly turned into a bestseller for both novice managers and seasoned business leaders. It details all the techniques and abilities that will assist you in becoming an effective leader in the modern world.
Humanocracy by Gary Hamel, Michele Zanini
This book is authored by famous business theorist Gary Hamel and management specialist Michele Zanini. It will help increase loyalty within your company. It discusses the impact of bureaucracy on business and offers several effective approaches to create the most human-centered organization for your employees.
Get It Done On Time by Eric Bergland
This book is written by an expert on time management and productivity. It’s worth reading for beginner managers—you’ll find key advice that will help you effectively manage both work and free time. With this approach, you’ll increase personal productivity and be able to reach your goals faster.
Tips on How to Start Reading Business Literature and Finding Insights
It’s important to remember that when studying literature, you should approach it a bit differently than when reading fiction or fantasy. First and foremost, you should start by choosing the right publication. We recommend defining the goals you want to achieve first. Then, take a look at the introduction – this will help you determine whether the author’s writing style suits you. It’s a plus if the author shares your views on business management. Otherwise, reading the book will prove significantly more difficult, and once you complete it, you won’t have acquired anything from the experience and will have merely squandered your time.
We also recommend using an electronic document where you can jot down important thoughts and observations. The digital format will make it easier for you to return to the information you need. Pay special attention to the descriptions of real-life cases in business literature.
We suggest not ignoring discussions about the text with colleagues. This way, you can share your thoughts and receive more feedback and insights.
Conclusion
Books on leadership, management, and business are a great opportunity to learn how various business processes work, improve your skills, and make changes in your company. At the same time, we advise trusting only books from well-established and respected authors, especially if their achievements can inspire you.