This article showcases our top picks for the 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.
Without a doubt How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie should be on every student’s reading list. Although not a recent book, it is filled with time-tested strategies for gaining an edge in dealing with people on a day-to-day basis. Learning how to deal with people of all types is a life skill that kids, now more than ever, need. This book offers great insight into how to manage difficult relationships, build leadership skills, and get people to like you. All things that are critical to future success!
The Go-Giver is the best business book for students because not only does it teach you how to become successful in business with a refreshing, innovative perspective, but it also teaches you how to become successful in life. The lessons this book teaches are so important for students because it can shift your perspectives and ideals about the world and open your mind to a greater level of understanding, rather than simply following the way things have always been done. This book has helped me to become a better leader. When I first read this book, I was struck by its simple message: that true success comes from giving, not taking. This powerful idea has changed the way I think about work and leadership. Instead of always looking out for my own interests, I now focus on adding value to others. As a result, I have built better relationships with my team members and have been able to create more success in business. If you are looking for a book that will change the way you think about work and leadership, then I highly recommend the Go-Giver.
This product was recommended by Linda Shaffer from Checkr
This book is all about why and how some companies go from being good to great, and others don’t. Jim Collins and his team of researchers studied 28 companies that made the transition from good to great results, and identified common patterns and practices. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand how to take their company to the next level. Good to Great is a good read for anyone in a leadership position, or aspiring to be in one. It’s also a great book for students who want to understand how businesses can achieve long-term success.
Ed Catmull worked for Pixar Animation Studios where he worked on some of the most popular animated movies of our time. He wrote Creativity Inc. which is filled with quotes on leadership and being creative in the business world. I feel this book can resonate with a lot of students as they know many of the movies Ed would have worked on, and can probably appreciate his words of wisdom more than any other generation. He discusses different management philosophies and talks about the roles and responsibilities of employees versus management. There is a lot of inspiration in this book that students can take from and use in their own lives. It is a must read for all and any students and can be understood by everyone.
This product was recommended by Deepanshu Bedi from Exhalewell
John Brooks’ Business Adventures is a series of stories on the business world, which is a page-turner. The book takes readers on fascinating journeys into the world of business in such settings as the Ford Motor Company, General Electric, and Xerox; it also chronicles some of the rise and fall of some iconic personalities. The book is an insightful and entertaining way to learn about business, and there are many memorable quotes and interesting anecdotes. It will help students in management learn to think on their feet and deal with challenges that they may face in their future careers.
This product was recommended by Jerry Han from Prize Rebel
ExhalewellBecause some people come from backgrounds without a good foundation, this story reveals how these limits aren’t set in stone. Ryan Blair had to overcome a negative mindset on his lot in life, but it uniquely prepared him for corporate America. He offers realistic tips on how to find your value and be motivated by more than financial gain. An entrepreneurial mindset can open doors for career advancement, so it’s great to introduce this concept early and often. It’s a subject that isn’t always taught in college, which is too bad. I wish I’d had it ingrained in my mind during my school days. It would have helped me weather the storms that normally come in the business world with a lasting hope. Having a long-term approach to daily occurrences would have allowed me to stand out more often.
This novel is based on the 2008 financial crisis, mainly the Lehman Brothers. Andrew recounts his years of experience working for The New York Times in this book. Andrew Ross Sorkin recreates the phone calls and in-person debates of Wall Street titans and US government authorities as they urgently try to save the world economy and themselves. Students can interpret this as a story about ego and greed in their own industry. Those who write nonfiction and spring journalism can benefit from this book’s ideas for telling the same story from different perspectives.
This product was recommended by Jean Will from NiaWigs
A book that influences one’s perspective regarding the significance of both mental and physical well-being. That each decision we make has the potential to improve or aggravate a situation, Covey’s book will tell you how some of our habits unconsciously affect our choices in life.
This product was recommended by Jean Will from NiaWigs
A book that reveals various rules that govern competition and how they can be turned into powerful analytical tools vital in thriving for success. It consists of competitive strategies from theories, practices, and teachings worldwide.
This product was recommended by Jean Will from NiaWigs
A book consists of lessons that could improve one’s performance. It also includes career enhancement topics and ideas for successfully applying them—a must-read for students who wish to lead in the future.
This product was recommended by Lily Will from Ever Wallpaper
This book tackles the reality of running a business and its ups and downs. It talks about the common problems you will encounter and the hard decisions you will have to make when managing a business. And it teaches how to use mistakes and failures to grow and improve your business and yourself.
In his book, The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary Results, author Gary Keller argues that the key to achieving success is to focus on one thing at a time. According to Keller, most people try to do too many things at once and end up accomplishing very little. This is because our brains can only focus on one thing at a time, and when we try to multitask, we switch our attention from one task to another very quickly. This prevents us from giving our full attention to any one thing and makes it more difficult to achieve our goals. Keller suggests that the key to success is to identify the one thing you want to achieve and then focus all of your energy on that one thing until you reach your goal. This may mean sacrificing other areas of your life, but Keller argues it is worth it. Focusing on just one thing makes you much more likely to achieve extraordinary results.
What makes The Side Hustle Bible one of the best resources for students looking to earn some extra money is how many different areas it covers. Jacob Wallace’s book covers everything from what defines a side hustle, what they need to know before diving in, and over 150+ unique ideas on what might be a viable path for them. Wallace’s choice of wording and style of writing finds a perfect balance that allows the book to be a valuable read, no matter the experience level a student has when they pick it up.
The book provides a clear, engaging roadmap for understanding and developing your business strategy. It helps to identify challenges before they arise so that when problems do come up they’re not as daunting or unexpected. Great for visual learners, this beautifully presented book offers a wonderful blend of theory and practice, guiding the reader through the process of business model generation in a clear, accessible way.
There are many business books available for students, but The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Zander is one of the best. In this book, Zander provides readers with a framework for understanding and achieving success in business. She also offers practical advice for overcoming obstacles and achieving goals. The Art of Possibility is an inspiring and informative book that is essential reading for any student interested in pursuing a career in business.
This product was recommended by Vikas Chaudhari from Nihal fashion
I suggest Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, which portrays a comparison between his working-class dad and his friend’s rich dad. Illustrating investments and risk takings which allows the rich to stay rich. It explains the basics of how money works. And contains many messages and advice including valuable lessons about business and leadership hidden in the humorous content. These messages are valuable for the students and tell them about the untold side of the business world. The book represents the fact that rich parents tell their kids about money and the poor do not.
This product was recommended by Granger McCollough from Elite Patio Direct
A fantastic business book for any student to read is Thinking Fast, And Slow by Daniel Kahneman. The book outlines the decision-making process that we get in business, and what can affect this process. Kahneman writes in a straightforward and direct way which makes everything he says easy to understand, and by the end of the book, you will learn to think how to think.
If you are a student of business or a student that wants to start a business, you have to read The Essays of Warren Buffet, Buffet is one of the most successful businessmen to date and the knowledge that he has of the corporate world is second to none. By studying Buffet’s knowledge and experience, you can know how to run a business correctly and what not to do when running a business.
If you are studying business or plan to run your own business, then you have to read The First 90 Days by Michael Watkins. The most important time in any business or startup is the start, if you succeed in actually starting up your business in the first 90 days, then you have done half of the work. Watkins explains in clear and concise language what you need to do to be successful in those first 90 days.
This product was recommended by Georgi Todorov from Thrive My Way
This NY Times Bestseller from 2014 still resonates with readers and offers excellent ideas on how to create value in the world. Thiel wants us to understand that we are in the age where there are still uncharted frontiers to explore and new inventions to develop. In Zero to One, legendary investor Peter Thiel offers his expertise and advice on how we can find ways to create those new things.
The book that has been the biggest catalyst for my company is Home Business Magazine’s Home-Based Business Start-Up. Written by Barbara Weltman and Richard Henderson (publisher of Home Business Magazine), this book is an incredibly informative, in-depth guide on the fundamentals of running a successful business from home. I learned all about which business entity I should choose, protections I might need, how to effectively manage my company, marketing tactics, and so much more. The book is very useful for anyone who wants to take their future into their own hands and be their own boss.
When it is the talk of business, the best book every student should read is the effective executive. The book by Peter F. Drucker shines on how to be effective in the business world. The writer points out major aspects needed to be the best. The book will help you focus on the importance of managing time, decision-making, and learning the implementation of the strengths of the individuals. The book aims to talk about impactful contributions from people and yourself. The book is ideal for people looking forward to growing and investing in the business.
A must-read for anyone looking to gain valuable insights from some of our world’s greatest minds. Mining the best and brightest revelations from FranklinCovey’s global podcast, On Leadership With Scott Miller, Scott personally introduces readers to 30 Master Mentors, featuring the single most transformative insight from each of them. Depending on where you are in your career journey, Master Mentors will: – Challenge your current mindset and beliefs, leading to what could be the most important career and thought process shifts of your life! – Restore you to the mindset and beliefs you find effective but aren’t currently living in alignment with. Validate that you are on the right path with your current mindset and beliefs and empower you on your way forward.
This product was recommended by Jim Campbell from Honeymoon Goals
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell is one of the most inspirational books of the 2000s and still holds the same valuable message today. It explores how the little behaviors and actions that we have in business can really affect the big picture, and how to spot these actions while strategizing for an efficient business.
I think this book is a wonderful reference point for students because it has such a varied amount of information, but all of these concepts are explained in a very accessible way. The pictures and diagrams are a great addition when it comes to understanding certain things, and I also loved the quotes from the ‘big thinkers’ of the business world!