I’m regularly asked for product manager book recommendations. There are lots of excellent books about product management, but these are the ones I'd consider essential to any PM’s bookshelf.
Best Books for Product Managers
Essential product management reading
Getting Things Done
By David AllenSoon after this book was published Allen attracted an almost cult-like following. Product managers juggle hundreds of priorities, and this book will help you balance your time.
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Predictably Irrational
By Dan ArielyOne of the best books on human nature, Ariely’s enjoyable book helps us understand why people behave irrationally.
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TOP PICK
Product Leadership: How Top Product Managers Launch Awesome Products and Build Successful Teams
By Richard Banfield, Martin Eriksson and Nate WalkingshawFrom my foreword: “Your guide to navigating product leadership, the one I never had. Within these pages you’ll hear a diversity of opinions from the industry’s most successful and respected product leaders, insights that will help you lead your team and deliver exceptional products.”
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Yes to the Mess: Surprising Leadership Lessons from Jazz
By Frank BarrettJazz is messy, and musicians seem to court disaster night after night. What can product leaders learn from how these artists approach their art? Barrett’s entertaining book formed the backbone for my essay on jazz and product management.
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Work Rules!
By Laszlo BockLaszlo and his team at Google have reinvented the role of human resources. This book is a terrific overview of what makes Google Google, from culture, to hiring, to making decisions.
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TOP PICK
The Mythical Man-Month
By Frederick BrooksIf you could only read one computer science book, this would be it. More than forty years old, it’s as relevant as ever. I promise you’ll nod your head as Brooks skewers mistakes that engineering leaders continue to make to this day.
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TOP PICK
Empowered
By Marty Cagan and Chris JonesThe sequel to Inspired, this book explores what the best product companies have in common. “Most people think it’s because these companies are somehow able to find and attract a level of talent that makes this innovation possible. But the real advantage these companies have is not so much who they hire, but rather how they enable their people to work together to solve hard problems and create extraordinary products.”
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TOP PICK
Inspired
By Marty CaganIf you could only read one book on product management, this would be it. Marty has had a long and storied product management career, and is the founder of Silicon Valley Product Group.
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Quiet: The Power of Introverts
By Susan CainI’m an introvert and I spent years treating it as a weakness. Susan’s book opened my eyes to the unique contributions introverts make. Even if you’re not an introvert yourself, I guarantee you work with lots of them.
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Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup
By John CarreyrouThe chilling story of Theranos. Many lessons in here about what can happen when you don’t act ethically and don’t trust your people.
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Creativity, Inc
By Ed CatmullIf you appreciated my essay 10x Not 10%, you’ll enjoy Catmull’s book about putting 10x into practice. He draws from the success – and failures – of Pixar to teach us how to lead creative teams.
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Competing Against Luck
By Clayton ChristensenChristensen is back with a new book which explores one of his approaches to combating the Innovator’s Dilemma: Jobs-To-Be-Done.
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TOP PICK
The Innovator's Dilemma
By Clayton ChristensenThe most important business and product management book of the past fifty years. If you’re a technology PM and you haven’t read Christensen, do so right now.
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The Innovator's Solution
By Clayton ChristensenThe Innovator’s Dilemma’s equally essential follow-up. How product managers can fight the innovator’s dilemma.
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Brave New Work
By Aaron DignanA good general overview of several of the concepts on the future of work that I’ve covered in my essays and talks.
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Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products
By Nir EyalWhy do some products take hold while others quietly fail? Highly recommended for any PM building consumer products.
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Getting To Yes
By Roger Fisher and William UryProduct managers need to be master negotiators and there’s no better guide to negotiation than this classic.
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Team of Rivals
By Doris Kearns GoodwinAbraham Lincoln surrounded himself with his opponents, gradually turning them into admirers and influential advisors. Lincoln’s approach to leadership offers lessons for anyone looking to tap into the wisdom of others, with or without formal authority.
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TOP PICK
High Output Management
By Andy GroveThis one only gets better with age. Although it’s only mentioned briefly, this is where Andy Grove first introduced OKRs to the world. His practical advice about meetings, especially the importance of 1-on-1s, inspired my own writing.
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Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die
By Chip Heath and Dan HeathThe instant classic about why some ideas thrive, why others die, and how to improve your idea’s chances.
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The Hard Thing About Hard Things
By Ben HorowitzThe most truly practical startup management book. Ben cuts through the B.S. and addresses the messy ambiguity of the real world in entertaining fashion.
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How to Lie with Statistics
By Darrell HuffProduct managers need a solid foundation in statistics to be metrics-driven. This classic book is a lively and fun book will leave you smarter and more skeptical.
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Steve Jobs
By Walter IsaacsonOne of the best biographies of all time, of the greatest product manager of all time.
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Meaningful: the Story of Ideas that Fly
By Bernadette JiwaA new addition to this list, marketing as storytelling.
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Thinking, Fast and Slow
By Daniel KahnemanWhen does our animal brain make decisions for us before our more analytical brain has a chance to think through the consequences? From Nobel laureate Kahneman, this is one of the most important psychology books ever written.
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On Writing
By Stephen KingProduct managers need to be good writers, and this is how you learn from one of the masters of the craft.
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Don't Make Me Think
By Steve KrugThis lighthearted book about user interface design is fun to read, and chock full of lessons for PMs.
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Product Management in Practice
By Matt LeMayReal-world, practical advice for PMs. Focused on communication, organization, research, and execution.
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In The Plex: How Google Thinks, Works, and Shapes Our Lives
By Steven LevyLevy was given unprecedented access to Google, and the result is what I consider to be an accurate depiction of how the company operates. A good overview of how Google product managers work.
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Crossing the Chasm
By Geoffrey MooreThe classic technology marketing book. Moore was the first to evaluate the role of early adopters.
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Inside the Tornado
By Geoffrey MooreMoore’s follow-up tells you what to do after you’ve crossed the chasm, when it’s make-or-break around your ability to reach mainstream customers.
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The Design of Everyday Things
By Donald NormanAfter you read Norman’s book you’ll notice design everywhere, both good and bad. A classic in the field of design.
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The Lean Product Playbook
By Dan OlsenDan’s book is a perfect companion to Lean Startup, with lots of tactical advice and techniques for putting lean methodologies into practice.
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Escaping the Build Trap
By Melissa PerriMelissa Perri explains how laying the foundation for great product management can help companies solve real customer problems while achieving business goals. By understanding how to communicate and collaborate within a company structure, you can create a product culture that benefits both the business and the customer.
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Positioning
By Al Ries and Jack TroutThe classic marketing book, one of the first to specifically address positioning your product in a consumer’s mind.
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TOP PICK
The Lean Startup
By Eric RiesThis book started a revolution in product development, and introduced us to the now-ubiquitous concepts of the MVP and the pivot. Essential book for startup product managers.
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TOP PICK
The Halo Effect
By Phil RosenzweigA blistering takedown of pop management books. It will sharpen your skepticism about the management advice anyone gives you (including me).
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Radical Candor
By Kim ScottKim built Google’s AdSense business and then went on to to create Apple’s highly regarded manager training program. Her book shows you how to be forthright and honest, without being a jerk.
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Listen Like You Mean It: Reclaiming the Lost Art of True Connection
By Ximena VengoecheaListening is one of the most important product management skills. Learn how to connect to customers, co-workers, and team members with this beautifully illustrated and accessible book.
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The Captain Class: The Hidden Force That Creates the World's Greatest Teams
By Sam WalkerThe founding editor of The Wall Street Journal’s sports section looks at the leadership qualities of the most successful sports leaders in history. And they’re not what you think.
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The titles of these product manager books link to Amazon.com through their affiliate program. I donate all proceeds to charity and also match the donation on a two-for-one basis.
Product Management Coach
If you're interested in growing as a product manager or product leader, I offer product leadership coaching. I've worked with everyone from new grads just starting their PM careers to experienced executive-level product leaders. Visit my product management coaching page if you'd like to more and to schedule a free discovery session.