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 [Updated for 2023]
Essential product management reading
By Ken Norton
Getting Things Done
Author: David AllenSoon after this book was published Allen attracted an almost cult-like following. The fundamental ideas remain sound. Product managers juggle hundreds of priorities, and this book will help you balance your time.
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Mastering Leadership
Author: Robert Anderson and William AdamsA developmental pathway for growth that includes a stage development model of leadership. In particular, the evolution from Reactive to Creative is particularly important for product leadership effectiveness.
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TOP PICK
Product Leadership
Author: 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
Author: 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!
Author: Laszlo BockLaszlo and his team at Google 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
Author: Frederick BrooksIf you could only read one computer science book, this would be it. Almost fifty 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
Author: 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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Quiet: The Power of Introverts
Author: 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
Author: 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
Author: 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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TOP PICK
The Innovator's Dilemma
Author: 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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Competing Against Luck
Author: Clayton ChristensenChristensen explores one of his approaches to combating the Innovator’s Dilemma: Jobs-To-Be-Done (JTBD).
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TOP PICK
The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership
Author: Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman, and Kaley Warner KlempThis book dramatically changed me as a leader and as a person. It will help you develop self-awareness and connect deeply with your sense of purpose as a leader. If I could recommend one book to help you develop the human skills behind the Art of Product Management, it would be this one.
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Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the Facts
Author: Annie DukeA product manager will be called upon to make scores of decisions every day. In none of these cases will you have all of the information you want, and you’ll rarely be 100% confident. Poker champion turned decision researcher Annie Duke will help you learn how to be comfortable with uncertainty.
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Getting To Yes
Author: 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
Author: 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
Author: 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
Author: 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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How to Lie with Statistics
Author: 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
Author: Walter IsaacsonOne of the best biographies of all time, of the greatest product manager of all time.
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Thinking, Fast and Slow
Author: 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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Immunity to Change: How to Overcome It and Unlock the Potential in Yourself and Your Organization
Author: Robert Kegan and Lisa Laskow LaheyRobert Kegan is an intellectual hero of mine, and his adult stage development theory is foundational to my executive coaching work. Understanding how we grow and develop will help you become a better leader and a more empathetic colleague. More accessible than his academic work, this book also provides a framework for understanding underlying beliefs and motivations that might be holding you back.
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On Writing
Author: 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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Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It
Author: Ethan KrossMany product leaders I’ve coached struggle with a voice in their head that continuously judges them, telling them they’re not qualified or good enough for the job. This inner critic or saboteur can lead to imposter phenomenon. In this book, a leading psychologist looks at the science behind our inner voice and new research into how to harness it and improve your physical and mental health.
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Don't Make Me Think
Author: Steve KrugThis lighthearted book about user interface design is fun to read, and chock full of lessons for PMs.
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TOP PICK
Product Management in Practice
Author: 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
Author: 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
Author: Geoffrey MooreThe classic technology marketing book. Moore was the first to evaluate the role of early adopters.
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The Design of Everyday Things
Author: 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
Author: 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
Author: 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
Author: 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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Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well
Author: Douglas Stone and Sheila HeenProduct managers must learn to give and receive feedback with candor and kindness, and without withholding. This book, also from the Harvard Negotiation Project, will teach you how.
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Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most
Author: Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila HeenThe best-selling guide to having difficult conversations from the Harvard Negotiation Project. A helpful book to have on-hand.
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The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better
Author: Will StorrOne of the most common requests I receive is for resources to become a better storyteller. In this book, award-winning novelist Will Storr looks at how the brain responds to stories, and how to captivate your audience and connect with their emotions.
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TOP PICK
Continuous Discovery Habits
Author: Teresa TorresTeresa Torres is the best in the business at helping teams build products and services that their customers want. Here she shares her techniques for transforming your process into one of continuous discovery and learning.
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The Power of a Positive No: Save The Deal Save The Relationship and Still Say No
Author: William UryOne of the hardest things I ever had to learn to do was say no. Saying no gracefully and firmly is one of the most important skills for a product manager to develop. This is the classic guide for learning to do so.
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Listen Like You Mean It: Reclaiming the Lost Art of True Connection
Author: 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
Author: 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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Strong Product People: A Complete Guide to Developing Great Product Managers
Author: Petra WilleWhether you’re a product leader coaching a team member or still early in your product maangement career, Petra Wille will help you break down the essentials of the job and develop a plan for growth.
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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.
- MOST POPULAR
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How to Hire a Product Manager: the Classic Essay
The classic essay that defined the product manager role
What is product management? What makes a great product manager, and how do you become one? This is Ken Norton's classic essay on the role of product management that launched thousands of PM careers. -
10x Not 10%: Bold Product Strategy and Vision
Product management by orders of magnitude
In this ambitious essay, Ken Norton looks at the history of innovation and challenges product managers and product leaders to think bigger, to aim for 10x, not 10%. -
Please Make Yourself Uncomfortable: Jazz and PMs
What product managers can learn from jazz musicians
What can product managers and product leaders learn from jazz, an art form that is all about improvisation, collaboration, and being willing to take risks? -
Ants & Aliens: Long-Term Product Vision & Strategy
Why you need a thirty-year product vision (yes, thirty)
How do you plan for the future and deliver an innovative and compelling product vision that will inspire your team to deliver winning products? -
Meetings That Don’t Suck
Break free from the tyranny of the conference room
Most meetings suck, but it doesn't have to be that way. Ken Norton shows us how to break free and unsuck our meetings. -
Building Products at Stripe
Go deep, move fast, and build multi-decade abstractions
What is Stripe's product culture like? Interview with a Stripe product leader demonstrate an embrace of going deep, moving fast, and maintaining a multi-decade perspective. -
What Makes A Strong Product Culture?
How a company's view of technology, product leadership, and empowerment contribute to product success
Strong product cultures can produce winning products. They're places where product management is practiced (as we define it), where it is valued by the business, and where PMs can thrive and grow. -
Building Products at Airbnb
Snow White, storytelling, and a relentless focus on experiences
What is Airbnb's product culture like? Interviews with Airbnb PMs demonstrate an embrace of Snow White, storytelling, and a relentless focus on experiences.
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