I have many friends who attended business schools and earned degrees in business administration. Some of them are working in Fortune 500 global companies and are paid really well.
Once, I asked them a question: Do you believe that what you learned after attending business school could be learned by reading books? The answer was yes; they did not learn anything they couldn't learn without going to business school.
They attended business school to earn a degree for a high-paying job. This is true; nobody studies just to learn. If there are no benefits, why bother trying? This applies to everything. A book written by someone who has built a business step by step is far better than attending a business school for a degree. Moreover, attending a business school is too costly compared to reading books about managing a business.
If your intention is to learn, then reading a book on the subject can be a good start. Definitely, you can't become proficient after reading it once. It takes time to get what you want. But reading will help. Successful people like Steve Jobs, Warren Buffett, Michael Dell, Ray Dalio and many others don't have business degrees, but they are worth billions.
So, if you didn't attend a business school and want to succeed as a businessman, you have a fair chance of succeeding if you do what those successful people have done. And even if you can't replicate it completely, you'll have a good idea of how to proceed.
Here, I've shortlisted some of the best business books you can read.
When it comes to learning about businesses and how efficiently they can operate, you can't miss reading this excellent book by Mr. James C. Collins.
What factors contribute to a business's success? Is it a new idea that no one has ever heard of, or solid preparation for making a business successful?
You might have heard that execution is the deciding factor in a business's success, but is it the only thing? This excellent book presents several studies that highlight the important points for an organization's success or failure.
This easy-to-read book can teach you much more about modern businesses, their success, and failures than you'll learn in your MBA course. If you want ready-to-use strategies for running or starting a successful business, this book is your one-stop resource.
If you want to learn to invest in stocks but don't know where to start, this is the book you need. Peter Lynch is one of the most successful stock investors of all time. While others struggled to achieve consistent single-digit returns, Peter Lynch successfully managed a fund and achieved over 28% CAGR.
After reading this book, you'll learn the necessary skills to choose stocks with the potential for long-term growth. Everything is presented logically. If a business is good, why is it good? What makes it a good investment?
Through the book's reasoning, you'll learn how to combine different elements and make better decisions. I've already read it three times since buying it, and each time I learn new things.
If you want to be a successful stock investor or a successful businessperson and want to distinguish a good business from a bad one, this is a must-read book.
Who doesn't want to know about Warren Buffett, the only person who has created a massive empire by investing in value stocks? His life is an inspiration for many seeking success in investing.
While it all seems exciting, it's not easy. After reading this book, you'll learn more about Buffett than just his role as an investor.
The book provides a different perspective on understanding him. You'll learn more about his life, endeavors, and more. It's a must-read for anyone interested in knowing Buffett as a person, not just an investor. This book is a valuable resource for those interested in the life of a billionaire.
It will make you a better person as you learn insights about the ultra-rich and successful—what makes them successful, whether it's strategy, intellect, or planning and consistency.
Whenever I'm stuck and feel like nothing is working, I turn to this book. Ray Dalio has written this book to share his way of handling situations and challenges.
Learning from successful people is a way to ensure that what we're doing might yield positive results. The book is a potential reference for anyone aiming for success in business and life. I don't see much difference between running a successful life and having a successful business. Both require time, dedication, and reflection.
This graphic book won't take much time to read and re-read. It's filled with insights and deep thoughts. Read it and then again read it.
I really enjoy this book and read it often. It offers amazing advice essential for every individual. It motivates me. You can't skip this book if you're just starting out and unsure about your path.
It can help if you're overestimating or underestimating your efforts. The book provides excellent resources to guide your journey of self-improvement.
After reading it, you won't be the same person. You have the tools to improve your life, a purpose to strive for, and the means to succeed and thrive.
I'll repeat it: You can never learn how to do business from someone who has never done it. This book teaches many things you can't learn in a university or college. It outlines how Phil Knight started Nike, one of the most successful companies of our time.
It's a step-by-step account of how Phil Knight introduced Japanese shoes to the U.S. market, turning an idea into a mammoth sports company that surpassed many competitors.
This is a must-read for anyone struggling in business and complaining rather than trying. It showcases how a company on the brink of closure became number one in the world, surpassing the company whose shoes it initially traded in the USA. This book will change the way we think about business.
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Copying existing successful businesses isn't the way to succeed. To be the next Mark Zuckerberg, you don't have to create another Facebook. There are countless opportunities. Things change; there's always a new invention in progress to surprise us.
We must think that way to have an outstanding business. In this book, Peter Thiel (another successful billionaire businessman) delves deep into points that can guide creative individuals to hone and polish their ideas, helping them succeed and innovate in business.