ashes of my shelf
Over the years, I've read a few thousand books. Some of which were about business. This list has 44 recommendations.
The Goal
Alex rogo is a harried plant manager working ever more desperately to try and improve performance. His factory is rapidly heading for disaster. So is his marriage. He has ninety days to save his plant – or it will be closed by corporate HQ, with hundreds of job losses. It takes a chance meeting with […]
Influence
Robert Cialdini’s Influence is the foundational text on why humans comply—or resist—requests. Drawing on decades of laboratory studies, undercover fieldwork, and cross-cultural examples, Cialdini distills six universal principles of persuasion: reciprocity, commitment and consistency, social proof, liking, authority, and scarcity. Each principle is illustrated with memorable stories, from door-to-door sales tactics to cult recruitment. What […]
The Lean Startup
The Lean Startup by Eric Ries redefines how startups—and even large enterprises—should approach product development and innovation. Rooted in lean manufacturing principles and agile development, Ries introduces a methodology that emphasizes rapid experimentation, validated learning, and iterative product releases to build businesses that are both capital-efficient and responsive to customer needs. Central to Ries’ approach […]
Cold Steel
Cold Steel is the gripping story of the world’s biggest and most hard-fought industry takeover of recent years, an epic corporate battle that would send shockwaves through the political corridors of Europe, excite the world’s financial markets, enrich thirty hedge funds and transform the global steel industry. In 2006, the two largest steel-producers went head […]
Selling the Wheel
Selling the Wheel by Jeff Cox and Howard Stevens is a business fable that cleverly illustrates different selling styles and how they align with the buyer’s journey. The story follows Max, an inventor in ancient times who creates the wheel but struggles to sell it. As Max partners with a series of salespeople—each with distinct […]
The Long Tail
The Long Tail by Chris Anderson explores how the internet has reshaped business economics by enabling niche products to flourish alongside mainstream hits. Anderson argues that the traditional focus on ‘blockbusters’ is becoming less relevant in a world of infinite shelf space, thanks to digital distribution, search engines, and recommendation algorithms. This shift allows businesses […]