9 Classic Business Books You Should Have Read Years Ago

Entry By Jason Brick

Whether you read them while riding on the commuter train, kicking back in the hammock at your house, or streaming from an audiobook during your workout, learning the best ideas business has to offer will directly improve your company's bottom line.

If you haven't read these books by now, you should make doing so a priority. If you have, consider looking into some other works by the same authors. 

1. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
   Covey's insights into how to organize work and prioritize tasks has influenced businesses, academics and personal effectiveness gurus for decades. If you haven't at least heard of this one, you should probably get to know it immediately.
2. In Search of Excellence by Thomas Peters & Robert H Waterman, Jr.
   A study of highly successful international companies, this book identifies eight key principals of business and tells you about this with a variety of case studies.
3. The Practice of Management by Peter Drucker
   Trends change, but people remain the same. There's a reason this book on how to manage and treat your people has stayed in print for 67 years.
4. The One-Minute Manager by Kenneth Blanchard & Spencer Johnson
   A newer book on how to handle your employees or team, this focuses on result-driven communication and fostering trust between yourself and the people who help you succeed.
5. The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber
   Gerber built an empire on teaching people how to systematize their businesses for best results with least effort. This book distills his most vital discoveries into actionable advice.
6. Competitive Strategy by Michael Porter
   A theoretician writing about the real world, Porter managed to create a classic that changed not only business, but how business is taught. Sixty-three printings later, the book remains a must-read for those who want to grow a business beyond their local neighborhood.
7.  How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
   Carnegie got it. He understood that most of success isn't skill set, knowledge or market -- it's knowing how to express your ideas and get other people excited about them. This book tells you how.
8.  Secrets of Closing the Sale by Zig Ziglar
   No business book list would be complete without mentioning sales training by Zig Ziglar. This is one of his most comprehensive and best.
9.  The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley & William Danko
   Though mostly about wealth management, this study of how people become millionaires is full of actionable advice for small business owners looking to make the most out of their profits.

Of course, books don't have to be classics to be worth reading. What are some more recent publications that belong on our bookshelves? Comment below with your favorites. 

Ed. Note - We will follow up this post next week with a collection of business books 'that aren't really about business.' Stay tuned!