We’ve all been told to turn off the TV and pick up a book. Sometimes it feels like helpful advice, and sometimes it feels patronizing. But the truth is, reading is proven to promote brain health, reduce stress, and even lead to higher income. In fact, businesspeople who read at least seven business books per year earn 2.3 times more than those who read only one a year.
If you’re just getting started with the business genre, it can be intimidating to figure out where to begin. To make your life easier, we have have come up with our top three business books to read for a successful career.
The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing by Al Ries and Jack Trout
Though written nearly three decades ago, The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing remains applicable and relatable to marketers in 2022. Each chapter dives into a different way or reason to market your product, and provides real-world examples of the laws in action. You’ll read about what sets Coke and Pepsi apart from each other, and how A-1 became synonymous with “steak sauce.” (No, the book doesn’t only focus on food and beverage, it’s just lunchtime).
Notable quote: “After years of working on marketing principles and problems, we have distilled our findings into the basic laws that govern success and failure in the marketplace. We call these principles the Immutable Laws of Marketing, and there are 22 of them. Violate them at your own risk.”
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Atomic Habits is perfect for you if you struggle with the big picture. This book breaks down big goals into small, daily habits that lead to more success – and keep you happier in the process. James Clear offers advice that feels doable because he uses personal anecdotes and even reads the audiobook himself. Additionally, he provides resources to pair with the book such as a habit-tracking journal and related articles.
Notable quote: “When you fall in love with the process rather than the product, you don’t have to wait to give yourself permission to be happy.”
Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson
In Who Moved My Cheese?, four characters live in a maze and look for cheese. The cheese is a metaphor for what readers want out of life. This could be a good job, a loving relationship, a higher salary, whatever applies to your life. The cheese in the maze keeps moving, and the four characters embody the different ways humans react to this change. Will you sniff out the change early? Maybe you’ll refuse to recognize change is even happening. Or perhaps you’re angered by change. Whatever your automatic response, Who Moved My Cheese? will help you see the benefit of being proactive with change.
Notable quote: “It is safer to search in the maze than to remain in a cheeseless situation.”
Start out simple: read 15-20 minutes per day. We’re pretty sure that once you get into these books, though, you won’t be able to put them down that quickly.
Want to find more books? Check out Sales & Marketing Executives International’s Business Book Summary Program.
