Beach Blanket, Brain Food: Your MBA Summer Reading List

Summer’s calling, and after a demanding year, it’s time to unwind. But hold on, ambitious MBAs! Before you completely switch to beach mode, let’s invest some quality time in fueling those brilliant minds for the exciting journey ahead.

Forget the coming-of-age novels of yesteryear. This summer, we’re diving into a power-packed MBA Summer Reading list designed to give your career a serious boost. Whether you dream of becoming a negotiation champion or a strategic mastermind, we’ve got the perfect books to help you transform.

So, ditch the textbooks (we know, not exactly poolside material) and grab your favorite iced drink. This list is your secret weapon, featuring 35 must-reads for MBAs and inspiring leaders. Get ready to conquer the business world, one power page – and a perfectly chilled afternoon – at a time!

For those looking to improve their soft skills and productivity:

• Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones – James Clear
• The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen Covey
• The Four Agreements – Don Miguel Ruiz
• Thinking Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman
• Mindset: The New Psychology of Success – Carol Dweck
• The First 90 Days – Michael Watkins
• Deep Work – Cal Newport

For the entrepreneurs: 

• T2D3: How some software startups scale, where many fail – Stijn Hendrikse, Mike Northfield
• How to Win Friends and Influence People – Dale Carnegie
• Zero to One – Peter Thiel
• The Science of Selling – David Hoffield
• The Lean Startup – Eric Ries
• Playing to Win – A.G. Lafley and Roger L. Martin
• Virtual Freedom: How to Work with Virtual Staff to Buy More Time, Become More Productive, and Build Your Dream Business – Chris Ducker
• The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs – Carmine Gallo
• Financial Intelligence – Karen Berman and Joe Knight

For future people managers: 

• The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You – Julie Zhuo
• The Culture Map – Erin Meyer
• Misbehaving – Richard Thaler
• Radical Candor – Kim Scott
• ​​The Five Dysfunctions of a Team – Patrick Lencioni
• Team Topologies: Organizing Business and Technology Teams for Fast Flow – Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais
• Nudge – Richard Thaler

For the future marketing leaders: 

• The Next CMO: A Guide to Operational Marketing Excellence – Peter Mahoney, Scott Todaro, Dan Faulkner
• Product-Led SEO: The Why Behind Building Your Organic Growth Strategy – ​​Eli Schwartz
• Top of Mind: Use Content to Unleash Your Influence and Engage Those Who Matter to You – John Hall
• Marketing Rebellion: The Most Human Company Wins – Mark Schaefer
• Humanizing B2B – Paul Cash
• Quantum Marketing: Mastering the New Marketing Mindset for Tomorrow’s Consumers – Raja Rajamannar

For the future product leaders: 

• Working Backwards: Insights, Stories, and Secrets from Inside Amazon – Colin Bryar, Bill Carr
• Invisible Women – Caroline Criado Perez
• The Experience Maker: How to Create Remarkable Experiences That Your Customers Can’t Wait to Share – Dan Gingiss
• Inspired: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love – Marty Cagan
• Build – Tony Fadell 
• Product Management in Practice: A Real-World Guide to the Key Connective Role of the 21st Century – Matt LeMay