MBA programs are meant to make you efficient managers. Unlike many programs, MBA is more like a journey and experience. This rigorous journey comprises classes, field visits, readings, case studies, presentations, group projects, competitions, events, internships, seminars, alumni meetups, and lastly placements. All of these are specifically designed to impart lessons that are unique to MBAs. Often students miss reading books during their MBA years due to lack of time and excessive coursework. But, if you are reading this blog, don’t do this mistake. Books are still the best source of knowledge across all domains. Reading books may be time-consuming, but the knowledge gained from them is unparalleled. So, in this blog series, we present to you some of the best books for MBA students and aspirants to make the most out of your MBA journey.
These books provide useful insights and important real-world examples which will help you to make informed decisions and be better leaders. Hope you enjoy it.
The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman
This is a book that aims at providing you with all the information you need to achieve success in your business endeavors, even if you haven’t attended any business school. The author covers a number of crucial business subjects including marketing, negotiation, sales, entrepreneurship, operations, productivity, and more. This book highlights some important laws like the Iron Law of the Market, the 12 Forms of Value, 4 Methods to Increase Revenue, and the Pricing Uncertainty Principle. This book will certainly help you to understand how businesses actually work – in practice, not theory. Also, regarding how to evaluate new business ideas, and how to improve any existing business, whether it’s a solo venture or a Fortune 500 corporation.
The Ten-Day MBA by Steven Silbiger
This book is based on the author’s own experience while studying for his MBA. It will certainly help you in getting an overview of all the major concepts taught in the best MBA programs. This book distills the basics of a top MBA program and presents you with a clear and crisp version of the same. Topics from accounting, financing, workplace relationships, ethics, operations, marketing, etc are all covered in this book. So, if you want to have a head start during your MBA, go for this book.
The Portable MBA by Eades, Laseter, Skurnik, Rodriguez, Isabella, and Simko
Prepared by real-world professors from the University of Virginia and the University of Dartmouth, this book is a masterpiece. It is considered a pioneer of the “MBA in a Book” category. This book is a reliable and information-packed guide for the business school curriculum and experience. This book covers topics ranging from operations, marketing, leadership, strategy, ethics, and even risk management too. With case studies and interactive web-based examples, this book is a useful resource for any student pursuing MBA.
The Visual MBA by Jason Barron
If reading paragraphs full of text bores you, then this book is certainly for you. As per research, our brain processes illustrations faster than texts. Thus, we are better visual learners. Through this book, the author presents the important concepts taught in business schools through sketch notes and engaging illustrations. Ranging from marketing, ethics, and accounting to organizational behavior, operations, and strategy, this book distills the most important principles of an MBA into an accessible, informative, and easily-digestible guide. So, whether you are an aspirant or a student, this highly entertaining and visual book is for you if you ever dream about what is taught in business schools.
The Vest-Pocket MBA by J.K Shim, Siegel, and A.I. Shim
This book is an excellent resource for understanding the latest methods and techniques in the business world. Taking a unique approach, the authors presented this book in the form of questions and answers format. This makes it way easier for all to understand the rules, formulas, and ratios related to the business world. Also, several advanced topics like strategic cost management, balanced scoreboard, global competition, business process reengineering, target pricing, cloud computing, etc also covered in this book. All of these make this book a wealth of indispensable information for the present decision-maker, from MBA students to senior executives.
None of these books can substitute for an MBA degree. But getting a head start before you start your MBA education can do wonders for you. Learning beforehand about the fundamental principles of the business world is an excellent starting point for your MBA journey. Thus, consider all these books for MBA aspirants and students as a supplement to your core MBA education. Have fun and achieve the maximum from your MBA education. All the best – Purvesh
Stay tuned for the next blogs in our series on Best Books for MBA students and aspirants.
If you listen to podcasts, here are some recommendations of podcasts every MBA aspirants need to listen :
For CAT preparation, find a list of recommended books for VARC section preparation here :
Also, find a list of recommended blogs and websites for VARC preparation for your CAT examination here:
Purvesh is a bibliophile currently pursuing MBA at IIT Madras
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