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20 Best Management Books

The best management books, ranked by how many expert sources recommend each one, with notes on who each book suits and where managers can start.

Our take

Management includes several different kinds of work: setting priorities, giving feedback, helping people develop, and building an organization that can function without every decision reaching the boss. A book that helps with one of those tasks may say little about the others. This selection includes brief parables, personal accounts, research-based frameworks, and older books whose examples need translating to a different workplace.

For your first management role, The Making of a Manager offers a broad starting point, while The New One Minute Manager introduces a few simple practices. Radical Candor focuses on feedback, and Multipliers asks how managers can make room for other people’s abilities. High Output Management turns attention to the team’s work and operating habits. For a wider perspective, My Years with General Motors examines organizational structure, and Creativity, Inc. explores creative culture. Start with the problem you face this week, then choose a broader book once you have somewhere to apply its ideas.

20 books · 8 sources · Last updated

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How to choose from this list

Skip to the full ranking

If you're managing people for the first time: The Making of a Manager → The New One Minute Manager
If you want better feedback conversations: Radical Candor
If you want to run a team more effectively: High Output Management → The Effective Executive
If you want to share responsibility: Multipliers → Turn the Ship Around!
If you lead creative work: Creativity, Inc.
If you manage a large organization: My Years with General Motors → Good to Great

The 20 books, ranked

Ranked by how many expert sources name each book. Ties go to the book more people recommend.

1
Book cover for "Multipliers" by Liz WisemanView on Amazon

Multipliers

How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter

by Liz Wiseman2010

For managers who notice their own expertise crowding out other people. Its contrast between enabling and limiting leaders encourages useful self-assessment, though the two-category framework simplifies behavior that often changes with circumstances.

What it's about

Liz Wiseman contrasts leaders who suppress others' abilities with those who draw out their intelligence and initiative. Research and practical examples explore how managers can develop talent, encourage productive debate, and increase their teams' contributions.

Also recommended by

1 person
2
Book cover for "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R. CoveyView on Amazon

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Powerful Lessons in Personal Change

by Stephen R. Covey

For managers whose own priorities and habits need attention before they can lead others well. Covey connects personal responsibility with cooperation, though the broad framework requires more reflection than a quick workplace checklist.

What it's about

Stephen Covey presents seven habits for personal effectiveness, connecting individual responsibility with cooperation and continual renewal. His framework emphasizes principles such as integrity, fairness, and service in approaching relationships, decisions, and goals at work and home.

Also recommended by

12 people
  • Dave Ramsey recommended this book
  • Daniel Pink recommended this book
  • Ken Block recommended this book
  • Dustin Moskovitz recommended this book
  • Noah Kagan recommended this book
  • Kishore Biyani recommended this book
  • +6

    More recommendations

    • Michael McCullough
      "Helps you decide which action to actually take." - Michael McCullough
    • Shay Carl
      Shay Carl referenced this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast.
    • Jenn Im
      "Has changed my life in such a positive way." - Jenn Im
    • Jim Kwik
      "This personal development classic is a classic for a reason." - Jim Kwik
    • Michael Hyatt
      Michael Hyatt recommended this book on his website.
    • Ben Greenfield
      Most Recommended Books reached out to Ben Greenfield directly.
3
Book cover for "The Art Of War" by Sun TzuView on Amazon

The Art Of War

by Sun Tzu

For managers interested in classic strategic thinking rather than daily people management. Its concise principles reward rereading, though applying military ideas to a workplace requires interpretation and care about where the analogy stops.

What it's about

Sun Tzu's military treatise examines planning, leadership, deception, terrain, and adapting to an opponent. Its thirteen chapters consider how preparation and strategic judgment can secure an advantage while limiting the costs and dangers of warfare.

Also recommended by

12 people
  • Jocko Willink recommended this book
  • Neil deGrasse Tyson recommended this book
  • Marc Benioff recommended this book
  • Evan Spiegel recommended this book
  • Dave Camarillo recommended this book
  • Ryan Petersen recommended this book
  • +6

    More recommendations

    • Travis Kalanick
      "It became [Travis Kalanick's bible]." - Mike Isaac
    • Vlad Tenev
      "I like the classics such as The Republic by Plato and The Art of War by Sun Tzu." - Vlad Tenev
    • Fred Wilson
      "Has to get onto my list." - Fred Wilson
    • Lex Fridman
      Lex Fridman mentioned this book on Instagram.
    • Elon Musk
      "I've read [this book] many times." - Elon Musk
    • Patrick Bet-David
      Patrick Bet-David recommended this book on his website.
4
Book cover for "The Making of a Manager" by Julie ZhuoView on Amazon

The Making of a Manager

What to Do When Everyone Looks to You

by Julie Zhuo

For people promoted into management without a clear picture of the job. Zhuo makes the transition approachable through everyday questions and personal experience, though the technology-company setting will not mirror every workplace.

What it's about

Julie Zhuo draws on her experience becoming a manager to explain the responsibilities of leading a team. Her guide covers trust, feedback, hiring, meetings, and self-management, addressing common uncertainties that arise when others begin looking to you for direction.

Also recommended by

7 people
  • Daniel Pink recommended this book
  • Ev Williams recommended this book
  • Gretchen Rubin recommended this book
  • Sam Altman recommended this book
  • Stewart Butterfield recommended this book
  • Ali Abdaal recommended this book
  • +1

    More recommendations

    • Marty Cagan
      "If you're a manager of product, design or engineering for a company built on empowered product teams, it's worth your time." - Marty Cagan
5
Book cover for "Radical Candor" by Kim ScottView on Amazon

Radical Candor

Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity

by Kim Scott

For managers who avoid difficult feedback or deliver it too harshly. Scott gives caring and directness equal weight in a memorable framework, though putting that balance into practice takes more tact than the slogan suggests.

What it's about

Kim Scott presents a management approach combining personal concern with direct feedback. Drawing on experiences at Google, Apple, and startups, she explains how leaders can address problems, support employees, and build teams without avoiding difficult conversations.

Also recommended by

3 people
6
Book cover for "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership" by John C MaxwellView on Amazon

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

Follow Them and People Will Follow You

by John C Maxwell

For readers who like leadership principles organized into a memorable framework. Maxwell provides many prompts for self-examination, though the law-based presentation can make context-dependent judgments sound more universal than they are.

What it's about

Maxwell organizes leadership advice around twenty-one principles, including influence, ongoing development, and planning a course for others. Examples from experience illustrate his ideas about leading people, helping readers examine how their decisions and habits affect those who follow them.

Also recommended by

2 people
7
Book cover for "Leaders Eat Last" by Simon SinekView on Amazon

Leaders Eat Last

Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't

by Simon Sinek2013

For managers trying to build trust and reduce internal competition. Sinek gives team safety a stronger central role than the productivity books, though the inspirational stories are more prominent than detailed implementation guidance.

What it's about

Leaders Eat Last explores how trust, safety, and brain chemistry shape strong teams. Using examples from business and the military, Simon Sinek explains how leaders who put people first create cultures where cooperation, courage, and long term performance can thrive.

Also recommended by

1 person
8
Book cover for "How To Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale CarnegieView on Amazon

How To Win Friends and Influence People

by Dale Carnegie

For managers who need warmer, more considerate everyday conversations. Carnegie makes relationship habits memorable through simple stories, though its older examples and broad social advice offer less help with formal management responsibilities.

What it's about

Carnegie presents practical guidance for building relationships, communicating effectively, and influencing others. Stories and principles explore social confidence, leadership, and cooperation, offering approaches readers can apply to interactions in their personal lives and at work.

Also recommended by

18 people
  • Warren Buffett recommended this book
  • Scott Adams recommended this book
  • Dave Ramsey recommended this book
  • Paul Graham recommended this book
  • Derek Sivers recommended this book
  • Dustin Moskovitz recommended this book
  • +12

    More recommendations

    • Ken Block
      "One of the first books that really helped me achieve my management style and what’s helped me really be successful." - Ken Block
    • DJ Vlad
      Most Recommended Books reached out to DJ Vlad directly.
    • Strauss Zelnick
      "Archaic references and overweening title to the side, it’s actually a great guide to leadership and salesmanship." - Strauss Zelnick
    • Daymond John
      "I love all the Dale Carnegie books." - Daymond John
    • Shay Carl
      "A staple that I have listened to three or four times." - Shay Carl
    • Tim Draper
      "[One of the books] that are recommended or required at Draper University." - Tim Draper
    • Sahil Lavingia
      Sahil Lavingia recommended this book on Notion.
    • Barbara Corcoran
      "A must read for anyone in business." - Barbara Corcoran
    • Alex Hormozi
      Alex Hormozi recommended this book on Instagram.
    • Michael Hyatt
      Michael Hyatt recommended this book on his website.
    • Ben Greenfield
      Most Recommended Books reached out to Ben Greenfield directly.
    • Patrick Bet-David
      Patrick Bet-David recommended this book on his website.
9
Book cover for "High Output Management" by Andrew S. GroveView on Amazon

High Output Management

by Andrew S. Grove

For managers who want concrete ways to organize work, meetings, and team performance. Grove connects daily activities with collective results more closely than the leadership parables, though the production metaphors and older examples need adaptation.

What it's about

Drawing on his experience at Intel, Andrew Grove explains how managers can organize work, develop employees, and improve team productivity. He connects everyday business operations with practical methods for motivation and effective management.

Also recommended by

14 people
  • Mark Zuckerberg recommended this book
  • Marc Andreessen recommended this book
  • Tobi Lütke recommended this book
  • Larry Ellison recommended this book
  • Ben Horowitz recommended this book
  • Keith Rabois recommended this book
  • +8

    More recommendations

    • Drew Houston
      "The best book on management ever written." - Drew Houston
    • Brian Chesky
      "Chesky, CEO of AirBnB, treats 'High Output Management' as his primary reference book on management." - Business Insider
    • Brian Armstrong
      "Surprisingly, I found I was already using many of the management ideas in this book (1:1, OKRs, etc) which is a testament to just how influential this book is." - Brian Armstrong
    • Ron Conway
      "User-friendly guide to the art and science of management." - Ron Conway
    • Sahil Lavingia
      Sahil Lavingia recommended this book on Notion.
    • Balaji Srinivasan
      Balaji Srinivasan recommended this book in "The Almanack of Balaji Srinivasan."
    • Justin Kan
      Justin Kan recommended this book on Twitter.
    • John Doerr
      John Doerr recommended this book at the end of "Measure What Matters."
10
Book cover for "Creativity, Inc." by Ed CatmullView on Amazon

Creativity, Inc.

Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration

by Ed Catmull2014

For managers protecting creative work while an organization grows. Catmull makes candor and learning tangible through Pixar experience, though translating lessons from a distinctive studio into a different workplace still requires judgment.

What it's about

Ed Catmull draws on the development of Pixar to explain how leaders can support creative teams. He examines risk, communication, collaboration, and organizational habits that help protect imaginative work while sustaining a successful business.

Also recommended by

8 people
  • Ezra Klein recommended this book
  • Mark Zuckerberg recommended this book
  • Jason Calacanis recommended this book
  • Demis Hassabis recommended this book
  • Alexis Ohanian recommended this book
  • Michael Mauboussin recommended this book
  • +2

    More recommendations

    • Patrick O'Shaughnessy
      "One of the most entertaining and useful business books I’ve ever read." - Patrick O'Shaughnessy
    • Trung Phan
      "About the Animation industry." - Trung Phan
11
Book cover for "Turn the Ship Around!" by L. David MarquetView on Amazon

Turn the Ship Around!

A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders

by L. David Marquet

For leaders who want responsibility and decision-making to spread beyond the boss. Marquet makes the transition concrete through one organization, though readers must translate a naval command setting into their own workplace constraints.

What it's about

David Marquet recounts how he changed the leadership approach aboard the submarine Santa Fe. By giving crew members greater responsibility and control, he developed a model for building leaders throughout an organization.

Also recommended by

4 people
  • David Heinemeier Hansson recommended this book
  • Brian Armstrong recommended this book
  • Simon Sinek recommended this book
  • Jason Fried recommended this book
12
Book cover for "Leadership and Self-Deception" by The Arbinger InstituteView on Amazon

Leadership and Self-Deception

Getting Out of the Box

by The Arbinger Institute

For managers who keep blaming colleagues while conflicts repeat. The story encourages readers to examine their own contribution to strained relationships, though its central metaphor can feel repetitive and offers limited help with organizational structures.

What it's about

The Arbinger Institute uses a story about challenges at work and home to examine self-deception. It argues that failing to recognize our own motivations can undermine relationships and leadership, and explores ways to change that perspective.

Also recommended by

3 people
13
Book cover for "First, Break All the Rules" by Gallup OrganizationView on Amazon

First, Break All the Rules

What the world's Greatest Managers Do Differently

by Gallup Organization

For managers who want employee strengths and expectations at the center of their practice. Its research-based challenge to conventional supervision offers a distinct lens, though the broad findings still need adapting to particular teams.

What it's about

Drawing on Gallup’s study of managers, this book explores how strong leaders turn individual talent into performance. It challenges conventional assumptions about developing employees and offers practical lessons on strengths, workplace expectations, and measuring the employee experience.

14
Book cover for "Leadership" by Daniel GolemanView on Amazon

Leadership

The Power of Emotional Intelligence

by Daniel Goleman

For managers interested in how their behavior affects team relationships. The essay format makes emotional intelligence easier to explore in sections, though it is less continuous and less operational than a complete management handbook.

What it's about

This collection brings together Daniel Goleman's writings on leadership and emotional intelligence. Essays examine management styles, group performance, social awareness, and the development of emotional skills, explaining how leaders' behavior can influence the people and organizations around them.

15
Book cover for "Good to Great" by Jim CollinsView on Amazon

Good to Great

Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't

by Jim Collins2001

For leaders thinking about company-wide performance rather than individual supervision. Collins offers a memorable language for focus and discipline, though retrospective company comparisons should be treated as arguments to examine rather than guaranteed formulas.

What it's about

Jim Collins examines why some companies achieve lasting improvements while comparable businesses do not. His research emphasizes leadership, people, disciplined focus, and cumulative momentum as foundations of transformation.

Also recommended by

11 people
16
Book cover for "The Effective Executive" by Peter F. DruckerView on Amazon

The Effective Executive

The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done

by Peter F. Drucker

For knowledge workers and managers who need to choose their contributions more carefully. Drucker concentrates on time, priorities, and decisions with unusual clarity, though the older institutional examples can feel distant from today’s work.

What it's about

Peter F. Drucker examines the practices that enable executives to turn knowledge and ability into useful results. He discusses managing time, focusing contributions, building on strengths, setting priorities, and making decisions, drawing on examples from business and government.

Also recommended by

5 people
  • Ev Williams recommended this book
  • Drew Houston recommended this book
  • Matt Mullenweg recommended this book
  • Guy Kawasaki recommended this book
  • Jim Collins recommended this book
17
Book cover for "The New One Minute Manager" by Ken BlanchardView on Amazon

The New One Minute Manager

by Ken Blanchard

For new managers who want a short introduction to expectations and timely feedback. The parable makes a few habits easy to remember, though its deliberately simple situations leave complex performance and team problems largely untouched.

What it's about

Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson update their management parable about a young man seeking effective leadership. The story presents brief goal-setting, praise, and redirection practices, explaining how clear expectations and timely feedback can support a more collaborative workplace.

Also recommended by

3 people
  • Joe De Sena recommended this book
  • Brian Armstrong recommended this book
  • Daymond John recommended this book
18
Book cover for "My Years with General Motors" by Alfred SloanView on Amazon

My Years with General Motors

by Alfred Sloan

For senior managers interested in coordination across a large organization. Sloan explains structural choices through corporate history in unusual depth, though the industrial setting and detailed account demand more patience than a modern handbook.

What it's about

Alfred Sloan recounts his experience directing General Motors and developing its management practices. The book combines corporate history with reflections on organization, strategy, and decision making, showing how leaders coordinated the operations of a large industrial enterprise.

Also recommended by

1 person
19
Book cover for "On Becoming a Leader" by Warren G. BennisView on Amazon

On Becoming a Leader

by Warren G. Bennis

For managers reflecting on identity, judgment, and how leadership develops. Bennis gives personal growth more space than tools and procedures, though readers looking for immediate help with meetings or feedback may prefer something more practical.

What it's about

Warren Bennis argues that leadership develops through learning and experience rather than depending solely on innate talent. Drawing on examples of leaders, he examines the qualities and practices that help individuals find direction and influence others amid uncertainty.

20
Book cover for "Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive" by Harvey B MackayView on Amazon

Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive

Outsell, Outmanage, Outmotivate, and Outnegotiate Your Competition

by Harvey B Mackay

For managers whose work overlaps with selling and building customer relationships. Mackay offers direct lessons from business experience, though the sales emphasis and older anecdotes make it less useful for managing a modern team day to day.

What it's about

Harvey Mackay shares lessons in selling, negotiation, and management drawn from his business experience. His advice emphasizes knowing customers as people, maintaining relationships after a sale, setting goals, and handling competitors without sacrificing personal standards.

Sources

  1. 1

    15 Books Every Manager Should Read

    wrike.com

  2. 2

    20 Best Management Books That Will Make You a Great Leader

    lifehack.org

  3. 3

    The 10 Best Management Books To Read in 2023

    rickkettner.com

  4. 4

    The 15 best management books, ranked by reader data

    entrepedia.co

  5. 5

    9 Books Every Manager Should Read

    proofhub.com

  6. 6

    11 Best Books on People Management

    shrm.org

  7. 7

    Our Top 20 Management Books of All Time

    summary.com

  8. 8

    Management Books

    goodreads.com

Other Lists

Edited by

Richard Reis

Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.

Follow@richardreeze
Anurag Ramdasan

Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shape MRB and its growth.

Follow@anuragwho

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