Knowledge is power. And one of the best ways to get the knowledge you need to succeed in the business world is by reading.
Back in the day, those longing for words of wisdom on succeeding at business would look to the old school paperback books that you could rent out from the library. You’d lug around these thickly bound pages and manually flip through the business books.
But nowadays, those looking to learn about getting ahead in business can also learn this wisdom through digital books. Forums like Holloway have created an amazing new way of reading books, with book lovers in the forefront of their minds.
Reading books digitally through these sorts of platforms allows readers to have an elevated experience, in which they can quickly access links, footnotes, definitions, and other reader’s comments on that same book. And let’s be honest, reading other book lover’s commentary is sometimes more entertaining than the actual book and provides equally as much knowledge.
While the times have changed and technology is more advanced than ever before, it is words that hold the secrets to the success you’ve been looking for.
To help those who are looking to discover classic business books to help them on their trajectory of success, look no further than here. Check out our top ten classic business books that have proven to be influential
1. Business Adventures by John Brooks
Follow along as Brooks recounts the grand successes and epic failures of some of the most well-known businesses in the world. Readers will learn what went wrong with Ford Motor Company that resulted in a multi-million dollar blunder that took years to recover from. Or how companies like Xerox rose to the top of the business world in a blink of an eye! There will also be tales of scandals that follow with success in business, which is as entertaining to read as they are practical to help you avoid yourself.
2. The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs by William Thorndike
If you are interested in business, chances are that you have dreams and aspirations of making it to the top and becoming a stand-out leader. Thorndike’s book uncovers eight CEOs in the business world who reached the pinnacle and lays it all out there as to how he accomplished that. These CEOs all have big personalities with a range of different skills and weaknesses. This book will make you think differently about what it is like to be the CEO of a successful company.
3. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Skills in the business world often transfer over into your personal life as well. Read Carnegie’s re-cap of what it takes to become successful in life—period. Following the advice outlined in this book will help you shift your mindset on how to treat people, measure yourself, and set goals and ambitions.
4. Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou
In today’s world, some of the most ambitious business people aren’t just climbing the ladder at their corporate job. They are creating new businesses altogether! Silicon Valley has become a hot spot for young up and coming CEOs and with that comes a whole lot of drama and turmoil. Carreyrou recounts one of the most notorious scandals to date by a start-up CEO—Elizabeth Holmes. She famously scammed the world into thinking she had a medical invention that could revolutionize the health industry. Her fall from fame teaches us all lessons to apply to our own business practices.
5. Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
To be a successful CEO takes both great practical business skills and social intelligence. Businesses aren’t successful without the people that make them great. Goleman lays out why it is so important for leaders to be in touch with their own emotions and wellbeing so that they can lead others in a healthy and inspiring way. It is a new take on intelligence that every single person should strive to have!
6. Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
This classic still continues to influence us all decades after Covey first published it. Diving into analyzing the characteristics of successful leaders—such as Presidents and CEOs—Covey shares the seven habits these top notch people tend to have. And best of all, these habits are not unattainable, it is something that every single person can incorporate into their own daily lives to become a more effective human being.
What are you waiting for? With these six classic business books, a world of words await you to help you become better at business and a better person in general. Whether you choose to read the old fashioned way or with the pleasures technology offers, you surely won’t be disappointed with the knowledge you gain from these forever classics! Happy reading and happy learning!
