The most recommended product management books

Who picked these books? Meet our 39 experts.

39 authors created a book list connected to product management, and here are their favorite product management books.
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Book cover of How to Measure Anything Workbook: Finding the Value of "Intangibles" in Business

Steve Fenton Author Of Exploring Octopus Deploy

From Steve's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Software punk Programmer Thought recycler Musician Reader

Steve's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Steve Fenton Why did Steve love this book?

This book really gets under the skin of measurement and busts myths about what kind of sample size you need to get useful insights (you need far fewer data points than you think!) Having read many books on statistics, this one certainly had the strongest practical link to everyday work.

It also does an amazing job of explaining the damage done by thinking "this can't be measured", after which I was left feeling this needed to be essential management reading.

It's a book that will change how you think.

By Douglas W. Hubbard,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked How to Measure Anything Workbook as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The invaluable companion to the new edition of the bestselling How to Measure Anything This companion workbook to the new edition of the insightful and eloquent How to Measure Anything walks readers through sample problems and exercises in which they can master and apply the methods discussed in the book. The book explains practical methods for measuring a variety of intangibles, including approaches to measuring customer satisfaction, organizational flexibility, technology risk, technology ROI, and other problems in business, government, and not-for-profits. * Companion to the revision of the bestselling How to Measure Anything * Provides chapter-by-chapter exercises * Written by…


Book cover of Lean Enterprise

Steve Fenton Author Of Exploring Octopus Deploy

From Steve's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Software punk Programmer Thought recycler Musician Reader

Steve's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Steve Fenton Why did Steve love this book?

This book has a strong thread to bring together a lot of solid ideas, so it's valuable in its own right while also signposting some crucial theories that underpin Lean and Agile. The ideas extend outwards from software teams to whole organizations, essentially aligning everyone towards the same goals.

By Joanne Molesky, Jez Humble, Barry O'Reilly

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Lean Enterprise as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

How well does your organization respond to changing market conditions, customer needs, and emerging technologies when building software-based products? This practical guide presents Lean and Agile principles and patterns to help you move fast at scale - and demonstrates why and how to apply these methodologies throughout your organization, rather than with just one department or team. Through case studies, you'll learn how successful enterprises have rethought everything from governance and financial management to systems architecture and organizational culture in the pursuit of radically improved performance. Adopting Lean will take time and commitment, but it's vital for harnessing the cultural…


Book cover of A Cannes Lions Jury Presents: The Art of Branded Entertainment

Robin Landa Author Of Advertising by Design: Generating and Designing Creative Ideas Across Media

From my list on creative advertising, art direction, and typography.

Why am I passionate about this?

I'm a Distinguished Professor in the Michael Graves College, Kean University. I’ve written over twenty books about advertising, graphic design, branding, personal branding, creativity, and drawing. On May 17, 2022, Routledge will publish my new book, Strategic Creativity: A Business Field Guide to Advertising, Branding, and Design. I’ve won numerous awards for my design, writing, and research, including awards from the National Society of Arts and Letters and the National League of Pen Women. In 2015, I received the Human Rights Educator award, 2016 Kean Presidential Excellence award for research, 2013 Teacher of the Year, and the Carnegie Foundation lists me among the great teachers of our time.

Robin's book list on creative advertising, art direction, and typography

Robin Landa Why did Robin love this book?

Anyone in advertising or interested in advertising should read anything PJ Pereira (co-founder and Creative Chairman of Pereria O’Dell) has to say. Period. That should be enough reason to read this tome but there are more.

Content is everything. Advertising competes with entertainment online and everywhere 24/7. This book is a collection of essays from jurors on the 2017 Lions Entertainment award jury—therefore these folks know what they’re talking about.

By PJ Pereira, Monica Chun, Jules Daly

Why should I read it?

1 author picked A Cannes Lions Jury Presents as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A special, première release of this groundbreaking book on the art of advertising and brand management to coincide with the 2018 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

A collection of essays from jurors on the 2017 Lions Entertainment award. Drawing on years of experience and expertise, working for brands such as Mini, Coca-Cola, Lego, Google, Skype and Intel and for media and advertising giants such as Bartle Bogle Hegarty and MediaCom, the contributors provide a fun and far-reaching study of the evolution of branding and the future of advertising.

Live television viewing is decreasing as audiences choose to stream television…


Book cover of Time's Now for Women Healthcare Leaders: A Guide for the Journey

Deborah Shlian Author Of Lessons Learned: Stories from Women Physician Leaders

From my list on women leaders.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a physician with over 30 years as a healthcare executive recruiter and consultant. I have been responsible for launching the careers of future leaders—many are women who have defied the odds to become senior executives In every area of healthcare. Lessons Learned: Stories from Women Physician Leaders is actually the third iteration of a project that has followed the careers of women physician leaders over almost 3 decades. In the version, 33 women share the lessons they have learned along the way.

Deborah's book list on women leaders

Deborah Shlian Why did Deborah love this book?

I have known Dr. Patricia Gabow for over 30 years and have had the opportunity to watch her personal leadership journey from practicing physician to CEO of Denver Hospital. I really like that in this book Patricia has interviewed healthcare leaders who share the various obstacles and challenges they have faced as they defied the odds (today less than 20% of women physicians become senior leaders in any area within the healthcare system). I think personal stories are always more compelling than data.

By Patricia A. Gabow,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Time's Now for Women Healthcare Leaders as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

TIME'S NOW for Women Healthcare Leaders: A Guide for the Journey

Women comprise over 80 percent of healthcare frontline employees, but they often hit the proverbial glass ceiling. Only 30 percent of healthcare C-suite Executives and less than 15% of CEOs are women. Moreover, while 51 percent of medical students are women, only 16 percent of the Department Chairs and Deans are women. Clearly, women are facing barriers to achieving their potential, limiting their ability to add their unique talents and skills to the tables of leadership. The author provides extensive detail on these barriers and approaches to their solutions.…


Book cover of Team Topologies: Organizing Business and Technology Teams for Fast Flow

João Rosa Author Of Software Architecture Metrics: Case Studies to Improve the Quality of Your Architecture

From my list on a people first approach to technology.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m puzzled by how people and technology evolve—as humankind we created all of these wonders to make our life easier. At the same time, I feel that we are more focus on the technology and processes, rather than people. It drew me to the topic of sociotechnical systems, which fascinates me. I’ve formal education in IT, and everything is binary; however, during my career I was drawn to the intersection of technology and people. My mission in life is to support a new generation of leaders that want to create an organisational environment that puts people in the center! 

João's book list on a people first approach to technology

João Rosa Why did João love this book?

I love pattern languages. And Team Topologies brings patterns for team types and their interactions. Most importantly, they address fundamental problems of the software industry: how teams organise for fast flow, and how teams cope with cognitive load. The book steams from the author's experience in the DevOps community, and it is widely used across the world. Last but not least, Team Topologies give us a language that support organisation evolution.

By Matthew Skelton, Manuel Pais,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Team Topologies as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Companion book Remote Team Interactions Workbook now available!


Effective software teams are essential for any organization to deliver value continuously and sustainably. But how do you build the best team organization for your specific goals, culture, and needs?


Team Topologies is a practical, step-by-step, adaptive model for organizational design and team interaction based on four fundamental team types and three team interaction patterns. It is a model that treats teams as the fundamental means of delivery, where team structures and communication pathways are able to evolve with technological and organizational maturity.


In Team Topologies, IT consultants Matthew Skelton and Manuel…


Book cover of Continuous Discovery Habits: Discover Products that Create Customer Value and Business Value

Jeff Gothelf Author Of Forever Employable: How to Stop Looking for Work and Let Your Next Job Find You

From my list on product management from an experienced product manager.

Why am I passionate about this?

Jeff has been a UX designer, team leader and product manager for over 20 years. His work in the field helped define some of the key practices product managers use today. Building a customer-centric practice is key to successful products and services and Jeff has demonstrated that not only in the products and companies he’s helped build but in the writing and thinking he’s contributed to the product managaement community.

Jeff's book list on product management from an experienced product manager

Jeff Gothelf Why did Jeff love this book?

Product discovery is the way in which great product teams learn whether or not they’re building something of value. Teresa has distilled and sharpened this practice into a set of tools and techniques that she delivers in her signature direct style. Must read for all product managers and UX designers.

By Teresa Torres,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Continuous Discovery Habits as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"If you haven't had the good fortune to be coached by a strong leader or product coach, this book can help fill that gap and set you on the path to success."

- Marty Cagan

How do you know that you are making a product or service that your customers want? How do you ensure that you are improving it over time? How do you guarantee that your team is creating value for your customers in a way that creates value for your business?

In this book, you'll learn a structured and sustainable approach to continuous discovery that will help…


Book cover of Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning

Jeff Gothelf Author Of Forever Employable: How to Stop Looking for Work and Let Your Next Job Find You

From my list on product management from an experienced product manager.

Why am I passionate about this?

Jeff has been a UX designer, team leader and product manager for over 20 years. His work in the field helped define some of the key practices product managers use today. Building a customer-centric practice is key to successful products and services and Jeff has demonstrated that not only in the products and companies he’s helped build but in the writing and thinking he’s contributed to the product managaement community.

Jeff's book list on product management from an experienced product manager

Jeff Gothelf Why did Jeff love this book?

Perhaps an unusual pick for product managers but this book breaks down how to teach successfully in a world of constant distractions. Think of it as “lean startup for classes.” Product managers are teachers, evangelists, and most of all communicators. Knowing how to break down ideas into pieces your teams and colleagues can digest is critical to your success.

By James M. Lang,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Small Teaching as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Employ cognitive theory in the classroom every day Research into how we learn has opened the door for utilizing cognitive theory to facilitate better student learning. But that's easier said than done. Many books about cognitive theory introduce radical but impractical theories, failing to make the connection to the classroom. In Small Teaching, James Lang presents a strategy for improving student learning with a series of modest but powerful changes that make a big difference many of which can be put into practice in a single class period. These strategies are designed to bridge the chasm between primary research and…


Book cover of The Phoenix Project: A Novel about IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business Win

George Finney Author Of Project Zero Trust: A Story about a Strategy for Aligning Security and the Business

From my list on books on cybersecurity that anyone can understand.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have worked in cybersecurity for over 20 years and think it’s one of the most important topics in our modern world. Everyone needs to be secure–from young kids to elderly people avoiding online scams. As a practicing Chief Security Officer, I work with security technology and people every day, and I’m getting to live my childhood dream of being a writer helping people understand these complex challenges. Security is a part of the foundation of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and allows everyone to live up to their full potential as humans. People are the most important part of security, and you don’t need a degree in computer science to be cyber secure.

George's book list on books on cybersecurity that anyone can understand

George Finney Why did George love this book?

This book was one of the biggest inspirations for me when I wrote my book.

Running a team of technology experts is really hard, so instead of writing a reference manual or an inspirational leadership memoir, Kim tells the story of a group of people who work together to learn the same best practices that have been in use for decades in the manufacturing and project management industries.

This hits close to home since I can recognize myself and many of my colleagues in each of the vivid characters.

By Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, George Spafford

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Phoenix Project as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

***Over a half-million sold! And available now, the Wall Street Journal Bestselling sequel The Unicorn Project***

"Every person involved in a failed IT project should be forced to read this book."-TIM O'REILLY, Founder & CEO of O'Reilly Media

"The Phoenix Project is a must read for business and IT executives who are struggling with the growing complexity of IT."-JIM WHITEHURST, President and CEO, Red Hat, Inc.

Five years after this sleeper hit took on the world of IT and flipped it on it's head, the 5th Anniversary Edition of The Phoenix Project continues to guide IT in the DevOps revolution.…


Book cover of Working Backwards: Insights, Stories, and Secrets from Inside Amazon

Nektarios Oraiopoulos Author Of From Breakthrough to Blockbuster: The Business of Biotechnology

From my list on bringing new ideas to life.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a professor of technology management at the Judge Business School, University of Cambridge. I have interacted and learned from hundreds (or possibly thousands) of students and senior executives on how they develop new products and more broadly how they make better decisions in business and life. I am hoping that the books I shared with you will move you in that direction too. 

Nektarios' book list on bringing new ideas to life

Nektarios Oraiopoulos Why did Nektarios love this book?

I love this book because it gives an insider’s view of Amazon’s decision-making processes and culture that enabled all these amazing products to be created.

It shows that Amazon’s exponential growth for over two decades was not the outcome of luck, but of excellent management and leadership skills at every step of the way. Even if you are not interested in business, you will learn a lot about thinking in productive ways and making better decisions. 

By Colin Bryar, Bill Carr,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Working Backwards as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'Essential for any leader in any industry' - Kim Scott, bestselling author of Radical Candor

Working Backwards gives an insider's account of Amazon's approach to culture, leadership and best practices from two long-time, top-level Amazon executives.

Colin Bryar and Bill Carr joined Amazon in the late 90s. Their time at the company covered a period of unmatched innovation that brought products and services - including Kindle, Amazon Prime, Amazon Echo and Alexa, and Amazon Web Services - to life. Through the story of these innovations they reveal the principles and practices that drive Amazon's success.

Through their wealth of experience…


Book cover of Testing Business Ideas: A Field Guide for Rapid Experimentation

Jeff Gothelf Author Of Forever Employable: How to Stop Looking for Work and Let Your Next Job Find You

From my list on product management from an experienced product manager.

Why am I passionate about this?

Jeff has been a UX designer, team leader and product manager for over 20 years. His work in the field helped define some of the key practices product managers use today. Building a customer-centric practice is key to successful products and services and Jeff has demonstrated that not only in the products and companies he’s helped build but in the writing and thinking he’s contributed to the product managaement community.

Jeff's book list on product management from an experienced product manager

Jeff Gothelf Why did Jeff love this book?

David and Alex have written the definitive reference book for product experiments. Forty-four ways for you to learn quickly and efficiently whether you’re building something of value. This book is beautifully illustrated and infinitely practical.

By David J. Bland, Alex Osterwalder,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Testing Business Ideas as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A practical guide to effective business model testing

7 out of 10 new products fail to deliver on expectations. Testing Business Ideas aims to reverse that statistic. In the tradition of Alex Osterwalder's global bestseller Business Model Generation, this practical guide contains a library of hands-on techniques for rapidly testing new business ideas.

Testing Business Ideas explains how systematically testing business ideas dramatically reduces the risk and increases the likelihood of success for any new venture or business project. It builds on the internationally popular Business Model Canvas and Value Proposition Canvas by integrating Assumptions Mapping and other powerful lean…


Book cover of How to Measure Anything Workbook: Finding the Value of "Intangibles" in Business
Book cover of Lean Enterprise
Book cover of A Cannes Lions Jury Presents: The Art of Branded Entertainment

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