Best Business Books | 2013

It is estimated that more than 10,000 business books

are published each year.

source: Forbes

Life is too short to drink cheap scotch. The same can been said about reading business books. No need to wait three years. The list has been distilled. Here are the twelve business books that represent the finest that 2013 had to offer.

For the sixth year running Beantown Web has conducted a quasi-scientific meta-search to identify the best business books published during the calendar year. The books identified in this analysis are most likely to add value to your career.

This year's search began by identifying 12 "Best of" lists. This resource list is available upon request. Presented here are the results.

A total of 118 books were mentioned on at least one "Best of" list. Of these recommendations, 90 books were mentioned only once. An additional 16 books were mentioned on two lists and these 16 books comprise the Honorable Mention list.

The Fifth Shelf

Three books were mentioned on three lists and have been placed on the Fifth Shelf:

• Compelling People
• Creative Confidence
• Looptail

The Fourth Shelf

One book was mentioned on four lists and was placed on the Fourth Shelf:

• The End of Competitive Advantage

The Third Shelf

Three books were mentioned on five lists and were placed on the Third Shelf:

• Big Data
• Give and Take
• To Sell is Human

The Second Shelf

Two books were mentioned on six lists and were placed on the Second Shelf:

• Contagious
• Playing to Win

The Top Shelf

Three books were mentioned on seven lists and were placed on the Top Shelf:

• Decisive
• Lean In
• The Everything Store

Personal Recommendations

If 12 books are too many to chose from, then check out the following Short List. The four highest rated books on Goodreads (of the 12 listed here) are as follows:

• The Everything Store (4.15 rating out of 5.00)
• Give and Take (4.10)
• Creative Confidence (4.04)
• Playing to Win (4.03)
  

These four books are now on my Short List.

I have read seven books from this list of 12. As I work through this reading list, I will post my reviews at Goodreads.com and share links here.

• Contagious ★★★★★
• Creative Confidence ★★★★★
• Decisive ★★★★
• Give and Take ★★★★
• Lean In ★★★★★
• Playing to Win ★★★★
• The End of Competitive Advantage ★★★★

You can access reviews of all 100+ books that I have read on Leadership and Strategy at Pinterest.

[ NOTE: The 16 Honorable Mention books, as well as, the 12 Best Business Books of 2013 will be counted down on Twitter.  Follow Beantown Web on Twitter @webapprentices and on Facebook by becoming a Fan of Beantown Web. ]

View recent Best Business Books blog postings.