"What we really need is not more authors,
or better publishers.
What we most need is
a vastly better system
to identify the books we will love."
TechCrunch
Beantown Web has developed such a system. For the ninth year running Beantown Web has conducted a quasi-scientific meta-search to identify the best business books published during the calendar year. These books are most likely to add value to your career.
This year's search began by identifying 11 "Best of" lists. This resource list is available upon request. Presented here are the results.
A total of 110 books were mentioned on at least one "Best of" list — 77 of these books were mentioned only once.
The Honorable Mention Shelf
An additional 15 books were mentioned on two lists and these books comprise the Honorable Mention list.
The Must-Read Shelf
Thirteen books were mentioned on three lists and have been placed on the Must-Read shelf:
- Chaos Monkeys
- Disrupted
- Makers and Takers
- Never Split the Difference
- Pre-Suasion
- Shoe Dog
- Smarter Faster Better
- Sprint
- TED Talks
- The Inevitable
- The Man Who Knew
- Under New Management
- Wonderland
The Top Shelf
One book was mentioned on four lists:
One book was mentioned on five lists:
Two books were mentioned on six lists:
One book was mentioned on seven lists:
Personal Recommendations
If 18 books are too many to chose from, then check out the following Short List.The four highest rated books on Goodreads (of the 18 listed here) are as follows:
- Shoe Dog (4.46 out of 5.00)
- Never Split the Difference (4.40)
- The Man Who Knew (4.31)
- Sprint (4.20)
These four books are now on my Short List. (Update: I have now read and reviewed three of these four books.)
I have read two of five Top Shelf books and five from the 13 books on the Must-Read shelf. As I work through this reading list, I will post my reviews at Goodreads.com and share links here.
- Deep Work ★★★★★
- Disrupted ★★★★★
- Grit ★★★★★
- Never Split the Difference ★★★★
- The Inevitable ★★★★
- Shoe Dog ★★★★
- Sprint ★★★★
You can access reviews of 100+ Leadership and Strategy books I have read at Pinterest.
Suggested Success Strategy
Regardless of your professional discipline, business is the engine that drives economic well-being. The economy continues to improve and job growth continues to look promising in 2017. You can help enhance your personal economic prospects by learning more about the business of business.
Goal: Select one business book from the five pictured above, read it, practice its principles and shift your career into a higher gear in 2017. Of course, you can select all 18 books, read more than one per month, and receive a guaranteed seat in business class!
NOTE: The 18 Best Business Books of 2016 — those making at least three "Best of" lists — are being counted down on Twitter @webapprentices and on Facebook @beantownweb.
View annual Best Business Books blog postings.
