There are about 11,000 business books published every year. I try to read about 50 books/year (fiction and non-fiction) and can tell you straight up that most of the 11,000 are some mixture of ego trip, rehashed ideas, and just plain junk. But mixed with the junk is some really great stuff too that’s worth your time.
I always suggest you have a non-fiction book going for work, and a fiction book for your own enjoyment and edification. Non-fiction brings knowledge and fiction brings wisdom. Here are some of my recommends from 2013:
Nonfiction:
The Great Game of Business – Jack Stack (re-released and updated this year). An amazing story and real page-turner.
Accounting for Canadians for Dummies – John A. Tracy, Cecile Laurin. Accounting is the language of business, and getting better at it is really important.
Start with Why – Simon Sinek. An exploration of the natural laws of human motivation.
Fiction (or at least non-business!):
The Golden Spruce – John Vaillant. A true story of an act of environmental terrorism.
Flight of the Eagle – Conrad Black. An overview of the USA from inception to today.
The Border Trilogy – Cormac McCarthy. A re-read for me. One of America’s best living authors IMHO.
