As we head into holiday mode, you may be looking to add a book or two to your reading list. Here are my top 3 business book recommendations that will give you a competitive edge in 2024.
Top Insights
- It is possible to build products and companies that drive both profits and purpose
- Understanding your end customer is everything
- Great people make great companies
You’ll wish you had read these years ago…
Hooked by Nir Eyal
Good for:
- Product designers and engineers
- Innovators
If you are looking to unlock the secrets of building habit-forming products and creating engaging user experiences, look no further than Hooked by Nir Eyal. This book dives deep into the psychology behind why we get hooked on certain products and services.
I found the Hooked model a brilliant extension of the habit loop theory. Particularly the addition of the ‘investment’. Eyal’s insights are not only valuable for product designers and marketers but also for anyone interested in understanding the mechanics of consumer behaviour in the digital age
Eric Ries called this “A must-read for everyone who cares about driving customer engagement”.
Building a Second Brain by Tiago Forte
Good for:
- Budding entrepreneurs
- Learning professionals
Wouldn’t we all love a ‘second’ brain? Well, in the absence of an actual second brain, this book teaches us how to harness the next best thing.
The book outlines how to capture, organise, distil, and express important knowledge and information that we would like to store in our memory banks. You still need to do the work to put the learnings into practice, but the pragmatic nature of the book will allow you to begin practicing the learnings from the first few pages.
The constant feeling of being inundated with information can be relentless. Building a Second Brain provides us with a little respite.
After reading this book, Seth Godin said “I’ve been using variations of Forte’s ideas for decades. When you’re ready to get out of your own way, you’ll discover that they really work”.
Irresistible: The Seven Secrets of the World’s Most Enduring, Employee-Focused Organizations by Josh Bersin
Good for:
- Business leaders
- People managers
As someone deeply passionate about HR, EdTech, and Organisational Performance, I took my time in carefully studying this book. Having long-followed Josh and his HR thought leadership, this book is yet another example of his thought-provoking work.
Overall it’s a very practical read (something I look for closely these days). It makes clever use of case studies and client stories including many personal accounts from Josh’s experience. These help articulate his theories very well. The format is easy to read and ensures consistency. Going into each chapter, as a reader, you knew what you were getting.
The evolving theme of change is clever and relevant. Effective behavioural change management is becoming increasingly important in today’s organisations. Chapter 4: Culture, not rules, was a particular highlight.
Arianna Huffington said, “Irresistible is an essential book and an opportunity to learn from one of the best”.
Reading Towards a Better Business Strategy
I hope my recommendations help you create a stronger business strategy in 2024. Each of these books contains important insights from formidable business leaders. For closer guidance on your 2024 path, send me an email.
