BNET (10 Underrated Business Books)

Share This Article Get Updates by Email Tell a friend

A lot of business books get popular, but the most useful don’t always stay on the corporate radar. Sometimes this is because the contents, if put into practice, would force you (and often your firm) to make major changes in day-to-day behavior. It’s far easier to just skim these “challenging” books on the cross-country flight. These 10 books might not tell you want you want to hear, but they will give you information you need to significantly revise your personal and business strategies.

1. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make A Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell
   
   
   (business books, health, nonfiction)
   
   "Why it’s underrated: Most business books are about how managers and employees should think and behave. This book explains how people (managers and employees alike) actually do think, and how those thoughts govern their personal and organizational behavior."
   
   


2. Freakonomics by Stephen J. Dubner
   
   
   (economics, business books, nonfiction, science)
   
   "Why it’s underrated: The subject matter is sociological rather than organizational, but the book teaches people to differentiate between valid statistical analysis and public relations b.s. — and consequently make better-informed decisions."
   
   


3. Nickel And Dimed: On by Barbara Ehrenreich
   
   
   (economics, business books, nonfiction)
   
   "Why it’s underrated: You’ve got a good job (otherwise you wouldn’t be reading business books). After reading this eye-opener, you’ll be incredibly grateful that you do."
   
   


4. The Long Tail: Why The Future Of Business Is Selling Less Of More by Chris Anderson
   
   
   (economics, business books, IT books)
   
   "Why it’s underrated: Entire industry sectors are collapsing under the pressure of the Internet; this explains how to survive by catering to niche markets."
   
   


5. The New Rules Of Marketing And Pr by David Meerman Scott
   
   
   (business books, IT books)
   
   "Most professional marketers — and the groups in which they work — are on the edge of becoming obsolete, so they’d better learn how marketing is really going to work in the future."
   
   


6. Managers Not Mbas: A Hard Look At The Soft Practice Of Managing And Management Development by Henry Mintzberg
   
   
   (management / leadership, business books)
   
   "Why it’s underrated: The cult of the MBA thrives within the corporation, frequently putting degree-holders into positions for which they aren’t qualified. This book is the antidote that they don’t want you to read."
   
   


7. The E-myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work And What To Do About It by Michael E. Gerber
   
   
   (management, management / leadership, business books)
   
   "Why it’s underrated: This is the antidote to 20 years of relentless hype about the value of “entrepreneurism” in a world where most “entrepreneurs” fall flat on their face."
   
   


8. Influence: The Psychology Of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini
   
   
   (business books, health, motivational, self-help, success)
   
   "Why it’s underrated: Books about selling tend to be long on anecdotes and short on science. “Influence” is the opposite, because it’s based on decades of Cialdini’s research."
   
   


9. How To Win Friends And Influence People by Dale Carnegie
   
   
   (careers, business books, communications, health, success, self-help)
   
   "Why it’s underrated: It may seem old and corny, but it’s the only how-to management book you’ll ever need — all the others are recycled from this classic."
   
   


10. Personal Finance For Dummies by Eric Tyson
    
    
    (business books)
    
    "Why it’s underrated: Sure, this is basic stuff, but research indicates that almost nobody follows the basics when it comes to personal finance. Master this book and you needn’t be a wage slave for the rest of your life."
    
    


Source:
http://www.bnet.com

.