Ken Norton
Executive coach for product leaders. Previously a partner at GV (Google Ventures) and a product manager at Google. Writes at Bring the Donuts, including a standing essential-reading list for product managers.
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Yes to the Mess: Surprising Leadership Lessons from Jazz Recommends
Jazz is messy, and musicians seem to court disaster night after night. What can product leaders learn from how these artists approach their art? Barrett’s entertaining book formed the backbone for
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Work Rules! Recommends
Laszlo and his team at Google reinvented the role of human resources. This book is a terrific overview of what makes Google Google, from culture, to hiring, to making decisions.
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Transformed: Moving to the Product Operating Model Recommends
The third book in Cagan’s trilogy, this one focuses on how companies can transform their cultures from project- to product-oriented. This book is probably less useful for the individual contributor, but it offers hope for anyone trapped in a feature team that something better is possible. Buy it for your boss or CEO.
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Thinking, Fast and Slow Recommends
When does our animal brain make decisions for us before our more analytical brain has a chance to think through the consequences? From Nobel laureate Kahneman, this is one of the most important psychology books ever written.
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Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the Facts Recommends
A product manager will be called upon to make scores of decisions every day. In none of these cases will you have all of the information you want, and you’ll rarely be 100% confident. Poker champion turned decision researcher Annie Duke will help you learn how to be comfortable with uncertainty.
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The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better Recommends
One of the most common requests I receive is for resources to become a better storyteller. In this book, award-winning novelist Will Storr looks at how the brain responds to stories, and how to captivate your audience and connect with their emotions.
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The Power of a Positive No: Save The Deal Save The Relationship and Still Say No Recommends
. Saying no gracefully and firmly is one of the most important skills for a product manager to develop. This is the classic guide for learning to do so.
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The Mythical Man-Month Loved
If you could only read one computer science book, this would be it. Almost fifty years old, it’s as relevant as ever. I promise you’ll nod your head as Brooks skewers mistakes that engineering leaders continue to make to this day.
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The Lean Product Playbook Recommends
, with lots of tactical advice and techniques for putting lean methodologies into practice.
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The Innovator's Dilemma Loved
The most important business and product management book of the past fifty years. If you’re a technology PM and you haven’t read Christensen, do so right now.
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The Design of Everyday Things Recommends
After you read Norman’s book you’ll notice design everywhere, both good and bad. A classic in the field of design.
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The Captain Class: The Hidden Force That Creates the World's Greatest Teams Recommends
sports section looks at the leadership qualities of the most successful sports leaders in history. And they’re not what you think.
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The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership Loved
This book dramatically changed me as a leader and as a person. It will help you develop self-awareness and connect deeply with your sense of purpose as a leader. If I could recommend one book to help you develop the human skills behind the
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Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well Recommends
Product managers must learn to give and receive feedback with candor and kindness, and without withholding. This book, also from the Harvard Negotiation Project, will teach you how.
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Team of Rivals Recommends
Abraham Lincoln surrounded himself with his opponents, gradually turning them into admirers and influential advisors. Lincoln’s approach to leadership offers lessons for anyone looking to tap into the wisdom of others, with or without formal authority.
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Strong Product People: A Complete Guide to Developing Great Product Managers Recommends
Whether you’re a product leader coaching a team member or still early in your product maangement career, Petra Wille will help you break down the essentials of the job and develop a plan for growth.
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Sprint Recommends
From my former partners in GV Design—how to cut through the crap, identify a problem, and test it in only one week.
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Scaling People: Tactics for Management and Company Building Recommends
Claire has been a senior executive at Google and Stripe. Here she offers up a guide to leadership that is both practical and inspiring. Suitable for leaders of all levels.
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Product Management in Practice Loved
Real-world, practical advice for PMs. Focused on communication, organization, research, and execution.
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Product Leadership Loved
: “Your guide to navigating product leadership, the one I never had. Within these pages you’ll hear a diversity of opinions from the industry’s most successful and respected product leaders, insights that will help you lead your team and deliver exceptional products.”
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Positioning Recommends
The classic marketing book, one of the first to specifically address positioning your product in a consumer’s mind.
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On Writing Recommends
Product managers need to be good writers, and this is how you learn from one of the masters of the craft.
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Mastering Leadership Recommends
A developmental pathway for growth that includes a stage development model of leadership. In particular,
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Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die Recommends
The instant classic about why some ideas thrive, why others die, and how to improve your idea’s chances.
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Listen Like You Mean It: Reclaiming the Lost Art of True Connection Recommends
Listening is one of the most important product management skills. Learn how to connect to customers, co-workers, and team members with this beautifully illustrated and accessible book.
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Inspired: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love Loved
If you could only read one book on product management, this would be it. Marty has had a long and storied product management career, and is the founder of Silicon Valley Product Group.
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In the Plex: How Google Thinks, Works, and Shapes Our Lives Recommends
Levy was given unprecedented access to Google, and the result is what I consider to be an accurate depiction of how the company operates. A good overview of how Google product managers work.
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Immunity to Change: How to Overcome It and Unlock the Potential in Yourself and Your Organization Recommends
. Understanding how we grow and develop will help you become a better leader and a more empathetic colleague. More accessible than his academic work, this book also provides a framework for understanding underlying beliefs and motivations that might be holding you back.
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How to Work with (Almost) Anyone Recommends
My absolute favorite guide to getting a relationship off to a good start. MBS makes it simple to approach that initial ‘keystone conversation’ and keep any relationship healthy and vibrant.
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How to Lie with Statistics Recommends
Product managers need a solid foundation in statistics to be metrics-driven. This classic book is a lively and fun book will leave you smarter and more skeptical.
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High Output Management Loved
This one only gets better with age. Although it’s only mentioned briefly, this is where Andy Grove first introduced OKRs to the world. His practical advice about meetings, especially the importance of 1-on-1s, inspired
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Getting To Yes Recommends
Product managers need to be master negotiators and there’s no better guide to negotiation than this classic.
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Getting Things Done Recommends
Soon after this book was published Allen attracted an almost cult-like following. The fundamental ideas remain sound. Product managers juggle hundreds of priorities, and this book will help you balance your time.
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Escaping the Build Trap Recommends
Melissa Perri explains how laying the foundation for great product management can help companies solve real customer problems while achieving business goals. By understanding how to communicate and collaborate within a company structure, you can create a product culture that benefits both the business and the customer.
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Empowered: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Products Loved
The sequel to Inspired, this book explores what the best product companies have in common. “Most people think it’s because these companies are somehow able to find and attract a level of talent that makes this innovation possible. But the real advantage these companies have is not so much who they hire, but rather how they enable their people to work together to solve hard problems and create extraordinary products.”
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Don't Make Me Think Recommends
This lighthearted book about user interface design is fun to read, and chock full of lessons for PMs.
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Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most Recommends
from the Harvard Negotiation Project. A helpful book to have on-hand.
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Crossing the Chasm Recommends
The classic technology marketing book. Moore was the first to evaluate the role of early adopters.
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Creativity, Inc Recommends
, you’ll enjoy Catmull’s book about putting 10x into practice. He draws from the success – and failures – of Pixar to teach us how to lead creative teams.
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Continuous Discovery Habits Loved
Teresa Torres is the best in the business at helping teams build products and services that their customers want. Here she shares her techniques for transforming your process into one of continuous discovery and learning.
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Competing Against Luck Recommends
Christensen explores one of his approaches to combating the Innovator’s Dilemma:
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Click Recommends
Another book by the authors of Sprint, this one focusing on the Foundation Sprint: how to identify your target customer and understand their problem
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Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It Recommends
can lead to imposter phenomenon. In this book, a leading psychologist looks at the science behind our inner voice and new research into how to harness it and improve your physical and mental health.
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Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making Recommends
Tony Fadell brought us the iPod and then went on to start Nest. But there were plenty of failures along the way. One of the best books by a product-minded entrepreneur I’ve ever read.
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