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.
Ken Norton did not write this page. ppll compiled it from their own words, each linked to the source. Is this you? · Report a mistake
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What they believe
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Resolving workplace conflict is better achieved by changing the relationship itself than by trying to change the other person.
This helped the leader shift from wanting to change Jacob-something they couldn't control-to taking responsibility for changing the relationship-something they could.
bringthedonuts.comSaid 11 Aug 2026This on korrents
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Companies should offer dual career tracks so product managers can advance without becoming people managers.
Companies should embrace multitrack job ladders for product managers who prefer product leadership to people management.
bringthedonuts.comSaid 7 Jan 2026This on korrents
The bold line is korrents’ wording; the quote is theirs. These 2: what they wrote before what they said aloud, one per source, newest first.
Feed
As its own page →Hiding
21 October
11 August
From one piece Designing Better Working Relationships 2 beliefs · bringthedonuts.com
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korrents.com
Working relationships need to be intentionally redesigned on an ongoing basis, not defined once and left fixed.Their words
This design work is never done, and one of the goals of this intentional conversation is to open the door to revisiting this conversation as our individual needs and the needs of the relationship change.
-
Their words
This helped the leader shift from wanting to change Jacob-something they couldn't control-to taking responsibility for changing the relationship-something they could.
7 January
-
korrents.com
Companies should offer dual career tracks so product managers can advance without becoming people managers.Their words
Companies should embrace multitrack job ladders for product managers who prefer product leadership to people management.
-
Recommendsaffiliate linkrcmnd.app
Team of RivalsTheir words
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.
-
Recommendsaffiliate linkrcmnd.app
Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback WellTheir words
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.
-
Lovedaffiliate linkrcmnd.app
The 15 Commitments of Conscious LeadershipTheir words
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
+ 12 more
-
Recommendsaffiliate linkrcmnd.app
The Captain Class: The Hidden Force That Creates the World's Greatest TeamsTheir words
sports section looks at the leadership qualities of the most successful sports leaders in history. And they’re not what you think.
-
Recommendsaffiliate linkrcmnd.app
The Design of Everyday ThingsTheir words
After you read Norman’s book you’ll notice design everywhere, both good and bad. A classic in the field of design.
-
Lovedaffiliate linkrcmnd.app
The Innovator's DilemmaTheir words
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.
-
Recommendsaffiliate linkrcmnd.app
The Lean Product PlaybookTheir words
, with lots of tactical advice and techniques for putting lean methodologies into practice.
-
Lovedaffiliate linkrcmnd.app
The Mythical Man-MonthTheir words
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.
-
Recommendsaffiliate linkrcmnd.app
The Power of a Positive No: Save The Deal Save The Relationship and Still Say NoTheir words
. 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.
-
Recommendsaffiliate linkrcmnd.app
The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them BetterTheir words
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.
-
Recommendsaffiliate linkrcmnd.app
Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the FactsTheir words
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.
-
Recommendsaffiliate linkrcmnd.app
Thinking, Fast and SlowTheir words
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.
-
Recommendsaffiliate linkrcmnd.app
Transformed: Moving to the Product Operating ModelTheir words
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.
-
Recommendsaffiliate linkrcmnd.app
Work Rules!Their words
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.
-
Recommendsaffiliate linkrcmnd.app
Yes to the Mess: Surprising Leadership Lessons from JazzTheir words
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
9 June 2025
From one piece A How to Hire a Product Manager Retrospective 3 beliefs · bringthedonuts.com
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korrents.com
Advice is unreliable because it reflects hindsight, survivorship, and confirmation bias.Their words
Advice is prone to hindsight, survivorship, and confirmation biases.
A How to Hire a Product Manager Retrospectivebringthedonuts.com
-
Their words
the word "listen" doesn't appear anywhere in the essay, and listening is arguably a product manager's most important tool.
A How to Hire a Product Manager Retrospectivebringthedonuts.com
-
korrents.com
The most human aspects of product management are the least likely to be automated by AI.Their words
But the human stuff that actually matters most in PM'ing is the least likely to be automated by AI.
A How to Hire a Product Manager Retrospectivebringthedonuts.com
5 May 2025
From one piece Why Great Leaders Embrace Humor and Playfulness 3 beliefs · bringthedonuts.com
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korrents.com
How people feel at work determines how well they work, and humor is one lever on that feeling.Their words
Humor changes how people feel at work. And how people feel at work changes how they work.
Why Great Leaders Embrace Humor and Playfulnessbringthedonuts.com
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korrents.com
A leader who projects unflappable seriousness causes their team to hide problems and honest feedback.Their words
Nobody wants to follow a joyless leader. If your presence signals, "Everything is fine. I've got this all figured out. Please don't show me anything messy," your team will take the hint.
Why Great Leaders Embrace Humor and Playfulnessbringthedonuts.com
-
korrents.com
Playfulness and humor in leadership build authenticity and credibility rather than undermine it.Their words
Playfulness and humor won't erode your credibility. They amplify your presence. They make you real. And people follow real.
Why Great Leaders Embrace Humor and Playfulnessbringthedonuts.com
10 April 2025
From one piece Product Leadership is Lonely 2 beliefs · bringthedonuts.com
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korrents.com
Loneliness is an evolved biological signal that triggers a threat response rather than just an emotional state.Their words
Loneliness is an inherited biological adaptation signal that puts us into a state of threat.
-
Their words
Product's unique identity in the C-suite-at the intersection of everything-often comes at the expense of belonging to anything.
2 April 2025
From one piece The Power of Not Knowing 2 beliefs · bringthedonuts.com
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korrents.com
Good leadership is defined by presence, curiosity, and authenticity rather than always having the right answer.Their words
Leadership isn't about always having the answer and always being right. It's about being present, deeply curious, and authentic.
-
Their words
When we resist not knowing, we often leap to conclusions, make decisions without all of the information, or simply guess. Of course, that might make it even more likely that we're wrong, the very thing our subconscious is trying to avoid. Needing to be right comes at the expense of curiosity.
29 January 2025
From one piece Storytelling for Product Leaders 2 beliefs · bringthedonuts.com
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korrents.com
Reading aloud to children teaches more about storytelling than books on public-speaking technique do.Their words
You'll learn more about becoming a better storyteller from reading to your children than from any book with a title like "How To Deliver a TED Talk."
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korrents.com
Great storytelling skill comes from immersion in the liberal arts, not from corporate media training.Their words
Steve Jobs was an incredible storyteller because he was immersed in the liberal arts, not because he went to corporate media training.
14 June 2023
10 June 2023
1 June 2023
23 November 2022
17 November 2022
26 August 2022
24 July 2022
21 July 2022
Nothing matches.
Beliefs
Korrents What they believe 19 beliefs — each backed by an exact quote.
Each is a — compiled by korrents.com, not by them: the one-line wordings are korrents', the quotes are theirs.
Recent
Resolving workplace conflict is better achieved by changing the relationship itself than by trying to change the other person.
This helped the leader shift from wanting to change Jacob-something they couldn't control-to taking responsibility for changing the relationship-something they could.
Designing Better Working Relationships Said 11 Aug 2026
Working relationships need to be intentionally redesigned on an ongoing basis, not defined once and left fixed.
This design work is never done, and one of the goals of this intentional conversation is to open the door to revisiting this conversation as our individual needs and the needs of the relationship change.
Designing Better Working Relationships Said 11 Aug 2026
Companies should offer dual career tracks so product managers can advance without becoming people managers.
Companies should embrace multitrack job ladders for product managers who prefer product leadership to people management.
Best Books for Product Managers [2026] Said 7 Jan 2026
Show 16 more
The most human aspects of product management are the least likely to be automated by AI.
But the human stuff that actually matters most in PM'ing is the least likely to be automated by AI.
A How to Hire a Product Manager Retrospective Said 9 Jun 2025
Listening is arguably a product manager's most important skill.
the word "listen" doesn't appear anywhere in the essay, and listening is arguably a product manager's most important tool.
A How to Hire a Product Manager Retrospective Said 9 Jun 2025
Advice is unreliable because it reflects hindsight, survivorship, and confirmation bias.
Advice is prone to hindsight, survivorship, and confirmation biases.
A How to Hire a Product Manager Retrospective Said 9 Jun 2025
Playfulness and humor in leadership build authenticity and credibility rather than undermine it.
Playfulness and humor won't erode your credibility. They amplify your presence. They make you real. And people follow real.
Why Great Leaders Embrace Humor and Playfulness Said 5 May 2025
A leader who projects unflappable seriousness causes their team to hide problems and honest feedback.
Nobody wants to follow a joyless leader. If your presence signals, "Everything is fine. I've got this all figured out. Please don't show me anything messy," your team will take the hint.
Why Great Leaders Embrace Humor and Playfulness Said 5 May 2025
How people feel at work determines how well they work, and humor is one lever on that feeling.
Humor changes how people feel at work. And how people feel at work changes how they work.
Why Great Leaders Embrace Humor and Playfulness Said 5 May 2025
A product leader's position at the intersection of every function in the C-suite comes at the cost of belonging to any one group.
Product's unique identity in the C-suite-at the intersection of everything-often comes at the expense of belonging to anything.
Product Leadership is Lonely Said 10 Apr 2025
Loneliness is an evolved biological signal that triggers a threat response rather than just an emotional state.
Loneliness is an inherited biological adaptation signal that puts us into a state of threat.
Product Leadership is Lonely Said 10 Apr 2025
Resisting the discomfort of not knowing leads people to jump to conclusions or decide before they have enough information.
When we resist not knowing, we often leap to conclusions, make decisions without all of the information, or simply guess. Of course, that might make it even more likely that we're wrong, the very thing our subconscious is trying to avoid. Needing to be right comes at the expense of curiosity.
The Power of Not Knowing Said 2 Apr 2025
Good leadership is defined by presence, curiosity, and authenticity rather than always having the right answer.
Leadership isn't about always having the answer and always being right. It's about being present, deeply curious, and authentic.
The Power of Not Knowing Said 2 Apr 2025
Great storytelling skill comes from immersion in the liberal arts, not from corporate media training.
Steve Jobs was an incredible storyteller because he was immersed in the liberal arts, not because he went to corporate media training.
Storytelling for Product Leaders Said 29 Jan 2025
Reading aloud to children teaches more about storytelling than books on public-speaking technique do.
You'll learn more about becoming a better storyteller from reading to your children than from any book with a title like "How To Deliver a TED Talk."
Storytelling for Product Leaders Said 29 Jan 2025
Good storytelling doesn't require inventing something entirely new; it can be built from existing material.
One myth of good storytelling is that it requires dreaming up something entirely new from scratch. That's not necessary.
Storytelling for Product Leaders Said 29 Jan 2025
Anxiety and worry arise from dwelling on an imagined future rather than the present moment.
Most of our fears begin to subside when we just allow ourselves to be in this moment, as anxiety and worry stem from a preoccupation with an anticipated or envisioned future.
The Drama Triangle – The Roles We Play in Conflict Said 14 Jun 2023
Kindness, fairness and being a good friend all stem from empathy.
Most of the other traits on my list – such as kindness, fairness, or being a good friend – all stem from empathy.
Empathy and Product Management Said 31 Jan 2016
Empathy is essential to leading a team, especially for product managers, who have responsibility without authority.
But empathy is also essential to leading a team, especially for PMs who tend to have responsibility without authority and must earn the respect and support of others.
Empathy and Product Management Said 31 Jan 2016
What is a korrent?
A korrent is a belief a person has stated in their own words: one sentence stating the claim, backed by a quote and a source, kept at korrents.com.
Under a name here, the quoted block is what they actually said. The korrent beneath it is the claim those words support, in korrents' wording — tap it to see the record, its source, and who else holds it.
Nobody here wrote their own korrents. They are compiled from public statements, and a person can change their mind, which is recorded too.
Recommends rcmnd
rcmnd What they recommend 44 things — each backed by an exact quote.
Compiled by rcmnd.app, not by them: the quotes are theirs, and each links to the post it was copied from.
Recent
Recommends Yes to the Mess: Surprising Leadership Lessons from Jazz
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
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
What others say about Yes to the Mess: Surprising Leadership Lessons from Jazz →
Recommends Work Rules!
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.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Recommends Transformed: Moving to the Product Operating Model
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.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
What others say about Transformed: Moving to the Product Operating Model →
Show 41 more
Recommends Thinking, Fast and Slow
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.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Recommends Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the Facts
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.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
What others say about Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the Facts →
Recommends The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better
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.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Recommends The Power of a Positive No: Save The Deal Save The Relationship and Still Say No
. 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.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Loved The Mythical Man-Month
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.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Recommends The Lean Product Playbook
, with lots of tactical advice and techniques for putting lean methodologies into practice.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Loved The Innovator's Dilemma
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.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Recommends The Design of Everyday Things
After you read Norman’s book you’ll notice design everywhere, both good and bad. A classic in the field of design.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Recommends The Captain Class: The Hidden Force That Creates the World's Greatest Teams
sports section looks at the leadership qualities of the most successful sports leaders in history. And they’re not what you think.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
What others say about The Captain Class: The Hidden Force That Creates the World's Greatest Teams →
Loved The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership
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
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
What others say about The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership →
Recommends Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well
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.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
What others say about Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well →
Recommends Team of Rivals
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.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Recommends Strong Product People: A Complete Guide to Developing Great Product Managers
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.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
What others say about Strong Product People: A Complete Guide to Developing Great Product Managers →
Recommends Sprint
From my former partners in GV Design—how to cut through the crap, identify a problem, and test it in only one week.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Recommends Scaling People: Tactics for Management and Company Building
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.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
What others say about Scaling People: Tactics for Management and Company Building →
Loved Product Management in Practice
Real-world, practical advice for PMs. Focused on communication, organization, research, and execution.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Loved Product Leadership
: “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.”
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Recommends Positioning
The classic marketing book, one of the first to specifically address positioning your product in a consumer’s mind.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Recommends On Writing
Product managers need to be good writers, and this is how you learn from one of the masters of the craft.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Recommends Mastering Leadership
A developmental pathway for growth that includes a stage development model of leadership. In particular,
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Recommends Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die
The instant classic about why some ideas thrive, why others die, and how to improve your idea’s chances.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
What others say about Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die →
Recommends Listen Like You Mean It: Reclaiming the Lost Art of True Connection
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.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
What others say about Listen Like You Mean It: Reclaiming the Lost Art of True Connection →
Loved Inspired: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love
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.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
What others say about Inspired: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love →
Recommends In the Plex: How Google Thinks, Works, and Shapes Our Lives
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.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
What others say about In the Plex: How Google Thinks, Works, and Shapes Our Lives →
Recommends Immunity to Change: How to Overcome It and Unlock the Potential in Yourself and Your Organization
. 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.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Recommends How to Work with (Almost) Anyone
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.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Recommends How to Lie with Statistics
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.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Loved High Output Management
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
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Recommends Getting To Yes
Product managers need to be master negotiators and there’s no better guide to negotiation than this classic.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Recommends Getting Things Done
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.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Recommends Escaping the Build Trap
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.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Loved Empowered: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Products
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.”
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
What others say about Empowered: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Products →
Recommends Don't Make Me Think
This lighthearted book about user interface design is fun to read, and chock full of lessons for PMs.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Recommends Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most
from the Harvard Negotiation Project. A helpful book to have on-hand.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
What others say about Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most →
Recommends Crossing the Chasm
The classic technology marketing book. Moore was the first to evaluate the role of early adopters.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Recommends Creativity, Inc
, 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.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Loved Continuous Discovery Habits
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.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Recommends Competing Against Luck
Christensen explores one of his approaches to combating the Innovator’s Dilemma:
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Recommends Click
Another book by the authors of Sprint, this one focusing on the Foundation Sprint: how to identify your target customer and understand their problem
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
Recommends Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It
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.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
What others say about Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It →
Recommends Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making
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.
bringthedonuts.com 7 Jan 2026
affiliate link
What others say about Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making →
Where they publish
Site Bring the Donuts His site of essays on product management and product leadership, including the annual book list.
Recent
- Designing Better Working Relationships 11 Aug 2026 Being intentional about how we relate with coworkers - Some years ago, I was in session with a newish client. This leader was expressing their frustration with a peer. This off-screen co-worker—I’ll call him Jacob—had b…
- Best Books for Product Managers [2026] 7 Jan 2026 Essential product management reading - Updated for 2026. There are lots of excellent books about product management and product leadership, but these are the 44 books I’d consider essential to any PM’s bookshelf. Build:…
- A How to Hire a Product Manager Retrospective 9 Jun 2025 My perspective twenty years later - That's me in the JotSpot office in Palo Alto, Summer 2005, a few months before we were acquired by Google. This is my retrospective on my classic essay, How to Hire a Product Manager,…
Show 12 more
- Why Great Leaders Embrace Humor and Playfulness 5 May 2025 The case for humor, play, and letting go - Gregg Popovich. Photograph by Soobum Im, USA TODAY Sports Gregg Popovich, the legendary basketball coach, has retired from coaching and will be moving into a new role as the Sa…
- Product Leadership is Lonely 10 Apr 2025 Why this job feels so isolating and what you can do about it - Product leadership is lonely. While you may be surrounded by other people, it often feels like there’s no one to turn to who really gets what you’re up agai…
- The Power of Not Knowing 2 Apr 2025 Embracing uncertainty by confronting our inner stories - “I don’t know.” When were you last willing to say that in front of your team? How does it make you feel to even consider saying that? For most leaders, saying, “I…
- Storytelling for Product Leaders 29 Jan 2025 Learning to be a better storyteller in the workplace - My coaching clients often ask for help becoming better storytellers, one of the most important skills for product leaders. What follows is everything I’ve collected…
- The Drama Triangle – The Roles We Play in Conflict 14 Jun 2023 What it is and how to use it - In the last newsletter, I introduced the concepts of Reactive and Creative leadership. I want to continue to explore that today. As we saw last time, the majority of leaders and organizati…
- From Reactive to Creative Leadership 10 Jun 2023 Evolving from fear-driven to purposeful leadership - One of the most powerful frameworks I’ve come to deeply understand over the past few years is the distinction between Reactive and Creative leadership. It’s become fo…
- Zone of Genius and Flow 1 Jun 2023 Express your full magnificence by living in your Zone of Genius - Iremember countless evenings as a teenager in the 1980s when I’d retire to my family’s Apple ][+ computer after dinner. I’d excitedly jump back into a BA…
- Ken Norton on the Product Thinking Podcast 23 Nov 2022 Leading with vision and purpose - I joined Melissa Perri’s Product Thinking Podcast to talk about the evolution of product management, the stark difference between empowered and unempowered product teams,and why ultimat…
- Preparing to Have a Difficult Conversation 17 Nov 2022 What to do when it’s time for some tough talk - Frequently, a coaching conversation orbits around a difficult conversation: everything from firing an employee, confronting a disrespectful co-worker, delivering tough fee…
- Personal User Manuals 26 Aug 2022 Sharing guides to working with one another can lead to psychological safety - I learned a lot over the years from Urs Hölzle, Google’s eighth employee and the company’s first real engineering leader. Many of you have he…
- Ken Norton on Lenny’s Podcast 24 Jul 2022 Making the shift from reactive to creative leadership - I joined Lenny’s Podcast to talk about coaching, product leadership, and the transition from reactive to creative. Listen to the audio or watch the video at the bo…
- CEOs and Product Leaders: A Better Relationship 21 Jul 2022 A relationship built on communication, candor, and trust - In my coaching sessions with CPOs and other senior product leaders, the relationship with a CEO is a frequent topic. Sometimes there’s been a colossal dust-up;…
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