Business books to read
Not sure which business books to read? We ranked 63 of them using 27,433 reader ratings; the average is 7.9/10. Below: three books to start with, then short reads, series starts, and classics.
If you read only one, make it Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe (8.8/10). If you prefer a series: Incerto starts with Fooled by Randomness.
Start here
Three business books that many readers rate highly — each one a first volume or a book that stands alone.
Empire of Pain“Empire of Pain” turns the history of the Sacklers and Purdue Pharma into nonfiction that reads like a dynastic saga.
Shoe Dog“Shoe Dog” works because Phil Knight tells Nike’s early years as a string of near-disasters, not as a victory lap.
Steve JobsIsaacson’s authorised biography is thorough and even-handed: it admires what Jobs built without softening the personality behind it.
Short reads: under 300 pages
For a weekend or a commute. 10 of the rated business books are this short; these score best.
Series worth starting
The first volume of each series, with the full reading order one click away.
Classics from before 1976
Still read, still rated: the older books that hold up best.
How long are the rated business books?
36 of 63 rated titles with a known page count. Largest group: 300–499 pages.
Narrow it down with “Find a book”
“Find a book” holds 42 business books. Pick a shortcut — the filters are already set:
Questions readers ask
What business books should I read first?
Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe: 8.8/10 from 360 ratings, and it needs no earlier book. Next on our list: Shoe Dog and Steve Jobs.
What is a good business book under 300 pages?
The Richest Man in Babylon (124 pages, 8.0/10) is the highest-rated one under 300 pages.
Which business book series should I start?
Incerto: begin with Fooled by Randomness, the first of 3 books. The reading order page lists every volume.
How are these books chosen?
Only books with enough reader ratings to be ranked (at least 50) are picked. The score is a weighted average across independent rating sources, pulled toward the category average when ratings are few.