Top Books for MBA Students in 2025
Table of Contents
- jaro Education
- 1, December 2024
- 10:00 am
Most business leaders can point to a lofty mound of books that burned their imagination and shaped the way they approach the world. Between the runners of perceptivity, stories, and formulas for success lies an immense anthology. MBA scholars who aspire to take their degree and career to the next level should consider starting a library of success of their own.
In 2025, we presented a definitive list of 10 books for every current and prospective MBA student to read. This time, we’ve sorted through further classic and recently released books to refresh the reading list.
Still, take a look at the best MBA books for every MBA student to read in 2025. Without further ado, let’s begin.
2025’s Ultimate Reading List for MBA Students
- Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein
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Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World is a 2019 book by David Epstein, in which he expands on the points from his former book The Sports Gene: Inside the Wisdom of Extraordinary Athletic Performance to make a more general argument against overspecialization. In the book, he argues that range, defined as further different experiences across multiple fields, is more applicable in modern society than specialization because the wicked problems of the ultramodern world bear bridging experience and knowledge from multiple fields to foster results. Range was a# 1 New York Times stylish dealer as the best MBA book.
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
*Amazon. in
Still, Atomic Habits will give you the proven framework to help you ameliorate if your ambition is to change one thing about yourself. Every day. James Clear, one of the foremost authorities on habit formation, shares with us practicable strategies that show us exactly how to develop salutary habits, discard those that do not serve us, and master the little actions that add up to spectacular results.
If you find yourself changing your habits with the best MBA books. It’s the system you have in place. Due to the wrong path or system to change your wrong, bad habits repeated by you, you have to change them. Then, you’ll be given a proven system upon which you can rise to new heights.
- Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
*Business Insider
Thinking, Fast and Slow, issued in 2011, stands as an acclaimed work in popular wisdom by the psychologist Daniel Kahneman. The book’s big idea dwells in making the distinction between two different modes of allowing: “System 1” is presto, spontaneous, and emotional; “System 2” is slower, deliberative, and more logical.
The award was given in 2012 by the National Academy of Science for the best MBA books. Still, amid the cerebral replication extremity, the veritable integrity of priming studies cited in the book has been questioned.
- Zero to One by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters
Offered at Stanford University, particularly in the spring, this updated version of “Mastering Management by Best MBA Books” is a valuable resource for MBA students.
- Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
*Amazon. in
In his book Never Split the Difference, Chris Voss defines tactical empathy as sincerely connecting emotionally with a prospect for the sake of making a deal. It teaches you to understand where the other side is coming from, what makes their decisions rational to them, and what will make them consider your point of view, for the best MBA books.
Best MBA Books for Beginners
When pursuing an MBA, the standard curriculum might not be enough to differentiate you from potential employers. To gain a competitive edge beyond the common syllabus, consider incorporating these 6 essential MBA books into your learning.
- Jugaad Innovation by Navi Radjou, Jaideep Prabhu, Simone Ahuja
As an Indian, you must have heard the word jugaad quite a lot. With time, this word holds huge importance in the corporate and business world. This book for MBA students is all about how to do more with less and how to develop a frugal mindset and do big things. At its heart, jugaad innovation is recognizing constraints and making them work for you.
This book has several examples of mega businesses. Suzlon Energy was built in 1995 to become the world’s fifth-largest wind energy supplier. Jugaad Innovation is an excellent book for MBA students because it teaches them how businesses were built with limited resources, with the right mindset and how entrepreneurs went the extra mile to turn things around in their favor.
- Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki
This book grabbed a lot of hype from students, professionals, and leaders. This is a highly recommended book for MBA students because it teaches you the right financial skills to build your net worth as the rich do.
This isn’t like other best MBA books because the author has conveyed the teaching via a rich dad and a poor dad and how they teach their children to become future-ready. The entire book has five big ideas revolving around financial stability and building the right aptitude.
- Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
This book will convince you that the corporate world is psychological, and only the psychologically strong survive and take risks. This book talks about 2 parts of the brain—one thinks quickly while the other part of the brain takes its time and thinks slowly and logically by considering everything.
This MBA book is vital because it teaches you to recognize and account for biases in your decisions. It offers an in-depth primer on various cognitive biases and how they affect your thinking.
- How They Started Digital by David Lester
This is a must-read book for MBA students because you will get to know how internet giants like Google, Etsy, Twitter, Pixar, eBay, and others were established. What challenges did the leaders face, and how did they overcome them?
How They Started Digital is one of the best MBA books because it helps you understand how a small idea transforms into a company and how a company becomes a leader in its niche. Throughout the book, you will read about various amusing and eye-opening facts that you can present during the interview to impress your panel. This is a must-read book for MBA students because it has a blend of corporate learning and building the right business acumen.
- 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
The mantra for success is having a blend of the right skill sets and mindsets. Think of the world’s top businessmen and then try to write their characteristic traits. You will find that most of them have some common traits that make them who they are!
If you want to understand how successful people behave and what traits they have, then this is a must-read book for MBA students. MBA is not just about learning the principles of management and knowing various financial ratios. An MBA program also helps you develop the right personality. Throughout this book, you will read about the following 7 habits:
- Be proactive.
- Begin with the end in mind.
- Prioritize your priorities.
- Think about win-win
- Seek first to understand and then to be understood.
- Synergize.
- Sharpen the saw.
You will likely outpace your peers who only read about management and business principles by the time you finish this book.
- Corporate Chanakya by Dr. Radhakrishnan Pillai
This is one of the best MBA books because it has a lot of corporate and management lessons from Chanakya. This book will assist you in ascending the corporate ladder and advancing your professional career. While there are different books for leadership, management, and training, Corporate Chanakya is one single book for MBA students that has all the 3 phases of the corporate world.
MBA 1st Semester Books
First-semester MBA students should focus on building a strong foundation in key areas:
- BNB Made Easy MBA 1st Semester Books (Bilingual Series)
This MBA first-semester book consists of a total of 6 subjects and is in 2 languages, Hindi and English.
Six best MBA books have been developed for a complete study covering various core subjects, such as International Business Environment, Quantitative Methods, Accounting for Managers, Management Concepts & Practices, Managerial Economics, and Communication Skills. The series has the great advantage of providing all its works in a bilingual format, wherein the texts are narrated both in Hindi and in English for easier interpretation. These books are in complete accordance with the new syllabus. The content in each book is crisp, to-the-point, follows relevant examples, and has an organized pattern to conceptualize the subject matter to a greater extent. These books will serve as a resource primarily for those students who wish to strengthen the core of their management studies. This series utilizes a comprehensive approach to ease complicated subjects for the student, which makes it indispensable for your academic pursuits.
- Managerial Economics by D.N. Dwivedi
Being in existence for 35 years, this book has stood the test of time due to the presentation of the text. With frequent updates, the book stays current and has become a favorite among students for sharing the latest theories and thoughts on the subject and their applications. Since its inception, the text has provided complete, comprehensive, and authentic knowledge about micro and macro aspects of managerial economics. The present edition is fully revised with the contemporary views of economic theories and concepts, wherein their practical application to managerial decisions is also described as the best MBA books.
Top Books For MBA Students
| MBA Finance Books | |
|---|---|
| 1. The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham | Graham's classic work on value investing provides timeless strategies for financial analysis and investment. |
| 2. Principles of Corporate Finance by Brealey & Myers | A comprehensive guide covering topics like capital budgeting and risk analysis, essential for understanding corporate finance. |
| 3. Corporate Finance: A Focused Approach by Ehrhardt & Brigham | This book emphasizes real-world applications of financial concepts, aiding in practical understanding. |
| 4. Financial Modeling by Simon Benninga | Benninga provides a step-by-step guide to building Using Excel to create financial models is a crucial skill for finance professionals. |
| Human Resource Management Books for MBA | |
|---|---|
| 1. Human Resource Management by Gary Dessler | Dessler's book offers a comprehensive overview of HR practices, including recruitment, training, and performance management. |
| 2. Organizational Behavior by Stephen P. Robbins & Timothy A. Judge | This text explores the behavior of individuals and groups within organizations, providing insights into motivation and leadership. |
| Managerial Economics Book for MBA | |
|---|---|
| 1. Managerial Economics by William F. Samuelson & Stephen G. Marks | This book bridges economic theory and business practice, focusing on decision-making processes. |
| Marketing Books for MBA | |
|---|---|
| 1. Marketing Management by Philip Kotler & Kevin Lane Keller | A seminal text covering marketing strategies, consumer behavior, and market research. |
| 2. Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim & Renée Mauborgne | The authors present a framework for creating uncontested market space and making competition irrelevant. |
| 3. Purple Cow by Seth Godin | Godin emphasizes the importance of creating remarkable products to stand out in the market. |
| 4. Confessions of an Advertising Man by David Ogilvy | Ogilvy shares insights into effective advertising and brand building from his extensive experience in the industry. |
| 5. Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind by Al Ries & Jack Trout | This book introduces the concept of positioning and how to create a distinct image in the consumer's mind. |
3 Reasons Why You Should Read MBA Books
how MBA students add value. But when you read other MBA books, you get to know how an MBA should present himself/herself in the corporate world and how they should think and make decisions accordingly. Here are 3 reasons why you should include MBA books in your curriculum:
MBA Books Help in Building The Right Mindset
Management novels are written by authors who once worked hard in the corporate world. When you read such MBA books, you get to know the right mindset required for various situations. Be it during meetings or making crucial decisions, these MBA books help you build the mindset and confidence.
You Get To Know About The Corporate World
The corporate world is unpredictable. Some days will be total bliss, while some days will be absolute horror. But as a professional, you are required to behave properly and come up with suggestions that benefit the entire organization. When you read MBA books, you get to know how the corporate world works and how you, as a professional, are expected to work under pressure, authority, and hierarchy.
MBA Books Make You Corporate & Business Ready
Some of the best MBA books help you become a better person by honing your personality, skillset, and the right mindset. You can read biographies of business tycoons to understand their way of working and dealing with certain situations. Overall, MBA books help you build a better person by bringing out the best version of you.
Conclusion
You should consider this book as a management and leadership guide that applies the ancient wisdom of Chanakya to the contemporary corporate world. This is one of the best MBA books because it teaches you about the following things –
- Leadership and governance.
- Morality and ethics.
- Strategic thinking.
- Wealth and prosperity.
- Personal development
- Interpersonal relationships.
Alongside, there is Jaro Education that provides the right career guidance and student support throughout. With Jaro Education, you can worry less about the future and focus more on the present by honing your skills and mindset. Here’s how Jaro Education ensures to upskill you in your career as an MBA student:
- Constant learning support.
- Career guidance and support.
- Immersive lifelong learning experience.
- You get to learn from the best-suited faculty and industry leaders.
- Leverage peer-to-peer learning experiences.
- Get full access to Jaro’s alumni network of 3,50,000+ professionals.
- Stay up-to-date with the latest insights and industry trends.
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