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The Top 10 MBA Books to Read to Enhance Your Skills

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By Jaro Education
UpdatedApr 10, 2025Read time6 min read
Last updated on Apr 10, 2025
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Table of Contents

Table Of Content

  • The Personal MBA: Master The Art Of Business
  • The Vest Pocket MBA
  • The Portable MBA In Financing And Accounting
  • Zero to One

The Personal MBA: Master The Art Of Business

Author Name:

Josh Kaufman

GoodReads:

4.⅕ stars

About the Book

The Personal MBA is one of the best pieces of work by Josh Kaufman. The author focused on breaking the classroom teaching notion and concentrating on practical world knowledge. Besides, it even teaches how to run a business without giving up. Lastly, the book sheds some light on developing negotiation skills since it wins more customers. And a Master’s in Business Management is all about how best you are at selling products/services.

The Vest Pocket MBA

Author Name:

Jae K. Shim & Joel G. Siegel

GoodReads:

3.7/5 stars

About the Book

The Vest Pocket MBA discusses:

  • Break-even analysis
  • Accounting
  • Finance
  • Strategic Cost Management
  • Global competition
  • Business process reengineering
  • Target pricing
  • Cloud computing
  • Balanced scorecard

 

Besides, the Vest-Pocket MBA is worth investing time on since it suggests tools for evaluating the company’s financial health. Table scores, graphs, and charts to solve complex problems.

The Vest-Pocket MBA is one of the best books for MBA students and senior-level professionals at companies.

The Portable MBA In Financing And Accounting

Author Name:

Leslie Livingstone & Theodore Grossman

GoodReads:

3.68/5 stars

About the Book

This is the third edition of The Portable MBA, which focuses entirely on Financing and Accounting. The authors wrote this valuable book for students and working professionals.

The book revolves around the business strategies and techniques being taught in the school. Besides it also mentions the lesson on finance and skills required in business budgeting and financial decisions. Another critical area that The Portable MBA discusses is:

  • Information technology in finance
  • Interpreting financial statements
  • Planning capital expenditure
  • Business valuation
  • Information technology

 

There are even studies mentioned on cost-volume analysis, budgets, forecasts, and writing business plan techniques.

Zero to One

Author Name:

Peter Theil

GoodReads:

4.8/5 stars

About the Book

The author has discussed the journey of how he became a millionaire at the age of 35. What did he do to stand out from the crowd? The author discusses the future that must be unveiled with a fresh perspective. He encourages young brains to leverage technology and make the best out of it. He discusses instead of modifying what is existing; one must focus on building something new for which the demand gets created. As an MBA aspirant, you must read this book to learn how to think out of the box. This will help you a lot in your MBA academics.

Connect the Dots

Author Name:

Rashmi Bansal

GoodReads:

3.7/5 stars

About the Book

The author discusses the journey of 20 Non-MBA aspirants who turned the tables and kept following their dream with grit and determination. The book is divided into three segments (Jugaad, Zuban, and Junoon), each discussing a few entrepreneurs’ stories, like what they do, how they manage to build a sustainable business, and what were the challenges they overcame.

Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike

Author Name:

Phil Knight

GoodReads:

4.46/5 stars

About the Book

Shoe Dog has been awarded as a New York Times bestseller, discussing how a journey from a commoner to building a big brand with several roadblocks, criticism, sleepless nights, hardships, and blunders on the way. Bill Gates liked the book because of its real-life struggle that an entrepreneur-aspirant needs to consider when walking on the path alone.

The Intelligent Investor

Author Name:

Benjamin Graham

GoodReads:

4.22/5 stars

About the Book

The Intelligent Investor is a book about smart investing without making silly mistakes. It teaches the “value investing” concept that focuses on quality over quantity and ensures you stay focused on long-term strategies rather than running after risky short-term investments. If you believe in reaping the benefits of compounding, then don’t waste your valuable time and start reading this book.

Blue Ocean Strategy

Author Name:

W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne

GoodReads:

3.99/5 stars

About the Book

This book is one of the best MBA books for managers since it discusses how to beat the competition. It teaches some effective strategies for being different in the overcrowded market of competitors. Expect to get some fresh perspectives that make doing business easy and smooth.

The Rise & Fall of Nations

Author Name:

Ruchir Sharma

GoodReads:

4.⅖ stars

About the Book:

The author discusses how ten economic rules decide the Rise & Fall of the Nations. It is one of the best MBA books since it covers the entire economic studies about what you should consider and what not. Out of the ten rules, a few are cheap currency printing, inflation, an increase in the unemployment rate, and manufacturing. You must read this book to closely understand the concept of economics and how it can prepare for the best and the worst.

The 7 Habits of Effective People

Author Name:

Stephen R Covey

GoodReads:

4.15/5 stars

About the Book:

The author wanted the managers to be dedicated and focused, which was the main idea of this book. After reading, you would change as a person professionally and personally. Implementing those 7 habits that are mentioned in the book would make you a different person.

Out of the 7 habits, the first 3 habits (proactiveness, beginning with the end in mind, and putting first things first) are inclined towards self-dependence rather than dependence. Another set of 3 habits (to seek win-win, seek understanding, and understand) make you interdependent. And the last one (to put things into action) makes you reinforce the others.

Since you are an executive MBA aspirant, let us share two of the finest colleges to opt for an online MBA program.

Firstly, let’s discuss

Manipal University.

Manipal University is “A+” accredited by NAAC, which means it has an excellent level of faculties and superior infrastructure. The University is a hub of like-minded professionals with whom your vision would be more transparent, and you would quickly scale up your career. Manipal University offers various online MBA programs, like finance, marketing, retail, HR, etc.

Admission Eligibility Criteria:

  • Graduation Degree from a renowned university
  • More than 50% percentage
  • A valid score on the aptitude test

 

What you can become after completing post-graduation:

  • Economist
  • Human Resource Manager
  • Financial Analyst Manager
  • Marketing Manager
  • Entrepreneur
  • Operations Manager

 

Program Highlights:

  • Course Duration: 24 Months
  • Mode of Course: Online
  • Quality Mentorship
  • Real-Life Examples

 

Program Fees:

  • Total Fees: 150,000
  • Fee Per Semester: 37,500

 

Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune

What future leaders, must have to offer the world is what Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth teaches. The online MBA program aims to deliver a world-class education, which includes developing leadership skills, analytical thinking,  and knowledge of international entrepreneurship.

The online MBA is specially designed for working professionals so that they can pursue it while working at their current job.

Admission Eligibility Criteria:

  • Graduation Degree from a renowned university
  • More than 50% percentage
  • A valid score on the aptitude test

 

Program Highlights:

  • Course Duration: 24 Months
  • Mode of Course: Online
  • Projects & Specialisation

Conclusion

We hope you read a few books out of the list and excel in your career. These are the must-read books for MBA aspirants written and published by some well-known authors who have always pursued their dream of being someone different.

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