B-school Book List
Whether you are headed off to business school in the fall or just planning for the day when you will be, summer is the perfect time to beef up your knowledge with a little summer reading. We spoke with Chris Ryan, Manhattan GMAT’s Vice President of Instructor and Product Development, and with Jason Arvanites, MGMAT Instructor and Yale School of Management 2nd year, to ask them what books they thought should be added to the incoming MBA student’s summer library. (And if you’re looking for more books after reading the list below, be sure to check out last year’s summer reading list.)
Stumbling on Happiness, by Daniel Gilbert
What makes you happy? Do you know? According to Gilbert, what actually makes you happy may not be what you think makes you happy. His book takes a look at how the human mind works, and, more specifically, how our imaginations fall short at what is most important “ predicting how we will feel in a future circumstance. As you head off to business school, a little reflection is in order, and this book could prove a necessary catalyst to your introspection.
The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right, by Atul Gawande
This book, which received high praise from Blink author Malcolm Gladwell, discusses the ways in which simple checklists can transform performance, whether in an airplane cockpit or in an operating room. It demonstrates how even experts can make errors of ineptitude, and how proper planning and procedure can prevent these. For future MBAs, we think Gawande’s insights on what it truly means to work successfully will prove infinitely valuable as they enter the fast-paced and sometimes chaotic world of business.
Made to Stick, by Chip & Dan Heath
Business managers seem to believe that, once they’ve clicked through a PowerPoint presentation showcasing their conclusions, they’ve successfully communicated their ideas. What they’ve done is share data. So, how does one make an idea unforgettable? In this book, the brothers Heath tackle the idea of stickiness, delving into psychosocial studies on memory, emotion, and motivation to establish the critical elements of good communication. We think b-schoolers will appreciate this lighthearted overview of S-U-C-C-E-S.
Yes! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to be Persuasive, by Noah Goldstein, Steve Martin, and Robert Cialdini
In business school, it’s vital that you are able to sell yourself (think networking and interviews), and we believe that the social-psychology presented in Yes! can help hone your skills of persuasion. A collection of bite-sized readings, this book delivers easy to digest distillations of scientific research on how to change people’s minds. The 50 chapters each demonstrate one of the 6 weapons of influence (Reciprocity, Liking, Social Proof, Authority, Scarcity, and Commitment and Consistency) previously presented in Cialdini’s Influence, and their brevity makes it easy for a reader to dip in and out. Perfect for the b-school in commute!
The Undercover Economist, by Tim Harford
Looking for a lighthearted introduction to Microeconomics? Harford offers that up in his book, using the prices at Starbucks and the Microsoft stock values to explore concepts you might learn in class, but without the equations and charts. Perfect for an incoming MBA who’s looking for a quick and entertaining brush-up or for someone who just wants to understand why the rent in London is so high.
Looking for more? Check out Business Week’s summer reading list. Have a recommendation? Share it below!