In a B-School, every professor will suggest you at least one book that has the potential to change the way to perceive things. Management is always about critical thinking and perception. Companies don't hire B-School grads for their theoretical knowledge. They hire them for their ability to function in critical situations.
Therefore, I bring you the top 5 books I have managed to read in the past one year that I have found very interesting:
1. Man's Search for Meaning - Viktor E. Frankl
A survivor of Nazi Germany's atrocities, Mr Frankl talks about the power of positive thought in this book. We always think the quotations are bullshit. But read his account of a concentration camp and how he survived it by constantly visualizing a positive future for himself. A definite read and recommended by almost every professor.
2. Thinking Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman
Daniel Kahneman is generally regarded as a stalwart of behavioural economics. His best-selling book published in 2011 is an eye-opener for fresh B-School students. The book talks about 2 systems that control our thinking process and gives a lot of insights into
cognitive biases.
Cognitive biases are going to be a very common term which will be taught in Organisational Behaviour and will find many a contexts in your career as a manager.
3. The 8th Habit - Stephen R. Covey
Widely known for his best-selling book
'7 Habits of Highly Effective People', Stephen R. Covey penned down this book to identify what separates greatness from effectiveness. Because a leader isn't a leader when he is just effective. A leader needs to be someone who makes people strive for greatness.
4. Fault Lines - Mr. Raghuram Rajan
This book is for people who love global economics. This is an investigation into the 2008 global financial crisis. Mr. Rajan has identified three primary factors which caused the issue and has explained in great detail how inch by inch the US economy collapsed.
I would recommend this book solely for the faith every B-School grad has in Mr. Rajan and for the sheer love of the man. Also, it gives you talking points when some professor randomly starts discussing the 2008 crisis in class.
5. Predictably Irrational - Dan Ariely
A professor of Psychology and Behavioural Economics, Dan Ariely finds a way to challenge the rationality of our decisions and our rational thinking. This unassuming book is my favourite so far and is a must read to understand how our analysis of events around us are deeply flawed. He mixes psychology and economics in a beautiful book to bring out 15 beautiful chapters that question our thinking mechanism.
Recommended by many professors and worth a read.
You may also be interested in reading -
5 Books To Read Before And During Your MBA