15 books every business student should read

The core curriculum at Broad gives students a foundation in business across diverse subjects. Students develop expertise in their specific area of study while gaining cross-functional knowledge and perspectives. For those looking to deepen this knowledge, business books provide a wealth of insights.

Explore business books across four key focus areas: ethical and values-driven leadership, entrepreneurial mindset and strategic leadership, innovation and market strategy, and recommendations from Broad alumni.

Broad aims to create leaders who positively impact society. Leadership-focused events often highlight not only effective strategies but also how ethics and values guide decision-making. These books provide examples and strategies for leading with integrity.

The Heart of Business: Leadership Principles for the Next Era of Capitalism by Hubert Joly

In “The Heart of Business,” former Best Buy CEO Hubert Joly shares the importance of putting people at the center of business. Joly attributes the resurgence of Best Buy to his goal of creating an environment where employees flourish, with profits following naturally from that priority. He proposes radically rethinking how we view work and define companies to lead with purpose and humanity.

Dirtbag Billionaire: How Yvon Chouinard Built Patagonia, Made a Fortune, and Gave It All Away

Patagonia was founded on environmental activism, a value that shapes the company’s story and corporate culture while prioritizing socially responsible business. Its care for clean supply chain and bold activism demonstrates an alternative approach to capitalism. Patagonia’s founder, Yvon Chouinard, is at the heart of this story. Author David Gelle examines his life and career, showing how Chouinard’s passion for the natural world guided an unprecedented corporate philosophy focused on both profit and making the world a better place.

Love and Work: How to Find What You Love, Love What You Do, and Do It for the Rest of Your Life by Marcus Buckingham

When leaders have genuine love and care for their business, heart and values are at the front of their leadership. “Love and Work,” encourages leaders to embody the adage “Do what you love,” even in a corporate climate that can pull leaders in other directions. Buckingham shows readers how to decode what they love, leverage individual strengths in job interviews, shape current roles, and pursue excellence as a leader.

Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect by Will Guidara

“Unreasonable Hospitality” shows students the power of service-driven leadership. Being hospitable is not just for hospitality business students; every business student can learn how to turn ordinary experiences into extraordinary ones. Through Guidara’s memorable stories, readers see how going above and beyond, with unreasonable hospitality, helps care for both colleagues and customers.

Broad cultivates leaders who are strategic thinkers and entrepreneurial in spirit, ensuring the future of business is ready to innovate and adapt. The following books capture key lessons in entrepreneurial mindset and strategic leadership that align with Broad’s focus on transformational leadership.

The Successful Entrepreneur Playbook: How to Build a Successful Business by Paul Woodruff

MSU alum Paul Woodruff (B.S. Civil Engineering ’59, M.S. Civil Engineering ’61) shares a lifetime of business experience in “The Successful Entrepreneur Playbook.” In 1977, he founded the consultancy Environmental Resources Management, Inc. and grew it into a global group of 66 companies and more than 2500 employees. Readers learn strategies to pave a path to successful entrepreneurship in this all-in-one text for would-be entrepreneurs.

The Art of Being Unreasonable: Lessons in Unconventional Thinking by Eli Broad

As a namesake and benefactor of the Broad College of Business, Eli Broad (B.S. Accounting ’54) embodied the entrepreneurial spirit the college strives to instill in every student. In this book, Broad shares the unreasonable principles that fueled his journey from founding two Fortune 500 companies to redefining modern philanthropy. His approach to risk-taking, negotiation and visionary thinking mirrors the college’s commitment to creating leaders that drive transformational impact in business and society.

The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success by William Thorndike

Learn from eight CEOs who defied convention and delivered extraordinary long-term results by focusing on shareholder value. Thorndike outlines this principle among other common threads that led to the success of these eight leaders and their companies. The book proposes an alternative model to company leadership that produced exceptional returns — ideal for those aspiring to shape the future of business through bold moves and challenging assumptions.

Strategic Teams and Development: The FieldBook for People Making Strategy Happen by Daniel Wolf

For those looking to refine collaboration skills on any team, ranging from front line to senior leadership, Daniel Wolf ( shares practical approaches to connecting talent, strategy and culture in this book. The field book serves as a tool to drive planning and decision-making with a focus on creating value. Learn about key challenges in team strategy direction and the critical factors in talent of strategic teams.

G.O.A.T Wisdom: How to Build a Truly Great Business from the Founders of Beekman 1802 by Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Brent Ridge

In ”G.O.A.T. Wisdom,” Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell (B.A. English ’91) share the principles that helped transform a small-town idea into one of the world’s fastest growing lifestyle brands. The book presents the twelve principles that made the biggest difference in the pairs entrepreneurial journey — the ideas that allowed Beekman 1802 to grow despite the launch in the middle of a recession in one of New York State’s poorest counties.

Business leaders must anticipate change and identify opportunities to drive innovation that transforms industries. The following books offer insights into disruptive thinking, value creation and strategic market approaches.

The Innovator’s Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail by Clayton Christensen

A bestselling classic on disruptive innovation, Christensen’s book explores the successes and failures of leading companies and outlines rules for capitalizing on market disruption. Even companies that appear to do everything right can lose their edge, making this a must-read for those seeking to understand how innovation shapes long-term success — or a lack thereof.

Abundance: How We Build a Better Future by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson

This forward-looking book gives innovators an inside look at how societies can move beyond scarcity mindsets and embrace equity and sustainable growth. Authors Klein and Thompson have decades of experience in analyzing political, economic and cultural forces that have led to unaffordability and scarcity mindsets. The book considers how the political agenda can shift to protect and preserve while building innovation.

Blue Ocean Strategy by Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne

“Blue Ocean Strategy” challenges leaders to move beyond crowded, competitive markets and create entirely new spaces for growth. By emphasizing value creation and bold strategic thinking, the book provides a framework for innovators to transform ideas into opportunities that redefine industries. It’s a must-read for those who seek to reimagine the possibilities and drive sustainable change.

These books are recommendations shared directly from Broad alumni, shaping the ways they approach business. Each title provides tools or ideas that alumni have found essential for professional growth and success.

The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter by Michael Watkins

Submitted by: Jessica Gofforth (M.S. Management, Strategy and Leadership ’19)

The first three months in a new role represent a crucial window of opportunity. This book shares practical strategies to secure early wins and ways to avoid early missteps that threaten to derail professional success. Gofforth emphasizes the book’s potential to help with everything from internal role changes to starting a brand-new job.” This book is incredibly helpful when starting a new position,” said Gofforth. “It helps level set expectations and set your mindset to navigate the change.” The international bestseller offers insights on navigating transitions at any stage of one’s career, making it a trusted guide for students entering new roles.

Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology by Chris Miller

Submitted by: Lori Houtekier Keisic (MBA ’04)

Semiconductors power everything from smartphones to global supply chains, making them one of the most consequential technologies of our time. “Chip War” explores the history, innovation and strategic competition behind these small but mighty chips showing why understanding their role is essential for anyone looking to grasp the current state of politics, economics, technology and ultimately, modern business.

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Submitted by: Glenn Detrick (B.A. Social Science ’68)

Though not a traditional business book, Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning” has much to offer students who are in a formative time as they try to find and navigate their purpose. The book, with more than 16 million copies sold, posits that the primary human drive is not pleasure but the discovery and pursuit of what the individual finds meaningful. Frankl shares a riveting account of his time in the Nazi concentration camps. His enduring survival story finds meaning in spite of the worst adversity.

Detrick taught a course on reflection and introspection for 20 years, using this book as the foundation. “Everyone should read this book,” Detrick said. “Amidst the worst of the worst of the worst, in the Nazi concentration camps, Frankl was able to define a positive meaning in life.”

From Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t by Jim Collins

Submitted by: Terence Pitre (Ph.D. Business Administration ’04)

Collins investigates why certain companies rise above the rest, uncovering the disciplined leadership and strategic choices that transform good organizations into great ones. The book offers a blueprint of vision, focus, and execution strategy for companies that sustained rigorous performance benchmarks for 15 years or more. “From Good to Great” sheds light on every area of management strategy and practice.

“Anyone intending to lead should read this book,” said Pitre. “If you want to learn how to effectively lead an organization and elevate the firm’s greatest resources — its people — this text is easy to read, and the lessons are simple yet profound.”

Pivot with Scott Galloway and Kara Swisher and Catalyst with Shale Khan

Submitted by: Therese Komar (B.A. General Management ’05)

“Pivot” offers commentary on the week’s biggest headlines in technology, business, and politics. Technology journalist Kara Swisher and New York University professor Scott Galloway hosts this podcast from New York Magazine and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Students who enjoy well-intentioned discourse will appreciate the show’s bold predictions and banter.

Check out Pivot on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or the Vox Media website.

Catalyst is a weekly podcast that interviews experts to understand what drives decarbonization for the sustainably minded business student. The show explores the steps it takes to decarbonize the planet and the pointed questions surrounding the process. It examines the economics of clean energy and whether artificial intelligence stands to accelerate climate change solutions. Khan breaks down the world of climate technology with investors, researchers and executives.

Check out Catalyst on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or the Latitude Media website.

The Slow Pitch Sales Podcast with Rob Jager (B.A. Finance ’95)

Jager’s expertise offers listeners ways to sell more in less time by introducing the concepts and processes for success in sales. Students can learn how to sell smarter, not harder. With the mantra, ”slow down and close more,” the podcast delivers action items and efficiency strategies that make sales feel manageable. Business students can walk away with sharper sales techniques and a stronger grasp of the field.

“Business is driven by sales,” said Jager. “Being able to sell is more critical than ever. In ‘The Slow Pitch Sales Podcast,’ I talk about selling and how people buy. The episodes are based on lessons I have learned since graduating from Michigan State.”

Check out The Slow Pitch Sales Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or the Slow Pitch website.