10 Books Every Product Manager Should Read

Introduction

Being a successful product manager requires a diverse skill set: strategic thinking, leadership, problem-solving, and an in-depth understanding of both business and technology. While real-world experience is invaluable, learning from the wisdom of experts can accelerate your growth.

If you’re looking to enhance your product management skills, diving into the right books can offer the insights and frameworks you need to succeed. In this blog, we’ve compiled a list of 10 must-read books that will equip you with the tools and knowledge to become a more effective product manager.

1. “Inspired: How To Create Products Customers Love” by Marty Cagan

This book is often considered the Bible for product managers. Marty Cagan outlines how top tech companies like Google, Amazon, and Netflix approach product development. The book focuses on how to create products that truly resonate with customers and provides insights into building great product teams.

Key Takeaways:

• Best practices for managing product teams.
• How to balance customer needs with business goals.
• Frameworks for prioritizing product features.

Why Read It?: If you’re new to product management or looking to refine your skills, this book will provide the foundation for understanding what makes successful products.

2. “Lean Product and Lean Analytics” by Ben Yoskovitz and Alistair Croll

This book combines the principles of Lean Startup and Lean Analytics, offering a structured approach to building products iteratively and using data to drive decisions. It focuses on optimizing the product development process to achieve faster, more effective results.

Key Takeaways:

• How to build a minimum viable product (MVP).
• The importance of metrics in product development.
• Tools for validating assumptions with customers.

Why Read It?: If you’re looking to make data-driven decisions and reduce the risk of failure, this book will teach you how to use lean principles in product development.

3. “The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries

Another foundational text, The Lean Startup focuses on how to apply lean principles to product management. Eric Ries introduces the concept of creating a “build-measure-learn” feedback loop to help product teams test and refine their ideas in a cost-effective way.

Key Takeaways:

• How to test product ideas quickly and inexpensively.
• The importance of pivoting or persevering based on data.
• How to maximize customer feedback.

Why Read It?: This book is a must-read if you’re involved in any type of new product development and want to avoid wasting time or resources on ideas that don’t work.

4. “Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products” by Nir Eyal

In this book, Nir Eyal breaks down the psychology behind what makes certain products addictive. If you’re creating consumer-facing products, understanding the principles of habit-forming behavior is critical to product success.

Key Takeaways:

• The “Hook Model” for creating habit-forming products.
• Psychological triggers that influence customer behavior.
• How to use habits to increase user retention.

Why Read It?: This book is valuable for product managers looking to create long-term customer engagement through behavioral science.

5. “The Product Manager’s Desk Reference” by Steven Haines

This book provides a comprehensive guide to the day-to-day tasks and responsibilities of a product manager. It’s a great resource for those looking for structured advice and practical tips on managing the entire product lifecycle.

Key Takeaways:

• Detailed frameworks for each phase of the product lifecycle.
• Tips on creating product roadmaps and managing stakeholder expectations.
• Tools for managing product teams and collaboration.

Why Read It?: Ideal for both beginners and experienced PMs who need a practical, easy-to-reference guide to managing products effectively.

6. “Measure What Matters” by John Doerr

This book introduces the concept of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), a framework that has been widely adopted by tech companies to set and measure progress towards ambitious goals. John Doerr shares stories from Google and other companies that have used OKRs to drive product success.

Key Takeaways:

• How to set clear, measurable goals (OKRs).
• The role of transparency in goal-setting.
• The importance of measuring progress and iterating based on results.

Why Read It?: OKRs are a powerful tool for product managers who want to ensure alignment between teams and track the success of their initiatives.

7. “Good Strategy Bad Strategy” by Richard Rumelt

Understanding how to formulate a good strategy is essential for any product manager. In this book, Richard Rumelt explains the importance of focusing on critical issues and making clear decisions to steer your product in the right direction.

Key Takeaways:

• The difference between good and bad strategy.
• How to identify critical problems and opportunities.
• Frameworks for making strategic decisions that matter.

Why Read It?: This book will help product managers learn how to focus their efforts on strategic decisions that drive long-term success.

8. “The Hard Thing About Hard Things” by Ben Horowitz

In this candid memoir, Ben Horowitz shares the challenges he faced while running a tech company. He provides invaluable lessons on leadership, decision-making, and navigating tough situations in product management.

Key Takeaways:

• How to make difficult decisions in the face of uncertainty.
• Tips for managing teams through crisis situations.
• The importance of leadership and company culture.

Why Read It?: This book is essential for product managers who aspire to become leaders or who need to manage difficult situations in product development.

9. “Lean UX: Applying Lean Principles to Improve User Experience” by Jeff Gothelf

User experience is an integral part of product management, and Lean UX offers actionable insights into how to integrate user feedback and design thinking into the product development process. It emphasizes collaboration between product and design teams.

Key Takeaways:

• How to integrate UX design into the product development process.
• The importance of user research and rapid testing.
• Methods for creating products that meet customer needs.

Why Read It?: For PMs working closely with design teams, this book is a must-read for understanding how to create user-centric products.

10. “Product Leadership: How Top Product Managers Launch Awesome Products and Build Successful Teams” by Ben Horowitz

This book explores the critical role of leadership in product management. Ben Horowitz and his co-authors interview top product leaders to uncover strategies for leading successful product teams and developing impactful products.

Key Takeaways:

• The importance of leadership in product management.
• Tips for building and managing high-performing product teams.
• How to foster collaboration and innovation in product development.

Why Read It?: If you’re looking to take your product management career to the next level and develop leadership skills, this book will provide valuable insights.

Conclusion

Reading is one of the best ways to deepen your knowledge and stay ahead in product management. The books on this list provide insights into the essential aspects of product management, from strategy and leadership to user experience and data-driven decisions.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your expertise, these 10 books will equip you with the tools, frameworks, and knowledge needed to succeed as a product manager.

Which of these books are you most excited to read? Share your thoughts in the comments below or recommend any other books you think are essential for product managers!