My Top 5 Business Books of 2022

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog post that shed light on some of my less than ideal homework habits as a high school student. Unsurprisingly, I wasn’t an avid reader at that time. But heading into the summer before my junior year of college, everything changed.

It was finals week. A group of friends convinced me to meet them in the library. I didn’t like to work there often—especially with friends because we’d end up spending more time chatting and laughing than working.

Somehow we got on the topic of starting a summer book club. As the non-reader in the group, I obliged. My friends threw out suggestions. I was listening, but didn’t have much to add.

A couple of those friends subscribe to this blog. I’m about to find out if they actually read it! 

The book club never materialized. Yet that conversation was enough of a spark for me to spend all summer reading books. Whether it was serendipity or maturity, I was finally ready to read for fun. And I haven’t stopped since.

When my morning routine is clicking, I read for about an hour before I head to work, and I don’t travel anywhere without a book tucked in my bag. 

Of course business books are in rotation. Below are my top 5 business-related books of the year from light read to more dense read.

(Each picture below is a link where you can to purchase the book)

The Hard Thing About Hard Things (by Ben Horowitz)

This one is primarily for entrepreneurs. In a collection of well organized blog articles, Ben Harowitz, a seasoned entrepreneur turned prolific venture capitalist, provides a rich perspective on what it takes to build a successful business when there are no easy answers.

Atomic Habits (by James Clear)

I found the principles of Atomic Habits so moving that roughly 9 weeks ago I quit social media (except for LinkedIn on desktop). Quitting social isn’t the book’s focus; rather, it’s about how small changes to our regular habits can produce life changing results. This book is personal (or professional) development gold.

The Everything Store (by Brad Stone)

Love it or hate it, Amazon is the everything store. Business journalist Brad Stone meticulously researched the origin and rise of Amazon (and Jeff Bezos), packaging his learnings into a highly detailed narrative.

If you’re a student of business, you’ll find the book engaging and a worthwhile case study on a company that’s sphere of influence is seemingly limitless.

DEI Deconstructed (by Lily Zheng)

In today’s climate, if you fail to seriously contemplate the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in your workplace culture, you’re doing yourself (and your organization) a huge disservice. I’m fortunate enough to talk with DEI professionals frequently, and this might be the hottest book in the space.

Don’t be intimidated. A well respected DEI thought leader and practitioner, Lily Zheng dives deep but also introduces key topics and terms in a digestible way. This book alone could be the bedrock of a strong understanding of modern day DEI best practices—where concrete results are more important than good intentions.

The People’s Tycoon (by Steven Watts)

At more than 500 pages, The People’s Tycoon is a doozy. If you read biographies, consider adding it to your list. Like with any business success story, there were far more hiccups in starting the Ford Motor Company than folklore acknowledges.

I don’t want to spoil it. Henry Ford was a talented engineer with populous political leanings—and some questionable racial views. Arguably, no one had a greater impact than Ford in creating the American middle class. I found his complicated views and life’s work worth learning more about.

Stay Bold,

Doug