Best Business & Finance Books: 28-Day Business & Finance Challenge

📚 Bonus Books: These are extra recommendations to go beyond your challenge!
Day 29

The Everything Store is about how Jeff Bezos grew Amazon—from a simple online bookstore into the 5th largest company in the world.

He did it with a mix of great timing, customer obsession, and relentless competition.

"They agreed on five core values [...]: customer obsession, frugality, bias for action, ownership, and high bar for talent. Later Amazon would add a sixth value, innovation." —Brad Stone
Day 30

Hooked is a guide for product designers, marketers, and entrepreneurs, showing them how to create digital products that are engaging, compelling, and habit-forming.

Nir Eyal reveals how big tech companies like Google, Twitter and Facebook keep us coming back to their apps daily.

His "Hooked Model" has 4 stages: trigger, action, variable reward, and investment.

"79% of smartphone owners check their device within fifteen minutes of waking up every morning." —Nir Eyal

Why read it?

If you're dreaming of creating the next Instagram or just curious about why we can't put down our phones, then this book is your go-to guide.

Nir Eyal takes the "habit loop" idea (made popular by books like Atomic Habits), then he spins it upside down, to reveal the secrets behind apps that are highly engaging and habit-forming.

It's your blueprint to making anything - from your new app to your social media channel - as irresistible as that last slice of pizza. 🍕

Day 31

The Ride of a Lifetime is an inside look at leadership, from former Disney CEO Robert Iger.

You'll see how he earned so many promotions, managed people to avoid resentment, and negotiated billion-dollar deals.

"True authority and true leadership come from knowing who you are and not pretending to be anything else." —Robert Iger
Day 32

Crucial Conversations teaches you how to handle difficult conversations at work and home, especially when people have opposing opinions, strong feelings, and the outcome matters.

The book gives you tools and strategies to speak honestly yet respectfully, so you can communicate your thoughts and needs, while maintaining good relationships.

"People who are skilled at dialogue do their best to make it safe for everyone to add their meaning to the shared pool—even ideas that at first glance appear controversial, wrong, or at odds with their own beliefs." —Kerry Patterson

Why read it?

Crucial Conversations equips you with practical tools to handle challenging conversations gracefully and effectively.

Whether it's a tough talk with a colleague, a heart-to-heart with a loved one, or negotiating in high-stress situations, this book helps you stay composed and achieve the best possible outcomes.

It's a must-read for anyone looking to improve their communication skills and build stronger relationships.

Day 33

The Black Swan is about understanding unpredictable extreme events like the 9/11 attacks, rise of the internet, and stock market crashes.

Nassim Taleb says we are unprepared for the next big event like this because we rely too much on incomplete theories, limited models and flimsy historical narratives.

"Years ago, I noticed one thing about economics, and that is that economists didn't get anything right." —Nassim Taleb
Day 34

"Building a StoryBrand" by Donald Miller teaches business owners how to clarify your message using storytelling principles.

It outlines a seven-part framework to help brands create a clear, compelling narrative that resonates with your customers.

This makes sure your message captivates attention, is understood easily, and drives more sales.

"The first mistake brands make is they fail to focus on the aspects of their offer that will help people survive and thrive" —Donald Miller
Day 35

Contagious by Jonah Berger is a great read for anyone into marketing, influence, or the psychology of consumer behavior.

It explores what makes people share.

In other words: why do certain products, ideas, or content 'go viral'?

A lot of research is simplified into 6 key principles: social currency, triggers, emotion, public, practical value, and stories.

"Word of mouth is the primary factor behind 20 percent to 50 percent of all purchasing decisions." —Jonah Berger

Why read it?

Ever open up Facebook and wonder why your post got two likes while your friend's got a hundred?

This book is a deep dive into the research of what makes people want to share and spread ideas.

Perfect for anyone that wants to capture more attention in our age of algorithms and social media apps.

Day 36

The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing by Al Ries and Jack Trout is a must-read classic in the marketing world.

It reveals that branding success comes from being first and unique in the market, not from having the best product.

A practical guide loaded with examples from Coca-Cola, Apple, Toyota, etc.

"The essence of marketing is narrowing the focus. You become stronger when you reduce the scope of your operations. You can't stand for something if you chase after everything." —Al Ries

Why read it?

Ries and Trout have a way of simplifying complex marketing strategies into clear, understandable laws.

This book is like a marketing mentor, guiding you through the pitfalls and opportunities of marketing with sharp insights and famous examples that have stood the test of time.

It's a must-read for anyone looking to gain a competitive edge in the world of marketing.

Day 37

To Sell Is Human is about "non-sales selling" or, how to persuade others.

Daniel Pink argues that sales skills are more essential than ever because "moving others" has become a part of most careers and businesses.

His advice centers on the new ABCs: Attunement, Buoyancy and Clarity.

"To sell well is to convince someone else to part with resources—not to deprive that person, but to leave him better off in the end." —Daniel Pink
Day 38

Fooled by Randomness is full of ideas for finance and investing that go against what most people practice.

Taleb says randomness controls our lives more than we think, but we can learn tools to protect against life's uncertainty.

"Remember that nobody accepts randomness in his own success, only his failure." —Nassim Taleb
Day 39

The 10X Rule challenges us to set targets 10X larger than before and then take 10X the action we believe is necessary.

Grant Cardone says achieving success always takes exponentially more effort, time and money than we think.

We always set our goals too low and underestimate the challenges we'll face.

"Disciplined, consistent, and persistent actions are more of a determining factor in the creation of success than any other combination of things." —Grant Cardone

Why read it?

If you're ready to supercharge your goals for business and life, then Grant Cardone may be just the rocket fuel you need.

The man is basically a walking billboard for success.

And his book is a motivational call to action to multiply our efforts and think bigger.

It's a fun read if you want to stop walking on the threadmill of "average" and strap on a jetpack to larger goals than you'd ever imagined.

Day 40

Made in Japan is the autobiography of Akio Morita, who co-founded Sony and grew it to become one of the largest electronics companies in the world.

Akio shares his advice for management, leadership and innovation.

He also explains many differences in the working culture between Japan and the West.

"No matter how good or successful you are or how clever or crafty, your business and its future are in the hands of the people you hire. To put it a bit more dramatically, the fate of your business is actually in the hands of the youngest recruit on the staff." —Akio Morita
Day 41

Sam Walton: Made in America shows how Walmart grew from one small store into the largest retail business in the world.

Sam Walton is often seen as one of the greatest entrepreneurs ever.

His journey was filled with risk, obstacles, adversity, failure... but also fun, discovery, passion and persistence.

"You've got to give folks responsibility, you've got to trust them, and then you've got to check on them." —Sam Walton
Day 42

Grinding It Out is about how McDonald's grew to be one of the biggest companies in the world.

Ray Kroc did it through seizing the right opportunity, perfecting the fundamentals of the business, always emphasizing growth, and persisting until he found the successful strategy.

"As long as you're green you're growing, as soon as you're ripe you start to rot." —Ray Kroc
Day 43

Pre-Suasion shows a new side of influence.

It's about everything that happens BEFORE you ask someone to say yes to your proposal.

Professor Robert Cialdini has distilled hundreds of scientific studies to prove that how you FRAME a message from the beginning is crucial to its success.

"What we present first changes the way people experience what we present to them next." —Robert Cialdini
Day 44

"Pour Your Heart Into It" by Howard Schultz, the former CEO of Starbucks, is a memoir that details the story of how Starbucks grew from a small coffee shop in Seattle into a global brand.

The book combines Schultz's personal journey with the principles and values that guided him in building Starbucks, emphasizing the importance of passion, perseverance, and authenticity in business.

"Mass advertising can help build brands, but authenticity is what makes them last. If people believe they share values with a company, they will stay loyal to the brand." —Howard Schultz

Why read it?

You should read "Pour Your Heart Into It" because it's more than just a business book; it's an inspiring story of how a strong vision and unwavering commitment can transform a small idea into a global phenomenon.

Schultz's journey is filled with valuable lessons on leadership, innovation, and staying true to your core values, no matter how big you get.

It's a great read for anyone who believes in the power of passion and purpose in business.

Day 45

Essentialism by Greg McKeown is a productivity book that helps you get more done by doing less.

It teaches you to focus only on what’s really important and say no to things that distract you.

Instead of feeling overwhelmed by too many tasks, you'll learn how to prioritize and concentrate on what truly matters in your life and work.

"If you don’t prioritize your life, someone else will." —Greg McKeown
Day 46

"Million Dollar Weekend" by Noah Kagan is a step-by-step guide for entrepreneurs on how to launch a business in just 48 hours.

It focuses on overcoming fears of failure and rejection, offering practical methods for generating ideas, validating them, and quickly acquiring paying customers.

"Small EXPERIMENTS, repeated over time, are the recipe for transformation in business, and life." —Noah Kagan

Why read it?

You should read "Million Dollar Weekend" if you're serious about starting a business but find yourself stuck in the planning phase.

Noah Kagan's approach is all about getting out of your own way, launching quickly, and learning from real-world feedback.

The advice is straightforward, actionable, and designed to help you make tangible progress toward a successful business in a short time frame.

Day 47

The ONE Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan emphasizes focusing on the single most important task in any area of your life to achieve extraordinary results.

The book teaches the power of prioritization, guiding readers to simplify their approach by identifying and acting on the "one thing" that will make the biggest impact in their goals, careers, or personal lives.

"What’s the ONE thing you can do, such that by doing it, everything else will be easier or unnecessary?" —Gary Keller

Why read it?

I read The ONE Thing, and it completely shifted how I think about productivity.

Instead of trying to juggle everything at once, this book taught me to focus on what truly matters—what will drive the biggest results.

If you feel overwhelmed with too many tasks or unsure where to start, The ONE Thing will show you how simplifying and narrowing your focus can lead to extraordinary success.

Day 48

Expert Secrets by Russell Brunson is a guide to becoming an expert in any field and building a profitable business by selling products like books, courses, and coaching.

He shares strategies for building a loyal audience through storytelling, copywriting, persuasion, and movement-building, along with his "perfect webinar" script for creating an effective sales funnel.

"The expert offers someone a new opportunity and then guides them to a result with a future-based cause." —Russell Brunson

Why read it?

You should read Expert Secrets if you want to turn your knowledge or passion into something impactful and profitable.

Brunson doesn’t just discuss marketing theories—he gives you a clear roadmap with actionable steps to build a thriving online business and connect meaningfully with your audience.

Day 49

"Measure What Matters" by John Doerr is a book about a system called OKRs (Objectives and Key Results).

It’s a simple way to set goals and measure progress so you can stay focused and get things done.

The book shows how big companies like Google and Intel use OKRs to dominate their industries, and how you can use them too—whether for a team, a business, or even for your personal goals.

"A management methodology that helps to ensure that the company focuses efforts on the same important issues throughout the organization." —John Doerr

Why read it?

You should read Measure What Matters because it teaches a super simple and powerful way to set goals as a team and actually achieve them. There are great case studies from inside top companies and startups like YouTube, Adobe, and MyFitnessPal.

Trying the method, I was able to focus on my top goals and make progress on them in a measurable way.

If you want a clear plan for reaching your goals and a way to track how you're doing, this book is awesome.

Day 50

The 1-Page Marketing Plan by Allan Dib simplifies marketing into a single-page framework that helps businesses attract, convert, and retain customers without complicated tricks or big budgets.

It’s designed for entrepreneurs and small business owners who need a clear, actionable 9-step roadmap to grow their business.

"Struggling business owners will spend time to save money, whereas successful business owners will spend money to save time." —Allan Dib

Why read it?

If you’re overwhelmed by marketing, this book gives you a clear, no-fluff roadmap to create a predictable system for business growth, even if you’re starting from scratch.