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讀完這11本書,勝過拿一個MBA

Sam Parr
2019-05-12

如何不讀MBA,也能學到成為社會精英所需要的知識呢?

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圖片來源:Getty Images

我不想責怪那些一心想去讀MBA的人。雖說好多人幻想著拿了MBA學位后,下一步就能當高管、娶白富美、走上人生巔峰,但這畢竟也不是他們的錯。

不過,我們其實都知道(而且高盛公司也同意這一觀點),花10萬多美元接受一段無用的教育,甚至讓自己背10年的債,對于95%的人都是錯誤的選擇。

那么,如何不讀MBA,也能學到成為社會精英所需要的知識呢?

答案無非“讀書”二字。這當然是個大而化之的答案。書有成百上千萬本,每個領域的著述都成千上萬。尤其關于商業(yè)的書更是汗牛充棟,理論上來說,你就算讀一輩子也讀不完。而本文的目的就是要解決這個問題。

找到第一資源

《財富》的一名記者曾問過Airbnb的CEO布萊恩·切斯基,在管理這家3000多人的大公司之前,他對管理學了解多少。切斯基的回答大意是,說是一無所知也不為過。

但是切斯基還是把Airbnb管理得很好,他是怎樣做到的?

切斯基并不奢望成為一個特定領域的專家,他發(fā)現(xiàn),更有效率的方法,是找到這一領域的最佳資源,然后直接去找那個人?!爸灰阏覍α速Y源,你就可以快速前進了?!彼f。

既然商學學位純屬浪費時間,那么進行商學教育的最佳方法,自然就是讀書了。

讀完以下這11本書,你就完全沒必要去讀MBA了。

《石油大王洛克菲勒傳》,作者:羅恩·切諾,所有對商業(yè)感興趣的人必讀

我曾經(jīng)讀到過一句話,說你的水平,大致相當于與你相處時間最久的五個人的平均水平。如果這是真的(我相信這是真的),那么閱讀名人傳記,就相當于每晚花幾個小時和那些偉大的人物相處了。

傳記能以一種奇特的方式改變你的行為。當你每天晚上都花一兩個小時向你的偶像學習時,你會發(fā)現(xiàn),你漸漸開始接受他們的習慣。這種感覺很奇怪,但這是真的。一本好的傳記,會讓你的職業(yè)生涯走上快車道,因為你可以從他們犯過的錯誤中學到教訓,避免自己走彎路。一本好的傳記,可以讓你少奮斗幾十年。

而且當你知道你想做的事已經(jīng)有前人做到過時,你的商業(yè)生涯就會變得容易得多。

每個對商業(yè)感興趣的人,都應該讀一讀約翰·洛克菲勒的傳記。他不僅是史上最富有的人,也是一個顧家的男人,一個勤勉自律的工作者,他非常自信,但又保持謙遜。他白手起家創(chuàng)建了標準石油公司,它也是全球歷史上最大的公司之一。美國之所以立法反對壟斷,與洛克菲勒的極度成功有直接關系。

但與其他資本家不同,洛克菲勒的善良和慷慨是出了名的。芝加哥大學就是由洛克菲勒出資創(chuàng)辦的,他還曾向斯佩爾曼學院捐過款。

《時代》雜志和《紐約時報》都將《石油大王洛克菲勒傳》列為美國有史以來最偉大的傳記之一,我認為它也是有史以來最偉大的書籍之一。

我認為對于成功來說,沒有其他任何一種品質(zhì)比堅持更重要。它能戰(zhàn)勝幾乎一切,甚至是大自然?!s翰·洛克菲勒?!妒痛笸趼蹇朔评諅鳌?/em>

《權(quán)力的48條法則》,作者:羅伯特·格林,教你如何應對商業(yè)世界的風波險惡

自古商場如戰(zhàn)場。商戰(zhàn)與真正的戰(zhàn)爭一樣,其輸贏經(jīng)常取決于人心。一個偉大的領導者可以控制他的敵人、他的團隊甚至是他自己的態(tài)度。如果策略運用得當,甚至可以不戰(zhàn)而屈人之兵。

《權(quán)力的48條法則》基本上改編自《孫子兵法》(另一本偉大的著作)。區(qū)別是《權(quán)力的48條法則》更具可讀性,并且引用了很多歷史故事作為注解?!秾O子兵法》讀起來給人佶屈聱牙之感,但《權(quán)力的48條法則》卻非常引人入勝。本書用400多頁的篇幅,教你如何一步步爬上社會權(quán)力的階梯,并且用了歷史事例來佐證自己的觀點。

在一個人的一生中,要想獲得長久的幸福,你最好遵循摩西、耶穌或佛陀的教誨。然而悲哀的事實是,很多人的人生遵循著一套非常不同的準則,他們中的大多數(shù)人最終走向了自我毀滅,但在這個過程中,他們也會對我們的個人和職業(yè)生活造成嚴重的損害。

《權(quán)力的48條法則》一書則能讓你了解這些人是如何思考的?!獊嗰R遜書評

《影響力:說服心理學》,作者:羅伯特·恰爾迪尼,讓別人買你賣的東西

了解什么東西能激勵人、說服人,是一門很重要的學問——不僅對生意,對生活也是如此。圍繞這個主題的書有成千上萬本,其中大多數(shù)都是垃圾。因此,關于銷售的書,我只推薦一本,那就是羅伯特·恰爾迪尼的這本《影響力》。

1984年以后的任何一本關于說服力或者人類行為的書,基本上都引用過這本書里的內(nèi)容至少一次。《影響力》是心理學的一本經(jīng)典著作,它解釋了人何以會被別人說服,并且告訴你怎樣將這些理論應用在實踐中。這本書一半講戰(zhàn)術,一半講戰(zhàn)略,既實用又易于理解。

《影響力》一書是恰爾迪尼在電話營銷公司、汽車經(jīng)銷店和融資機構(gòu)做了三年的臥底調(diào)研后才寫成的。美國的每一所商學院幾乎都會學到這本書,足以證明其重要性。

羞恥心是一個要打倒的惡人。——羅伯特·恰爾迪尼《影響力》

《巴菲特致股東的信》,作者:沃倫·巴菲特,教你如何好好說話

對領導者而言,強有力的溝通技巧,尤其是書面表達能力,算得上是最重要的技能了。現(xiàn)代人的溝通方式,離不開短信、社交軟件、電子郵件和博客。我們的整個職業(yè)生涯基本上都是在鍵盤上度過的。

乍一看去,這本書出現(xiàn)在推薦榜單里似乎有些突兀。不過在我看來,巴菲特是這個世界上最擅于溝通的人之一。一個優(yōu)秀的溝通者的標志,就是能夠以簡單但卻吸引人的方式,向別人解釋復雜的概念。而巴菲特將這兩點做得都很好。

從1977年開始,巴菲特每年都會向伯克希爾哈撒韋公司的股東寫一封信。在這些信中,他用外行也能懂的淺顯語言解釋了伯克希爾哈撒韋公司的業(yè)績,它對股東的意義,以及下步股東對公司可以有哪些期待。巴菲特非常善用比喻和幽默,并且完美地綜合運用對話式和專業(yè)的語言,向股東解釋了價格上漲、保險浮動、會計準則等無聊的話題。

巴菲特的每封信都可以在伯克希爾哈撒韋公司的網(wǎng)站上免費閱讀,但我還是建議你花幾塊錢購買一本紙質(zhì)書來讀。

現(xiàn)在我要告訴你們,進入21世紀,我們進入了制磚、地毯、絕緣材料和涂料等尖端產(chǎn)業(yè)。請控制一下你的興奮?!?001年巴菲特致股東的信的開場白

《一個廣告人的自白》,作者:大衛(wèi)·奧格威,教你如何讓事物看起來性感

大衛(wèi)·奧格威是奧美(全球最大傳媒集團之一)的創(chuàng)始人,廣告界的宗師級人物。雖然講廣告的好書也有幾十本,但在我看來,其中最優(yōu)秀的,還是這本《一個廣告人的自白》。

奧格威的另一本書《奧格威談廣告》的知名度或許更高一些,但其中的大部分內(nèi)容在《一個廣告人的自白》中已有提及。而且《自白》中還講述了很多其他知識,比如與客戶/代理的關系、如何發(fā)展業(yè)務等。

“你今天在電視上看到的很多糟糕的廣告,都是委員會的產(chǎn)物。委員會可以批評廣告,但決不應該允許他們制作廣告。”——大衛(wèi)·奧格威

《政敵團隊:林肯的政治智慧》,作者:桃樂絲·卡恩斯·古德溫,學習美國最偉大總統(tǒng)的政治智慧

林肯是一個管理天才。在1860年的總統(tǒng)大選中,林肯所在的共和黨本處于一片混亂。由于沒有明確的領導人,黨內(nèi)無法就關鍵問題達成一致,而整個國家也同樣處于混亂之中。為了團結(jié)全黨全國的力量,林肯說服他的競爭對手加入了他的內(nèi)閣。結(jié)果呢?原本一群互相憎恨的烏合之眾齊心協(xié)力,成功帶領國家度過了最艱難的時期。

讀完本書最大的收獲,是學會了如何應對不同類型的人——很少有人曾花時間去掌握這門技能。林肯有一種神奇的組織能力,而這本書則告訴你可以如何復制林肯的這種技能。

該領域的第二名是《高產(chǎn)出管理》(它也是Airbnb的CEO布萊恩·切斯基最喜歡的一本書)。這本書更技術性,不過也枯燥得多。

這是一個講述林肯的政治智慧的故事,從中可以看出林肯卓越的個人品質(zhì),這使他可以與以前反對他的人建立友誼;修復別人受傷的感情(別人感情受到傷害時,如果不加注意,很可能會升級為永久的敵意);為下屬的失誤承擔責任;輕松獲得別人的信任;并且從犯過的錯誤中學到教訓?!覙方z·卡恩斯·古德溫《政敵團隊:林肯的政治智慧》

《聰明的投資者》,作者:本杰明·各拉漢姆,來自巴菲特的老師的投資智慧

當被問到對投資感興趣的人應該讀什么書時,巴菲特答道:“60多年來,《聰明的投資者》的第8章和第20章,一直指導著我的投資行為。我建議所有投資者都閱讀這些章節(jié),并且在每次市場特別強勁或疲軟時都重讀一遍?!?/p>

我雖然不是巴菲特,但我還是建議讀者將這本書通讀一遍。《聰明的投資者》中的投資策略適合任何一個投資者,而且它也講到了控制情緒對投資的重要性——有一顆強大的心臟,才是玩投資最重要的技能。

本書最新版的內(nèi)容已較初版有所更新,包含了更加現(xiàn)代化的投資技術和操作方法。

聰明的投資者是一個現(xiàn)實主義者,他向樂觀主義者賣出股票,從悲觀主義者那里買進——本·格拉漢姆

《國富論》,作者:亞當·斯密,經(jīng)濟學原理雖然乏味,但還是要懂的

我并不喜歡經(jīng)濟學方面的書,因為我覺得它們很枯燥無趣,但它們確實也很重要。亞當·斯密的《國富論》應該是你了解經(jīng)濟學原理的第一資源。

《國富論》主要關注古典經(jīng)濟學,但它也是當代經(jīng)濟學理論的開山之作,每個生意人都應該讀一讀。搞商業(yè)的人沒讀過《國富論》,就好比研究《圣經(jīng)》的學者不知道《出埃及記》。

每個個體出于改善自身條件的努力是十分強大的,光靠它自己,就算沒有任何外力協(xié)助,也能帶動社會走向富裕和繁榮,并且足以超越愚蠢的人類法律所制造的上百個拖累其運作的阻礙?!獊啴敗に姑?/em>

《廣告周刊文案手冊》,作者:約瑟夫·舒格曼,寫作是最被低估的技能

文案寫作,是一個從事商業(yè)活動的人所能具備的最有價值的技能,沒有之一。我知道這話聽起來有些武斷,但它是確鑿無疑的。聽到“文案”二字,你首先想到的肯定是怎樣寫吸引人的廣告詞。但我說的并非這個意思。

文案寫作,是指將你對一個產(chǎn)品、一種服務、一個創(chuàng)意的知識轉(zhuǎn)化在紙面上,以求將它賣出去的過程。你要了解你的受眾需要什么、想要什么,哪些東西能激勵他們,哪些東西能刺激他們的情緒。

說到文案寫作,《廣告周刊文案手冊》可以說是這門手藝的黃金標準。作者約瑟夫·舒格曼是一位著名的郵件營銷專家。在互聯(lián)網(wǎng)出現(xiàn)之前,郵件營銷人員主要通過寫信打動潛在客戶。要想通過一張紙上的廖廖數(shù)語,說服陌生人寄來支票,購買一個他們從來沒見過的產(chǎn)品,顯然是一項高難度的工作。而舒格曼則是這個行業(yè)的佼佼者。

盡管《廣告周刊文案手冊》有些技術性,但它也是一本非常簡單有趣的讀物,他能教會你如保創(chuàng)作讓人們產(chǎn)生閱讀欲望的文案。

要讓你的讀者感到必須要讀你的文章,讓他們不看到最后不罷休,就好比他們從雪坡上往下滑一樣,產(chǎn)生中間停不下來的感覺?!s瑟夫·舒格曼《廣告周刊文案手冊》

《人性的弱點》,作者:戴爾·卡耐基,有史以來最暢銷的書籍之一

好多人之所以想讀MBA,是看中了它所帶來的人脈資源。不過大多數(shù)人其實并不擅長經(jīng)營人脈,他們不知道怎樣跟人交流,怎樣表達對別人的興趣,或者怎樣討別人喜歡。這就是為什么《人性的弱點》應該是一本必讀書目。

如果你從未聽說過這本書,倒是會令我感到很驚訝。自從卡耐基1936年出版這本經(jīng)典著作以來,它已經(jīng)成為有史以來最暢銷的非小說類書籍之一?;旧厦课唤艹龅纳虡I(yè)領袖都能引用幾句《人性的弱點》中的名言。多數(shù)大學也會在課程中講到這本書。商業(yè)圈子里的人如果連《人性的弱點》都不知道,也就不用在這個圈兒里混了。

你爺爺奶奶讀過這本書,你爸爸媽媽也讀過這本書,現(xiàn)在該輪到你了。

你可以通過對別人感興趣,在兩個月內(nèi)交到更多朋友;或者通過讓別人對你感興趣,在兩年里交到更多朋友?!鳡枴た▋?nèi)基《人性的弱點》

《大師之路》(Mastery),作者:羅伯特·格林,自我發(fā)展最重要但常常被忽視

沒有方向的人生是毫無意義的。一味追逐金錢的人生同樣毫無意義,除非你知道自己為什么要這么做。然而不幸的是,大多數(shù)人,尤其是對金錢如饑似渴的A型商人,從來沒有問過自己為什么要賺錢,為什么要經(jīng)營企業(yè)?!洞髱熤贰芬粫鴦t能幫你找到答案。

我有意把羅伯特·格林的兩本書列在這份榜單上。格林的書是我讀過的商學著作中研究得最廣泛和深入的,每一句話都充滿了實用的信息。我認為格林更像一位歷史學家,而不是一名作家。

在本書中,格林分析了莫扎特、愛因斯坦、達爾文等大師的成功之路,告訴我們?nèi)绾文軌虺蔀橐幻I袖,以及這些大師是怎樣找到自己的使命的。

未來屬于那些學習更多技能,并將其創(chuàng)造性地結(jié)合起來的人?!_伯特·格林,《大師之路》

心得體會

如果你讀過這些書,并掌握了其中的內(nèi)容,我相信,你的知識水平將超過99%的MBA畢業(yè)生。假設你一個月讀一本書,你只需要花200美元和11個月的時間,就能學到其他人花幾十萬美元和兩年時間才能學到的內(nèi)容。

抑或就像電影《心靈捕手》里的威爾所說的那樣:

“像你這樣的人,最可悲的就是,50年后你會開始反思一些事,然后你會發(fā)現(xiàn),生活中有兩件確鑿無疑的事:第一,不要那樣做;第二,你竟然在一項該死的教育上花了15萬美元,而那些東西花1.5美金在公共圖書館里就能學到!”

那么,現(xiàn)在就閱讀起來吧!(財富中文網(wǎng))

譯者:樸成奎

I don’t blame people for wanting to get an MBA. It’s not their fault they’ve been duped into believing it’s the best way to further their career in business.

But, as we all know, (and Goldman Sachs agrees) spending over $100,000 for a useless education—and putting yourself in debt for the next 10 years—is the wrong move for 95% of people.

So how are you supposed to learn what you need to get ahead?

Books. Now, I know that’s an ambiguous answer. There are millions of books. Thousands on every topic. You could spend your entire life reading books on business. I’m here to solve that problem.

Go to the first source

When a reporter from Fortune asked Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky what he knew about management prior to running his 3,000 person organization, Chesky responded with, “It’s kind of like, what did I know?”

But somehow Chesky figured it out. How did he do it?

Rather than trying to learn everything about a particular topic, Chesky found it was more efficient to research and identify the single best source in that field. He then went straight to that person. “If you pick the right source, you can fast-forward,” he said.

And since a business degree is a pointless waste of time, the best way to educate yourself on business is by reading books.

Here’s a list of the 11 books you should read in lieu of getting a business degree.

Titan: The life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. by Ron Chernow: A must read for anyone interested in business

I once read that you’re the average of the five people you spend most of your time with. If that’s true (which I believe it is), then reading biographies is like spending a few hours a night with the great ones.

Biographies have a strange way of changing your behavior. When you spend an hour or two a night learning from your heroes you notice that you start to adopt their habits. It’s strange, I know, but it’s true. A good biography will fast forward your career because of the time you’ll save learning from the subject’s mistakes rather than making them on your own. A great biography will save you decades.

Plus, your business career will be significantly easier when you know that whatever you want to accomplish has already been done.

Everyone interested in business should read John D. Rockefeller’s biography. Aside from being the richest person in history, Rockefeller was a loyal family man, a disciplined worker, and incredibly confident but humble. He built Standard Oil, one of the largest companies the world had ever seen, from scratch. Rockefeller is the reason monopolies in America are illegal.

But unlike other business magnates, Rockefeller was famously kind and generous (he funded the University of Chicago and donated to Spelman College).

Time Magazine and The New York Times list Titan as one of the greatest biographies ever written, and I think it’s one of the greatest books of all time.

I do not think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature.—John D. Rockefeller, “Titan”

The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene: How to navigate the corporate world

Business and war are quite similar. But not for the reasons you might think. Business, like war, is often won in people’s minds. A great leader can control the attitudes of his enemies, his team, and himself, and if done correctly, can win a war before it ever starts.

The 48 Laws of Power is basically an adaptation of Sun Tzu’s the Art of War (another great book). The major difference is in The 48 Laws of Power’s readability and it’s use of historical stories. I find the Art of War tough to read, whereas The 48 Laws of Power is a page turner. Greene spends over 400 pages explaining how to climb the social ladder and uses historical examples to make his case.

In one’s life, you’re better off following the teachings of Moses, Jesus, or Buddha to gain long-term happiness. But the sad fact is, many people live by a very different set of rules, and while most of these folks eventually self-destruct, they can inflict severe damage on our personal and professional lives in the process.

48 Rules of Power is a good primer for learning how these people think.—Amazon review of “The 48 Laws of Power”

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini: Getting people to buy what you’re selling

Understanding what motivates people is important — not just in business, but in life. There are thousands of books on this topic but most of them are garbage. That’s why I suggest reading only read Influence by Robert B. Cialdini when it comes to sales.

Practically every book written after 1984 on persuasion or human behavior cites Cialdini’s book at least once. Influence is the classic on the psychology of what makes people say “yes” and helps them apply these learnings. The text is half tactics, half strategy, making it practical and easy to understand.

Influence is based off three years of undercover research Cialdini did at telemarketing firms, car dealerships, and fund-raising organizations. There’s a reason Influence is on nearly every business school curriculum in America.

Embarrassment is a villain to be crushed.—Robert B. Cialdini, “Influence”

Letters to Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders by Warren Buffett: How to talk well

Strong communication skills, specifically through the written word, is arguably the most important skill a leader can have. Think about it. Texting, Facebook, email, blogging. We spend our entire professional lives at the keyboard.

On the surface this book seems like a strange recommendation. But here’s the thing—Warren Buffett is one of the greatest communicators I’ve ever read. The mark of a great communicator is their ability to explain complicated concepts in an engaging and simple way. Buffett does both beautifully.

Every year since 1977 Buffett has written a letter to his Berkshire Hathaway shareholders. In these letters he explains, in layman’s terms, Berkshire’s performance, what it means to shareholders, and what they should expect in the future. Buffett uses metaphors, humor, and a perfect combination of conversational and professional language to explain boring topics like price appreciation, insurance floats, and GAAP accounting.

Every letter is available online for free on Berkshire Hathaway’s site but I recommend paying a few bucks and getting a hard copy of the letters.

I will tell you now that we have embraced the 21st century by entering such cutting-edge industries as brick, carpet, insulation and paint. Try to control your excitement.—Opening line in Buffett’s 2001 shareholder letter

Confessions of an Advertising Man by David Ogilvy: How to make things look sexy

David Ogilvy, founder of Ogilvy and Mather (one of the biggest ad agencies in the world), is the person to learn from when it comes to advertising. While there are dozens of great books on the subject, Confessions of an Advertising Man is, in my opinion, the best of the bunch.

Ogilvy’s other book, Ogilvy on Advertising, is better known, but Confessions of an Ad Man covers most of the stuff mentioned there, plus additional details such as client/agency relationships and how to grow a business.

“Much of the messy advertising you see on television today is the product of committees. Committees can criticize advertisements, but they should never be allowed to create them.”—David Ogilvy

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin: Learn from America’s greatest president

Abe Lincoln was a management genius. In the 1860 presidential election the Republican party (Lincoln’s party) was a mess. There was no clear leader, people couldn’t agree on the issues, and the country was a wreck. To bring the party and country together, Lincoln convinced the candidates running against him to join together to form his cabinet. The result was a ragtag group of men — who previously hated each other — working together to successfully navigate the country through its toughest period.

The biggest takeaway from this book is how to handle different types of people — a skill few people take the time to master. Lincoln had a magic ability to organize people, and Team of Rivals does an amazing job explaining how to replicate his skills.

A runner-up for this category was High Output Management, (Brian Chesky’s favorite book). It is far more technical, but it’s quite dull.

This, then, is a story of Lincoln’s political genius revealed through his extraordinary array of personal qualities that enabled him to form friendships with men who had previously opposed him; to repair injured feelings that, left untended, might have escalated into permanent hostility; to assume responsibility for the failures of subordinates; to share credit with ease; and to learn from mistakes.—Doris Kearns Goodwin, “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln”

The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham: Written by Warren Buffett’s mentor

When asked which book people interested in investing should read, Warren Buffett said, “Chapters 8 and 20 [of The Intelligent Investor] have been the bedrock of my investing activities for more than 60 years. I suggest that all investors read those chapters and reread them every time the market has been especially strong or weak.”

I’m no Buffett, but I’d suggest reading the entire book. The Intelligent Investor covers strategies for any investor, plus the importance of controlling one’s emotions…arguably the most crucial skill needed when playing with the market.

The newer editions have been updated to include modern investment techniques and practices.

The intelligent investor is a realist who sells to optimists and buys from pessimists.—Ben Graham

The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith: Economics are dull but necessary

I’m not a fan of books on economics. I find them dull. But they are important. The Wealth of Nations should be your first source when it comes to understanding economics.

While it’s mostly focused on classic economics, it’s a defining book on economic theory that every business person should read. Not reading this text would be like a Bible scholar not knowing about The Exodus.

The natural effort of every individual to better his own condition is so powerful, that it is alone, and without any assistance, not only capable of carrying on the society to wealth and prosperity, but of surmounting a hundred impertinent obstructions with which the folly of human laws too often encumbers its operations.—Adam Smith

The Adweek Copywriting Handbook by Joseph Sugarman: Copywriting is the most underrated skill in business

Copywriting is the single most valuable technical skill a business person can have. I know that’s a bold claim, but it’s true. Now, when you hear copywriting you’re mostly likely thinking about creating sexy advertisements. But that’s not what I’m referring to.

Copywriting is your ability to transfer your knowledge of a product, service, or idea onto a sheet of paper for the purpose of selling. Part of the process involves understanding what your audience needs, what they want, what motivates them, and what stirs their emotions.

When it comes to copywriting, The Adweek Copywriting Handbook is the gold standard. The author, Joseph Sugarman, is a famous direct mail marketer. Before the internet was around, direct mail marketers wrote letters to potential customers. Using only a sheet of paper, these marketers had to convince strangers to send a check for a product they had never seen before. And Mr. Sugarman was the best in the business.

While The Adweek Copywriting Handbook can get technical, it’s a very easy and fun read and teaches strategies to get people to read whatever you write.

Your readers should be so compelled to read your copy that they cannot stop reading until they read all of it as if sliding down a slippery slope.—Joseph Sugarman, “The Adweek Copywriting Handbook”

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie: One of the best-selling books of all time

A legitimate reason for wanting an MBA is because of the network you’ll build. However, most people are awful networkers. They don’t know how to hold a conversation, show interest in others, or be likable. That’s why How to Win Friends and Influence People is a must read.

I’d be shocked if you’ve never heard of this book before. Carnegie published this classic in 1936. It has since become one of the best-selling nonfiction books of all time. Practically every great business leader can quote a few sentences from How to Win Friends and Influence People. Most universities have this book in the curriculum. And if they don’t then they should lose their accreditation.

Your parents read this book. Their grandparents did too. Now it’s your turn.

You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.—Dale Carnegie, “How to Win Friends and Influence People”

Mastery by Robert Greene: Self-development is often ignored but most important

Without direction life is meaningless. Chasing money is utterly useless unless you know why you’re doing it. And unfortunately, most people, especially money hungry type A business folk, never ask themselves why they want to make money or why they want to run a business. Mastery helps you find that answer.

I put two Robert Greene books on this list on purpose. Greene’s books are the most well researched and in depth books I’ve ever read. Every sentence is packed with practical information. I think of Greene as more of a historian than a writer.

In Mastery, Greene explains how to become a leader by examining the pathways to success taken by historical masters such as Mozart, Einstein, and Darwin. He explains how people found their calling.

The future belongs to those who learn more skills and combine them in creative ways.—Robert Greene, “Mastery”

The takeaway

If you read and master these books, I believe that you’ll know more than 99% of MBA graduates. And, at a book a month, you’ll only spend $200 and 11 months to learn what others pay hundreds of thousands for, over two years.

Or, as Will Hunting beautifully put it:

“See, the sad thing about a guy like you is, in 50 years you’re gonna start doin’ some thinkin’ on your own and you’re going to come up with the fact that there are two certainties in life: one, don’t do that, and two, you dropped 150 grand on a fuckin’ education you could have got for a dollar fifty in late charges at the public library!”

Now go on… read!

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