1. Tom DeMarco. “Deadline: A Novel About Project Management.”
All the principles of good management are described here in the engaging and unobtrusive form of a business novel.
The author, Tom DeMarco, has already written 13 books, but considers Deadline to be his strongest. He is confident that reading it will add two years of excellent management experience, and the gripping plot and illustrative examples will be more useful than any textbook.
2. Patrick Lencioni. “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: Parables about Leadership.”
The head of a high-tech company resigned because the company’s work under his leadership was falling apart before his eyes.
“Managers had perfected the art of undermining each other. The team lost the spirit of unity and camaraderie, replacing it with tedious, mandatory work.
Every task dragged on, and the quality declined.”
3. Jason Fried, David Heinemeier Hansson. “Rework: A New Way to Rebuild Your Business.” About starting your own business. If you like, alongside your full-time job.
And about how to improve your existing business, or more precisely, your perspective on it.
In order to gain a previously unimagined degree of freedom.
About the optimal company size, why it needs to grow, what and how to actually plan,
and whether it’s necessary to learn from mistakes. And much more, both familiar and unexpected.
4. Mark Rozin, “Success Without Strategy.”
According to the author, there are two approaches to management. The first is strategic, the second is opportunistic.

Essentially, this is a contrast between immediate gains, small victories, and achieving a big goal in the distant future.
The principle a leader espouses determines how a company (or part of it) is managed and developed.
A flexible approach versus rigid planning, tactics versus strategy.
A brilliant book that provokes new ideas and internal debate. 5. Joe Owen, “Managing People: A Guide to Influencing Others”
As is well known, management is the ability to achieve goals through other people.

This book talks about achieving your goals through others.

It also talks about how to interact with people, how to live in a corporate culture and
use it to your advantage, how to delegate tasks and resolve conflicts, how to secure the political support of powerful executives and gain power, and what to do with it afterwards.

It’s worth reading, even if you’ve spent your entire career working in a two-person startup.
6. Jim Kemp, “First Say ‘No'”
No win-win. No negotiating partners (only opponents). No compromises. And, of course, first say “no.”

In fact, behind this seemingly scandalous and harsh technique lies a benevolent ability to defend your interests while giving your opponent the opportunity to defend theirs.
What is a “negotiating budget” and how to spend it? How to approach your opponent’s world and make them feel “okay”? Why is necessity a bad internal argument?

This book is a treasure trove of useful advice.
And one more thing. Unlike the overwhelming majority of books on negotiation, this one actually works (I’ve personally tested it repeatedly).

8. Jim Collins, “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t”
This isn’t just another management book—it’s a serious study. But it’s not boring at all. It’s about turning an average company into a great one.

But, in my opinion, even turning an average department into a great one is already impressive. Fortunately, the book’s ideas are easily scalable.
How to properly understand the role of technology, what is the “hedgehog concept” and why is it needed, why is a culture of discipline important, and why do we need to know about the Stockdale Paradox? Read it, you won’t regret it.
9. Lee Iacocca, “The Manager’s Career”
A great automobile manager who shared his life story and work. Most hired managers can’t even dream of a career like his. Iacocca has faced so many crises and global challenges that it’s breathtaking.
And you can learn from a real pro, not some phony “coach.” Even those with an entrepreneurial spirit will find much of interest in this book.
10. Ichak Adizes, “The Ideal Manager: Why You Can’t Become One and What It Means”
The author is a recognized classic in the field of management theory and practice.
In particular, he is the originator of the idea of ​​the corporate life cycle. This book also analyzes the qualities a manager needs for success.
And it draws interesting conclusions worth pondering.