25 Product Leaders

Reveal:
BOOKS That Shaped
Their Careers
50
Must Read
books

Eugene Segal
Product Leader
In collaboration with 'Lenny's Podcast'
1.

INTRODUCTION:
I WILL START WITH THE 'WHY?'

BOOKS are one of the most ROI-positive UNDERRATED

investments in one’s personal development. 📚

It’s an opportunity to absorb the most diverse, impactful, and

profound insights from brilliant and accomplished leaders.

Those leaders to whom you pay 1000's of $ for an hour-long

consultation. Or spend over $100K to have them in your
MBA class as guest lecturers.

50 books = $1K.

Reading 5 books will amplify your knowledge.

Reading 50 books will change your life.

There is simply no excuse. 😉

2.

INTRODUCTION:
TWO MORE THINGS:

1. At the end of the guide, I will split the 50 books list

into categories such as Personal Development,
Business, Psychology & Design, Product,
Communication, etc., and share my
recommendations on the 5 books to start with.

2. I binged through over 35 hours of Lenny's Podcasts

to collect Leader's go-to books. Hence, I want to give
a huge shout-out to the best Product podcast out
there. www.lennyspodcast.com

Empower others through knowledge.

Repost to your network.
3.
I'm a big believer in the power of happiness. Not just because it's
a trendy buzzword but because it truly helps us do our best work
and be more creative. So, if I were to recommend two or three
books to others, the first one that comes to mind is
'The Simple Path to Wealth' by J.L. Collins. It's a book that is
often overlooked, but it's an incredibly important read that covers
all of the basics of managing finances in a simple and easy-to-
understand way. The audiobook version, narrated by the author
himself, is also fantastic.

Laura Schaffer
VP Product Growth
4.
Another book that I highly recommend is
'Atomic Habits' by James Clear. This book
provides a framework for making meaningful
changes in our lives, whether it's related to
personal growth, career development, or anything
in between. It's a must-read for anyone who
wants to improve themselves and achieve their
goals.

Laura Schaffer
VP Product Growth
5.
If I had to recommend two or three books to
someone, I would definitely recommend
'Playing to Win' by A.G. Lafley and Roger L.
Martin. It's a fantastic read for anyone
interested in strategy and business.

Annie Pearl
CPO
6.
Another book that I highly recommend is
'Good to Great' by Jim Collins. It's a classic for
a reason and provides valuable insights into
what makes companies successful in the long
run.

Annie Pearl
CPO
7.
Lastly, I would recommend 'Hooked' by Nir
Eyal. It's a great book for anyone interested in
product design and user behavior. These
books have all profoundly impacted me, and I
believe they have much value to offer to others
as well.

Annie Pearl
CPO
8.
So, when it comes to books, I absolutely love
reading, and I have a few favorites that I always
recommend to others. One of them is
'The Ride of a Lifetime' by Bob Iger. It is a great
read, especially for those looking to enhance
their leadership skills. It's a book that I always
recommend to new reports on my team.

Lauryn Isford
Head of Product Growth
9.
Another book that I highly recommend is
'Rocket Man'. I really enjoy reading stories
about ambition and achievement, and this one
definitely delivers on that front. So, those are
two books that I highly recommend to others.

Lauryn Isford
Head of Product Growth
10.
in terms of books that I recommend most to
other people, a few come to mind. One is
'Inspired' by Marty Cagan, which taught me a
lot about creating products people love. It's a
great book, and I have it right here.

Marily Nika
AI Product Lead
11.
Another book that I really enjoyed is
'You Look Like a Thing, and I Love You' by
Janelle Shane. It's about how AI works and
why it's making the world a weirder place. It's
actually a very fun read.

Marily Nika
AI Product Lead
12.
Finally, I recently launched a workbook with
Alaina Percival called 'Adventures of Women
in Tech Workbook', a workbook for women in
tech trying to navigate working in tech. It's a
project that I'm really proud of, and I love
recommending it to others.

Marily Nika
AI Product Lead
13.
There are a few books that immediately come to mind.
The first is ‘How to Measure Anything’ by Douglas
Hubbard. I really like this book because it challenges
the notion of adopting metrics that everyone else is
using. Instead, it reminds you that the purpose is to
reduce uncertainty for critical decisions and to
achieve specific objectives. This book provides a
creative and actionable framework for thinking about
metrics.

John Cutler
Senior Product Director
14.
Another book that I highly recommend is ‘Accelerate’ by
Nicole Forsgren and Gene Kim. This book is all about the
factors that contribute to high-performance
organizations. It's built on years of research and surveys
and provides practical advice on improving your
development practices and overall performance. It is
incredibly valuable because it not only teaches you how
to think about performance but it also gives you
actionable steps to improve it.

John Cutler
Senior Product Director
15.
Lastly, I love Jeff Patton's ‘User Story Mapping.’
It's a deceptively simple book, but it teaches
you a lot about product management. The book
presents a basic and straightforward method for
laying out a customer journey and then taking a
slice to develop it. It's a great starting point for
new product managers.

John Cutler
Senior Product Director
16.
One book that comes to mind right away is
'Switch' which focuses on how to affect
organizational change and was recommended
to me by someone else. It tackles the difficulty
of making change happen in a large
organization and provides strategies for
overcoming those obstacles.

Yuhki Yamashita
CPO
17.
Another book I highly recommend is
'The Story of the Stone', a Chinese novel I
consider my favorite book of all time. It's one of
the most famous Chinese novels, spanning
thousands of pages, and takes place in a
garden. Despite its length, it's one of the most
beautiful pieces of literature I've ever read.

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2,8 S!
T 'S GE
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Yuhki Yamashita
CPO
18.
My first choice is ‘Love + Work’ by Marcus
Buckingham. I’m obsessed with his content,
and this book helped me hone in on my
superpowers to create a hobby out of my
work.

Elena Verna
CMO/Head of Growth (ex)
19.
I would also recommend ‘Sapiens: A Brief
History of Humankind’ by Yuval Noah Harari.
It’s a mind-blowing read! Understanding who
we are as humans and why we act the way we
do helps me better understand companies’
problems and how to deal with them.

Elena Verna
CMO/Head of Growth (ex)
20.
The last one is a bit of cheating as it is not a
book but 'Reforge'. Reforge has content to fill
up 10-plus volumes. The most actionable
long-form content in existence for growth,
product, and marketing.

Elena Verna
CMO/Head of Growth (ex)
21.
One of the books that I've recommended the
most to others is 'Never Split the Difference' by
Chris Voss. It's a great book about
negotiations and has been really helpful to me
in my career.

Jules Walter
Product Leader
22.
Another book I highly recommend is 'Connect' by
Carole Robin, inspired by Stanford's touchy-feely
class. It's all about improving your EQ skills and
building better relationships with people. I actually
read a guest post by Carole Robin in a newsletter and
found it so helpful that I went out and bought the
book. It's a great resource for anyone looking to
improve their communication skills.

Jules Walter
Product Leader
23.
My go-to book is Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey
Moore. Geoffrey Moore is an author, speaker, and
consultant who has worked with Salesforce,
Microsoft, and Google, among others. Moore
touches on the ins and outs of developing a go-to-
market strategy, focusing on the chasm between
early adopters and the early majority.

Wes Bush
CEO
24.
I also highly recommend My Life and Work by
Henry Ford. The central concept behind this book
is that businesses exist to serve. The best way to
win your market is by offering the best product at
the best price. By making the best product
possible accessible, you'll ironically make the most
money.

Wes Bush
CEO
25.
In terms of my favorite books that I can
recommend. The first is 'Getting Real',
specifically the chapter on epicenter design.
I've shared that many times and it's a great
resource for product managers and designers.

Ian McAllister
Product Executive
26.
Another book that I recommend for fun is the
'Wool Trilogy' by Hugh Howie. He's probably
my favorite author, and it's a great series.

Ian McAllister
Product Executive
27.
Lastly, for learning, I recently read
'Energy and Civilization' by Vaclav Smil and
found it to be super fascinating, even if it may
not be on the bestseller list.

Ian McAllister
Product Executive
28.
I highly recommend books on architecture and urban planning for
people like me who work in the tech and internet industries. These fields
offer valuable insights since they have been focused on creating spaces
that foster human interaction for thousands of years, compared to the
relatively short history of the digital realm.
One such book is 'The Timeless Way of Building' by Christopher
Alexander, which I often buy in bulk and give away to people. The book
discusses how the shift from self-built homes to mass-produced
suburban housing in the 1970s led to dissatisfaction among residents, as
the builders' incentives did not align with the needs of the people living
in the houses.

I see an interesting parallel with

the internet, where the
developers responsible for
creating online spaces operate
under a complex incentive
structure, often resulting in
sub-optimal user experiences.

Sachin Monga
VP Product
29.
When it comes to books, there are a few that I
absolutely love and recommend to others. One
of my favorites is 'Hooked' by Nir Eyal. The
model presented in that book is incredibly
effective when it comes to creating engaging
products, and I find myself referring back to it
often.

2nd
Mention

Ravi Mehta
Product Executive
30.
Another book that I highly recommend is
'Working Backwards' by Colin Bryar and Bill Carr.
This book offers a detailed look into Amazon's
unique approach to building products, and I've
found it to be incredibly valuable in understanding
their process. In fact, we even had Ian Mcallister
on our podcast to discuss the book and his
experiences at Amazon.

Ravi Mehta
Product Executive
31.
'4000 Weeks' by Oliver Burkeman is one of my
absolute favorites, and I recommend it to
literally everyone. A more tongue-in-cheek
description I usually employ is "How to fail at
the right things". Incredibly insightful. Learning
how to disappoint people strategically.

Leah Tharin
Product Leader
32.
'Another one is 'Teams of Teams' by McChrystal.
One of the clearest and most compelling books
on organizations. McChrystal clearly explains
why our organizations based on hierarchy and
directive control are failing and how to do it right.
An absolute necessity for anyone interested in
org design and org efficiency. Personal Favourite
of mine.

Leah Tharin
Product Leader
33.
The last one is 'Crossing the Chasm' by
Geoffrey A. Moore. To conquer large markets,
you better understand the dynamics between
early adopters to the early majority. A classic
and, in my opinion, a table stake to
understanding what landing and expanding
into a major market means.

2nd
Mention

Leah Tharin
Product Leader
34.
I have a couple of favorites that I always come
back to. One of my go-to publishers is Stripe
Press, and two books from their collection that I
highly recommend are:
'High Growth Handbook' by Elad Gil and
'An Elegant Puzzle' by Will Larson. These books
offer incredibly valuable insights into scaling
companies and building effective teams.

Alexandra Hardiman
CPO
35.
In addition, I always like to suggest a work of fiction as well.
Sometimes, stepping outside of your comfort zone and reading
something that's not directly related to your work can be just as
inspiring. Right now, I'm actually in the middle of rereading
'Giovanni's Room' by James Baldwin, and I can't recommend it
enough. It's a beautifully written novel that explores the
complexities of human relationships and identity. Overall,
balance is key when it comes to reading. It's important to make
time for both practical, industry-specific books as well as works
of fiction that can offer a different perspective and spark new
ideas.

Alexandra Hardiman
CPO
36.
'Hooked' by Nir Eyal was the book that made me
discover and fall in love with the Growth Product
mindset. The book guides you on understanding
and leveraging user psychology and habit forming
to drive product engagement and retention. This is
my bread and butter, an Intersection of
Psychology, Design, Business, and Technology.

3rd
Mention

Eugene Segal
Product Leader
37.
'The Hard Thing About Hard Things' by Ben Horowitz blew
my mind. The book gives you real-world insights, and a
deeper understanding of the challenges founders and
CEOs face in their journey. The book emphasizes their
struggles, decision-making processes, and leadership
responsibilities. As a product leader, understanding and
empathizing with the executive leadership’s hardship is
essential. It is also a fun read and an eye-opening
experience.

Eugene Segal
Product Leader
38.
I am a big believer in and advocate for building
Empowered teams. 'Empowered' by Marty
Cagan is a guide for any product leaders
aspiring to build autonomous, high-performing
teams. I wouldn’t recommend a company that
doesn’t embrace the Empowered teams'
culture.

Eugene Segal
Product Leader
39.
For product and growth geeks like myself or
anyone with more than a passing interest in
data, I highly recommend 'How to Measure
Anything' by Douglas Hubbard. It's a fantastic
book that dives deep into the world of
measurements and how to measure effectively.

2nd
Mention

Ben Williams
VP Product (ex)
40.
Another book that I enjoyed is 'Make Time' by
John Zeratsky and Jake Knapp. This book
radically changed my relationship with
information, and I recommend it to all time-
strapped product people out there.

Ben Williams
VP Product (ex)
41.
Lastly, 'This Is How They Tell Me the World
Ends' by Nicole Perlroth is a book that gives a
fantastic view into the world of digital
espionage. It's a wild read that I highly
recommend. Overall, these are just a few
books that have had a big impact on me, and I
hope they can do the same for others.

Ben Williams
VP Product (ex)
42.
The first book that immediately comes to mind
is 'The Prize', which tells the story of the oil
industry and its impact on the world's
economy and politics.

Adriel Frederick
Product Executive
43.
T The second book I recommend is 'The New Map' by Daniel Jurgen,
which provides an in-depth analysis of the geopolitical landscape
surrounding oil and its importance in shaping the world we live in
today. These books are fascinating, and they offer a unique
perspective on geopolitics and how they work. In my early career
working in the energy industry, I came to appreciate how crucial oil is
in shaping the world, and these books offer an excellent way to
understand this topic more deeply. These book recommendations will
help people gain a better understanding of the world and its
complexities and ultimately lead to more informed decision-making.

Adriel Frederick
Product Executive
44.
I would say 'The Hard Thing About Hard Things' by Ben Horowitz. This book
has been really helpful for me in learning how to adopt a CEO's mindset and
approach problem-solving with a more outcome-focused mentality. It teaches
you to 'chew glass' and care deeply about outcomes, something that a CEO
has to do. It's a really useful mindset to have as a product manager, and it could
benefit others in the field as well. I really appreciate how the book emphasizes
the importance of taking calculated risks, being honest with yourself, and
pushing through difficult times. It has helped me become more resilient and
proactive in dealing with challenges. Overall, I highly recommend this book to
any product manager who wants to take their skills and mindset to the next
level.

2nd
Mention

Jason Shah
Product Leader (ex)
45.
‘Essentialism’ was a game changer for me,
especially during my time at Grammarly. It
taught me about cutting out the noise and
finding a singular focus to do really well. I
loved it so much that I bought copies for my
entire team.

Yuriy Timen
Head of Growth (ex)
46.
'Man's Search for Meaning' is a memoir about
perseverance that has stuck with me over the
years. It taught me that while I can't control
what's happening around me, I can control my
reaction.

Yuriy Timen
Head of Growth (ex)
47.
I read 'The Splendid and the Vile' recently due
to its relevance to the conflict in Ukraine. It
provides historical context for the current
situation and valuable lessons from Winston
Churchill's leadership during WWII.

Yuriy Timen
Head of Growth (ex)
48.
One of my favorite books is a UX book called
'Make It So'. I find it eye-opening, illuminating,
and enjoyable because it explores how user
experiences presented in sci-fi often make
their way into our everyday products and tools
20-30 years down the line.

Ryan J. Salva
VP Product
49.
Another favorite of mine is David Foster Wallace's
'Brief Interviews with Hideous Men'. This
collection of short stories captures the moments
when various hideous people, or villains, reveal
their vulnerability through a big speech
explaining why they are who they are. I love the
entertainment value and find it an interesting
read.

Ryan J. Salva
VP Product
50.
'Switch' by Chip and Dan Heath: This book is
about change and how to change things when
change is hard. It is fascinating because it
offers a unique perspective on managing
change in both personal and professional
aspects of life. '

2nd
Mention

Shishir Mehrotra
Co-Founder & CEO
51.
'Understanding Comics' by Scott McCloud: This is a
surprising pick, but it's a comic book about comic books,
and you don't have to be a fan of comic books to love it. The
starting point is that communication has drifted to two
extremes over time: written form and single pieces of art.
Comics are a hybrid that combines drawing with writing. This
book is thought-provoking and teaches about the art of
storytelling and diagramming, which is critical for many
aspects of life.

Shishir Mehrotra
Co-Founder & CEO
52.
I absolutely love 'Radical Candor' because it
provides valuable insights into management
and best practices for giving feedback. It's a
book we often give out to our customers, and
it's essential for anyone looking to improve
their management skills.

Barbra Gago
Marketing Executive (ex)
53.
'The Art of War' is another favorite of mine. This
classic text offers a wealth of knowledge on
strategy and tactics. It's not just for military
enthusiasts; the principles in the book can be
applied to various aspects of life, including
business and personal growth.

Barbra Gago
Marketing Executive (ex)
54.
Lastly, 'Kafka on the Shore' is a captivating novel
by Haruki Murakami. This book is not work-
related, but it's one of my favorites because of
the enchanting storytelling and the way it
explores the complexities of the human psyche. I
highly recommend it to anyone looking for a
thought-provoking and engaging read.

Barbra Gago
Marketing Executive (ex)
55.
The books I recommend most to other people are 'Bird by
Bird: Instructions on Writing and Life' by Anne Lamott and
Claire's book 'Scaling People'. 'Bird by Bird' is a
touching and insightful book that offers valuable advice
on writing and life. Product managers should be great
writers, and this book has significantly impacted me in
that regard. Anne Lamott's writing is incredible, and I
can't recommend it enough.

Eeke de Milliano
Product Leader (ex)
56.
'Mindfulness' in Plain English' is a great book
to help readers develop a deeper
understanding of mindfulness and meditation.

Upasna Gautam
Product Leader
57.
'How to Win Friends and Influence People'
had a significant impact on my communication
skills. My dad forced me to read it when I was
10 years old, and it helped me become the
communicator I am today.

Upasna Gautam
Product Leader
58.
'The 100% Solution' by Solomon Goldstein-Rose. I often
recommend this book to people concerned about climate
change but feel overwhelmed or unsure about what to do.
Unlike some books that focus on the bleak side of the
issue, 'The 100% Solution' provides an optimistic and
detailed look at the various solutions available to address
climate change. It's essential for anyone who wants to
understand how we can tackle this global problem with a
sense of hope and determination.

Gustaf Alströmer
Partner
59.
Another book I highly recommend is 'Sapiens: A Brief
History of Humankind' by Yuval Noah Harari. This book
offers a fascinating exploration of the history of our species,
from the emergence of Homo sapiens in Africa to the
present day. Harari delves into the key factors driving
human progress and examines our current place. It is an
eye-opening and thought-provoking read that helps us
better understand ourselves and our world.

2nd
Mention

Gustaf Alströmer
Partner
60.
I recommend 'Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build
the Future' by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters. As someone
involved in the startup world, this book is incredibly insightful
regarding building successful businesses and fostering
innovation. Thiel shares his wisdom on creating value
worldwide, identifying untapped markets, and thinking
differently about competition. I often suggest this book to
aspiring entrepreneurs and those interested in learning about
the unique perspectives that have shaped successful startups.

Gustaf Alströmer
Partner
61.
My number one book recommendation for
product managers is 'The Hard Thing About
Hard Things' by Ben Horowitz. It's a great
book because it teaches product managers to
embrace leadership's difficult decisions and
challenges and prioritize outcomes over
everything else.

3nd
Mention

Josh Miller
CEO
62.

LET'S SPLIT THOSE BOOKS INTO

CATEGORIES

Personal Development (1)

Business (2)

Psychology & Design (3)

Product Management (4)

Leadership & Startups (5)

Communication (6)

Org change & Scaling (7)

Science & Technology(8)

History (9)

Fiction (10)
63.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT (1)

Books that focus on self-improvement and
personal growth.

Fast track your Product career!

64.

BUSINESS (2)
Books related to business strategies, and
management techniques.

Fast track your Product career!

65.

PSYCHOLOGY & DESIGN (3)

Books focus on psychology, design, creativity,
and the artistic process.

Fast track your Product career!

66.

PRODUCT MANAGEMENT (4)

Books specifically focus on product
management topics.

Fast track your Product career!

67.

LEADERSHIP & STARTUPS (5)

Books that offer insights, inspiration, and advice
on leadership and building and growing
businesses and startups.

Fast track your Product career!

68.

COMMUNICATION (6)
Books that teach communication skills, and
interpersonal relationships.

Fast track your Product career!

69.

ORG CHANGE & SCALING (7)

Books that discuss how to manage org changes
and scale teams and companies.

Fast track your Product career!

70.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (8)

Books related to science, technology, and their
impact on society.

Fast track your Product career!

71.

HISTORY (9)
Books that explore historical events, figures, or
the history of humankind.

Fast track your Product career!

72.

FICTION (10)
Novels, stories, or works of fiction that explore
various themes and subjects.

Fast track your Product career!

73.

WHAT TO START WITH?

5 BOOKS TO START WITH:

I believe that we are first and foremost in a people

business. Hence before we invest in building outstanding
road maps. I suggest focusing on better understanding
users’ psychology, creating relationships, building
empowered teams, sharpening communication skills, and
understanding how the startup game is played.

Fast track your Product career!

74.

COMING NEXT:
Repost to your
network.
Empower others through
knowledge.

Fast track your Product career!