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Most read Business & Economics books

These are the Business & Economics books most read by Seekquel members, ranked by real reading activity across 43 titles, not scraped popularity.

Based on Seekquel member reading activity. Updated weekly.

  1. Atomic HabitsJames Clear · 2018
    Community rating: 4.04 out of 5

    This book explores how small, incremental changes can lead to remarkable results in personal and professional life. It offers practical strategies for building good habits, breaking bad ones, and mastering the tiny behaviors that shape who you are. Discover how to make big improvements by focusing on atomic habits.

  2. How to Win Friends and Influence PeopleDale Carnegie · 1936
    Community rating: 4.01 out of 5

    Carnegie's classroom-tested habits for dealing with people: how to criticize without breeding resentment, win agreement without arguing, and correct staff without humiliating them. Four parts, each built on short, concrete stories.

  3. QuietSusan Cain · 2012Quiet #1
    Community rating: 4.19 out of 5

    Susan Cain's "Quiet" delves into the power of introverts in a world that often undervalues their contributions. Through research and real-life stories, Cain argues that introversion is a strength, not a weakness. The book challenges societal norms and encourages a deeper understanding of different personality types.

  4. The Art of WarSun Tzu · 500 BCE
    Community rating: 3.9 out of 5

    Discover the ancient wisdom of Sun Tzu's "The Art of War." This foundational text offers enduring strategies for conflict and leadership, focusing on meticulous planning and understanding your adversary. It remains a vital read for anyone seeking to master strategy, whether in military affairs or modern business.

    • mentor figure
  5. Who Moved My Cheese?Spencer Johnson · 1998Who Moved My Cheese? #1
    Community rating: 3.65 out of 5

    Four creatures share a maze and a daily supply of cheese, until one morning it vanishes. Two mice go looking at once. Two little people wait, blame each other and starve, until one of them has to step into the maze alone.

  6. Thinking, Fast and SlowDaniel Kahneman · 2011
    Community rating: 3.48 out of 5

    Explore the two distinct systems that shape human thought: the rapid, intuitive System 1 and the deliberate, logical System 2. Through engaging examples, this book reveals the extraordinary power of quick thinking, the influence of emotion on our choices, and the pitfalls of cognitive biases. Learn when to trust your intuition and when to engage in deeper reflection, gaining practical insights for both personal and professional life.

  7. Steve JobsWalter Isaacson · 2011
    Community rating: 4.17 out of 5

    Walter Isaacson's authorized biography of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, drawn from years of interviews with Jobs and those around him. It traces his rise, exile, and return, the products that reshaped whole industries, and the mercurial, perfectionist personality—and its cost—behind them.

  8. Careless PeopleSarah Wynn-Williams · 2025
    Community rating: 3.94 out of 5

    This searing memoir exposes the personal and political fallout when unfettered power and a rotten company culture take hold. Sarah Wynn-Williams shares her experiences within Facebook, from its early rise to Mark Zuckerberg’s reaction to its role in Trump’s election, alongside the challenges of working motherhood in a high-pressure environment. It offers an eye-opening look at the global elite and how the leaders of Facebook became less responsible as they gained more power. Told in a sharp, candid voice, this book reveals why and how things have gone so horribly wrong in the past decade.

    • morally grey
    • betrayal
  9. Rich Dad Poor DadRobert T. Kiyosaki, Sharon L. Lechter · 2002Rich Dad #1
    Community rating: 3.73 out of 5

    Learn the financial secrets that have made 'Rich Dad Poor Dad' a bestseller for over two decades. This guide challenges common money advice, stressing the importance of financial literacy and acquiring assets. It's essential reading for anyone aiming to build wealth and achieve financial independence.

    • mentor figure
  10. The Psychology of MoneyMorgan Housel · 2020
    Community rating: 4.22 out of 5

    A Vermont janitor leaves behind more than eight million dollars while a Harvard-trained finance executive goes bankrupt. Morgan Housel uses nineteen short stories to show that behavior and patience, not brains, decide who does well with money.

  11. The 48 Laws of PowerRobert Greene · 1999
    Community rating: 3.84 out of 5

    Explore the timeless strategies of power and influence with Robert Greene's essential guide. This book draws on historical examples and philosophical insights to teach you how to navigate social dynamics and achieve your goals. Understand the hidden rules of human interaction and master the art of power.

  12. FreakonomicsStephen J. Dubner, Steven D. Levitt · 2005Freakonomics #1
    Community rating: 3.93 out of 5

    Economist Steven D. Levitt and journalist Stephen J. Dubner turn economic tools loose on everyday puzzles—cheating sumo wrestlers, the finances of a crack gang, what really matters in parenting, and why crime fell in the 1990s. A playful, data-driven, myth-busting look at the hidden incentives that shape human behavior.

  13. Bad BloodJohn Carreyrou · 2018
    Community rating: 4.11 out of 5

    Theranos promised hundreds of tests from one drop of blood and reached a $9 billion valuation. Behind the claim, the technology failed, employees were threatened into silence, and patients relied on faulty results.

    • morally grey
    • betrayal
  14. Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted WorldCal Newport · 2016
    Community rating: 3.62 out of 5

    Deep work — the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task — is becoming both increasingly rare and increasingly valuable, argues computer scientist Cal Newport. As the economy rewards those who can learn hard things quickly and produce at an elite level, the capacity for sustained concentration has become a kind of superpower. Yet most knowledge workers have lost it, fragmenting their days across email, meetings, and social media. The book unfolds in two parts. The first makes the case that deep work is valuable, rare, and meaningful, drawing on neuroscience, psychology, and the working habits of figures from Carl Jung to Bill Gates. The second lays out a practical training program built on four rules: work deeply, embrace boredom, quit social media, and drain the shallows from your schedule. Part manifesto and part how-to, Deep Work offers concrete disciplines for reclaiming concentration in a distracted world, alongside a broader argument that a focused life is not only more productive but more fulfilling.

  15. Outliers: The Story of SuccessMalcolm Gladwell · 2008
    Community rating: 3.72 out of 5

    Malcolm Gladwell challenges conventional ideas about success, arguing that extreme overachievement is not solely due to individual genius. He examines various high achievers, from rock stars to scientists, to reveal the surprising factors that contribute to their extraordinary accomplishments. This book suggests that background and environment play a significant role in shaping one's path to success, and that no one truly makes it alone. It will change your perspective on personal achievement and what makes each of us unique.

  16. Never Split the DifferenceChris Voss, Tahl Raz · 2016
    Community rating: 3.87 out of 5

    Chris Voss spent twenty-four years in the FBI and rose to become its lead international kidnapping negotiator. Writing with journalist Tahl Raz, he distils nine principles from hostage standoffs into a method for ordinary negotiations — a salary, a house, a rent renewal, an argument at home. His core claim is that people are not rational actors, and that splitting the difference is usually the worst outcome on the table.

  17. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective PeopleStephen R. Covey · 1989
    Community rating: 3.42 out of 5

    Discover the timeless principles that have guided millions toward greater effectiveness. This influential guide offers practical habits for personal and professional success, updated for today's world. Learn how to take control of your life and achieve your goals with clear, actionable strategies.

    • mentor figure
  18. The Power of HabitCharles Duhigg, Helena Hansson · 2012
    Community rating: 4.03 out of 5

    This book dives into the science of habit formation, explaining how our daily routines are built and, crucially, how they can be reshaped. By understanding the underlying patterns, you can unlock significant improvements in both your personal and professional life.

  19. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without ThinkingMalcolm Gladwell · 2005
    Community rating: 3.82 out of 5

    Malcolm Gladwell's 2005 exploration of "thin-slicing" — the fast, unconscious judgments the mind makes in seconds. Drawing on art forgery, speed dating, war games, and the shooting of Amadou Diallo, he shows when snap decisions are startlingly accurate and when bias and stress make them fail.

  20. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying UpMarie Kondo · 2014Magic Cleaning #1
    Community rating: 3.69 out of 5

    Marie Kondo's KonMari Method offers a revolutionary approach to decluttering. Instead of tackling your home room by room, you'll learn to tidy by category, keeping only those items that truly spark joy. This guide promises that a single, focused tidying session can lead to lasting order and a more peaceful state of mind.

  21. The Phoenix ProjectGene Kim, George Spafford, Kevin Behr · 2013The Phoenix Project #1
    Community rating: 4.17 out of 5

    Follow an IT manager with just ninety days to save a failing, over-budget IT initiative known as The Phoenix Project. This business novel explores the world of IT and DevOps, offering insights into how to help a business succeed. It's a story for anyone interested in the challenges and triumphs of modern technology management.

  22. Digital MinimalismCal Newport · 2019
    Community rating: 3.8 out of 5

    The key to living well in a high-tech world is to spend much less time using technology. Cal Newport proposes a minimalist approach: radically reduce online time and focus on a small set of carefully chosen activities.

  23. Daring GreatlyBrené Brown · 2012
    Community rating: 4.02 out of 5

    A research-based argument that embracing vulnerability, rather than armoring against it, is the path to courage, connection, and wholehearted living.

  24. Shoe DogPhil Knight, Victor Cébron de Lisle · 2016
    Community rating: 3.75 out of 5

    Phil Knight's memoir, Shoe Dog, tells the story of how he turned a $50 loan into Nike, a global athletic brand. He shares the early days of importing shoes, the constant financial struggles, and the passionate team that helped build the company. It's an honest account of entrepreneurship and the creation of an icon.

    • found family
    • rivals
  25. Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic FutureAshlee Vance · 2015
    Community rating: 4.14 out of 5

    Before SpaceX and Tesla were secure, a journalist spent thirty hours with Elon Musk and interviewed nearly three hundred others. This unauthorised biography follows him from Pretoria to Silicon Valley and counts the human cost of his demands.

  26. InfluenceRobert B. Cialdini · 1984Influence #1
    Community rating: 3.9 out of 5

    Psychologist Robert Cialdini identifies the six universal principles that make people say 'yes' — reciprocity, commitment, social proof, authority, liking, and scarcity — and shows how to use them ethically and resist manipulation.

  27. Midnight in ChernobylAdam Higginbotham · 2019
    Community rating: 4.03 out of 5

    This book provides a definitive account of the Chernobyl disaster, moving beyond myths to reveal the human stories behind the catastrophe. Journalist Adam Higginbotham spent over a decade interviewing survivors and sifting through declassified documents to reconstruct the events of April 26, 1986. It's a harrowing look at how secrecy and misinformation compounded one of the 20th century's worst technological failures.

    • survival
    • betrayal
  28. Red NoticeBill Browder · 2015
    Community rating: 4.03 out of 5

    Financier Bill Browder made a fortune in post-Soviet Russia — until exposing corruption got him expelled and marked as an enemy of the state. When his lawyer Sergei Magnitsky uncovered a $230 million fraud and was beaten to death in a Moscow prison, Browder became a full-time justice campaigner behind the Magnitsky Act. A true story of high finance, corruption, and murder, told with the pace of a thriller.

  29. Blood, sweat, and pixelsJason Schreier · 2017
    Community rating: 3.69 out of 5

    This book explores the intricate development journeys of major video games like Uncharted 4, Halo Wars, and Destiny. It details the significant challenges and demands inherent in the design and production of these popular titles. Readers gain insight into the often-arduous process behind bringing virtual worlds to life.

  30. Steal Like an Artist 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being CreativeAustin Kleon · 2012
    Community rating: 4.03 out of 5

    Austin Kleon says genius is not required for creative work, only being yourself. Ten lessons from a viral college talk show how to borrow from influences, follow personal interests and make room for daring work, with illustrations and exercises.