The Innovator's Solution

If you are a small or mid-sized business and you want growth you have to read this book. Christenson unveils the playbook for creating markets and taking on bigger competition. His observations are a core part of the philosophy i am using as I grow Imagine.

If you are trying to create demand instead of merely fulfilling it - read this book.

The Support Economy

If you are trying to put words to your feelings about what customer's really want, or if you are trying to figure out what they want, this is the book to read. Zuboff clearly demonstrates that the ways of the industrial revolution are no longer effective and gives guidance to what the new world will look like. This is another book that underlies the foundation of Imagine.

WARNING: I found the first two parts excellent and the third part not very useful (frankly I stopped reading about 1/3 of the way through the third section).

The Path of Least Resistance for Managers

This was another eye opener for me. I learned why some people make progress and others don't.

If you are responsible for results in your organization you cannot miss this book.

First, Break All The Rules

I'm a big Marcus Buckingham fan. He has reached that level for me where if he comes out with a book, I read it.

This book is a real eye opener and desk reference for anyone who has to manage people. Buckingham takes away the myth and the mystery. Better yet, I've seen the ideas in this book change companies.

Moneyball

This would also make my best sports books list. Michael Lewis is always interesting, he presents a great story and he gives a lesson that every person in business (and life for that matter) needs to know: the advantages come from the unknown, unheralded parts of the world.

The World is Flat

If you don't want to be commoditized read this book.

If you want to take advantage of commoditization, read this book.

Freakonomics

I almost change my major from business because economics classes and I didn't get along well. I find most economics work to be interesting, but not particularly useful to growth issues.

This book is different. This book helps you understand that it is the hidden incentives that every action creates that drives results. If you want to understand why apparently weird things happen in business, read this book.

The Art of Possibility

Truth be told, I used to be a fan of motivational books. I now find virtually all of them trite and not particularly useful to real people trying to do the real work of growing businesses. This book, while motivational, is very useful to anyone. I highly recommend it.