Business Book Roundup 2024: The Good, The Meh, and The DNF
Table of Contents Show
Looking back at my 2024 reading list is slightly overwhelming - I read (or tried to read) so many business books this year. Some I loved, some weren't for me, and some are still sitting untouched on my Kindle making me feel guilty.
Here's my totally subjective, slightly chaotic rundown of some business books I read this year. No particular order, just my honest thoughts.
$100M Offers: How To Make Offers So Good People Feel Stupid Saying No by Alex Hormozi
I was really skeptical about this one at first—the title alone made me think it would be too bro-marketing for my taste, and yes, there's definitely some of that energy throughout. But I found myself surprisingly engaged by some of the concepts. This book provides a step-by-step guide on creating compelling offers that customers find irresistible. Hormozi shares insights on pricing, value propositions, and sales strategies to help entrepreneurs scale their businesses effectively.
“The only thing that beats free is fast.”
7/10
Making Numbers Count: The Art and Science of Communicating Numbers by Chip Heath & Karla Starr
This book changed how I think about numbers. Their example comparing a million seconds (12 days) to a billion seconds (32 years) literally made me gasp. I definitely screenshot that one! I'd never thought about scale quite like that before. I found myself thinking differently about how to explain numbers after reading this one.
"If you want to help people understand quickly, define your new concept in terms of something your audience already knows."
8/10
The Mom Test: How to Talk to Customers & Learn If Your Business is a Good Idea When Everyone is Lying to You by Rob Fitzpatrick
I loved this one. This book teaches entrepreneurs how to effectively validate business ideas through customer conversations. It emphasizes asking the right questions to obtain honest and valuable feedback. Rather than just talking about asking better questions, Fitzpatrick dives into why we often get misleading feedback (mostly because people are too nice to tell us our ideas aren't great).
"It's not about your idea; it's about their problems."
8/10
The Middle Finger Project: Trash Your Imposter Syndrome and Live the Unf*ckwithable Life You Deserve by Ash Ambirge
This isn't just another "girl boss" book. Ambirge writes with raw honesty about building a business while dealing with self-doubt, and I found her approach refreshing. It felt like getting advice from a smart friend who's been there and isn't afraid to tell you the messy parts.
“Success doesn’t come simply because you’ve made one bold decision, it comes when you’ve made 1000.”
7/10
The Power of Consistency: Prosperity Mindset Training for Sales and Business Professionals by Weldon Long
This book surprised me so much that I've read it twice now (once last year, and again this year). While I suspect the author and I would disagree on many things, his insights about consistency really resonated with me. This book emphasizes the importance of consistent actions and a positive mindset in achieving professional success. Long shares his personal journey and strategies for aligning thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors with goals.
"Surprise yourself with the audacity of your dreams. Create an exceptional life."
9/10
Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential by Tiago Forte
I didn't implement everything from this book (who does?), but the parts I did try really helped me organize my digital life. His PARA method (Projects, Areas, Resources, Archives) helped me finally make sense of my Google Drive AND my email management. I particularly liked his concept of "progressive summarization" - it changed how I think about note-taking.
"Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them."
7/10
The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness by Morgan Housel
This book took me almost a year to finish (due to library holds, not to my own interest), but I'm so glad I stuck with it. What I loved most was how Housel uses stories to explain complex ideas. The chapter about luck versus skill in financial success really changed my perspective. I especially enjoyed his focus on how our behavior with money matters more than technical knowledge.
“The highest form of wealth is the ability to wake up every morning and say, 'I can do whatever I want today.'“
9/10
Same as Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes by Morgan Housel
After enjoying "Psychology of Money," I was excited to read this one, and it didn't disappoint. While his first book focused on money, this one looks at patterns that repeat throughout history. Housel explores the constants of human nature and decision-making across time. He argues that understanding what stays the same can help us make better choices in an ever-changing world. I found myself highlighting so many passages, especially in the chapter about how progress happens too slowly to notice, but setbacks happen too quickly to ignore.
"We are very good at predicting the future, except for the surprises—which tend to be all that matter."
10/10
📖 Currently Reading:
→ Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
I just started this one, and I'm already intrigued by Burkeman's take on productivity. A philosophical take on time management that confronts the reality of our limited lifespan (roughly 4,000 weeks), Burkeman encourages focusing on what truly matters and letting go of perfectionism.
"The average human lifespan is absurdly, terrifyingly, insultingly short."
🚫 Did Not Finish:
The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage Into Self-Mastery by Brianna Wiest
I didn't finish this one. While I can see how it might be helpful for someone just starting their business journey, it felt a bit surface-level to me - like reading through inspirational Instagram quotes.
Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant by W. Chan Kim & Renée Mauborgne
Another one I didn't finish. The core idea is interesting - creating new market space rather than competing in existing ones - but the writing style just wasn't for me.
What stands out to me after looking at this list is how my favorite reads weren't necessarily the ones I expected.
The "bro marketing" book had some good insights, the consistency book I thought I'd hate became a twice-read favorite, and Morgan Housel somehow got me to willingly read about both money and history (and love it).
