Books for the Product Manager Soul

Five years ago, I decided I wanted to be a Product Manager. After three role changes and two failed startups (one failed before I stepped foot in the door), I landed my dream job as a Product Manager @ Netflix.

I don’t have official product training — but it’s rare to meet a PM that has. I learned through my fast paced startups, inspiring mentors and, most importantly, books. I try to read 2+ books about product, tech, design or leadership a month. Some have been helpful, some have not. Here are my personal favorites of books I’ve recently read.

Design / Psychology

• The Design of Everyday Things (5/5): If Hobby Lobby sold Don Norman quotes written on a sunset painting, I would buy it. I’ve been dabbling in graphic design since 7th grade, but it wasn’t until this book that I really saw design from a holistic lens. Even if you are not a UX-focused product manager, this book will do wonders in honing your design instincts. Remember — as a PM, you don’t always need to know why something is designed poorly, but you should know if it is.
• The Elephant in the Brain (4/5): No, you won’t pick up concrete skills that you’ll be able to immediately apply. And no, this is definitely not a handbook of the human brain, nor is it written by psychologists. If human (read: coworkers and customers) behavior is an area of fascination for you, you’ll enjoy this book and gain a newfound perspective of others’ motives.
• Mapping Experiences: A Complete Guide to Customer Alignment through Journeys, Blueprints and Diagrams (3/5)

Leadership

• The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey (5/5): I started managing people 1 year out of college. I was in over my head and *shudders* a micromanager. My manager recommended this book for me, and it changed my life. The book is based on a simple premise: don’t take on work that isn’t yours. It’s easier said than done, but this book uses humor and spot-on imagery to drive the point home. You won’t stop being able to see monkeys everywhere.
• Lean In (2/5): A controversial book that I finally read this year. There were things Sheryl Sandberg got exactly right. When she spoke about the female tendency to credit career success to luck or help from others instead of personal attributes, I immediately knew I was guilty. When people asked me how I got an offer at Netflix with less than 3 years of product experience, I would mumble something like, “I guess I got lucky”. I have resolved to correct this tendency. But her book fell short for me. When it came to addressing true sexism in the workplace — her words and advice felt shallow. Not all women have the privilege of working in a ‘safe’ space and having male coworkers who stand up for them. In the words of Michelle Obama,

“And it’s not always enough to lean in, because that shit doesn’t work all the time.”

• Leaders Eat Last (2/5)
• The Hard Thing About Hard Things (2/5)
• Radical Candor (4/5)
• Product Management’s Sacred Seven (3.5/5)

Product Management / Tech

• INSPIRED: How to Create Products Customers Love (4/5): A classic for a reason. My mentor recommended this, and this was my first book I read after I decided to become a product manager. I continue to recommend it to aspiring product managers. Marty Cagan does a fantastic job painting a picture of what product management actually is. Seasoned product managers — this won’t be as helpful for you. It’s a true foundational book.
• The Lean Startup (3/5): When I first read this book in the beginning of my career, I loved it. For someone who had only worked in the ‘corporate’ world, this book was an eye-opener. I couldn’t believe it — an environment in which you’re encouraged to move fast and break things? Unbelievable. I reread this book recently after my 2.5 failed startups, and it resonated even more.
• Swipe to Unlock (3.5/5)
• Measure What Matters (2/5)
• The Everything Store (3/5)
• Empowered: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Products (4/5)

Currently Reading / Up Next

• No Rules Rule
• Strong Product People: A Complete Guide to Developing Product Managers
• Tribe of Mentors
• Calling Bullshit

Selfishly, I created this blog post because I get so many requests about book recommendations for transitioning into product management or becoming a better PM.

This is a work in progress.