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Unlock PM Success: Top 9 Books for Every Project Manager

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Effective project management is essential for the success of any business or organization. Whether you are a seasoned project manager or just starting out in your career, there is always room for improvement. Reading books on project management is a great way to gain knowledge, skills, and insights from industry experts and thought leaders.

In this list, we have compiled ten must-read books that cover a wide range of project management topics, including Agile principles, communication skills, risk management, and more. Whether you’re looking to enhance your skills or just starting your career in project management, these books are sure to provide valuable insights and strategies for success.

1. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge

A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) by Project Management Institute – This book is the definitive guide to project management processes and best practices. It provides a comprehensive overview of the project management framework, including the 10 knowledge areas and 5 process groups, and is an essential resource for anyone preparing for the PMP certification exam.

A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide)
$69.54

PMBOK Guide is the go-to resource for project management practitioners. The project management profession has significantly evolved due to emerging technology, new approaches and rapid market changes. 

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03/28/2024 11:26 am GMT

2. Project Management for Dummies

Project Management for Dummies by Stanley E. Portny – This beginner’s guide to project management covers the basics of planning, scheduling, budgeting, and execution. It provides practical advice for managing projects of all sizes and includes templates, checklists, and real-world examples.

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Project Management For Dummies
$26.99 $16.50
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03/28/2024 02:42 am GMT
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3. Crucial Conversations

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High” by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler – This book teaches communication skills that are essential for successful project management. It provides strategies for handling difficult conversations, resolving conflicts, and building strong relationships.

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High, Third Edition
$24.00 $18.06

The book that revolutionized business communications has been updated for today’s workplace. Crucial Conversations provides powerful skills to ensure every conversation―especially difficult ones―leads to the results you want. 

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03/28/2024 03:57 am GMT

4. The Agile Samurai

The Agile Samurai: How Agile Masters Deliver Great Software” by Jonathan Rasmusson – This book explores the principles of Agile project management and provides practical strategies for implementation. It covers topics such as user stories, sprint planning, and continuous delivery, and is an excellent resource for anyone interested in Agile development.

The Agile Samurai: How Agile Masters Deliver Great Software
$18.33

The Agile Samurai gives you everything you need to deliver something of value every week and make rolling your software into production a non-event.

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03/28/2024 05:01 am GMT

5. The Lean Startup

The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries – This book provides insights into how Lean principles can be applied to project management and innovation. It introduces the concept of the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and provides strategies for testing and validating ideas quickly and efficiently.

The Lean Startup
$12.00

This book is a must-read for entrepreneurs and business leaders looking to launch a successful startup.

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03/28/2024 10:55 pm GMT

6. Critical Chain: A Business Novel

Critical Chain –  A Business Novel by Eliyahu M. Goldratt – This novel uses a fictional story to explore the concepts of critical chain project management. It introduces the idea of using buffers to manage project uncertainty and provides practical strategies for improving project performance.

Critical Chain: A Business Novel
$13.83

Powerful yet simple techniques to solve project management's toughest problems. This book teaches companies to drastically cut project development times resulting in early completion within budget and without compromising quality or specifications.

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03/28/2024 05:01 am GMT

7. The Project Management Book

The Project Management Book: How to Manage Your Projects To Deliver Outstanding Results by Richard Newton – This book covers the fundamentals of project management and offers practical guidance for delivering successful projects. It includes templates, checklists, and case studies, and provides a step-by-step approach for planning, executing, and controlling projects.

Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager: A FranklinCovey Title
$12.99

Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager offers practical, real-world insights for effective project management and guides you through the essentials of the people and project management process.

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03/28/2024 05:01 am GMT

8. Making Things Happen

Making Things Happen: Mastering Project Management is a book by Scott Berkun that offers practical insights and strategies for managing projects effectively, covering topics such as team building, project planning, and risk management. The book draws on the author’s extensive experience as a project manager at Microsoft and includes real-world examples, case studies, and actionable tips for both novice and experienced project managers.

Making Things Happen: Mastering Project Management
$28.99

Based on his nine years of experience as a program manager for Internet Explorer, and lead program manager for Windows and MSN, Berkun explains to technical and non-technical readers alike what it takes to get through a large software or web development project.

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03/28/2024 05:07 am GMT

9. Project Management

Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling by Harold R. Kerzner – This book covers the principles and practices of project management, including risk management, team building, and resource allocation. It provides a comprehensive overview of the project management process and is an excellent resource for both new and experienced project managers.

Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling

Project Management, or the “Project Management bible” as it’s widely known, provides practical guidance on all aspects of project management. It features a streamlined approach to PM functions.

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By reading these nine must-read books on project management, you can gain a wealth of knowledge, skills, and insights that can help you excel in your career. From the fundamentals of project management to the latest techniques and best practices, these books cover a wide range of topics and provide practical advice that you can apply to your work.

Whether you are looking to improve your communication skills, gain a better understanding of Agile principles, or learn how to manage complex projects, these books can help you achieve your goals and succeed in your career. So, start reading and take the first step towards project management success!

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