The First 10 Books Every Ambitious MBA Aspirant Should Read

As the founder of Dream Chasers, an IIM alumnus and a mentor to students preparing for CAT and other competitive examinations, I am often asked what students should do while they are in college or just beginning their careers.

One valuable habit is to read long-form articles and books. People who aspire to leadership need to keep learning, and extensive reading is one way to develop that habit. The first books you choose can help make reading an enduring source of interest and growth.

Here are ten books I recommend as a starting point:

1. Wings of Fire: An Autobiography — A. P. J. Abdul Kalam with Arun Tiwari. The life of Dr. Kalam offers lessons in perseverance, vision, science and nation-building.
2. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion — Robert B. Cialdini. Explores the psychological principles behind persuasion, compliance and everyday decisions.
3. The Greatest Salesman in the World — Og Mandino. Uses parables to convey lessons in self-discipline, persistence and ethical success.
4. Man’s Search for Meaning — Viktor E. Frankl. Examines how meaning can support resilience, purpose and psychological survival through suffering.
5. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People — Stephen R. Covey. Presents a principle-centred framework for personal effectiveness, leadership and lasting success.
6. The Art of Thinking Clearly — Rolf Dobelli. Describes common cognitive biases and logical fallacies that can impair sound decisions.
7. The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance — Josh Waitzkin. Shares lessons about mastery and learning drawn from competitive chess and martial arts.
8. The Economic Naturalist: Why Economics Explains Almost Everything — Robert H. Frank. Applies economic reasoning to everyday life and shows how incentives shape behaviour.
9. Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!: Adventures of a Curious Character — Richard P. Feynman. A collection of stories about scientific curiosity, unconventional thinking and intellectual playfulness.
10. Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike — Phil Knight. A candid account of entrepreneurship, risk-taking and building Nike.