Four Books Every Business Student Should Own

Have you seen the name of this book? It’s enough to get any CEO to drop their cocktail in sheer awe over your potential prospect as an employee during a drinks soiree.

“Oh, this old thing?” you’ll say, as you pick his or her martini glass up off the floor, “just a little light reading before bedtime. I’m thinking of writing a similar book myself.” The whole room will be eating from the palm of your hands.

You’ll most likely have heard the phrases ‘competitive advantage’ and ‘sustainable competitive advantage’ being used during your business career. Well, these were both coined by Michael E Porter in this book, considered one of the top business books ever written. If you want to understand the roots of competition and how to deal with competition, this is the book for you.

He penned another book too, called Competitive Strategy, which is the partner to this publication, albeit with a far less impressive name. As such, this can be confined to the bookshelf for reference if somebody asks you whether you have Porter’s set of books. “Why yes, Mr/Ms Influential CEO, I do indeed. Let me lead you this way…”

Ladies and gentlemen, I cannot impress upon you enough the importance of featuring this book on prominent display during a networking event with your clients and colleagues. It gives just the right message about you and says all there is to know about your quality of character in the business world – but only when placed strategically next to the roll in the bathroom.

The delight this will provide your guests during an otherwise mundane trip to the bathroom will be worth the mortification of having to actually buy the book yourself. If you’re feeling particularly mischievous, then why not place Russell Brand’s book, Revolution, on standby in the second bathroom, or perhaps among the comedy section of DVDs in the living room? Remember, it’s all about giving out the right message. Just be careful not to leave any copies of these on your actual bookshelves next to readable books; this will cause confusion, convulsions and sadness for all.

The perfect response book to any liberal minded guest who pulled you up over your offensive stunts in the bathroom. This will show your soft side to potential business connections – and is also a cracking read.

The book discusses how large and small business can incorporate philanthropy into their business practices and uses a variety of examples from businesses across the globe. In an age where bankers and business leaders have had their names dragged through the mud by the media in the US and UK, this book will show you have the right forward-thinking attitude in approaching business.

If, on the other hand, you find yourself entertaining a large group of hard-nosed businessmen from the nicotine or adult entertainment industries, then simply fling the book into the bathroom and get your emergency copies of Playboy on standby next to the drinks cabinet and cigars. Phew, that was a close call. Know your audience!