Product management books to read this summer and beyond

As we settle into the summer period and the second half of the year, it is the perfect time to dive into product management books that can help build your skills and broaden your understanding of the product craft. Some of these books are hot off the press, being released just this year, whilst others are recommendations from the product community. Let's dive right into this list!

In ‘TRANSFORMED’, Marty Cagan explores the journey of moving to a product operating model. Cagan, a renowned product management expert, delves into the transformation process of organisations, emphasising the importance of adopting a product-centric approach. This book is for anyone looking to understand the dynamics of effective product teams and the steps to successfully transition into a product operating model.

Released on 9 July 2024, ‘Aligned’ addresses the critical aspect of stakeholder management for product leaders. The book provides practical strategies for engaging and managing stakeholders effectively, ensuring that product leaders can align diverse interests and drive their projects to success. This guide is invaluable for those looking to enhance their leadership and communication skills within product.

A former FBI hostage negotiator, Chris Voss, brings his negotiation expertise to the business world in "Never Split the Difference." This book is particularly useful for product managers who deal with stakeholders. It offers techniques to achieve successful negotiations without compromising on key aspects. His insights can help product managers navigate complex discussions and reach mutually beneficial agreements.

‘Belong’ by Radha Agrawal is a heartfelt exploration of creating meaningful community connections. Although not exclusively about product management, the principles of fostering a sense of belonging and community can be highly applicable to building strong, cohesive product teams. Radha’s book is a reminder of the importance of human connection in any collaborative effort.

David Pereira’s "Untrapping Product Teams" tackles common pitfalls that product teams face and provides actionable solutions to overcome them. Pereira’s experience as a product leader shines through as he offers insights into working on or with product teams. It lays out leading best practices, combined with “secret ingredients” crafted by the author based on years of experience. Learn what makes or breaks product teams so you are ready to do what it takes to thrive with digital products.

For those interested in the intersection of design and artificial intelligence, "(Libro Diseño Artificial)" by Gustavo Soto Miño offers a fascinating exploration of AI's transformative impact on various design disciplines. Written in Spanish, this book provides valuable insights into AI in design and offers an opportunity to brush up on your language skills. 

Radhika Dutt’s ‘Radical Product Thinking’ presents a new mindset for smarter innovation. This book challenges traditional approaches to product development and encourages a more strategic, vision-driven method. Dutt’s framework is designed to help product leaders innovate with purpose and create impactful products. Radhika will also be speaking at Pendomium this fall! Check out the full agenda here.

Jeremy Kahn’s "Mastering AI" is an essential read for anyone looking to understand the future of artificial intelligence and its implications. This survival guide provides a comprehensive overview of AI technologies and offers practical advice on navigating this rapidly evolving landscape. His insights are crucial for product managers aiming to leverage AI in their projects.

‘Product Team Coach’ by Jordan Collier is a guide that breaks down barriers and provides a clearer understanding of what it takes to create and run successful products. Unlike many books that adhere to specific Agile or iterative methodologies, this book focuses on the outcomes of team collaboration. Jordan, a seasoned product specialist, shares his extensive experience working with Fortune 100 companies and training individuals in product team roles. 

This book is a valuable resource for leaders seeking a framework to deliver value through empowered teams and adapt to evolving business priorities and market needs.

‘Product Management for Product-Led Growth’ by Oji Udezue and Ezinne Udezue is a playbook for product leaders, product managers, and executives aiming to build faster, better, and more profitably through Product-Led Growth (PLG). Oji and Ezinee bring decades of collective product experience from working with some of the world's largest and fastest-growing companies, including Calendly, Procore, Time Inc., Atlassian, and Microsoft. This book demystifies PLG and provides practical strategies for leveraging this approach to create successful products.

This book by Matt Lerner, Founder & CEO of SYSTM delves into a process to help find your startup’s big growth levers. Despite not being solely focused on the product management craft, this book offers some useful tips to grow a startup from 0 to 1.

Last but certainly not least is Co-Intelligence by thought leader Ethan Mollick. In his book, Ethan urges us to engage with AI as co-worker, co-teacher, and coach. He assesses its profound impact on business and education, using dozens of real-time examples of AI in action. 

Have you read any books that have significantly impacted your thinking about product management or your work? We’d love to hear your recommendations and thoughts on these books. Share your insights with us in the comments!