Best Business Strategy Books: Essential Reads for MBA Students

When you start an MBA program, a big part of your curriculum will be learning about business strategy and how to make strategic decisions. Effective leaders use business strategy as a roadmap for aligning their departments and employees so everyone works together to achieve organizational objectives.¹

A good business strategy book goes beyond reiterating concepts. It shares the author’s personal insights and gives concrete, real-world examples of how strategy can drive change for businesses.²

This post will explore five of the best books on corporate strategy for MBA students and business leaders.

Although you’ll probably have a good bit of assigned reading for your coursework, reading popular business books can supplement your learning with insights and strategic thinking from the top experts in the world in many specialized areas. These books often condense years of hard-won wisdom into a cohesive narrative that helps drive home your lessons with a new perspective.

It can be hard to choose which books to read from among the thousands published every year. The following list is a good place to start. These books cover several different facets of business strategy while offering valuable insights from diverse perspectives.

Many business strategy textbooks present competitive strategy and tactics for outmaneuvering competitors operating in the same space as you. However, you may find the biggest growth opportunities when you don’t have to compete at all. “Blue Ocean Strategy” focuses on moving beyond the competition by creating a new uncontested market space. Learn how to create a profitable growth strategy that doesn’t rely on market disruption.³

Richard Rumelt has written several books on strategic management. Though not his newest, “Good Strategy Bad Strategy,” does an excellent job of clearly defining strategy and showcasing the difference between good and bad strategies. He breaks down the elements of a good strategy and uses real-world examples to show where business leaders often veer off-course.⁴

Clayton Christensen was a renowned strategist and business professor. This classic book was first published in 1997 and is still relevant for business leaders today. In it, he explains why established businesses miss out on new innovation opportunities. Too often, business leaders cling to previously successful practices when they need to move on. The strategies they used to become successful are the same ones that can lead to their downfall.⁵

This book draws on game theory–an economic model relevant to competitive situations–as the basis for making important decisions in your professional and personal life. The book is a quick, enjoyable read that draws on many pop culture references to drive home its points. The authors point out how business leaders can reduce risk, better understand their competition and make better decisions.⁶

Ben Horowitz, the wildly successful co-founder of the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, doesn’t sugar-coat the difficulties of starting and running a successful business in his book. In this book, Horowitz tells the story of his successes and failures in starting and running his company. Along the way, he explains effective business strategies using both his own and other people’s experiences.⁷

There are business strategy books for every stage of the leadership journey. You’ll get more out of a book if it offers the right type of advice for your career goals and where you are in your career. While you can learn from almost any book, if you see yourself leading an established enterprise with a long history, you might want to pass on strategy books geared toward lean startups.

It’s also a good idea to choose a book that aligns with what you’re studying in your MBA program. Strategy books can help you better understand what you’re learning with your coursework and can give you real-life examples of how you’ll be able to use the principles taught in your classes.⁸

After you finish your MBA, business strategy books will help you be a better leader. In today’s dynamic business environment, you’ll need to continuously learn and grow your skill set to maintain your competitive edge. The global research and thought leadership firm Korn Ferry lists adaptability as one of the most important traits of effective leaders.⁹

Reading about how others have dealt with unexpected changes and difficult situations can help you cultivate adaptability and other important leadership traits in yourself. The business environment is constantly changing, and you need to embrace continuous learning to remain competitive.¹⁰

Seattle University’s Online MBA will equip you with the skills and knowledge to lead today’s complex modern businesses. You’ll learn to drive effective business strategy, identify challenges and opportunities and confidently apply your skills in many different situations.

You can graduate in as little as two and a half years with a cross-functional skillset that will help you stand out from other candidates. Graduates from Seattle University's Albers School of Business and Economics have landed positions with powerful companies in many industries, including Amazon, Boeing, Meta and others.

The rigorous curriculum is taught by experts in the field of business and provides leadership challenges that will help you develop critical thinking, strategic planning, and creative problem-solving skills. These challenges serve as the foundation for your professional growth and will help you thrive in diverse business situations. Reach out to an admissions outreach advisor today to apply.