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2020 Business Book Reading List Reviews

Here are my 2020 business book reading list reviews!

Here are my 2020 business book reading list reviews!

At the end of 2019 I made the goal to read one business book per month in 2020. I researched dozens of great books and received countless recommendations, and from there I chose 12 and assigned them to a month. I made a pretty graphic for it in Canva and I was so excited to follow my carefully planned year of reading.

Like most things this year, it didn’t go as planned.

The library shut down in March so I couldn’t check out the books I wanted, and the ones I needed from another town were a lockdown away.

Instead of getting upset, I got excited, because I decided to finally read all the books I own that I’ve never opened (guess how many books I own – I bet you can’t!).

During the beginning of quarantine, I made the goal of reading an additional 40 pleasure books in 2020, rounding out my total to 52 (the other 12 being the monthly business books).

I went though piles of books in my room, and when the libraries reopened I grabbed whatever business book I could from my list. They ended up being completely out of order, but I read them exactly when I needed them this year. Funny how the world works out like that.

As of Dec 21st, the day I’m publishing this blog post, I’m almost done with my 39th pleasure book of the year and my 10th business book. Although I doubt I’ll fully meet my goal (but it’s not out of the question if I’m being honest), I am so extremely proud of myself. I haven’t read this many books in YEARS, maybe ever, and I’ve found so much joy in reading again.

My 2020 Business Book Reading List

Here’s my list of the business books I got to read this year. I included a short summary and my biggest takeaway from each. I learned so much this year from these pages, and I’m so happy to share it all with you. At the bottom, I also included my 2021 business book reading list if you’d like to follow along with me next year!

Happy reading!

P.S. If you’d like to support both of us, I’m trying out the Amazon Affiliates program, so if you click any of these links and buy the book you’ll be supporting me and making your business better than ever! Thank you!!

The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

I’ve heard so many great things about Dave Ramsey and his books, so I wanted to start 2020 right with some financial advice. I was about to take on student loans to pay for grad school, and I wanted to have a plan before it ever happened. Thanks to this book (and other Dave Ramsey teachings that I immediately looked up), I’ve created an emergency fund, a plan for paying back my loans, a bucket system for planning my finances, and a much better idea of how to handle my money. I’ve never been taught how to deal with something like this, so it was a wonderful read from a man who understands how uncomfortable and difficult the topic could be.

Biggest takeaway: “If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else.”

Get it here!

I've heard so many great things about Dave Ramsey and his books, so I wanted to start 2020 right with some financial advice. I was about to take on student loans to pay for grad school, and I wanted to have a plan before it ever happened. Thanks to this book (and other Dave Ramsey teachings that I immediately looked up), I've created an emergency fund, a plan for paying back my loans, a bucket system for planning my finances, and a much better idea of how to handle my money. I've never been taught how to deal with something like this, so it was a wonderful read from a man who understands how uncomfortable and difficult the topic could be. Biggest takeaway: "If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else."

The E-Myth Revisted by Michael Gerber

This man is a genius. The whole first half of the book is Gerber dispelling all the myths about what business owners think they’re doing with their businesses and telling you how to make your business work for you and not the other way around. The whole second half walks you through a process of developing the perfectly efficient, effective, and engaging business possible. Specifically, there are 7 steps that Gerber created to do this. I wrote pages of notes that really helped me understand my business now and in the future.

Biggest takeaway: Work on your business, not in it

Get it here!

This man is a genius. The whole first half of the book is Gerber dispelling all the myths about what business owners think they're doing with their businesses and telling you how to make your business work for you and not the other way around. The whole second half walks you through a process of developing the perfectly efficient, effective, and engaging business possible. Specifically, there are 7 steps that Gerber created to do this. I wrote pages of notes that really helped me understand my business now and in the future. Biggest takeaway: Work on your business, not in it

This is Marketing by Seth Godin

Lots of big takeaways from this book that are vital to your marketing plan. I will admit that sometimes Godin talks in big words and concepts and sometimes I had to reread a section to understand it, but the whole book is separated into manageable sections. He explains concepts like how people are motivated to share about businesses, what we can do to make that happen, and how our businesses can be shaped so that they do the best they can with our customers.

Biggest takeaway: People are driven by emotions and stories

Get it here!

Lots of big takeaways from this book that are vital to your marketing plan. I will admit that sometimes Godin talks in big words and concepts and sometimes I had to reread a section to understand it, but the whole book is separated into manageable sections. He explains concepts like how people are motivated to share about businesses, what we can do to make that happen, and how our businesses can be shaped so that they do the best they can with our customers. Biggest takeaway: People are driven by emotions and stories

Tribes by Seth Godin

This was a super short read, but I honestly felt like I’d already read it because the people I follow quote it so much. The concepts are super applicable to every industry, and I was able to pull a few gems out of it. If you’re unfamiliar, I highly recommend! The ideas he talks about can be implemented into any business.

Biggest takeaway: Give your audience the chance to connect with each other and to you

Get it here!

This was a super short read, but I honestly felt like I'd already read it because the people I follow quote it so much. The concepts are super applicable to every industry, and I was able to pull a few gems out of it. If you're unfamiliar, I highly recommend! The ideas he talks about can be implemented into any business. Biggest takeaway: Give your audience the chance to connect with each other and to you

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

I’m not big into inspirational books, so I’m surprised that I LOVED this one. It completely changed the way I see creativity and how I can move forward with my art and business. It was a super fast read and very entertaining! It’s all about how creativity lives within each of us and how we can use it to fill out lives.

Biggest takeaway: When creativity strikes, let it guide you, but if you need to let it go, be happy it will find someone else to give it life

Get it here!

I'm not big into inspirational books, so I'm surprised that I LOVED this one. It completely changed the way I see creativity and how I can move forward with my art and business. It was a super fast read and very entertaining! It's all about how creativity lives within each of us and how we can use it to fill out lives. Biggest takeaway: When creativity strikes, let it guide you, but if you need to let it go, be happy it will find someone else to give it life

168 Hours by Laura Vanderkam

I’m obsessed with productivity and how to make the most out of life. A lot of what Vanderkam talks about in this book is stuff I’ve figured out over the years, so it was exciting to read about it! I tore through this book like crazy because I loved reading about all the efficiency hacks in businesses and home life. I can’t wait to outsource everything!

Biggest takeaway: Track your time for a week and see where you can cut back, be more efficient, or outsource

Get it here!

I'm obsessed with productivity and how to make the most out of life. A lot of what Vanderkam talks about in this book is stuff I've figured out over the years, so it was exciting to read about it! I tore through this book like crazy because I loved reading about all the efficiency hacks in businesses and home life. I can't wait to outsource everything! Biggest takeaway: Track your time for a week and see where you can cut back, be more efficient, or outsource

Launch by Jeff Walker

This is one of the best business books I’ve ever read. It’s all about how to launch an online product using Walker’s formula and how to turn that into a productive and life-changing online business. I’m so happy I was able to go through most of Amy Porterfield’s Digital Course Academy before reading this book because I would have been overwhelmed. A lot of the content is similar, but Walker really knows how to create an amazing launch, all the way from the smallest product to multi-million dollar launches.

Biggest takeaway: Literally too many to count. Biggest takeaway might be to buy it and read it every year haha! I can’t wait to implement the seed launch!

Get it here!

This is one of the best business books I've ever read. It's all about how to launch an online product using Walker's formula and how to turn that into a productive and life-changing online business. I'm so happy I was able to go through most of Amy Porterfield's Digital Course Academy before reading this book because I would have been overwhelmed. A lot of the content is similar, but Walker really knows how to create an amazing launch, all the way from the smallest product to multi-million dollar launches.

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

This classic has been on my list for years but I’ve never gotten around to it. It’s super easy to read, entertaining, and thought-provoking. Carnegie really knows how to tell a tale, and he fills it with so much information that it’s astounding. I could only read a chapter or two at a time so I could have time to process all the goodness he was telling us. He really knows how to explain human nature.

Biggest takeaway: Give others your full attention and interest and they will remember you

Get it here!

This classic has been on my list for years but I've never gotten around to it. It's super easy to read, entertaining, and thought-provoking. Carnegie really knows how to tell a tale, and he fills it with so much information that it's astounding. I could only read a chapter or two at a time so I could have time to process all the goodness he was telling us. He really knows how to explain human nature. Biggest takeaway: Give others your full attention and interest and they will remember you

Quitter by Jonathan Acuff

This is a book about quitting your day job to pursue your passion, but 90% is explaining why you need to wait. Not waiting because you can’t do it, but because you can succeed if you do it right. I really needed the chapter about “falling in like with your day job.” You don’t have to love it, but you should like it for what it does for you and your dream.

Right now I don’t love grad school (that’s putting it lightly), but this book forced me to look at it in a new light. My classes are teaching me skills I can apply to future ideas and are giving me the time to work on my dream life, and they’re giving me the human interaction I wouldn’t have otherwise. This book wasn’t at all what I thought it would be, but I really liked it and what it did for me. It was a quick read, funny, and filled with good points and memorable stories.

Biggest takeaway: Your day job may seem like the worst thing in the world right now, but take a moment to look at the good it’s doing for you and appreciate it so you can quit when you’re more than ready

Get it here!

This is a book about quitting your day job to pursue your passion, but 90% is explaining why you need to wait. Not waiting because you can't do it, but because you can succeed if you do it right. I really needed the chapter about "falling in like with your day job." You don't have to love it, but you should like it for what it does for you and your dream. Right now I don't love grad school (that's putting it lightly), but this book forced me to look at it in a new light. My classes are teaching me skills I can apply to future ideas and are giving me the time to work on my dream life, and they're giving me the human interaction I wouldn't have otherwise. This book wasn't at all what I thought it would be, but I really liked it and what it did for me. It was a quick read, funny, and filled with good points and memorable stories. Biggest takeaway: Your day job may seem like the worst thing in the world right now, but take a moment to look at the good it's doing for you and appreciate it so you can quit when you're more than ready

And those are my 2020 business book reading list reviews! Scroll down to see my list for next year!

My 2021 Business Book Reading List

Follow along!

Building a Storybrand by Donald Miller

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Deep Work by Cal Newport

Essentialism by Greg McKeown

Daring Greatly by Brene Brown

The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss

The Go-Giver by Bob Burg

Crushing It by Gary Vaynerchuk

Clockwork by Mike Michalowicz

Rework by Jason Fried

You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

Follow along with my 2021 business book reading list!

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