Building Visionary Products: The Top 17 Books On Product Ownership
As someone deeply immersed in the world of product ownership and inbound marketing, I can attest to the transformative power of a well-curated bookshelf.
Reading the best product ownership books is not just about absorbing information—it's about encountering diverse perspectives, understanding evolving market trends, and refining the skills crucial to steering a product to success.
Trust in this carefully selected list; it reflects both a passion for product ownership and a commitment to the principles of inbound marketing. Take this step, explore these titles, and empower yourself to make impactful, informed decisions in your product ownership journey.
Overview Of 17 Best Product Ownership Books
I've read and chosen these books to address your product ownership challenges:
1. Inspired: How to Create Products Customers Love by Marty Cagan
2. Lean Product and Lean Analytics by Alistair Croll and Benjamin Yoskovitz
3. Escaping the Build Trap by Melissa Perri
4. Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products by Nir Eyal
5. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
6. The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton M. Christensen
7. Product Leadership: How Top Product Managers Launch Awesome Products and Build Successful Teams by Richard Banfield, Martin Eriksson, and Nate Walkingshaw
8. Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink
9. Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey A. Moore
10. The Product Manager's Survival Guide by Steven Haines
11. Strategize: Product Strategy and Product Roadmap Practices for the Digital Age by Roman Pichler
12. The Mom Test: How to Talk to Customers & Learn if Your Business is a Good Idea when Everyone is Lying to You by Rob Fitzpatrick
13. Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days by Jake Knapp
14. Contagious: How to Build Word of Mouth in the Digital Age by Jonah Berger
15. Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability by Steve Krug
16. Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne
17. User Story Mapping: Discover the Whole Story, Build the Right Product by Jeff Patton
Overview Of 17 Best Product Ownership Books
1. Inspired: How to Create Products Customers Love by Marty Cagan
Summary:
"Inspired: How to Create Products Customers Love" dives into the core of what makes product development in top tech companies successful, particularly emphasizing the role of agile software development and scrum methodologies. Marty Cagan, with his extensive experience, showcases how the best product managers, including adept scrum masters, use their expertise in agile product management to create products that not only meet but exceed customer expectations. This book is a unique blend of practical steps, including agile estimating and planning, and insightful stories, offering a window into the strategies used by industry leaders to develop groundbreaking products through scrum and other agile practices.
What You'll Learn:
Readers will learn the nuances of product strategy, ideation, and execution within the highly competitive and fast-paced technology sector. The book covers essential practices for creating a winning product vision, user-centric design thinking, and agile methodologies. It also emphasizes the importance of strong and effective leadership in product teams.
Why You Should Read It:
Inspired is a must-read for those seeking a comprehensive and seasoned perspective on product management. Cagan's firsthand experience provides a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in this role. His recommendations and methodologies are not just theories; they are proven tactics that have led to the creation of some of the most successful products in the technology industry.
About The Author:
Marty Cagan is a seasoned product management professional with over two decades of experience in major tech companies like Hewlett-Packard and Netscape, and as part of the founding executive team of eBay. His deep understanding of product design and development comes from real-world experience, making him a revered voice in the product management community.
2. Lean Product and Lean Analytics by Alistair Croll and Benjamin Yoskovitz
Summary:
"Lean Product and Lean Analytics" is an essential guide focusing on building products that customers love using a data-driven approach, tailored for agile teams working in dynamic environments. The authors, Alistair Croll and Benjamin Yoskovitz, emphasize the lean product process—a methodology that prioritizes customer feedback, rapid iteration, and delivering critical functionality efficiently. Alongside practical insights on project management and professional scrum practices, the book delves into impact mapping, a strategic tool aiding in aligning teams and stakeholders around high-value outcomes. It offers a comprehensive view of how to measure success, implement analytics effectively, and make informed decisions based on data, ensuring the delivery of meaningful results in agile project environments.
What You'll Learn:
This book educates readers on integrating analytics into every stage of the product life cycle, from ideation to launch and beyond. It provides insights into selecting the right metrics, understanding customer behavior, and using data to guide product decisions. Additionally, it offers real-world examples and case studies demonstrating how analytics can be used to improve products continually.
Why You Should Read It:
The detailed yet practical advice makes Lean Product and Lean Analytics a valuable resource for anyone involved in product management or development, especially in an era where data is king. This book is ideal for readers looking to build more customer-focused, data-driven, and iterative approaches to product development.
About The Author:
Alistair Croll is a renowned author, entrepreneur, and public speaker specializing in startups, big data, and online communities. Benjamin Yoskovitz is a startup founder and early-stage investor, focusing on lean startup methodologies and analytics. Their combined expertise offers a rich, authoritative perspective on using data analytics in product development.
3. Escaping the Build Trap by Melissa Perri
Summary:
In "Escaping the Build Trap," Melissa Perri addresses one of the biggest challenges in product management: focusing too much on building features rather than creating value. As a scrum product owner, Perri emphasizes the importance of aligning the entire scrum team to deliver services customers want, which is crucial for successful businesses. She introduces the concept of "Product Thinking," which shifts the focus from merely shipping features to understanding the 'why' behind product decisions, the value proposition design, and how they impact customers and businesses. This approach ensures that the scrum team not only develops features but also crafts solutions that resonate with and bring real value to the market.
What You'll Learn:
The book equips readers with strategies to develop a more holistic approach to product development, one that balances the needs of customers with the goals of the business. It covers how to create effective product roadmaps, develop user-centric products, and build strong product teams that prioritize value over volume.
Why You Should Read It:
Escaping the Build Trap is particularly valuable for those who want to evolve their approach to product management and ensure that their work genuinely aligns with customer needs and business objectives. Perri's insights help readers understand the importance of strategy, leadership, and customer-centric thinking in avoiding the "build trap."
About The Author:
Melissa Perri is a seasoned product manager and CEO of Produx Labs, a product management consultancy; and founder of the Product Institute, an online learning platform for Product Managers. Her experience as a consultant and teacher provides her with a unique perspective on overcoming common challenges in product development and management.
4. Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products by Nir Eyal
Summary:
In "Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products," Nir Eyal explores the compelling psychology behind the world’s most captivating new products and how businesses can harness these principles within the scrum framework. The book delves into the "Hook Model," a four-step process Eyal argues is central to encouraging customer behavior and fostering repeated engagement. He illustrates how a development team using the scrum framework can apply these insights in the iterative cycle of developing and refining new products, ensuring each iteration captures the essential elements that make products addictive and appealing to users.
What You'll Learn:
Readers will gain insights into creating user habits that stick, understanding triggers, actions, variable rewards, and investments. The book is a treasure trove of knowledge on user psychology, behavior patterns, and the mechanics of habit-forming technology.
Why You Should Read It:
Hooked is an invaluable resource for product managers, designers, marketers, and startup founders aiming to develop products that create customer loyalty and repeat usage. Eyal's practical examples and actionable tips provide a roadmap for building more engaging, habit-forming products.
About The Author:
Nir Eyal is a bestselling author, speaker, and investor focused on the intersection of psychology, technology, and business. As a lecturer at Stanford's Graduate School of Business and Design School, he brings academic rigor and practical startup experience to his teachings and writings.
5. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
Summary:
A modern classic! The Lean Startup by Eric Ries presents a revolutionary approach to business and product development, advocating for speed, agility, and customer-centric learning in building successful startups. This book introduces concepts like the Minimum Viable Product (MVP), continuous deployment, and validated learning, emphasizing rapid iteration over elaborate planning.
What You'll Learn:
Readers will discover methodologies for developing their products and businesses in a more efficient, structured, and customer-focused manner. Ries provides frameworks for testing business visions continuously, adapting and adjusting before any large sums are invested.
Why You Should Read It:
The Lean Startup is a fundamental read for entrepreneurs, product managers, executives, and anyone interested in the startup ecosystem. It's particularly crucial for those looking to build sustainable, customer-centric businesses in an environment where customer needs and market dynamics rapidly evolve.
About The Author:
Eric Ries is an entrepreneur and author, widely recognized as a pioneer of the Lean Startup movement. His background as a startup advisor, founder, and Silicon Valley insider offers a deep, practical understanding of how startups succeed or fail.
6. The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton M. Christensen
Summary:
The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton M. Christensen is a groundbreaking book that examines why companies, even the most successful ones, can lose their market leadership as new, disruptive technologies take over. Christensen analyzes how such technologies catch established companies off-guard and why business leaders often fail to adopt them until it's too late.
What You'll Learn:
This book provides an in-depth look at the concept of disruptive innovation and the challenges it poses to traditional business models. Christensen offers a set of rules for capitalizing on the phenomenon of disruptive innovation and how to steer companies toward continuous renewal and growth.
Why You Should Read It:
The Innovator's Dilemma is essential reading for CEOs, product managers, and entrepreneurs, providing crucial insights into the dynamics of innovation and change within industries. It helps leaders understand when to invest in new technologies and how to pivot their strategies effectively.
About The Author:
Clayton M. Christensen was a professor at Harvard Business School and a renowned author widely respected for his research on innovation, leadership, and business model disruption. His contributions have had a profound influence on modern business strategy and practice.
7. Product Leadership: How Top Product Managers Launch Awesome Products and Build Successful Teams by Richard Banfield, Martin Eriksson, and Nate Walkingshaw
Summary:
Product Leadership: How Top Product Managers Launch Awesome Products and Build Successful Teams delves into the art and science of product management leadership. Richard Banfield, Martin Eriksson, and Nate Walkingshaw combine their expertise to uncover what makes a great product leader. This book goes beyond just managing products by focusing on how leaders can inspire teams, drive innovation, and create impactful products.
What You'll Learn:
This book teaches about different leadership styles, methods for building and maintaining high-performing teams, and strategies for fostering a culture of innovation. The authors also share real-life experiences and case studies from successful product leaders, providing a wealth of knowledge for shaping the next generation of product managers.
Why You Should Read It:
Product Leadership is a key read for current and aspiring product managers and team leaders. It offers an in-depth exploration of the qualities and practices needed to lead teams and products successfully in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
About The Author:
Richard Banfield, Martin Eriksson, and Nate Walkingshaw are well-regarded figures in product management. Banfield is a CEO and entrepreneur, Eriksson is a product management veteran and co-founder of Mind the Product, and Walkingshaw has an extensive background in product teams and UX design. Their combined experiences make this book a treasure trove of leadership insights.
8. Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink
Summary:
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink turns traditional thinking about motivation on its head. Pink argues that the carrot-and-stick approach to motivation is outdated and ineffective in the modern world. Instead, he presents a new model based on our intrinsic human needs for autonomy, mastery, and purpose.
What You'll Learn:
Pink explains how these three elements can significantly enhance personal and professional outcomes. This book provides actionable strategies for incorporating more meaningful practices into our daily lives, whether managing a team, leading an organization, or simply seeking personal improvement.
Why You Should Read It:
Drive is essential for product managers and leaders who want to understand and harness the true drivers of human creativity and motivation. It offers a fresh perspective on how to inspire teams, create enriching work environments, and lead more effectively.
About The Author:
Daniel H. Pink is a bestselling author and former speechwriter. His work focuses on modern work, management, and behavioral science, presenting complex ideas in engaging, accessible ways. Pink's insights are backed by thorough research, making his conclusions both practical and transformative.
9. Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey A. Moore
Summary:
Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey A. Moore is a seminal work in the field of high-tech marketing. Focusing on the challenges start-up companies face in reaching mainstream customers, Moore presents a compelling model for moving beyond the early adopters of a product. He discusses the "chasm" that innovative products must cross to reach the critical mass of mainstream market success.
What You'll Learn:
Moore's book guides readers through the specifics of marketing disruptive products to a wider audience. The strategies include understanding the psychology of various customer segments, creating targeted marketing strategies, and positioning your product to appeal to early majority buyers.
Why You Should Read It:
For anyone involved in marketing or managing a high-tech product, Crossing the Chasm is a foundational text. It's particularly beneficial for those looking to expand their product's reach and influence, ensuring their innovations achieve widespread adoption and success.
About The Author:
Geoffrey A. Moore is a management consultant and author, specializing in the market dynamics surrounding disruptive innovations. His expertise in high-tech marketing strategy has made him a respected voice and advisor in technology and marketing circles.
10. The Product Manager's Survival Guide by Steven Haines
Summary:
The Product Manager's Survival Guide by Steven Haines is a comprehensive roadmap for navigating the challenging and complex role of a product manager. This guide offers a practical framework and insights for excelling in a role that sits at the intersection of business, technology, and user experience.
What You'll Learn:
Haines covers everything from understanding the product manager's role to developing and launching successful products. He provides tools and strategies for effective decision-making, cross-functional collaboration, and managing each stage of the product lifecycle.
Why You Should Read It:
This book is a must-read for new and experienced product managers looking to refine their skills and impact. Haines’ practical approach offers valuable lessons in leadership, strategy, and execution in the fast-paced world of product management.
About The Author:
Steven Haines is a renowned thought leader in product management, with extensive experience in training and coaching product managers globally. His expertise and real-world approach make this guide an indispensable resource for professionals in the field. You can also find him on his LinkedIn.
11. Strategize: Product Strategy and Product Roadmap Practices for the Digital Age by Roman Pichler
Summary:
Strategize: Product Strategy and Product Roadmap Practices for the Digital Age by Roman Pichler provides a thorough exploration of creating effective product strategies and roadmaps. Pichler emphasizes the importance of aligning business objectives with customer needs in the digital era.
What You'll Learn:
This book is packed with insights on forming a vision, identifying market opportunities, and defining the key features of digital products. Readers will learn how to craft actionable roadmaps and adapt to changing market dynamics, ensuring their products remain competitive and relevant.
Why You Should Read It:
For product managers and strategic planners, Strategize is an essential guide to mastering the art of product planning and execution in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. Its practical, actionable advice is crucial for anyone involved in digital product development.
About The Author:
Roman Pichler is a leading expert in digital product management, renowned for his work as a product management coach and consultant. His extensive knowledge and hands-on experience make him a trusted authority on product strategy and leadership in the digital age.
12. The Mom Test: How to Talk to Customers & Learn if Your Business is a Good Idea when Everyone is Lying to You by Rob Fitzpatrick
Summary:
The Mom Test: How to Talk to Customers & Learn if Your Business is a Good Idea when Everyone is Lying to You by Rob Fitzpatrick tackles one of the most crucial aspects of product management: customer feedback. The book debunks common myths about customer conversations and offers a robust framework for gathering honest and valuable insights.
What You'll Learn:
Fitzpatrick provides practical techniques for conducting effective customer interviews, asking the right questions, and interpreting the responses to make informed product decisions. The book's focus is on getting reliable data to validate or invalidate product ideas early and efficiently.
Why You Should Read It:
This is an invaluable guide for startups, entrepreneurs, and product managers who want to master customer discovery and avoid the common pitfalls of product assumption and bias. Fitzpatrick's approach ensures that you build products people truly need and want.
About The Author:
Rob Fitzpatrick is an entrepreneur and author with a knack for practical and actionable advice. His experience in startup environments provides a realistic and relatable perspective on customer validation, making his guidance both effective and easy to implement. You can also find him on his LinkedIn.
13. Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days by Jake Knapp
Summary:
Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days by Jake Knapp offers a transformative formula for testing ideas and solving big problems within the span of just one week. Originating from Knapp’s experience at Google Ventures, this book introduces a five-day process called a "sprint" to prototype and test ideas rapidly, ensuring efficient validation and iteration.
What You'll Learn:
Knapp outlines a day-by-day plan for the sprint week, detailing the steps necessary to bring clarity to your business strategy and learn fast. From mapping out the problem on Monday to testing a prototype with real customers by Friday, the sprint framework is a powerful tool for startups and established companies alike.
Why You Should Read It:
This book is indispensable for product managers, designers, and anyone involved in product development who wants to bypass the endless debate cycle and compress months of work into a single week. It's a practical guide to moving from idea to prototype to decision, fast.
About The Author:
Jake Knapp is a designer and author with years of experience at Google and Google Ventures. His expertise in product design and innovation processes has made him a sought-after figure in the world of rapid problem solving and product development.
14. Contagious: How to Build Word of Mouth in the Digital Age by Jonah Berger
Summary:
Contagious: How to Build Word of Mouth in the Digital Age by Jonah Berger explores why certain products and ideas catch on and how you can harness these principles to make your product or idea contagious. Berger, a marketing professor, uses thorough research and powerful storytelling to unveil the secret science behind word-of-mouth and social transmission.
What You'll Learn:
Berger identifies six key principles that make information spread – from social currency and triggers to emotion, public, practical value, and stories. These insights help explain why certain things go viral and how you can apply these tactics to your product or idea.
Why You Should Read It:
For anyone looking to make their product, idea, or behavior more shareable, this book is a must-read. It's packed with engaging examples and scientific studies, making it a fascinating guide to viral marketing in the digital age.
About The Author:
Jonah Berger is an expert on word of mouth, social influence, consumer behavior, and how products, ideas, and behaviors catch on. His work at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania has cemented him as a key thinker in marketing and social influence.
15. Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability by Steve Krug
Summary:
Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability by Steve Krug is a seminal work in the field of web design and usability. This updated version of the classic guide offers insightful, practical advice for creating websites that are more intuitive and user-friendly, based on the principle that a good software or website should let users accomplish their intended tasks as easily and directly as possible.
What You'll Learn:
Krug breaks down the principles of intuitive navigation and information design, demystifying the process of making websites easier to use and understand. He covers topics like designing for mobile, usability testing, and common misconceptions, providing readers with the tools to evaluate and improve their own sites.
Why You Should Read It:
This book is essential for web designers, developers, and anyone involved in creating digital products. Krug's witty, no-nonsense style makes complex concepts accessible, ensuring that your website offers a smooth, user-friendly experience.
About The Author:
Steve Krug is a highly respected usability consultant with over two decades of experience. His teaching is clear, straightforward, and based on real-world experience from working with clients ranging from startups to major corporations, making him one of the most trusted voices in web usability.
16. Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne
Summary:
Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne introduces a new way of thinking about market strategy. Moving away from the traditional competitive "red oceans," the authors encourage businesses to create "blue oceans" of uncontested market space where competition is irrelevant. This transformative approach focuses on creating new demand and opportunities for high growth.
What You'll Learn:
The book details practical frameworks and analytics for escaping the competition and finding new areas of growth. Kim and Mauborgne provide real-world examples and strategies to help you identify untapped markets, differentiate your offerings, and create new value for customers.
Why You Should Read It:
Blue Ocean Strategy is a game-changer for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and product managers. It offers a fresh lens to approach strategy, innovation, and growth, making it an essential read for anyone looking to break free from competition and chart a unique path in business.
About The Author:
W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne are renowned professors at INSEAD and co-directors of the INSEAD Blue Ocean Strategy Institute. Their groundbreaking work has influenced a global audience, cementing their status as leading thinkers in business strategy and innovation.
17. User Story Mapping: Discover the Whole Story, Build the Right Product by Jeff Patton
Summary:
User Story Mapping by Jeff Patton is a definitive guide to understanding and implementing user story mapping, a practical technique that helps product teams build products that genuinely meet the needs of their users. Patton illuminates the power of this approach in understanding customer requirements and crafting a product roadmap that focuses on user value.
What You'll Learn:
The book introduces readers to the fundamentals of story mapping—capturing real user activities, breaking down large stories into smaller ones, and mapping out the big picture to build a shared understanding among stakeholders. Patton guides you through structuring your product backlog to support iterative development and deliver the most value to your users.
Why You Should Read It:
For product managers, designers, and agile practitioners, this book offers a hands-on, practical approach to creating products that delight users. Patton's expertise and straightforward explanations make story mapping an approachable and essential tool for anyone in product development.
About The Author:
Jeff Patton is a veteran product manager and agile practitioner. His extensive experience and active involvement in the agile community have made him a respected and influential voice in user-centered product design and development.
Which Product Ownership Books Do You Recommend?
I hope this collection of books has offered you valuable insights and strategies for excelling in product ownership. Your journey of learning and growth doesn't have to stop here, though. For more resources and insights on everything product, make sure to subscribe to our awesome newsletter!