What is actually on this list
Ten books, published between 1967 and 2020, averaging 8.1 out of 10 overall. By subject they break down as leadership (6), strategy (3), productivity (1). Every one has a full review here with ratings for practicality, readability, impact and difficulty, plus who it is for and who should not bother.
If you want the gentlest entry point, Who Not How is rated 2/10 for difficulty. The most demanding is Good to Great at 5/10 — worth knowing before you start it rather than three chapters in.
Common questions
How were these ten chosen?
In a UK small business the CEO is usually also the head of sales, the credit controller and the person who unlocks the building. This list is built for that job rather than for the one the title implies. The selection leans towards allocation: where to put the next pound and the next hour, what to stop doing, and how to tell the difference between a business that is growing and one that is merely getting busier. Those are the decisions nobody else in the company can make for you. Also included, deliberately, are one or two on the psychological side of the role. The isolation of it is a practic
Do I have to read them in order?
No. The numbering reflects how strongly we would recommend each one, not a sequence. Most people are best starting with whichever addresses the problem in front of them right now, and the difficulty ratings on each review will tell you what you are taking on.
Are the Amazon links paid?
They earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. It has no bearing on what makes a list or what rating a book gets — several books on this site are reviewed and then recommended against.
