8 Non-Business Books For Business Success

Moderator Note (Andy): This is a guest post by Patrick Del Rosario, a business and financial blogger (full bio below)

Here's my recommendation for 8 great books that aren't classified specifically as "business books" and offer up much better advice than some the standard fare you will find in the genre.

Would love to hear your opinions on these, and any other books you might not necessarily find in the business section but offer sound advice for business, finance, entrepreneurship, career guidance, etc

1. The Art of War by Sun Tzu.
The granddaddy of all non-business business books, Sun Tzu’s explanation of how to engage in warfare in ancient China has had its principles applied to modern business again and again.

And why not? Quotes like, “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles” seem tailor-made for someone working in corporate America who wants to be able to understand competitors so that he or she can beat them.

2. Love, Medicine & Miracles by Dr. Bernie Siegel.
The book details how Dr. Siegel worked with and helped to cure many cancer patients that were terminally ill by looking past the physical symptoms present in their bodies and engaging their minds. For managers and others in the business world, it’s a fantastic reminder that you can’t just force your employees to get excited by their work and increase productivity, you have to find ways to tap into their desires as individuals.

3. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.
A treatise on “rational self-interest” that also manages to be a pretty thrilling mystery, Atlas Shrugged probably isn’t going to teach you very many methods that will help you to succeed in business. However, it’s kind of like listening to a high-adrenaline song while working out because the underlying message of the book is that it’s not only okay to seek out profits, but something that should be seen as good and moral. Only you can save us, successful businesspeople!

4. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig.
What the heck does a book on philosophy written by a man once diagnosed as insane have to do with succeeding at business? It’s about looking at the big picture and playing the long game. Or, as translated for business, you need to think about building your brand and creating a sustainable company as more important than the immediate but likely temporary success of a single product.

5. Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely.
This Duke professor’s amazing book should be required reading for anyone trying to predict the stock market or come up with a killer new product. It details how, while people seem to behave in ways that seem to be irrational, it’s actually possible to see a pattern in much of our behavior by looking into factors that most researchers have either ignored or undervalued. Things like emotions, social norms, and relativity play huge roles in how we end up acting and reacting. The Ascent of Money:

6. A Financial History of the World by Niall Ferguson.
You’ve got a great idea for a business that’s never been done before, but you believe you’ve got a plan that can guarantee success. Maybe, but maybe not. Experts say that one of the biggest factors in whether or not a new business succeeds depends on the owner’s understanding of how the financial system works. This book not only details that, but tells you how we got to where we are today.

7. The Prince by Machiavelli.
Whether you think that Machiavelli was a genius or a devil is up to you, but he sure had some interesting and useful things to say that can be applied to business. Things like (and I’m paraphrasing): “Change with the times if you want to stay successful” and “you can tell how smart a leader is by looking at the people he has working for him.” Smart man, that Machiavelli.

8. The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene.
Should it really be that surprising that a book distilling all the ways that we psychologically manipulate each other – and how we can use them to our advantage – comes from a former Hollywood screenwriter? Greene pulls his “laws” from all over the psychological and philosophical spectrum, then illustrates his points by relaying the stories of famous historical figures and how they used them. You can use them in business to better understand how to reach customers, motivate employees, and take down the competition.

About the Author:
Patrick Del Rosario (http://www.opencolleges.edu.au/) is a Filipino business and finance blogger (. He works as a business ninja at Open Colleges, one of the pioneers of Online education in Australia and one of the leading providers of Business courses and Management courses .Aside from blogging and being a business ninja, Patrick is an aspiring photographer. If you want to feature his writings on your site, connect with him at Google+ or drop a line at patrick (at) oc.edu.au.