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MBA Books - Good books to read prior to MBA [Merged]

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triple5soul
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Re: Good books to read prior to MBA [#permalink] New post   17 Jan 2009, 10:54
I couldn't agree more with rhyme regarding "The World is Flat"
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Re: Good books to read prior to MBA [#permalink] New post   17 Jan 2009, 12:50
I agree that the World is Flat was pretty lengthy, which makes it dull at times, but that is kind of his style.

But the point of his book isn't that the world is globalized (if that's a word). The book is a lead up to the fact that the US can't seem to warm up to that and that America will be left behind if we don't figure out how to interact with the world.
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Re: Good books to read prior to MBA [#permalink] New post   20 Jan 2009, 15:53
rhyme wrote:
Must Read:
1. More than Money by Mark Albion
No, its not a rant against banking - he says thats the right path for some - but it is a very real depiction of MANY MBA attitudes and it will make you consider your goals. Frankly, in retrospect, this short book is probably the single most important thing I could have read before getting my MBA. It so accurately captures exactly what so many of us have thought or felt at some point - about jobs, about money, about careers - I virtually promise that it will resonate with you at some level. Its also worth noting its a short and easy read.

2. We need Managers, Not MBAs
It's a scathing look at MBAs. If anyone reads this again, please keep an eye out for the part where he reveals the statistics that something like 70% of MBAs quit their jobs within two years of graduating (suggesting that the vast majority pick "wrong"). I cant find the exact stats anymore, so please, if you see it, take note of the page.

Books that suck:
1. The World is Flat: Allow me to condense 500 pages for you. A guy in India can call a guy in Florida whenever he wants. They can interact online, with webcams and with phones. Your taxes can be done in Bangalore while you sit in the Bahamas.

2. Blue Ocean Strategy: Also crap


Good recos rhyme, will read your choices. Otherwise, I'm with you concerning world is flat: it's maybe not as bad as you say, but it's defo way too lengthy: he could have covered the whole thing in 100 pages or less. It seemed like all of his points turned around the same subject, kinda poor IMO.
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Re: Good books to read prior to MBA [#permalink] New post   25 Jan 2009, 21:52
I want to recommend Tearing Down the Walls: How Sandy Weill Fought His Way to the Top of the Financial World. . .and Then Nearly Lost It All by Monica Langley to all future investment bankers.

I want to recommend How Would You Move Mount Fuji?: Microsoft's Cult of the Puzzle -- How the World's Smartest Companies Select the Most Creative Thinkers by William Poundstone to all future Management Consultants...
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Re: Good books to read prior to MBA [#permalink] New post   25 Jan 2009, 23:55
I just read "Monkey Business", which was a very quick read that provides an interesting look into the IB landscape in recent times. I've got "Barbarians at the Gate" waiting for me when I fly home on Thursday.
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Re: Good books to read prior to MBA [#permalink] New post   28 Jan 2009, 20:21
MeddlingKid wrote:
I've got "Barbarians at the Gate" waiting for me when I fly home on Thursday.


A must read for those interested in Private Equity.

Is there a thread recommending books where we can learn basic acct/finance? I know Stanford has reading recommendations for the summer, anyone know where I can find that list?
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Re: Good books to read prior to MBA [#permalink] New post   28 Jan 2009, 20:43
sonibubu wrote:
Is there a thread recommending books where we can learn basic acct/finance?


post564412.html#p564412
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Re: Good books to read prior to MBA [#permalink] New post   28 Jan 2009, 22:38
ninkorn wrote:
sonibubu wrote:
Is there a thread recommending books where we can learn basic acct/finance?


p564412#p564412


And here:
https://gmatclub.com/forum/126-t73892
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Re: Good books to read prior to MBA [#permalink] New post   30 Jan 2009, 08:44
I'm a huge fan of Keith Farazzi's "Never Eat Alone". Its a great book about the power of networking and how to build a strong network.

I read it a few years ago, and used tips from it to navigate myself onto a very high profile project. That project led to a promotion, and now that promotion led me to bschool, and to this forum :)

check it out....I plan on rereading before I start school
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/038551 ... 0385512058
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Re: Good books to read prior to MBA [#permalink] New post   31 Jan 2009, 11:01
i liked "confessions of an economic hit man" and "Rise and Fall of Empires: Nigel Fergurson" and "Banker to the Poor"
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Re: Good books to read prior to MBA [#permalink] New post   31 Jan 2009, 11:04
I totally agree with your comments on Thomas Friedman's "world is flat" anything from thomas friedman is a load of crap

rhyme wrote:
Must Read:
1. More than Money by Mark Albion
No, its not a rant against banking - he says thats the right path for some - but it is a very real depiction of MANY MBA attitudes and it will make you consider your goals. Frankly, in retrospect, this short book is probably the single most important thing I could have read before getting my MBA. It so accurately captures exactly what so many of us have thought or felt at some point - about jobs, about money, about careers - I virtually promise that it will resonate with you at some level. Its also worth noting its a short and easy read.

2. We need Managers, Not MBAs
It's a scathing look at MBAs. If anyone reads this again, please keep an eye out for the part where he reveals the statistics that something like 70% of MBAs quit their jobs within two years of graduating (suggesting that the vast majority pick "wrong"). I cant find the exact stats anymore, so please, if you see it, take note of the page.

Books that suck:
1. The World is Flat: Allow me to condense 500 pages for you. A guy in India can call a guy in Florida whenever he wants. They can interact online, with webcams and with phones. Your taxes can be done in Bangalore while you sit in the Bahamas.

2. Blue Ocean Strategy: Also crap
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Re: Good books to read prior to MBA [#permalink] New post   31 Jan 2009, 11:09
Audio wrote:
Praet, is the HBS book about how BS lost their way any good? Looks interesting, what's your opinion?


Sorry, I missed your post. It is an article on the subject. The summary indeed tells you most of what the article is about. It is published in HBR, so you should be able to download it from the awesome library at wharton.

If you are skillful enough, you can find it online too. :|
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Re: Good books to read prior to MBA [#permalink] New post   01 Feb 2009, 11:06
My recommendations would be:

Monkey Business (IB)
Liar's Poker (S&T)
Ugly Americans (HFs), I preferred "Bringing down the house", but this and Rigged where ok to.

When Markets Collide
Fooled by Randomness
Risk Takers

For those thinking about going to Chicago and going to economics:
The Chicago School
Vienna and Chicago, Friends or Foes?

In my list to read:
Pioneering Portfolio Management
The Forgotten Man
Barbarians at the Gate
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Re: Good books to read prior to MBA [#permalink] New post   01 Feb 2009, 11:37
FN wrote:
I totally agree with your comments on Thomas Friedman's "world is flat" anything from thomas friedman is a load of crap

rhyme wrote:
Must Read:
Books that suck:
1. The World is Flat: Allow me to condense 500 pages for you. A guy in India can call a guy in Florida whenever he wants. They can interact online, with webcams and with phones. Your taxes can be done in Bangalore while you sit in the Bahamas.

2. Blue Ocean Strategy: Also crap

i'm reading friedman's "hot, flat, and crowded" which is about why we need a green revolution. while i'm just 1/3 of the way through, it's excellent so far. it's not really anything i don't know already, but he's got some hard facts scientifically, politically, and economically about why we need to care about our planet and makes it easier for me to explain to another layperson why we need a green revolution. any others have thoughts on this book?
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Re: Good books to read prior to MBA [#permalink] New post   01 Feb 2009, 12:09
I would recommend reading specialized recruiting guides (MC, IB, GM, VC, PE) before the school begins. You can get these guides from 2nd years. Ask for the guides compiled by the students of your school or - if not available - by H/S/W/Chi/Sloan/Columbia students. Otherwise, it can be too hard to focus on the topic - there are too many of them in the market. The idea of this is to gain a sense of what is awaiting you and to be better prepared for that (career and recruiting interviews). Plus you will learn a great deal about the area of your interest. It may not be as exciting as fiction but more rewarding. Trust me ) Just my 5 cents.
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Re: Good books to read prior to MBA [#permalink] New post   01 Feb 2009, 15:46
Ntang wrote:
For my money, the best book on development is William Easterly's "The White Man's Burden" - it's much lighter on actual detailed policy proposals, but that's all sort of the point. I was totally engrossed. Check it out.


Great suggestion! I picked up a the book a week ago and I'm about 1/3 of the way through.

It provides an outstanding analysis of not only successes and failures of trying to develop the third world, but at lot of it also applies to life in general (politics, economics, society, etc).

RF
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Re: Good books to read prior to MBA [#permalink] New post   25 Feb 2009, 15:02
I'm in the middle of reading "The Halo Effect:... and the Eight Other Business Delusions That Deceive Managers".

Link

Wow! Good book. It pretty much blows apart a lot of the analysis people do to find out what makes a company "successful".

The part that got me is that people can only define good leadership by performance.

In other words, if you're the CEO and your company has a stellar year, people automatically define your behavior as showing "strong leadership".

However, if you're the CEO and your company has a crappy year, people automatically define your behavior as showing "poor leadership".

Even if you did the exact same thing.

Kinda throws a wrench into the whole "leadership training" thing, huh?

RF
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Re: Good books to read prior to MBA [#permalink] New post   26 Feb 2009, 11:58
Most interesting books I've read/am reading recently:

Shock Doctrine - Naomi Klein: Must read. it opened my mind to sooo many things. please go read it, it gets long but towards the end it's amazing.

Outliers - Malcolm Gladwell: I had thought about many of the theories he exposes way before this came out, but it's still an interesting/easy/quick read.

Damn it feels good to be a banker - LSO: Hilarious. nuff said.

The prince - Niccolo Machiavelli: I don't know why but I recently picked it up and it's full of pretty interesting stuff. It is not about business but it gives you an idea of how Power was seen in the 1500.

Snowball - Warren's Buffet bio: I got this one as a present and thought it would be amazing, however I still haven't really started loving it (ive read around 25% of it- its looong) but I guess if you like biographies then you'll like it.
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Re: Good books to read prior to MBA [#permalink] New post   26 Feb 2009, 13:25
Another 2 books you all might find interesting:

Liar's poker: a bit dated but its gives you a sweet intro to the S&T world.

Ahead of the curve: best book I've read on business school - more specifically HBS - looking at a top bschool from the pov of a non-business candidate gave me an amazing idea of the whole thing.
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Re: Good books to read prior to MBA - [MBA Books Master Thread] [#permalink] New post   01 Mar 2009, 04:29
Expert Reply
I tried to organize the books in this thread into a meaningful collection which took a bit longer than I expected. Not sure if I will do it again, but - thanks everyone for pitching in with recommendations - I already got a few books for my enjoyment.
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Re: Good books to read prior to MBA - [MBA Books Master Thread] [#permalink]
01 Mar 2009, 04:29
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