The Best Business Audiobooks to Launch Your Next Career Move

The Best Business Audiobooks to Launch Your Next Career Move


January 20, 2021
From thought leadership pieces on productivity to in-depth programs for organising your team and inspiring innovation, there are numerous areas you can develop in your career. Whether you want to build your own business or are just looking to develop interpersonal skills, there are so many resources for business advice that it can be overwhelming. But these business audiobooks keep it simple and to the point, no fluff, drawing your attention in with relevant anecdotes and helpful examples. Here are the best 20 business audiobooks to help level up in your career.
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  • Zero to One cover art

    • Zero to One

    • Written by: Peter Thiel, Blake Masters
    • Narrated by: Blake Masters
    • Length: 4 hrs and 50 mins
    • Release Date: 04-06-15
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 2,297 ratings
    • It has been said that start-ups are the future, so entrepreneurs Peter Thiel and Blake Masters guide us through the key to building a successful business from the ground up. This comprehensive guide focuses on the future, instead of learning from past successes. Thiel and Masters share the tried and tested ways of discovering innovative ideas and how to creatively look for gaps in the market. Narrated by Masters himself, Zero to One offers insight into the startup scene and how to thrive in it with an original idea. Endorsed by start-up pioneers Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, this forward-thinking listen is an essential guide for the aspiring entrepreneur.
  • Good to Great cover art

    • Good to Great

    • Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't
    • Written by: Jim Collins
    • Narrated by: Jim Collins
    • Length: 10 hrs and 1 min
    • Release Date: 13-07-10
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 237 ratings
    • Jim Collins believes that good is the enemy of great, so he opens Good to Great by saying just that. Collins sets out to discover if any business can go from good to great, or if greatness is something a business needs from the very start. This listen explores the idea that the acceptance of good or even mediocrity, can prevent businesses and ideas from becoming outstanding and innovative.
      Built on five years of research, this listen is narrated by Collins himself as he compares 28 different companies with an articulate, educational tone. It’s clear as you listen to him tell each story that he is well-researched and deeply interested in the topic, and likely to spark the same interest in his listeners.
  • Stealing Fire cover art

    • Stealing Fire

    • How Silicon Valley, the Navy SEALs, and Maverick Scientists Are Revolutionizing the Way We Live and Work
    • Written by: Steven Kotler, Jamie Wheal
    • Narrated by: Fred Sanders
    • Length: 8 hrs and 24 mins
    • Release Date: 21-02-17
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 47 ratings
    • Most business advice focuses on a few key things, including productivity, leadership and behaviours. But how does that advice tap into the subconscious, the area where most of us feel our most creative? In Stealing Fire, Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal do just that, exploring how we can all achieve ecstasies—otherwise known to athletes as "being in the zone"— to perform our best work. Fred Sanders’s calm, deliberate cadence mirrors the meditative experience Kotler and Wheal allude to throughout their stories, helping you focus on the words and the wisdom of the story so you too can delve into your creative zone.
  • Lean In cover art

    • Lean In

    • Women, Work, and the Will to Lead
    • Written by: Sheryl Sandberg
    • Narrated by: Elisa Donovan
    • Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins
    • Release Date: 11-03-13
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 251 ratings
    • We would be remiss to leave Lean In off of our list of the best business audiobooks. Spawned from her acclaimed TED talk in 2010, Sheryl Sandberg’s work addresses her concerns with women’s progress in the business world. Using comedic anecdotes as a vehicle for advice, this title addresses topics like parenthood in the workplace and the myth of women who do it all.
      These narratives pack a punch, and the performance by actress Eliza Donovan, best known for her role as Amber in the movie Clueless, delivers the message like an honest, caring friend who has only your best interests at heart. Sandberg’s tough love and candour are perfectly balanced by Donovan’s assertive and friendly delivery, a perfect pairing that might just be why Donovan has been called on to narrate Sandberg’s subsequent works.
  • Blue Ocean Strategy cover art

    • Blue Ocean Strategy

    • How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant
    • Written by: W. Chan Kim, Renee Mauborgne
    • Narrated by: Grover Gardner
    • Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins
    • Release Date: 28-07-06
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 166 ratings
    • The concept of winning by not competing flips traditional thinking on its head. Business theorists W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne challenge everything you know about business and share the key to establishing uncontested market space and making any competition irrelevant. Blue Ocean Strategy outlines an actionable plan for changing the way you do business, with the approach of 'swimming for open waters', in line with the title of this audiobook. Taking the focus off of battling rivals in the bloody 'red oceans', this listen promotes the advantages of looking for untapped market space and growth in the 'blue oceans'. Shift your mindset to overcome hurdles, make strategic moves and focus on the bigger picture to grow your business.
  • Crushing It! cover art

    • Crushing It!

    • How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence-and How You Can, Too
    • Written by: Gary Vaynerchuk
    • Narrated by: Gary Vaynerchuk, Rich Roll, Amy Schmittauer
    • Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins
    • Release Date: 03-04-18
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 69 ratings
    • Influencer marketing blew up faster than anyone expected and continues to grow every day. If you need a social media platform breakdown to bring you up to speed—then get you ahead—Gary Vaynerchuk’s manifesto on influencer marketing will get you there in no time. Every aspect of social media is now part of your brand, and Vaynerchuk is here to help you define it. The entrepreneurial titan’s skills as a public speaker are on full display here, and he narrates the work in a way that makes it feel like he’s not reading a script but speaking candidly and directly to the listener. It’s clear Vaynerchuk crafted the personalized audio experience with care—he even lets longtime fans know when they can skip ahead if they’ve heard his other work.
  • Range cover art

    • Range

    • How Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World
    • Written by: David Epstein
    • Narrated by: Will Damron
    • Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins
    • Release Date: 27-06-19
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 581 ratings
    • While many rush to specialise in one particular field, this title explores the benefits of developing a broad range of skills and interests. Investigative reporter David Epstein argues that developing range is the key to succeeding in any field. Epstein studies the world’s most successful athletes, artists, inventors, musicians and scientists to conclude that generalists, rather than specialists, are built to excel. Highly acclaimed by the New York Times and Financial Times, Range reveals why failing is the best way to learn and spread your knowledge across different areas leads to success.
  • The Hard Thing About Hard Things cover art

    • The Hard Thing About Hard Things

    • Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers
    • Written by: Ben Horowitz
    • Narrated by: Kevin Kenerly
    • Length: 7 hrs and 57 mins
    • Release Date: 04-03-14
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 639 ratings
    • No stranger to the start-up game, respected entrepreneur Ben Horowitz shares essential advice on building a startup and making it thrive. The Hard Thing About Hard Things tackles the toughest problems that business school doesn’t cover and offers a practical guide to succeeding in starting a business. This isn’t your typical business-based audiobook, so listen out for references to rap songs and lyrics that have inspired Horowitz on his journey to Silicon Valley success. Learn to adopt the CEO mindset based on this writer’s personal experiences, complete with lighthearted humour and straight to the point teachings.
  • The Ride of a Lifetime cover art

    • The Ride of a Lifetime

    • Lessons in Creative Leadership from the CEO of the Walt Disney Company
    • Written by: Robert Iger
    • Narrated by: Robert Iger, Jim Frangione
    • Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins
    • Release Date: 23-09-19
    • Language: English
    • 5 out of 5 stars 962 ratings
    • The Ride of a Lifetime is the inspiring account of how Robert Iger, the CEO of the Walt Disney Company, successfully reinvented one of the most beloved companies during a highly-challenging time. Appointed as CEO in 2005, Iger’s vision consisted of three ideas; recommit to the concept that quality matters, embrace technology, and think global and make Disney into a stronger brand. Fourteen years later, Disney is the largest and most respected media company in the world, with its value being nearly five times what it was when Iger took over. In Iger’s account of his success, he shares the lessons he’s learned and stresses the importance of the principles for true leadership; optimism, courage, decisiveness and fairness. This listen is an inspiring tale of how one man’s relentless passion and hard work changed the fate of a multi-billion dollar company and positioned himself as one of the most respected CEOs of our generation.
  • The 10X Rule cover art

    • The 10X Rule

    • The Only Difference Between Success and Failure
    • Written by: Grant Cardone
    • Narrated by: Grant Cardone
    • Length: 7 hrs and 24 mins
    • Release Date: 19-07-11
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,318 ratings
    • To stand out from the crowd and achieve great success, you can’t operate like your average person. The 10X Rule takes luck and chance out of the success equation, emphasising the importance of taking responsibility for your progress. Writer and sales trainer Grant Cardone believes that your mindset is the driving factor of your success. This motivational title urges you to aim ten times higher than you are right now, so even if you don’t make it to the top straight away, you will be further along than you were when you started. Follow Grant Cardone’s guide to setting goals and achieving them the right way, to reach new heights that you didn’t even know existed.
  • Outliers cover art

    • Outliers

    • The Story of Success
    • Written by: Malcolm Gladwell
    • Narrated by: Malcolm Gladwell
    • Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins
    • Release Date: 18-11-08
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 809 ratings
    • Observing the moves of successful people can help to inspire your journey to success. Journalist and writer Malcolm Gladwell takes us on an intellectual journey, studying the successes of the world’s highest achievers. Outliers: The Story of Success shifts the focus from what successful people are like and how they appear, to exploring where they come from, their cultural background, and what experiences they have had. This landmark title explores the secrets of the most successful names in business, sports, technology, music and more.
  • The Lean Startup cover art

    • The Lean Startup

    • How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses
    • Written by: Eric Ries
    • Narrated by: Eric Ries
    • Series: The Lean Startup
    • Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins
    • Release Date: 13-09-11
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 396 ratings
    • The news of a failed start-up comes all too often, with most start-ups failing. However, The Lean Startup is a new approach being rapidly adopted across the globe, changing the way companies are built and new products are launched. Start-ups come in a range of different forms, from one person in a garage to a group of professionals in a boardroom. What these two examples have in common is a desire to discover a successful path to a sustainable business. The Lean Startup approach doesn’t waste time creating elaborate business plans but offers entrepreneurs a way to continuously test their vision, and constantly adapt before it is too late. This scientific approach to creating and managing startups helps the listener realise their business plan, and allows them to adapt to a business world where companies need to innovate more than ever.
  • No Excuses! cover art

    • No Excuses!

    • The Power of Self-Discipline for Success in Your Life
    • Written by: Brian Tracy
    • Narrated by: Brian Tracy
    • Length: 6 hrs and 51 mins
    • Release Date: 27-12-09
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 584 ratings
    • It is a common misconception that success comes from good luck or extraordinary talent, but it is often overlooked how many successful people achieve their accomplishments in another way - through self-discipline. Writer Brian Tracy is living proof of this. Having never graduated from high school and having only a few years of work as a labourer, he decided he wanted more than the limited future and opportunities ahead of him. Using the power of self-discipline, Tracy transformed his life and achieved astounding success in sales and marketing, investing, real estate development and management consulting. Now, he has consulted for over 1,000 companies, gives motivational speeches to millions worldwide, and has written 45 books. No Excuses! is a shining example of how one’s setbacks do not need to stop you from achieving, as self-discipline is the steering power of success. Tracy helps the listener realise their successes in not just their business and money goals, but also their personal goals and overall happiness.
  • The Great Mental Models cover art

    • The Great Mental Models

    • General Thinking Concepts
    • Written by: Shane Parrish
    • Narrated by: Shane Parrish
    • Series: The Great Mental Models Series, Book 1
    • Length: 3 hrs and 23 mins
    • Release Date: 09-04-19
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 421 ratings
    • The Great Mental Models explores the relationship between one’s mental tools and the quality of their outcomes. Much like how a whole DIY project can’t be done with only a hammer at your disposal, the same concept applies to your thinking. Shane Parrish aims to help the listener "upgrade" their thinking using the best, most useful, and most powerful tools, so you always have the right mental tools at hand. Exploring nine of the most versatile, all-purpose mentals models that can be used to improve your decision-making, productivity, and how you see the world, the listener will discover what forces govern the universe, and how they can harness these forces to their advantage instead of fighting them or ignoring them.
  • Never Split the Difference cover art

    • Never Split the Difference

    • Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It
    • Written by: Chris Voss, Tahl Raz
    • Narrated by: Michael Kramer
    • Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins
    • Release Date: 20-06-19
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,330 ratings
    • Former FBI agent and hostage negotiator, Chris Voss may not immediately seem like the ideal source for business advice. However, after years of negotiating with different criminals, Voss has become an expert at influencing conversations so that they always lean in your favour. From asking for a raise to changing your contract to building relationships with your partner or friend, negotiation is embedded in our daily interactions. Michael Kramer, who has received both the AudioFile Earphones Award and the Torgi Award, narrates these strategies and tips for negotiating with a clear and precise voice, so all you have to focus on is how to influence your next conversation.
  • Sprint cover art

    • Sprint

    • How to solve big problems and test new ideas in just five days
    • Written by: Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky, Braden Kowitz
    • Narrated by: Dan Bittner
    • Length: 6 hrs and 9 mins
    • Release Date: 10-03-16
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 82 ratings
    • Entrepreneurs face big questions every day, which can be overwhelming and never-ending. However, writer Jake Knapp has a solution - the Sprint. The five-day process, which Knapp created at Google, is aimed at helping businesses to answer these crucial questions and deliver the best results in the least amount of time. These Sprints encompass business strategy, innovation, behaviour science and design thinking in a process that any team can use. These Sprints are tried and tested, having been used for everything from Google Search, Chrome and Google X at Google, and more than 100 Sprints with start-ups in all areas of business, including mobile, e-commerce and finance. This audiobook empowers the listener to bring the process of the sprint to their ventures, and solve their problems with efficiency and speed.
  • The Psychology of Selling cover art

    • The Psychology of Selling

    • The Art of Closing Sales
    • Written by: Brian Tracy
    • Narrated by: Brian Tracy
    • Series: Nightingale-Conant: Sales Training
    • Length: 5 hrs and 19 mins
    • Release Date: 14-10-14
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 245 ratings
    • Tripling your income in 12 months might sound too optimistic, but writer Brian Tracy makes exactly that promise in The Psychology of Selling, his "graduate level" sales training programme. The legendary sales mastermind introduces the listener to the "inner game" of selling, where he explores the difference between top-performing salesmen and average ones - and the difference is not as great as you think! This audiobook takes listeners through 12 sessions, during which they will learn field-tested sales techniques that will give you the edge in a cutthroat business world.