Bookshelf of Project Manager | 8 Must-Read Books for PMs
This board contains 8 crucial books for every project manager.
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🔖 Read First
- Getting Things Done by David Allen
Getting Things Done by David Allen provides a time management and productivity system that can help project managers organize their tasks and projects more efficiently.
- Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time by Jeff Sutherland
Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time by Jeff Sutherland introduces the Scrum framework and its benefits for improving productivity and efficiency in project management.
- The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
The Lean Startup by Eric Ries presents a methodology for developing businesses and products through iterative processes and validated learning, applicable to project management.
- Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager by Kory Kogon, Suzette Blakemore, and James Wood
Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager by Kory Kogon, Suzette Blakemore, and James Wood offers practical tools and techniques for managing projects without formal authority, ideal for those in cross-functional roles.
📖 Read Later
- The Art of Project Management by Scott Berkun
The Art of Project Management by Scott Berkun explores the principles and practices of effective project management, blending practical advice with personal anecdotes.
- PMBOK® Guide by Project Management Institute
PMBOK® Guide by Project Management Institute serves as a comprehensive resource for project management standards and best practices, essential for certification and professional development.
- The Phoenix Project by Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, and George Spafford
The Phoenix Project by Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, and George Spafford is a novel that illustrates the principles of DevOps and IT project management through a fictional narrative.
- Agile Estimating and Planning by Mike Cohn
Agile Estimating and Planning by Mike Cohn focuses on practical techniques for estimation and planning in Agile projects, helping teams deliver more effectively.
✅ Already read
❓ Project Manager Reading List FAQ
- Q: What are the best books for project managers in 2025?
- Q: Should I read these project management books in a specific order?
- A: Yes! The optimal reading path depends on your PM approach:
For Agile/Scrum PMs:
1. Start with "Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work" (agile fundamentals)
2. Then "The Lean Startup" (iterative validation and pivoting)
3. Follow with "Agile Estimating and Planning" (sprint planning mastery)
4. Add "Getting Things Done" (personal task management)
For Traditional/Waterfall PMs:
1. Begin with "PMBOK® Guide" (PMI standard framework)
2. Then "The Art of Project Management" (practical application)
3. Follow with "The Phoenix Project" (understanding modern practices)
4. Transition to agile books as your organization evolves
For Hybrid PMs:
Mix both approaches based on your current project needs and organizational context.
- Q: How long does it take to complete this PM reading list?
- A: Most project managers complete these 8 books in 4-6 months by dedicating 25-30 minutes daily. Use Timestripe's reading tracker with timeline goals to monitor progress.
- Q: Are these books relevant for senior project managers and PMOs?
- A: Absolutely! Even experienced PMs and PMO directors benefit from revisiting these foundations:
- "Scrum" and "The Lean Startup" help transform traditional PMOs to agile organizations
- "PMBOK® Guide" updates ensure certification maintenance and standards alignment
- "The Phoenix Project" provides language for communicating with C-suite about digital transformation
- "Getting Things Done" becomes more critical as you manage larger portfolios
Senior PMs use this list for team training, establishing common PM practices, and mentoring junior project managers.
- Q: Can I share this project management reading list with my team?
- A: Yes! This Timestripe board is designed for PM team collaboration. Share it with your PMO or project team to:
- Create standardized PM knowledge across your organization
- Run monthly PM book club discussions with action items
- Build a shared project management playbook with team annotations
- Track collective professional development and certification prep
- Align on methodology (agile vs. waterfall vs. hybrid)
Use Timestripe's collaboration features to add project examples, lessons learned, and implementation notes from your organization's actual projects.
- Q: How do I organize a project management book club?
- A: Use Timestripe to run an effective PM book club:
1. Share this board with your PMO, project team, or PM community
2. Vote on which book to read each month/quarter based on team needs
3. Create discussion cards with chapter summaries and reflection questions
4. Schedule biweekly book club meetings in Timestripe calendar
5. Document key takeaways and create action items for each project
6. Assign pilot projects to test concepts from each book
7. Track implementation results and ROI
8. Build a living PM playbook with your team's lessons learned PM teams with structured book clubs report higher knowledge retention and more methodology adoption compared to individual reading.
- A: The essential reading list for project managers includes:
"Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time" by Jeff Sutherland for agile methodology, "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries for iterative project validation, "PMBOK® Guide" by PMI for certification preparation, "Getting Things Done" by David Allen for personal productivity, and "The Phoenix Project" for DevOps and IT project management. These 8 books cover the complete PM skillset from traditional waterfall to modern agile practices.