2024s Must Reads to Outsmart AI and Lead the Pack

Hey There!

Well, 2023 was a wild ride in the tech world, right? AI pretty much danced into every corner of our lives, changing how we work, play, and even think. And guess what? 2024 is going to amp it up even more. As product managers, we've got to keep our game strong, and what better way than hitting the books? Yeah, the good old-fashioned (or digital) pages that spill wisdom in ways AI just can't (yet).

Why Bother when AI will replace us?

With AI doing its thing, making everything faster and smarter, you might wonder why you should bother brushing up on your product skills. Here's the deal: those skills are your secret sauce. They make you a world class product maker and leader and guide you to build products people want. Generative AI is still in it’s infancy and is far from making these kinds of contributions.

A few good reads

There were a few books I read and in some cases re-read in 2023 that helped refine my thinking about making great products and leading teams. The categories below are like the essential food groups. I try to make sure I’m getting enough from each to keep me sharp and improving.

PM Fundamentals: Build products customers actually want. Read:

• "The Mom Test" by Rob Fitzpatrick.
• "Build" by Tony Fadell.

Creativity: AI's cool, but it doesn't dream (yet). Spark your innovation with:

• "Jony Ive: The Genius Behind Apple's Greatest Products" by Leander Kahney.
• "Creativity Inc." by Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace.

Metrics: Numbers don't lie, and this book tells the truth:

• "Measure What Matters" by John Doerr.

Growth: Scaling up is an art. Master it with:

• "Crossing the Chasm" by Geoffrey A. Moore.

Leadership: Lead like a pro, create fearless teams and manage change:

• "The Fearless Organization" by Amy C. Edmondson.
• "Step Up, Step Back" by Elsbeth Johnson.

Creating Your System: Small habits, big wins:

• "Atomic Habits" by James Clear.

But, books are so long!

I hear you. Who's got the time, right? Well, here's a little secret: Shortform. It's like the cheat code for book lovers. Get the gist, the key ideas, the game-changers—all in a fraction of the time. No excuses now!

What's next?

As we say goodbye to 2023 and gear up for even more AI innovation in 2024, let's keep our foundations strong with some solid reads. Here's a quick rundown of the categories and what I'm eyeing for the next year:

PM Fundamentals: "Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days" by Jake Knapp.

Creativity:

• "Deviate: The Science of Seeing Differently" by Beau Lotto.
• "Thinkertoys" by Michael Michalko.

Metrics:

• "Outcomes Over Output" by Josh Anon.
• ...and a few more analytical mind-benders.

Growth: "Product-Led Growth" and "Product-Led Onboarding" both by Wes Bush.

Leadership:

• "Humble Leadership" by Ed Schein
• "Empowered" by Marty Cagan.

Creating Your System: "The Power of Habit" by Charles Duhigg.

Let me know in the comments if you have other favorite product management books to add to the list.

Read up, level up, and go crush it in 2024!