Here's a list of well-received project management books for beginners.
Project management is a broad field with many niche specializations. Reading books on project management can be a good way to immerse yourself in the tools and processes of the industry.
We read through hundreds of book reviews and consulted several discussion websites to find popular and well-recommended project management books that offer value to beginners as well as project managers looking to refresh their knowledge. Explore this list of project management books to start building your personal library.
Read more: What Is a Project Manager? A Career Guide
Readers appreciate this guide for being comprehensive, easy to understand, and organized. Although the book is beginner friendly, its content can also benefit intermediate-level project managers who'd like a refresher on foundational concepts. If you want a project management certification, this book can help you prepare.
Who it’s for: Project management beginners looking for a solid and complete introduction to this field
Read more: How to Become a Project Manager: 5 Steps
If you’re a project manager—or aspire to become one—it’s a good idea to keep the PMBOK Guide on your radar. It’s published by the Project Management Institute (PMI), which administers the globally popular Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification and is considered by many to be the leading project management organization in the industry.
Besides being a crucial study aid for PMP exams, the PMBOK Guide is considered the go-to resource for project management professionals. It includes explanations of major development approaches and how to tailor them to your needs, models, artifacts, and more. The most recent edition, published in August 2021, covers the newest changes to the industry due to technological, economic, and market factors.
Who it’s for: Anybody serious about project management
Read more: How to Get a PMP Certification: An Overview
If you’re new to Agile, you can quickly get lost in the weeds of jargon and mysterious acronyms. This book is lauded by readers as a basic but comprehensive guide that newbies to Agile can pick up and understand easily. The most recent edition of this Agile project management book was published in September 2020.
If you already have a grasp of Agile concepts, you might go on to read other titles like Age of Agile: How Smart Companies Are Transforming the Way Work Gets Done by Stephen Denning, or Doing Agile Right: Transformation Without Chaos by Darrell Rigby, Sarah Elk, and Steve Berez.
Who it’s for: Beginners to Agile project management
Written by one of the co-founders of Scrum and his son, Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time lays out the framework of the Scrum project management method and how it increases teams' efficiency. Readers applaud the book as easy to read, as well as for the practical advice and stories that it contains.
Who it’s for: Anybody who wants to manage a Scrum team, work on a Scrum team, or implement Scrum practices in the workplace
One of the most popular PMP exam prep books, this book is praised by many reviewers as comprehensive to exam topics and more easily approachable than the PMBOK by itself. The book covers predictive, Agile, and hybrid approaches, plus the many other processes and tools you’ll need to be familiar with for the exam. It also includes 475 practice questions, chapter quizzes, a simulated final exam, and a free trial to the publisher’s online learning platform. The latest edition is up to date with the changes made to the PMP exam in January 2021.
Who it’s for: Those studying for the PMP exam
The PMP exam was updated beginning January 2, 2021. The new exam now comprises 180 questions instead of 200, two 10-minute breaks instead of one, three “domains”—phases of project management—instead of five, among other changes. Make sure your study materials reflect the change.
Project management is more than tools and processes—though all of that is important too. This book covers the basic elements of project management, focusing on developing the interpersonal skills and empathy needed to run a project smoothly. Readers enjoy that the book is easy to read, contains useful examples and practical advice, and can be referred to repeatedly as one advances in their career.
Who it’s for: Beginning to mid-career project managers who want to learn more about the human aspect of project management success
Learn more about core project management skills in this video from the Google Project Management Professional Certificate:
Read more: 11 Key Project Management Skills
The Deadline provides beginner-friendly information in entertainment form. As the novel was written in 1997, reviewers point out that much of the information centers around Waterfall project management styles. Still, recent readers find practical advice on project management concepts like resource allocation, scheduling, and managing teams beneficial, particularly for beginners.
Who it’s for: Those looking for a new way to absorb information besides traditional nonfiction guides
If you don’t have “project manager” in your title but have been tasked with seeing a project through to its success, you might find this book helpful. Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager is a basic introduction to project management designed specifically for those who aren’t formal project managers. Inside, you'll find real-world examples, accessible guides, and a streamlined process for completing projects.
Who it’s for: People who aren’t officially project managers but are managing projects
This project management book disguised as a novel has been a favorite for many IT project managers for years. The novel follows Bill, an IT manager at Parts Unlimited who works for an unforgiving CEO and is newly charged with leading a critical project that is already in jeopardy. Readers follow along as Bill learns core IT project management concepts like DevOps.
Who it’s for: IT project managers (and those aspiring to be)
Read more: What Is an IT Project Manager? And How to Become One
Project managers in construction need to have specialized knowledge, including industry regulations and standards. This book covers the roles you’ll play in each stage of a construction project, how to keep projects on schedule and within budget, and how new software is shaping the construction world. The newest edition of this construction project management book includes three chapters on pre-construction, team management, and sustainability.
Who it’s for: Those getting started in construction project management or who want to deepen their understanding of the field
This book encourages readers to apply their efforts where they most matter to work more effectively. Although the idea of being "lazy" is provocative, this book isn't about avoiding the work of project management but rather how to work "smarter," particularly when the workload is heavy. This project management book is praised for the entertaining stories and practical tips it contains, as well as the overall actionable content.
Who it's for: Anyone in project management who wants to improve their work-life balance without sacrificing quality
This book teaches readers foundational skills and concepts in project management, including managing resources, time, and risks, as well as breaking down complex projects into a series of smaller, easier-to-handle tasks. This book is praised for being practical and making the broad field of project management accessible to people at all experience levels. With your purchase of the Project Management QuickStart Guide, you get access to free digital project management tools.
Who it's for: New or experienced project managers, as well as business owners or managers, who want to achieve goals on time and within budget
Whether you’re training to become a construction manager or a certified PMP or are completely new to project management, learning the core concepts of project management is a great first step to take. Reading good project management books can be tremendously helpful in deepening your knowledge as you embark on your project manager career.
In addition to reading books, consider taking online courses. These can be a great way to practice skills and explore career options at your own pace. Not sure where to start? Explore the Google Project Management: Professional Certificate.
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