The Personal MBA: Media & Press

What Others Are Saying About the PMBA

2008 Edition: Revised and Updated

by Josh Kaufman

Top MBA programs don't have a monopoly on advanced business knowledge: you can teach yourself everything you need to know to succeed in life and at work. The Personal MBA Recommended Reading List features only the very best business books available, based on thousands of hours of research. So skip b-school and the $100,000 loan: you can get a world-class business education simply by reading these books.

What the Media is Saying:


"Without the high tuition and opportunity costs of top B-schools, the PMBA may become the ultimate bootstrapper's graduate degree."
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What the Blogosphere is Saying:


"No matter what they tell you, an MBA is not essential for landing or handling a good business job... Pursue your own Personal MBA in tandem with actual experience doing some kind of business. If you combine study with actually trying stuff, you'll be far ahead in the business game."
(Read more...)

What Readers Are Saying:

The following comments come from visitors to PersonalMBA.com:

"A reading list that claims to offer the same quality education as an MBA is an audacious thing, but looking over the list, the claim no longer seems unbelievable."
"I love the idea of what your site is about. I am always learning and reading about business and your site has motivated me to read more. I have been following your site for a little over a month. I have finished one book and close to finishing my second. I am well on my way of reading two books a month. Your Personal Master Plan was just the catalyst that I needed. Thank you! Thank You! Thank you!"
"Timing is everything! In the past couple of weeks I have been thinking about wanted to learn more about business management, and wondered what resources were out there for me to take advantage of, other than signing up for business school. I may go to biz school eventually but wanted to start educating myself now, the more affordable way! I am SO glad to have found your site, it is exactly what I was looking for!"
"I've never liked school but I am interested in business. PMBA is perfect for someone like me."
"This is a very innovative platform for those self-pulled learners. I am a MBA student right now and so glad to find an outstanding reference website like this."
"Excellent information to rhetoric ratio."
"The books it recommends are stellar - saves so much time sorting through all the potential reading lists out there myself."
"I am an MBA student and find that much of the reading found on your site is much more relevant than many of the assigned textbooks."
"Thank you for helping to prevent me from blowing 2 years and $100k on an MBA when I get out of undergrad next year."
"I just enrolled in an executive MBA program in my country. Your list give me insight about other important books, rather than the textbook and case method applied in my business school."
"I like that I am able to choose my level of engagement, from researching the basics by glancing at the introductory literature (reading list, etc.) to signing up for the member forums. There are no upfront forms to fill out, and navigation is straightforward. A powerful layout for what can be a very significant investment of time, if one so chooses. Friendly, un-pushy, very hip."