I found a great website the other day called www.PersonalMBA.com The author of this site has put together a reading list of books that he believes contains similar information to an MBA course.

The idea is that instead of spending $100K on an MBA course you could read this list of books and receive almost the same information.

Now of course there are advantages to completing a traditional MBA. These include:

1. The networking between the other students who are traditionally well connected in the business world
2. The credentials you receive on completion of the course
3. The lecturer and peer interaction you have in a class setting

Putting that aside, if you do not have the time, money or desire for the certification, this is a great way to learn more about business on your terms.

I think this list of books is very useful because:

1. It distills the best books on specific topics. When you walk into a bookstore it can be overwhelming when you approach the business book shelves. Which ones are worth the read? This list is a good starting point.
2. It gives you a goal to work towards, instead of just reading random books. I like the “The PMBA Guide to Personal Master Planning” It gives you a realistic way to plan your attack.
3. It gives you a sense that if you complete a set of books in a category then you may have a reasonably well rounded insight into the subject - as opposed to one authors opinion.

Two of my friends at work Cameron and Ulysses have taken a keen interest in this book list and we will start working though these books together.