Below is a curated selection of books on product management, leadership, equity, science, and culture that have influenced me. You can also find me on StoryGraph @kylepace.
Library (13 books)
Melissa Perri
Escaping The Build Trap
Melissa Perri challenges the "build trap" where organizations focus on shipping features over creating value, advocating for product-led transformation through outcome-focused strategy, experimentation, and solving real customer problems.
Joshua Seiden
Outcomes Over Output
Joshua Seiden challenges the feature-driven approach to product development, advocating for a fundamental shift from measuring outputs (features shipped) to outcomes (changes in customer behavior that drive business results), enabling teams to experiment their way to real value.
Ashley Shew
Against Technoableism
Ashley Shew challenges technoableism's harmful focus on "fixing" disabled people through technology, advocating instead for dismantling ableist systems, centering disabled expertise, and building truly accessible futures for all.
Andrew J. Hoffman
Business School and the Noble Purpose of the Market
Andrew J. Hoffman challenges the flawed foundations of current business education, advocating for a fundamental reform to move beyond shareholder primacy, restore capitalism's noble purpose, and equip future leaders to serve society's pressing needs.
Matt Lemay
Impact First Product Teams
Matt LeMay challenges flawed product thinking that disconnects teams from real business impact, advocating a reform to move beyond busywork, restore product's impact on business, and equip teams for indispensable impact on critical goals.
Ijeoma Oluo
So You Want to Talk About Race
Ijeoma Oluo challenges the surface-level discussions around race, advocating for a fundamental shift towards honest, uncomfortable conversations to dismantle systemic inequality and foster genuine understanding.
Cady Coleman
Sharing Space
In Sharing Space, astronaut and Air Force colonel Cady Coleman shares lessons from her NASA career: overcoming obstacles, leading teams, and thriving in high-pressure environments.
Working with Coders
“Working with Coders” by Patrick Gleeson is a practical guide for non-technical professionals to effectively collaborate with software developers. The book demystifies coding jargon, explains developers’ activities, and analyzes the unique pressures and priorities they face.
Articulating Design Decisions
Tom Greever’s “Articulating Design Decisions” emphasizes the importance of effectively communicating design choices to stakeholders. The book provides practical strategies for presenting designs, understanding stakeholder perspectives, and responding to feedback.
Marty Cagan
Inspired
INSPIRED shows how top tech companies like Amazon, Google, and Netflix create successful products. It provides actionable insights on building strong product teams, focusing on customer needs, and encouraging innovation.
Matt Lemay
Product Management in Practice
“Product Management in Practice” offers guidance for PMs, emphasizing essential skills such as communication, organization, research, and execution. It provides actionable insights and examples to help PMs navigate common challenges and effectively manage products throughout their lifecycle.
Financial Intelligence
“Financial Intelligence” is a comprehensive guide designed to demystify financial concepts for managers and professionals. It emphasizes the importance of understanding financial statements, cash flow, and key metrics to make informed business decisions.
Josh Kaufman
The Personal MBA
“The Personal MBA” is a self-guided business education resource that covers essential concepts such as value creation, marketing, sales, value delivery, and finance. It emphasizes understanding core business principles to make informed decisions and achieve success in various professional endeavors.
