-
The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business
- Narrated by: Josh Kaufman
- Length: 15 hrs and 25 mins
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed

pick 2 free titles with trial.
Buy for $24.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Your Next Five Moves
- Master the Art of Business Strategy
- By: Patrick Bet-David
- Narrated by: Patrick Bet-David
- Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the creator of Valuetainment, the number-one YouTube channel for entrepreneurs, and “one of the most exciting thinkers” (Ray Dalio, author of Principles) in business today, comes a practical and effective guide for thinking more clearly and achieving your most audacious professional goals.
-
-
Mediocre; few actionable take-aways.
- By Michael on 10-31-20
-
Financial Intelligence
- A Manager's Guide to Knowing What the Numbers Really Mean
- By: Karen Berman, Joe Knight
- Narrated by: Tom Zingarelli
- Length: 7 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Since its release in 2006, Financial Intelligence has become a favorite among managers who need a guided tour through the numbers, helping them to understand not only what the numbers really mean but also why they matter. This new, completely updated edition brings the numbers up to date and continues to teach the basics of finance to managers who need to use financial data to drive their business.
-
-
You need to listen with the pdf documents
- By Jean on 03-22-18
By: Karen Berman, and others
-
Zero to One
- Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future
- By: Peter Thiel, Blake Masters
- Narrated by: Blake Masters
- Length: 4 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The great secret of our time is that there are still uncharted frontiers to explore and new inventions to create. In Zero to One, legendary entrepreneur and investor Peter Thiel shows how we can find singular ways to create those new things.
-
-
Seems Insightful Until You Think A Little Deeper
- By Mark Brandon on 10-31-14
By: Peter Thiel, and others
-
The Lean Startup
- How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses
- By: Eric Ries
- Narrated by: Eric Ries
- Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Most startups fail. But many of those failures are preventable. The Lean Startup is a new approach being adopted across the globe, changing the way companies are built and new products are launched.
-
-
Informative, mature but not original or essential
- By Jason Comely on 02-19-13
By: Eric Ries
-
12 Months to $1 Million
- How to Pick a Winning Product, Build a Real Business, and Become a Seven-Figure Entrepreneur
- By: Ryan Daniel Moran
- Narrated by: Ryan Daniel Moran
- Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
By cutting out the noise and providing a clear and proven plan, this road map helps even brand-new entrepreneurs make decisions quickly, get their product up for sale, and launch it to a crowd that is ready and waiting to buy. This one-year plan will guide you through the three stages to your first $1 million: the Grind (months 0-4), the Growth (months 5-8), and the Gold (months 9-12). If your goal is to be a full-time entrepreneur, get ready for one chaotic, stressful, and rewarding year. If you have the guts to complete it, you will be the proud owner of a million-dollar business.
-
-
Good, but a Little Misleading
- By Chris Love on 11-28-20
-
The Ten-Day MBA 4th Ed.
- A Step-by-Step Guide to Mastering the Skills Taught In America's Top Business Schools
- By: Steven Silbiger
- Narrated by: Timothy Andrés Pabon
- Length: 12 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Revised and updated to answer the challenges of a rapidly changing business world, the 4th edition of The Ten-Day MBA includes the latest topics taught at America's top business schools, from corporate ethics and compliance to financial planning and real estate to leadership and negotiation. With more than 400,000 copies sold around the world, this internationally acclaimed guide distills the lessons of the most popular business school courses taught at Harvard, Stanford, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Chicago, Northwestern, and the University of Virginia.
-
-
No chapters!?!
- By Craig Z on 04-10-19
By: Steven Silbiger
-
Your Next Five Moves
- Master the Art of Business Strategy
- By: Patrick Bet-David
- Narrated by: Patrick Bet-David
- Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the creator of Valuetainment, the number-one YouTube channel for entrepreneurs, and “one of the most exciting thinkers” (Ray Dalio, author of Principles) in business today, comes a practical and effective guide for thinking more clearly and achieving your most audacious professional goals.
-
-
Mediocre; few actionable take-aways.
- By Michael on 10-31-20
-
Financial Intelligence
- A Manager's Guide to Knowing What the Numbers Really Mean
- By: Karen Berman, Joe Knight
- Narrated by: Tom Zingarelli
- Length: 7 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Since its release in 2006, Financial Intelligence has become a favorite among managers who need a guided tour through the numbers, helping them to understand not only what the numbers really mean but also why they matter. This new, completely updated edition brings the numbers up to date and continues to teach the basics of finance to managers who need to use financial data to drive their business.
-
-
You need to listen with the pdf documents
- By Jean on 03-22-18
By: Karen Berman, and others
-
Zero to One
- Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future
- By: Peter Thiel, Blake Masters
- Narrated by: Blake Masters
- Length: 4 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The great secret of our time is that there are still uncharted frontiers to explore and new inventions to create. In Zero to One, legendary entrepreneur and investor Peter Thiel shows how we can find singular ways to create those new things.
-
-
Seems Insightful Until You Think A Little Deeper
- By Mark Brandon on 10-31-14
By: Peter Thiel, and others
-
The Lean Startup
- How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses
- By: Eric Ries
- Narrated by: Eric Ries
- Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Most startups fail. But many of those failures are preventable. The Lean Startup is a new approach being adopted across the globe, changing the way companies are built and new products are launched.
-
-
Informative, mature but not original or essential
- By Jason Comely on 02-19-13
By: Eric Ries
-
12 Months to $1 Million
- How to Pick a Winning Product, Build a Real Business, and Become a Seven-Figure Entrepreneur
- By: Ryan Daniel Moran
- Narrated by: Ryan Daniel Moran
- Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
By cutting out the noise and providing a clear and proven plan, this road map helps even brand-new entrepreneurs make decisions quickly, get their product up for sale, and launch it to a crowd that is ready and waiting to buy. This one-year plan will guide you through the three stages to your first $1 million: the Grind (months 0-4), the Growth (months 5-8), and the Gold (months 9-12). If your goal is to be a full-time entrepreneur, get ready for one chaotic, stressful, and rewarding year. If you have the guts to complete it, you will be the proud owner of a million-dollar business.
-
-
Good, but a Little Misleading
- By Chris Love on 11-28-20
-
The Ten-Day MBA 4th Ed.
- A Step-by-Step Guide to Mastering the Skills Taught In America's Top Business Schools
- By: Steven Silbiger
- Narrated by: Timothy Andrés Pabon
- Length: 12 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Revised and updated to answer the challenges of a rapidly changing business world, the 4th edition of The Ten-Day MBA includes the latest topics taught at America's top business schools, from corporate ethics and compliance to financial planning and real estate to leadership and negotiation. With more than 400,000 copies sold around the world, this internationally acclaimed guide distills the lessons of the most popular business school courses taught at Harvard, Stanford, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Chicago, Northwestern, and the University of Virginia.
-
-
No chapters!?!
- By Craig Z on 04-10-19
By: Steven Silbiger
-
Your Deceptive Mind: A Scientific Guide to Critical Thinking Skills
- By: Steven Novella, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Steven Novella
- Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
No skill is more important in today's world than being able to think about, understand, and act on information in an effective and responsible way. What's more, at no point in human history have we had access to so much information, with such relative ease, as we do in the 21st century. But because misinformation out there has increased as well, critical thinking is more important than ever. These 24 rewarding lectures equip you with the knowledge and techniques you need to become a savvier, sharper critical thinker in your professional and personal life.
-
-
Same Material Different Title
- By rkeinc on 09-21-14
By: Steven Novella, and others
-
Blue Ocean Strategy, Expanded Edition
- How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant
- By: W. Chan Kim, Renee Mauborgne
- Narrated by: Roger Wayne
- Length: 8 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this perennial best seller, embraced by organizations and industries worldwide, globally preeminent management thinkers W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne challenge everything you thought you knew about the requirements for strategic success. Recognized as one of the most iconic and impactful strategy books ever written, Blue Ocean Strategy, now updated with fresh content from the authors, argues that cutthroat competition results in nothing but a bloody red ocean of rivals fighting over a shrinking profit pool.
-
-
Profoundly Insightful
- By James on 10-29-20
By: W. Chan Kim, and others
-
Never Split the Difference
- Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It
- By: Chris Voss
- Narrated by: Michael Kramer
- Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After a stint policing the rough streets of Kansas City, Missouri, Chris Voss joined the FBI, where his career as a hostage negotiator brought him face-to-face with a range of criminals, including bank robbers and terrorists. Reaching the pinnacle of his profession, he became the FBI's lead international kidnapping negotiator. Never Split the Difference takes you inside the world of high-stakes negotiations and into Voss' head.
-
-
Needs PDF companion file
- By John L. Pinkowski on 03-07-17
By: Chris Voss
-
Corporate Finance
- The Ultimate Guide to Financial Reporting, Business Valuation, Risk Management, Financial Management, and Financial Statements
- By: Greg Shields
- Narrated by: Michael Reaves, Eric Burr
- Length: 12 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Discover how you can improve your financial skills and learn more about corporate finance in this five-audiobook bundle. You'll learn about competitive analysis, customer checks, how to mitigate risk, how to make the right acquisitions by asking the right questions, how to analyze your business' performance, and much more.
-
-
Great but accompanying PDF does not match!
- By Jill on 04-12-20
By: Greg Shields
-
Principles
- Life and Work
- By: Ray Dalio
- Narrated by: Ray Dalio, Jeremy Bobb
- Length: 16 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ray Dalio, one of the world's most successful investors and entrepreneurs, shares the unconventional principles that he's developed, refined, and used over the past 40 years to create unique results in both life and business - and which any person or organization can adopt to help achieve their goals.
-
-
Idea-meritocracy/Principles Reference
- By Patrick Eberle on 06-30-18
By: Ray Dalio
-
The Psychology of Money
- Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness
- By: Morgan Housel
- Narrated by: Chris Hill
- Length: 5 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Money - investing, personal finance, and business decisions - is typically taught as a math-based field, where data and formulas tell us exactly what to do. But in the real world people don’t make financial decisions on a spreadsheet. They make them at the dinner table, or in a meeting room, where personal history, your own unique view of the world, ego, pride, marketing, and odd incentives are scrambled together. In The Psychology of Money, award-winning author Morgan Housel shares 19 short stories exploring the strange ways people think about money.
-
-
Could be summarized in one sentence
- By Alex on 05-30-21
By: Morgan Housel
-
Influence, New and Expanded
- The Psychology of Persuasion
- By: Robert B. Cialdini
- Narrated by: Robert B. Cialdini
- Length: 20 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the new edition of this highly acclaimed bestseller, Robert Cialdini—New York Times bestselling author of Pre-Suasion and the seminal expert in the fields of influence and persuasion—explains the psychology of why people say yes and how to apply these insights ethically in business and everyday settings. You'll learn Cialdini's Universal Principles of Influence, including new research and new uses so you can become an even more skilled persuader—and just as importantly, you'll learn how to defend yourself against unethical influence attempts.
-
-
Use the Audible Speed Feature!
- By Sand on 05-30-21
-
The E-Myth Revisited
- Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It
- By: Michael E. Gerber
- Narrated by: Michael E. Gerber
- Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this audio edition of the totally revised underground best seller, The E-Myth, Michael Gerber dispels the myths surrounding starting your own business and shows how commonplace assumptions can get in the way of running a business. He walks you through the steps in the life of a business, from entrepreneurial infancy, through adolescent growing pains, to the mature entrepreneurial perspective, the guiding light of all businesses that succeed.
-
-
Saved my Life
- By Christine on 09-17-08
-
Broke Millennial
- Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together
- By: Erin Lowry
- Narrated by: Erin Lowry
- Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Stop living paycheck to paycheck and get your financial life together (#GYFLT)! If you're a cash-strapped 20- or 30-something, it's easy to get freaked out by finances. But you're not doomed to spend your life drowning in debt or mystified by money. It's time to stop scraping by and take control of your money and your life with this savvy and smart guide. Broke Millennial shows step by step how to go from flat broke to financial badass.
-
-
Why take advice from someone without uni debt
- By Katie on 10-14-18
By: Erin Lowry
-
How to Fight a Hydra
- By: Josh Kaufman
- Narrated by: Josh Kaufman
- Length: 1 hr and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this illuminating fable, productivity expert Josh Kaufman explores the uncertainty and fear inherent in facing down any ambitious challenge, from starting a new business to completing a work of art. The risks involved can never be eliminated, but they can be understood, anticipated, and mitigated. Armed with an adventurer's insights into tackling unknown and fearsome challenges, you can tame a project of epic proportions. How to Fight a Hydra is an essential handbook for artists, creative professionals, and entrepreneurs tired of ignoring the call to adventure.
-
-
A memorable listen
- By Tom-Åge Midtbø on 10-25-18
By: Josh Kaufman
-
Good to Great
- Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't
- By: Jim Collins
- Narrated by: Jim Collins
- Length: 10 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Built To Last, the defining management study of the 90s, showed how great companies triumph over time and how long-term sustained performance can be engineered into the DNA of an enterprise from the very beginning. But what about companies that are not born with great DNA? How can good companies, mediocre companies, even bad companies achieve enduring greatness?
-
-
Good info, over-the-top narration
- By Anaxamaxan on 08-31-10
By: Jim Collins
-
Scrum
- The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time
- By: Jeff Sutherland, J.J. Sutherland
- Narrated by: J.J. Sutherland
- Length: 6 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
By the man who helped invent the red-hot management process known as "Scrum", Scrum unveils what is wrong with the way we currently do work, and how a simple set of principles, applied in exactly the right sequence, can accelerate productivity and quality as much as 1200 percent. Scrum (which gets its name from the formation in rugby in which the whole team locks its arms to gain control of the ball) is the reason that Amazon can launch a new feature on its website every day.
-
-
Great book but...
- By punkmasta on 08-31-15
By: Jeff Sutherland, and others
Publisher's summary
Audie Award Nominee, Business and Educational, 2013
Getting an MBA is an expensive choice - one almost impossible to justify regardless of the state of the economy. Even the elite schools like Harvard and Wharton offer outdated, assembly-line programs that teach you more about PowerPoint presentations and unnecessary financial models than what it takes to run a real business. You can get better results (and save hundreds of thousands of dollars) by skipping business school altogether....
Josh Kaufman founded PersonalMBA.com as an alternative to the business school boondoggle. His blog has introduced hundreds of thousands of readers to the best business books and most powerful business concepts of all time. Now, he shares the essentials of entrepreneurship, marketing, sales, negotiation, operations, productivity, systems design, and much more, in one comprehensive volume.
The Personal MBA distills the most valuable business lessons into simple, memorable mental models that can be applied to real-world challenges.
True leaders aren't made by business schools - they make themselves, seeking out the knowledge, skills, and experience they need to succeed. Read this book and you will learn the principles it takes most business professionals a lifetime of trial and error to master.
More from the same
What listeners love about The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Cori
- 01-20-13
Not an MBA, But A Damn Decent Experience.
If you're expecting this to be a substitute for an MBA course, you'll be disappointed, and rightly so. If, however, you are looking for an excellent summary of a great deal of critical business, psychology and marketing concepts, that any aspiring entrepreneur or successful business owner should know, then this is the audiobook to get your hands on.
It's 13 hours, but i'll still be giving it another listen in a few months or so, a testament to it's quality. Highly recommended.
131 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Al
- 05-29-13
After a slow start there's some good stuff
What made the experience of listening to The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business the most enjoyable?
Minuses - 1) The author starts off with an attack on MBAs and a justification for the book. That is not necessary and doesn't resonate well. I very nearly gave up on it for that reason, so skip the first chapter. 2) This is not anything like an MBA, which is fairly obvious, but I think the title is unnecessarily misleading and should be changed to 'Shortcut to an MBA' or something like that.
Pluses -1) The author has done an enormous amount of good research. 2) He covers a large amount of ground 3) He has some good insights on the topics he covers 4) The author narrates and it comes across really well. 5) There are ongoing online resources.
Overall a good purchase - I bought it on audio and kindle
108 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- M. R.
- 10-01-12
Good Business Education
Where does The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
I bought this for my daughter, but I decided to listen to it and I was suddenly flooded with business ideas!! I'm 53 years old and I am now on the cusp of some great ideas!! Excellent "read"
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business?
For me, it was the author's prologue on how he got to this point in his own journey. It was inspiring.
What about Josh Kaufman’s performance did you like?
Sounded a bit robotic, but nonetheless, a good narrator.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
It's 13 hours, so I could not. Plus it's something you need to listen to and then digest.
Any additional comments?
This information is rich; it's valuable. The most important component to any MBA is the student. How hungry are they? You can have all the Harvard and Yale MBAs you want, but unless the individual is proactive,....
100 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Riaan
- 10-31-12
This is a must Listen
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business?
Chapter 1 first 10 Min, Amazing
Any additional comments?
After the Intro is done and dusted, WOW amazing wealth of knowledge.
Must Listen. I really Enjoyed it.
Skip the Intro! It is an hour of moaning about MBA programs.
81 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Matthew
- 11-12-12
Good but grating...
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
I recommend this book for it's functional information.
Would you be willing to try another book from Josh Kaufman? Why or why not?
I would hesitate to try another book by Josh Kaufman, unless it had a different narrator.
Would you be willing to try another one of Josh Kaufman’s performances?
Unfortunately, his clipped voice and unusual pronunciation made it difficult to concentrate on the otherwise interesting subject matter.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Listening to this book is a personal battle between loving the content and trying to tune out the talker.
Any additional comments?
I probably should have gone old-school and bought the printed version, or at least the ebook.
60 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- ROBERT
- 01-20-13
A great reference with a distracting narration
It's rare that I listen to audio book and then run out and buy the dead-tree edition. But I will with this one. This is a reference book that should be on the desk of every entrepreneur or business owner. In clear, simple terms, devoid of buzz words Kaufman lays out everything you need to know about business. It truly is an MBA-lite.
However, as a reference book, it's really not a great listen on your daily commute. Think dictionary-on-tape. Maybe that's a little harsh, but it's not exactly a pot boiler that makes you miss your exit.
My only other complaint is the narration. Ever since listening to William Gibson read "Neuromancer," I've avoided books read by the author, but I decided to make an exception in this case. That was a mistake. Kaufman is no Frank Muller or Scott Brick.
Fantastic content and very useful. I'll be referring to this title again and again.
56 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- ERF000
- 12-02-12
Very Good Business Basics Overview
Would you listen to The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business again? Why?
Yes. Plenty of relevant material to educate the business owner (and there staff) with no formal business education.
Very well arranged progression of topics and concepts.
Any additional comments?
Only reason I gave it a 4 star was the completely unnecessary and relevant beginning which goes on much much much too long about how useless a regular MBA is. Skip this, it adds nothing to the content.
The real meat of the book is excellent. I will be buying the hard copy for visual reference to accompany the audiobook.
Would make and excellent base for the developing staff basic business training.
44 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Aaron
- 10-01-12
Great Book that Covers the Basics & Provides Refs
This audio book is packed with plenty of useful information on critical business concepts. Additionally, Josh provides a wealth of references that can be used to further investigate a particular concept in more details. Great resource for anyone who runs a small business or is seeking to understand the fundamentals of running a business.
41 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Sara
- 10-10-12
Can't get self-entitilement of the first chapter
What did you like best about The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business? What did you like least?
I'm a very open minded person, but also a very busy person. Time is important; life is short. I just spent 20 minutes listening to the author talk in a clipped voice about why he's qualified to write this book, why he's an outlier, why he's special, why one career experience with one employer gives him credo, etc. Ok, so maybe there are many other career experiences or insights to follow but I honestly can't deal with the ego trip and can only ask the author to please get outside of himself if he wants to connect with people (or settle in for a few years and see what life is like, then write from a sincere place). I'm giving some rating as there are likely good things to follow as promised by author. Yet I can't quite get past this point on audio. Perhaps a hard copy to flip through is the best format for this book.
29 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- John
- 11-08-12
Disappointed
I purchased this book as a refresher to the MBA I recieved 5 years ago from a local college. I found the subject matter very superficial and generic. The author did not appear to have a strong background in business. Few real word examples other than his experience in marketing at Proctor and Gamble or non-business examples were used to make a point.
The content in this book may be beneficial to a recent college graduate looking for a basic synopsis of general business principles or an entry level business major trying to improve oppurtunities in the workplace.
28 people found this helpful
-
Overall

- Stephen
- 02-11-13
Buyer Beware.
Probably the worst audiobook I've ever heard.
I thought this was going to be an interesting book - giving an overview of the topics covered in an MBA from a layman's point of view, with references to further reading materials. Instead, it was a 13 hour advert for some guy's blog.
The first hour of the audiobook is setting the scene, with a variety of weak arguments about why an MBA is a waste of time and money, but giving absolutely no evidence that the Author's approach (of just reading lots of books without going to school) isn't also a waste of time and slightly less money.
When he finally gets to the actual topic at hand, the material is covered at a very high level, and is mostly just a list of bullet points to think about. This would probably be slightly less useless in printed format than in audio form. Each brief chapter recommends further reading, and badgers you to go visit the author's blog.
I would recommend anyone interested in this book to just skip the audiobook, go straight to the guy's website and look at his reading list. That will give you a good list of books that are more useful than this one.
I would also caution that this is more of a self-help book than a business book. Many of the books that he recommends for further reading are also more about "motivation", than actually learning about business.
52 people found this helpful
-
Overall

- Amazon Customer
- 04-17-13
Better than expected
The previous review put me off purchasing this, but I had seen the book and decided to give it a go.
I was glad I did - I found the information very easy to understand and useful: it has helped me to see where I am going right in my two businesses as well as spot where I am going wrong. It is thought provoking and has helped me think about things - for this reason it has been a worthwhile purchase.
The author does mention his website - but not too often and I did not find it particularly self-promoting or distracting. It is certainly far better than many of the charlatans that write books to promote the author's own websites, seminars and tapes.
This book has substance and is enjoyable to listen to.
11 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Dan
- 07-08-13
A real resource worth listening to
What did you like most about The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business?
I liked it's clear structure, which had impact and purpose. Lots of example stories and case studies also make this a book worth getting.
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business?
The ongoing analysis and criticism of top flight MBA business schools. The message is clear: if you've got a spare $100k+ to buy entry to an exclusive members club, then these top schools are for you - but don't be under any illusion that you'll learn anything different than any other of the good MBA schools out there. Save your money and learn about the topics explored in MBAs yourself - you'll save yourself a lot of money, which you could put towards your business venture.
Which character – as performed by Josh Kaufman – was your favourite?
N/A
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
It reaffirmed what I'd suspected - and potentially saved me a £££s of money in fees.
Any additional comments?
One of the few business books worth reading, given that it provides practical and common sense advice, but in a crystalised / useful form.
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Héloïse
- 12-13-16
Boring
Boring, lack of innovative ideas, first chapter is just of criticism of MBA, highly disappointed
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Jamie
- 03-02-15
Definitely worth a read
Was skeptical about this book because of other reviews. But I found it very helpful. It gives a clear introduction to a variety of areas and provides recommendations for further reading
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anonymous User
- 12-11-17
nothing new with 99% of the concepts.
some concepts can be better narrated with examples. but missing. pls skip chapter 1 n 2. he is just promoting the book in those 2 chapters.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Nicolai
- 11-05-13
Waste of time
What disappointed you about The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business?
First 1/3 part of this audio book is mostly a waste of time. It's a very basic overview of some complicated tasks you'll meet in business live.
This can't really serve as much more than a index card for what you need to learn - anyhow that is also the point of the book: don't waste many years in school and spend all your money learning these topics, when you can learn them from books.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anonymous User
- 08-18-20
Read only as an intro to business
The audiobook covers a bunch of topics, from motivation to corporate finance, at a very high level. Feels like listening to multiple book summaries in a row.
Every chapter ends in a very arbitrary conclusion which doesn’t always reflect the chapter content correctly.
Only read if this is your first or maybe second business/self-help book
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Story

- Sarah
- 08-18-19
An Undergrad in 13 hrs
Good overall snapshot of a 3 years Business degree in 13 hrs. Listen to this before shelling out £30k on an MBA!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Amazon Customer
- 11-26-18
great book
definitely worth reading if one thinks of starting a business or improving their performance incorporate environment
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Mr
- 02-07-15
Great content, great book!
Good concise breakdown of the MBA syllabus. Easy to listen to and well written. A must listen! Worth a look!
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Michael
- 04-11-16
Awesome
loved it. very informative, everything in an mba in one book and simplified, and I have done an mba myself.
9 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Bernardo Coelho
- 06-23-17
Great content but better to have and consult
Would you consider the audio edition of The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business to be better than the print version?
I do believe the written version might be better. This book is a great pool of value concepts from several best sellers in a condensed way. Good to be able to consult every now and then.
What did you like best about this story?
It does go through the whole of business in a short and direct way. At the beginning sounds a bit odd but, once you get used to the language, is really engaging and efficient in passing the message.
Have you listened to any of Josh Kaufman’s other performances? How does this one compare?
No, I haven't.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I felt enlightened by some of the information provided and help me assess the real value of a Professional MBA.
Any additional comments?
If you are not sure to invest in a Professional MBA the book might give you all the reasons not to. So would be a good counter-point to all the reasons you think you should do it.
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Derrick
- 02-14-16
Good book
Great book for identifying the fundamental ideas for being successful in business. The first part of the book that talks about the need for an mba could have been condensed down.
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Sylvia
- 06-06-15
Wow
This was an eye opener not only applicable to business but also to life. A great read
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Joel
- 11-28-17
Felt like more filler than substance
The book is insightful in parts, but ultimately lacks depth where you might want it. At times the language leans very heavily on buzzwords without substantial or clear meaning. overall, OK read, but might not recommend to others
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Raymond
- 09-27-16
A great book for small business owners
Josh Kaufman utilises clear and relatable language that educates new arrivals to the world of business and personal development. This book is a testament to his personal life story including the high regard for personal development which is key to his success.
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Michael Zhu
- 01-31-16
Excellent intro to business
Very well composed book about the basics of business, and being a good person. Thanks for sharing the wisdom that a proper expensive MBA may not be suitable for everyone.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- OliC
- 12-20-19
what a waste of time
I'm sorry but this book is for absolute beginners. Calling it a personal MBA is comical, if not misleading.
It's also pretty clear the author has no experience apart from a couple of years at P&G. It just comes across as a guy reading out definitions and things hes read, but never experienced.
The narration is dead boring too.
I highly recommend fastlane millionaire instead
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Mathew
- 04-03-17
fantastic info and presentation
great info. precise. real world. not boring. well worth the listen. recommend to not just business owners but anyone working
1 person found this helpful
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
The Ten-Day MBA 4th Ed.
- A Step-by-Step Guide to Mastering the Skills Taught In America's Top Business Schools
- By: Steven Silbiger
- Narrated by: Timothy Andrés Pabon
- Length: 12 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Revised and updated to answer the challenges of a rapidly changing business world, the 4th edition of The Ten-Day MBA includes the latest topics taught at America's top business schools, from corporate ethics and compliance to financial planning and real estate to leadership and negotiation. With more than 400,000 copies sold around the world, this internationally acclaimed guide distills the lessons of the most popular business school courses taught at Harvard, Stanford, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Chicago, Northwestern, and the University of Virginia.
-
-
No chapters!?!
- By Craig Z on 04-10-19
By: Steven Silbiger
-
Your Next Five Moves
- Master the Art of Business Strategy
- By: Patrick Bet-David
- Narrated by: Patrick Bet-David
- Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the creator of Valuetainment, the number-one YouTube channel for entrepreneurs, and “one of the most exciting thinkers” (Ray Dalio, author of Principles) in business today, comes a practical and effective guide for thinking more clearly and achieving your most audacious professional goals.
-
-
Mediocre; few actionable take-aways.
- By Michael on 10-31-20
-
The First 20 Hours
- How to Learn Anything... Fast!
- By: Josh Kaufman
- Narrated by: Josh Kaufman
- Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The First 20 Hours, Josh Kaufman offers a systematic approach to rapid skill acquisition: how to learn any new skill as quickly as possible. His method shows you how to deconstruct complex skills, maximize productive practice, and remove common learning barriers. By completing just 20 hours of focused, deliberate practice you'll go from knowing absolutely nothing to performing noticeably well. What do you want to learn?
-
-
Finished the thesis early in the book
- By wh on 06-16-13
By: Josh Kaufman
-
The Portable MBA
- By: Kenneth M. Eades, Timothy M. Laseter, Ian Skurnik, and others
- Narrated by: Adam Hanin
- Length: 18 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A totally revised, new edition of the best-selling guide to business school basics.
The best-selling book that invented the "MBA in a book" category, The Portable MBA, Fifth Edition, is a reliable and information-packed guide to the business school curriculum and experience. For years, professionals who need MBA-level information and insight - but don't need the hassle of business school - have turned to the Portable MBA series for the very best, most up-to-date coverage of the business basics.
-
-
Should be a PDF attachment
- By George Bonev on 12-09-12
By: Kenneth M. Eades, and others
-
Complete MBA For Dummies
- 2nd Edition
- By: Kathleen Allen PhD, Peter Economy
- Narrated by: Steven Jay Cohen
- Length: 18 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Want to get an MBA? The Complete MBA For Dummies, 2nd Edition, is the practical, plain-English guide that covers all the basics of a top-notch MBA program, helping you to navigate today's most innovative business strategies. From management to entrepreneurship to strategic planning, you'll understand the hottest trends and get the latest techniques for motivating employees, building global partnerships, managing risk, and manufacturing. This easy-to-access guide is full of useful information, tips, and checklists that will help you lead, manage, or participate in any business.
-
-
Not well laid out. No story to follow. Not entertaining at all.
- By Jen Si on 12-11-19
By: Kathleen Allen PhD, and others