23 books management consultants from firms like McKinsey and Bain recommend for anyone who wants to make smarter business decisions

Whether you’re a consultant hoping to excel at work or a business school student eager to land a six-figure job at a firm, books can serve as a great resource for you to learn the ins and outs of the management consulting industry. 

Consultants specialize in advising leaders to make smarter money and business decisions. They usually have a knack for diagnosing company strengths and weaknesses on the fly.

Apart from the high salaries and prestige, consultants spend their days collaborating with teams, negotiating with high-profile clients, and solving complex problems. Most of their skills are mastered through business school and rigorous training at elite firms. But there are some skills management consultants can learn and develop from books.

Leading consulting firms like McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, and the Big Four account firms (which consists of Deloitte, KPMG, EY, and PwC) are known to be rather tight-lipped about their client work. But there are several books written by former employees and journalists that can offer you more insight to what it’s like to work there. 

Business Insider has compiled a list of books recommended by MBA graduates, business school professors, and former consultants. We also included resourceful reads for job seekers who want to learn more about specific firms. This wide-ranged reading list gives tools for problem solving and persuasion, teaches the impact of different management styles, and informs you on what you’re expected to know.

Here are 23 books related to management consulting you should read.