Books Recommended by Rand Fishkin
Rand Fishkin is an American entrepreneur born in New Jersey who dropped out of the University of Washington in Seattle to purse his entrepreneurial dreams. He is mostly known for being the founder and former CEO of Moz, one of the leading companies offering SEO products and software.
By 2018, Moz had received a total of $29.1 million in three rounds of funding and was valued at more than $100 million. The success he had with Moz allowed him to be invited to speak to teams at companies like Google, Facebook or Microsoft and he was also invited to give presentations at the United Nations, Stanford University or YCombinator.
He’s also a very active blogger, being known for his frequent and transparent writing on the Moz blog. Including an incredibly honest post he wrote two years after stepping down as the company’s CEO. He has also frequently mentioned books in his blog posts and talked about reading.
Here are the books written or recommended by Rand Fishkin:
Books by Rand Fishkin
10 books recommended by Rand Fishkin
The Lean Startup
by Eric Ries
Despite all the hype, it truly is a great book on architecting early stage startups.
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
Robert Cialdini’s seminal work on how and why mankind thinks and acts. Essential reading.
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t
by Jim Collins
When I first finished the book, I admit that I still had trouble thinking about how to apply many of the lessons to a company like SEOmoz - with our 7-person team and eclectic industry focus, we would seem to be a far cry from… Read the full quote
When I first finished the book, I admit that I still had trouble thinking about how to apply many of the lessons to a company like SEOmoz - with our 7-person team and eclectic industry focus, we would seem to be a far cry from the Krogers, Circuit Citys, Walmarts, and Fannie Maes of the world. But, I did something I rarely ever do - I went back and re-read. I think I've probably read each chapter at least twice in the past 75 days. And, finally, it started to sink in. I wanted to apply these lessons and ask these tough questions about SEOmoz.
Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions
by Dan Ariely
A phenomenal work from Dan Ariely on why we make seemingly irrational choices.
Outliers: The Story of Success
I'm so lucky - so much luckier than I've ever considered - to be where I am. Thankfully, it appears I'm not alone - if Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers (worth reading, BTW) is right, everyone who gets to do these kinds of exciting things in their lives owes that opportunity to the people around them, and I'm no different.
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
During my travels, I managed to wrap up Malcolm Gladwell's Tipping Point. It was a great read, and deserves the level of attention it's received. The theories behind the work are well fleshed out, compelling and supported by very good examples.
Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies
What do companies that survive for generations do differently than those who burn out fast? Another great analysis.
The Upside of Irrationality: The Unexpected Benefits of Defying Logic at Work and at Home
by Dan Ariely
Another excellent book from Ariely, with a lot of new research and a personal take that helps keep the text moving.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Empathy is at the core of my beliefs, and this is one of the best books I’ve ever read that fosters empathetic thinking. It’s also a great reminder of how hard it is to accomplish anything when your life circumstances and surroundings negatively contribute to progress and a great reminder to stay humble.
The Billionaire Who Wasn’t: How Chuck Feeney Secretly Made and Gave Away a Fortune
A remarkable biography of one of my personal heroes: Chuck Feeney. This is probably the book that’s inspired me most in my professional career.
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