25 Best Growth Hacking Books to Read in 2023 [Must-Reads]
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Level up your knowledge of growth hacking by checking out 25 of the best growth hacking books you must read in 2023.
These books will teach you tactics and strategies to increase your product growth.
TL;DR
- Product Rantz by Emilia Korczynska will show you how your product experience shouldn’t be.
- The Growth Handbook is a compilation of proven frameworks and invaluable insights from industry leaders.
- Growth Hacker Marketing reveals the secrets of harnessing the power of growth for success.
- Hacking Growth presents a practical method for achieving growth.
- The Growth Hacking Book incorporates insights from over 35 marketing industry thought leaders.
- The Growth Marketer’s Playbook presents a practical how-to guide for digital marketing.
- Growing Happy Clients guides you through the entire client journey, equipping you with the essential “soft skills”.
- Traction teaches you how to build a customer base, accompanied by a three-step framework to identify the most effective ones.
- The Lean Startup shows you how to test and adopt your company’s vision before it’s too late.
- Hooked helps you create a product people use because they want to.
- The Referral Engine teaches you how to foster sustainable growth and customer loyalty by cultivating a referral-driven business.
- In “The Paper Plane Plan” Ross Davies shares his experiments for accelerating growth in service industries.
- Contagious explores the factors that make certain ideas and products go viral.
- 100 Days of Growth presents 100 proven tactics to attract and retain customers.
- Scaling Up presents practical strategies and tools to scale up your business.
- Influence explores the principles of persuasion and how a growth hacker can apply them in various situations.
- Data-Driven provides practical strategies for leveraging data effectively to achieve long-term success.
- Growth IQ shares insights and a growth marketing blueprint for adapting to changing market dynamics.
- The 1-Page Marketing Plan is a concise and practical guide to simplify the complex marketing world.
- Zero to One is a thought-provoking guide to building a sustainable business from scratch.
- The Startup Owner’s Manual offers practical advice and real-world insights for building a successful startup.
- Lean Analytics provides practical frameworks and case studies to help startups make informed decisions and optimize their product-market fit.
- Sprint is a practical guide that offers step-by-step instructions to streamline decision-making.
- Product-Led Growth emphasizes the importance of creating products that sell themselves through user-centric experiences.
- Crossing the Chasm is a seminal book that helps businesses navigate the challenging “chasm” and achieve widespread market adoption.
Best growth hacking books to achieve explosive customer growth
Unlock the power of other people’s success and learn from their failures by reading the best growth hacking books.
Growth hacking book #1: “Product Rantz” by Emilia Korczynska
About the author
Emilia Korczynska is a seasoned marketing professional with expertise in growth marketing, SEO, and traditional marketing.
She is the Head of Marketing at Userpilot and has successfully worked with and co-founded several SaaS companies, driving their growth.
Book summary
Product Rantz offers a humorous and insightful exploration of user experience in product development.
The book shares lessons from real-life experiences, exposing the pitfalls and triumphs of creating sticky and engaging products.
Key learnings
- How to increase the number of users who activate.
- Why you should be using personalization in your product.
- The crucial metric that has the largest impact on your MRR.
Growth hacking book #2: “The Growth Handbook” by Andrew Chen
About the author
Andrew Chen is a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, focusing on early-stage consumer startups.
Andrew writes about user growth, metrics, and network effects and has been cited in Wired, WSJ, and New York Times.
Book summary
The Growth Handbook is a compilation of proven frameworks and invaluable insights shared by industry leaders who have successfully grown businesses from initial stages to generating explosive revenue growth.
Key learnings
- Identify your product’s “magic moment” and optimize it for a seamless customer experience.
- Recognize the significance of customer retention as the most potent driver of hacking growth.
- Understand the dos and don’ts of conducting growth experiments.
Growth hacking book #3 “Growth Hacker Marketing” by Ryan Holiday
About the author
Ryan Holiday is an esteemed author and speaker specializing in stoicism, marketing, and personal development.
Book summary
Growth Hacker Marketing is a practical guide on using growth hacking in modern marketing.
It shares examples from successful companies like Airbnb and Dropbox, emphasizing data-driven experimentation and user-focused campaigns.
Key learnings
- Prioritize finding a product that meets the needs of your target audience.
- Rely on data to drive your marketing decisions.
- Utilize growth channels with the potential to reach your target audience.
Growth hacking book #4: “Hacking Growth: How Today’s Fastest-Growing Companies Drive Breakout Success” by Sean Ellis and Morgan Brown
About the authors
Sean Ellis coined the term “growth hacking” and has contributed to the success of companies like Dropbox and Eventbrite.
Morgan Brown has a strong growth marketing and product development background, with experience at Facebook and Qualaroo.
Book summary
Hacking Growth emphasizes data-driven experimentation and collaboration.
It covers customer acquisition, retention, and monetization with real-world examples.
Key learnings
- Use data to inform marketing decisions and measure the success of growth strategies.
- Break down silos between marketing, engineering, and product teams.
- Continuously test and optimize different growth strategies to find what works best.
Growth hacking book #5: “The Growth Hacking Book” by Parul Agrawal, Rohan Chaubey & Growth Media AI
About the authors
Experienced growth hackers, growth marketing experts, and entrepreneurs author the Growth Hacking Book.
They share insider secrets and actionable advice to achieve explosive customer growth.
Book summary
Growth Hacking Silicon Valley’s Best Kept Secret is a comprehensive almanac for growth in today’s competitive business world.
Curated by GrowthMedia.AI, it features insights from 35+ marketing experts, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders.
Key learnings
- The concept of growth hacking and its application in today’s competitive business landscape.
- Unconventional marketing strategies used by successful companies in Silicon Valley.
- The growth mindset, skillset, and toolset required for rapid growth marketing.
Growth hacking book #6: “The Growth Marketer’s Playbook: A Strategic Guide to Growing a Business in Today’s Digital World” by Jim Huffman
About the author
Jim Huffman is the co-founder and CEO of GrowthHit, a consultancy specializing in data-driven growth strategies.
He has successfully grown user bases, generated millions of page views, and driven significant e-commerce sales.
Book summary
This easy-to-follow book helps readers run effective growth processes, identify growth opportunities, and gain insights from 25 real-life case studies.
Key learnings
- Implement a growth process used by successful VC-backed businesses.
- The one growth hack that will help you identify the right opportunities.
- Learn from common startup mistakes to avoid pitfalls and setbacks.
Growth hacking book #7: “Growing Happy Clients” by Daphne Tideman and Ward van Gasteren
About the authors
Daphne Tideman brings a wealth of experience in customer success and has worked with numerous organizations to drive customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Ward van Gasteren specializes in strategic business development and has a proven track record of helping companies achieve sustainable growth through client-centric approaches.
Book summary
Growing Happy Clients offers exact growth marketing strategies for cultivating strong client relationships.
The book provides practical insights to enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Key learnings
- Importance of prioritizing customer satisfaction.
- Strategies for nurturing strong client relationships.
- Techniques for enhancing customer loyalty and retention.
Growth hacking book #8: “Traction” by Gabriel Weinberg
About the author
Gabriel Weinberg is an experienced entrepreneur specializing in startup growth.
As CEO and co-founder of DuckDuckGo, he has achieved significant success in user acquisition.
Book summary
Traction is a practical guide for entrepreneurs seeking sustainable growth.
The book introduces the “Bullseye Framework,” presenting nineteen channels and providing insights on identifying and testing growth levers.
Key learnings
- Learn how to identify the most effective channels.
- Explore nineteen traction channels and understand how to leverage them for maximum impact.
- Embrace a data-driven approach by conducting small-scale experiments to validate channel effectiveness.
Growth hacking book #9: “The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries
About the author
Eric Ries is a renowned entrepreneur known for introducing the Lean Startup methodology.
With a software engineering and business background, Ries provides practical insights and strategies for building thriving businesses.
Book summary
The Lean Startup is a groundbreaking guide for entrepreneurs. It introduces the Lean Startup methodology, emphasizing continuous innovation and validated learning.
The book offers practical techniques for testing ideas, minimizing waste, and increasing the chances of success.
Key learnings
- Embrace the Build-Measure-Learn feedback loop to validate ideas and make data-driven decisions.
- Focus on creating a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to quickly test assumptions and gather customer feedback.
- Pivot or persevere based on the insights gained from continuous experimentation.
Growth hacking book #10: “Hooked” by Nir Eyal
About the author
Nir Eyal is an expert in behavioral design and consumer psychology.
With experience in technology and entrepreneurship, Eyal advises companies on creating engaging products, and his expertise has made him a sought-after speaker.
Book summary
Hooked explores the psychology behind creating products that form lasting habits.
Eyal presents a four-step framework called the “Hook Model” for building habit-forming products.
Key learnings
- The four-step Hook Model helps create habit-forming products.
- The importance of understanding user psychology and behavior to design products.
- Practical techniques for designing experiences that capture users’ attention and encourage repeated use.
Growth hacking book #11: “The Referral Engine” by John Jantsch
About the author
John Jantsch is a bestselling author, marketing speaker, and consultant specializing in small business marketing.
His expertise and reliability make him a trusted resource for businesses seeking actionable advice.
Book summary
The Referral Engine offers practical strategies and techniques to cultivate a referral-driven business, fostering sustainable growth and customer loyalty.
Key learnings
- Create a culture that encourages customer referrals.
- Growth hacking tactics to actively generate referrals.
- Understand the dynamics of networks and how to tap into existing relationships.
Growth hacking book #12: “The Paper Plane Plan” by Ross Davies
About the author
Ross Davies is Strafe Creative’s co-founder and Managing Director, a leading design agency in Nottingham, UK.
Specializing in web conversion, Ross and his team use user behavior data to create powerful websites that drive business growth.
Book summary
This book is a practical guide for B2B service companies looking to apply growth hacking strategies to their business.
Ross Davies shares his experiments for accelerating growth in service industries.
Key learnings
- Applying your own growth hacking strategy to B2B service companies.
- Implementing hacks that accelerate growth in service industries.
- Increasing client spending by leveraging existing relationships.
Growth marketing book #13: “Contagious” by Jonah Berger
About the author
Jonah Berger, an internationally bestselling author, and professor at the Wharton School, is a renowned expert in natural language processing, consumer behavior, and the science behind why things become popular.
Book summary
Contagious is a compelling guide that explores the factors that make certain ideas and products go viral.
Berger reveals the principles behind contagiousness and provides actionable strategies to help businesses create contagious content.
Key learnings
- Create content that makes people feel special or knowledgeable when they share it.
- Associate products or ideas with frequent triggers in people’s daily lives, increasing the likelihood of them sharing.
- Evoking strong emotions in people, as it’s more likely to be shared.
Growth hacking book #14: “100 Days of Growth” by Sujan Patel
About the author
Sujan Patel is a digital marketing expert, VP of Marketing at When I Work, and co-founder of Content Marketer.
He has fueled his passion for helping people and solving problems to drive When I Work’s 300% year-over-year growth.
Book summary
100 Days of Growth is a practical guide with 100 proven tactics for growth hackers to attract and retain customers, increase conversions, and drive revenue.
Key learnings
- The importance of setting clear growth goals and creating a roadmap.
- The value of experimentation and constant iteration for growth marketers.
- The significance of understanding your target audience and tailoring your marketing efforts to meet their needs.
Growth hacking strategy book #15: “Scaling Up” by Verne Harnish
About the author
Verne Harnish is a globally renowned entrepreneur, author, and speaker who has significantly impacted the business world.
As the founder of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) and CEO of Scaling Up, he has helped thousands of companies scale and succeed.
Book summary
Scaling Up presents practical strategies and tools to navigate scaling challenges, covering critical areas such as strategy, execution, and people.
Key learnings
- Develop a clear strategic framework identifying key priorities and setting measurable goals.
- Implementing a system for effective execution involving clear roles and responsibilities.
- Hiring the right people, providing training and development opportunities, and creating a positive work environment.
Growth hacking book #16: “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” by Robert Cialdini
About the author
Dr. Robert Cialdini, a world-renowned expert in Influence and Persuasion, is a three-time New York Times Bestselling author.
With a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina, he has been recognized for his research and is a member of prestigious academic institutions.
Book summary
Influence is a renowned book that explores the principles of persuasion and how a growth hacker can apply them in various situations.
Cialdini dives into the psychology behind why people say “yes” and provides practical insights on influencing others ethically.
Key learnings
- People are more likely to say “yes” to those who have given them something first.
- Some people tend to follow the actions of others, especially in uncertain situations.
- People are more likely to comply with requests from authoritative figures.
Growth hacking book #17: “Data-Driven: Creating a Data Culture” by Hilary Mason and DJ Patil
About the authors
DJ Patil is a highly influential data scientist who served as the first U.S. Chief Data Scientist under President Obama.
Hilary Mason is the Founder and CEO of Fast Forward Labs, a leading machine intelligence research company.
Book summary
Data-Driven explores how to build a data-driven culture, empowering businesses to make informed decisions and drive innovation.
It provides practical strategies and insights for leveraging data effectively to achieve long-term success.
Key learnings
- The importance of creating a data-driven culture within organizations.
- Strategies for effectively collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data.
- The role of data in decision-making and driving innovation.
Growth hacking book #18: “Growth IQ” by Tiffani Bova
About the author
Tiffani Bova is the chief growth evangelist at Salesforce and is one of the world’s top management thinkers.
Book summary
Growth IQ shares insights and a growth marketing blueprint for making smart business choices, leveraging technology, and adapting to changing market dynamics.
Key learnings
- Understand the importance of the customer experience.
- Embrace technology as a tool for growth and leverage it to enhance customer interactions.
- The growth hack for staying ahead of the competition.
Growth hacking book #19: “The 1-Page Marketing Plan” by Allan Dib
About the author
Allan Dib is a successful Australian entrepreneur, coach, and speaker known for his expertise in IT and marketing.
He has launched and scaled multiple businesses, earning recognition on the Business Review Weekly Fast 100 list.
Book summary
The 1-Page Marketing Plan is a concise and practical guide to simplify the complex marketing world.
Dib helps readers develop a comprehensive marketing plan to attract new customers, increase revenue, and differentiate themselves in a crowded marketplace.
Key learnings
- Understand the importance of creating a clear, concise marketing message.
- Learn how to identify and target your ideal user persona.
- Discover the power of implementing multiple marketing channels and strategies.
Growth hacking book #20: “Zero to One” by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters
About the authors
Blake Masters has a background in law and technology, and he gained attention for his detailed notes on Peter Thiel’s Stanford class, which later became a best-selling book.
Peter Thiel is known for co-founding PayPal and making early investments in companies like Facebook and has been a key figure in Silicon Valley.
Book summary
Zero to One is a thought-provoking guide to building successful startups and creating breakthrough innovations.
The authors share their insights on building a sustainable business from scratch and challenging conventional thinking.
Key learnings
- The importance of focusing on creating unique innovations rather than simply copying existing ideas.
- Going from “zero to one” means creating something entirely new and groundbreaking.
- The significance of building a strong team and company culture that aligns with the long-term vision.
Growth hacking book #21: “The Startup Owner’s Manual” by Steve Blank and Bob Dorf
About the authors
Steve Blank is a renowned Silicon Valley entrepreneur and educator who contributed significantly to the startup ecosystem.
Bob Dorf, a recognized authority on Customer Development, brings extensive expertise to startup strategies.
Book summary
The Startup Owner’s Manual offers practical advice and real-world insights for building a great company, from customer development to creating a scalable business model.
Key learnings
- Understanding customer needs and actively engaging with them throughout the development process.
- Adopt an iterative approach, constantly testing and refining your business model and product based on customer feedback.
- Create a scalable business model that can sustain growth and attract investors.
Growth hacking book #22: “Lean Analytics” by Alistair Croll and Benjamin Yoskovitz
About the author
Alistair Croll co-founded Coradiant and has extensive web performance, analytics, cloud computing, and business strategy expertise.
Ben Yoskovitz, a founding partner at Highline BETA, brings his experience from startups like VarageSale and GoInstant and large companies like Salesforce to bridge the gap between the two worlds.
Book summary
Lean Analytics teaches entrepreneurs to use data-driven insights to accelerate their startup’s growth.
The book provides practical frameworks and case studies to help startups make informed decisions and optimize their product-market fit.
Key learnings
- The importance of focusing on key metrics that directly impact your startup’s growth.
- The value of using data to inform decision-making and validate assumptions.
- Understanding your target audience and their behaviors to tailor your product.
Growth hacking book #23: “Sprint” by Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky, and Braden Kowitz
About the authors
Jake Knapp is the inventor of the Design Sprint and a bestselling author. He has a decade of experience at Google and Google Ventures, creating the Design Sprint process.
Book summary
Sprint teaches a time-efficient method for solving complex problems and testing innovative ideas.
The book offers step-by-step instructions and real-world examples to help teams streamline decision-making and achieve faster results.
Key learnings
- The importance of time-constrained problem-solving through the use of sprints.
- The value of diverse team collaboration in generating innovative solutions.
- The significance of prototyping and user testing is to validate ideas and minimize risks.
Growth hacking book #24: “Product-Led Growth” by Wes Bush
About the author
Wes Bush, founder, and CEO of ProductLed, challenges the status quo by flipping the traditional sales playbook.
With a focus on product-led growth, Wes teaches SaaS businesses to prioritize exceptional products that sell themselves.
Book summary
Product-Led Growth is a transformative guide for building successful products that drive growth.
It explores the concept of product-led growth, emphasizing the importance of creating products that sell themselves through user-centric experiences.
Key learnings
- Understand the concept of product-led growth and its impact on business success.
- Learn how to build user-centric products that naturally attract and retain customers.
- Discover strategies for leveraging product-led growth to drive sustainable and scalable business growth.
Growth hacking book #25: “Crossing the Chasm” by Geoffrey A. Moore
About the author
Geoffrey Moore is an influential author, and investor focused on disruptive innovations in the high-tech industry.
With a background in English literature and extensive experience in marketing, he is the chairman of The Chasm Group, Chasm Institute, and TCG Advisors.
Book summary
Crossing the Chasm is a seminal book in the field of technology marketing.
Moore’s framework helps businesses navigate the challenging “chasm” and achieve widespread market adoption.
Key learnings
- Targeting a specific niche market and gaining traction among early adopters.
- Address mainstream customers’ concerns and adoption barriers through strategic messaging and positioning.
- Creating a compelling value proposition and demonstrating a clear competitive advantage.
Conclusion
This selection of growth marketing books will help you determine exactly what you can do to grow your product and become a growth hacker.
Want to implement your findings and grow your product? Book a demo with our team and get started!
