6 books, summarised simply.
Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making
by Tony Fadell
Unorthodox product management guide for startups from Tony Fadell, covering processes for MVP building, team leadership, and product iteration based on iPod and Nest experiences. Key use cases include rapid prototyping and scaling hardware-software products. Offers a hands-on alternative to theoretical PM books like Inspired.
From App Idea to Business
Step-by-step product management processes for startups transforming app ideas into viable businesses, including MVP development, validation, and launch strategies. Tailored use cases for mobile and software founders covering market fit and monetization. More practical for tech products vs. general PM frameworks like Inspired.
Product Design for the Web
by Randy Hunt
Frameworks and iterative processes for web product management in startups, emphasizing discovery, MVP building, and user-centered design. Use cases focus on rapid learning cycles for web apps and sites. Web-specific complement to broader PM books like Inspired.
Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days
by Jake Knapp & John Zeratsky & Braden Kowitz
Five-day product management sprint process for startups to build and test MVPs, validate ideas via prototyping and user feedback. Developed at Google Ventures for rapid problem-solving. Faster alternative to extended cycles in PM literature like Inspired.
The Inmates Are Running the Asylum: Why High Tech Products Drive Us Crazy and How To Restore The Sanity by Alan Cooper
by Alan Cooper
Pioneering product management processes for tech startups emphasizing user-centered design, personas, and goal-directed methods to build effective MVPs. Critiques programmer-driven development and advocates sanity in high-tech products. Foundational text vs. contemporary views in Inspired.
About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design
By Alan Cooper, Robert Reimann, David Cronin, and Christopher Noessel (4th edition, 2014, Wiley), this is a comprehensive guide to designing digital product interfaces and interactions, covering goal-directed design methods for apps, websites, and devices.