Cracking the PM Career: The Skills, Frameworks, and Practices to Become a Great Product Manager

by Jackie Bavaro, Gayle Laakmann McDowell

Our goal for this book is to be the guide we never had. This book shares the skills, frameworks, and practices that my peers and I have painstakingly learned and honed over the years so that PMs can spend less time reinventing the wheel. It delves into the mystery and ambiguity surrounding career progression so that PMs can focus on the right areas and reach their potential. It connects the dots on how to develop each important PM skill so that mentors can point their mentees towards actionable feedback.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Management, Leadership, Software, Technology, Professional Development

551 pages, Paperback

Published January 19, 2021

Reviews

[Ro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thorough, actionable and to the point. Navigating any career can be ambiguous, PM careers especially so. This book blows ambiguity out of the water and arms the reader with powerful tools to become a better PM and grow your career.

[Nikhilesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't praise the book enough. Highly recommended for Product Managers early in their career. The book is empirical, insightful and thorough. Consequently, the book is a whopping 520 but doesn't waste the readers time. Each page packs a punch.

[Nich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Direct, tangible advice with supporting examples and scenarios to help break into the product space. It can serve as a reference guide for any aspiring PM.

[Gedi௨]

+PROS+
+ Comprehensive Coverage: The book thoroughly covers all aspects of product management, from the foundational skills to advanced leadership techniques.
+ Practical Advice: It provides actionable insights and frameworks that can be directly applied in the workplace, making it a valuable resource for both new and experienced PMs.
+ Real-World Examples: The inclusion of case studies and examples from industry experts helps to contextualize the advice and makes the concepts more relatable.
+ Focus on Growth: The book emphasizes personal and professional growth, offering guidance on how to continuously improve and advance in a PM career.
+ Structured Approach: The content is well-organized, with clear sections on different skill areas, making it easy to navigate and find relevant information.
+ Mentorship and Leadership Insights: It provides valuable insights into mentoring and leading teams, which is crucial for PMs as they advance in their careers.
+ User-Focused: A strong emphasis on understanding and empathizing with users helps PMs build products that truly meet customer needs.

-CONS-
- Density of Information: The book is dense and packed with information, which might be overwhelming for some readers, especially those new to product management.
- High-Level Focus: While it provides a broad overview of many topics, some readers might find the need for more in-depth exploration of certain complex subjects.
- Repetition: Certain points and frameworks are reiterated multiple times, which can be redundant and might slow down the reading experience.
- Technical Depth: Although it covers technical skills, those without a technical background might find some sections challenging and could benefit from additional supplementary resources.

SUMMA SUMMAR
This is a valuable resource for anyone looking to excel in product management. It combines comprehensive coverage of essential skills, practical advice, and real-world examples to guide PMs through every stage of their career. While it can be dense and occasionally repetitive, its structured approach and focus on growth make it an indispensable guide for both aspiring and seasoned product managers.

[Alexander Snitsarenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would say that this is a bible for Product Managers. Very practical, contains so many things one understands only after ten years of career experience. Even if your are not a PM, read it - this will definitely make you a better career guy in many ways. Half of it is about how to deal with people at any corporate level and how to create and organize teams.

[Mikhail Filatov · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book should really follow "old school UX design" and define persona for a reader.
As it is now, it's more of "PMBOK", covering everything, including O-notation. The problem is that O-notation has almost the same number of pages as a chapter for documentation writing.
So if this book is for a new PM, it fails.

[Gaby Lai · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book feels like a stage for seasoned tech veterans to show off their war stories. If you want to learn how to actually build products, look elsewhere. But if you’re here to master the fine art of PM “storytelling” (a.k.a. corporate BS), this is your guide.

[Parita · Rating 5 out of 5]

been reading/noting/doing the practises from this book throughout the year. can no longer continue - everything is theory to the work I’ve already done/been doing as a product manager. really really great book to learn though

[Noah Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I already pre-ordered. Can't wait to receive the book :D

[Akash Bhattacharya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too good a book to ignore. Must read and do pls to use the frameworks outlined throughout the book.

[Luciana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for who's looking how to switch jobs to PM, or even if you're an engineer looking into expanding your own skillset without necessarily changing your role.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical tips on how:
1. Approach onboarding
2. Think through strategy
3. Set yourself up for promo

Also in general a good book to jump into specific chapters based on what you're facing.

[Aimun Malik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly comprehensive

Very thorough, deep, and tactical deep dive on product management. A must read for anyone in PM or looking to learn how to PM

[Simon Semelin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Great concepts and splendid frameworks. Should be given to all PMs

[Enric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long, detailed and astonishing gateway to PM.

[Jennie Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic resource for PMs!!

[DMD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really good for interviews, modestly helpful for everything else