As a life long learner, I’m always reading books and magazines and listening to podcasts. Most of the time I’m listening to audio books or podcasts while I do work around the farm, or even when I’m out for a walk or getting my dreaded laundry done.
But there are definitely times when a physical book in my hands is worth it, especially when it is actionable. You can find me with my post it tabs and highlighters, and a small notebook taking notes so I can put new ideas into play on the farm, whether it’s with actual grazing or farm management practices or on the business side of things.
Over the years, I’ve read a variety of business, marketing, productivity, and entrepreneurship books. While most weren’t written specifically for agriculture, many have had a direct impact on how I think about running a farm and building a business.
If you’re looking for farm business books to add to your reading list, these are some of the titles I’ve found most valuable, along with a few books currently on my want-to-read list.
Productivity and focus
One of the biggest challenges for many farmers and ranchers isn’t a lack of work to do, it’s figuring out what deserves attention first. Between livestock, crops, equipment, business responsibilities, family commitments, volunteer activities, and the never-ending list of projects around the farm, it can feel like there’s always more to do than time available.
Unlike many careers, farming isn’t something we leave behind at the end of the workday. Many of us live where we work, involve family members in the operation, and balance farm responsibilities alongside personal commitments. Productivity isn’t just about getting more done. It’s also about creating systems, setting priorities, protecting your time, and finding balance between the farm, the business, and the people who matter most.
Several of the best farm business books I’ve read focus on productivity, focus, and time management. These books focus on improving focus, managing distractions, making better use of your time, and being more intentional about where your energy goes.
Deep Work by Cal Newport
This book focuses on the ability to do focused, distraction-free work in a world filled with constant interruptions. Newport argues that deep, concentrated work is becoming increasingly valuable and increasingly rare. Recommended read
Slow Productivity by Cal Newport
This book challenges the idea that being busy is the same as being productive. Instead, it encourages focusing on meaningful work, working at a sustainable pace, and prioritizing quality over quantity. Recommended read
Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
Digital Minimalism explores how technology and social media affect our attention, time, and overall well-being. The book encourages being intentional about technology use rather than allowing it to control our lives. Recommended read
Stolen Focus by Johann Hari
Stolen Focus examines why it has become increasingly difficult to concentrate in modern life and what we can do about it. The book looks at both personal habits and larger societal influences that affect our attention. Recommended read
Free to Focus by Michael Hyatt
This book presents a productivity system centered around spending more time on high-value activities and less time on tasks that create little impact. It emphasizes delegation, prioritization, and planning. Recommended read
A quick note on Cal Newport’s books. I’m a big fan of his academic research and writing, especially in a time when we’re constantly surrounded by so many digital distractions, notifications, and information competing for our attention. While each of these books approaches the topic from a slightly different angle, I’ve found his work offers practical ideas for being more intentional with our time, attention, and energy.
Mindset and personal growth
Many farmers and ranchers are also entrepreneurs, building businesses, pursuing new opportunities, and setting goals for where they want their operations to go in the future, whether that’s improving production, growing the business, or both.
Unlike when you work off the farm for someone else, there often isn’t a clearly defined path forward. We have to create our own opportunities, make difficult decisions, set our own goals, and stay committed to achieving them, even when progress can take years. These books focus on developing the mindset, habits, resilience, and personal growth needed to navigate challenges, continue learning, and move both your farm and business forward.
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Atomic Habits explores how small, consistent changes can lead to significant results over time. The book provides practical strategies for building good habits, breaking bad ones, and creating systems that support long-term success. Recommended read
Grit by Angela Duckworth
Grit examines the role of passion and perseverance in achieving long-term goals. Duckworth argues that success often depends less on talent and more on the ability to stay committed through challenges and setbacks. Recommended read
The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy
This book focuses on how we measure progress and success. Instead of comparing ourselves to where we think we should be, the authors encourage measuring success based on how far we’ve already come. Recommended read
The Power of a Positive No by William Ury
This book explores how to say no while maintaining relationships and protecting what is most important to you. It provides practical strategies for setting boundaries without creating unnecessary conflict. On my want-to-read list
Quiet by Susan Cain
Quiet examines the strengths and contributions of introverts in a world that often rewards extroverted behavior. The book highlights how different personality types approach leadership, communication, and decision-making. Recommended read for introverts.
Mindset by Carol Dweck
Mindset explores the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset and how our beliefs influence learning, achievement, and personal development. Want-to-read list
Marketing and communication
Whether you’re selling livestock, meat, produce, agritourism experiences, or educational resources, communication plays a major role in business success. Marketing is an important part of many farm businesses today, especially for farmers who sell directly to consumers. These farm business books focus on marketing, messaging, and understanding customers.
Building a StoryBrand 2.0 by Donald Miller
StoryBrand teaches a framework for simplifying marketing messages so customers clearly understand how your product or service helps solve a problem. Recommended read
This Book Will Teach You How to Write Better by Neville Medhora
This book provides practical techniques for writing more clearly, persuasively, and effectively. It focuses on simple frameworks that can improve everything from emails to marketing materials. Recommended read
Contagious by Jonah Berger
Contagious explores why some ideas, products, and messages spread while others don’t. The book examines the factors that influence word-of-mouth marketing and sharing. On my want-to-read list
The 1-Page Marketing Plan by Allan Dib
This book presents a straightforward framework for creating a marketing plan without unnecessary complexity. It focuses on customer acquisition, retention, and business growth. On my want-to-read list
Hooked by Nir Eyal
Hooked explores the psychology behind products and services that successfully build user habits and repeat engagement. On my want-to-read list
Business sytems and finances
Running a successful farm requires more than production skills. Financial management, business systems, communication, and decision-making all play an important role in long-term success.
Some of the most practical farm business books focus on financial management, business systems, and decision-making. These books focus on managing the business side of the farm and creating systems that support growth and profitability.
Profit First by Mike Michalowicz
Profit First introduces a cash management system that prioritizes profitability by allocating money into separate accounts for profit, taxes, owner compensation, and expenses. Recommended read
Scrum by Jeff Sutherland
Scrum introduces a project management framework designed to improve efficiency, teamwork, and adaptability. While commonly used in software development, many of the principles can be applied to business operations more broadly. On my want-to-read list
Audiobooks: Perfect fit while farming
With audio books, I usually look to the Libby app with my local library. If its a long wait or they don’t have the book, I’ll often purchase it with Audible.
When I’m doing a lot of audio book reading, I will just subscribe to Audible’s monthly plan to get the best rates. But even watching for their sales is a good option too.
Most of my audiobook listening happens while work around the farm or house. It’s one of the easiest ways I’ve found to continue learning while still getting work done.
Full farm business book list
You can find all of these books, along with a few additional titles, here.
What are some books you’ve found helpful? I’m always looking for recommendations to add to my reading list.
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