Table of Contents

In the rapidly evolving business landscape, customer success has become the linchpin for organizations seeking sustainable growth and competitive advantage. To excel in this domain, it is crucial to continuously learn, adapt, and refine customer-centric strategies. That's why we have compiled a list of 20 essential customer success books that offer invaluable insights, practical guidance, and transformative ideas.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, a business leader, or a customer success professional, these books are a treasure trove of knowledge, equipping you with the tools to cultivate long-lasting customer relationships, drive revenue growth, and create exceptional experiences.

Join us on this journey of discovery as we explore the must-read books that will revolutionize your approach to customer success and unlock new possibilities for your business.

1. "The Seven Pillars of Customer Success" by Wayne McCulloch

In this book, the author presents a flexible model for creating a strong customer success organization. The book offers practical examples of how companies have implemented these seven pillars to create an effective culture of customer success.

Learnings

📌
You’ll learn how businesses can establish an effective customer success environment.

Where can you get it: Buy “The Seven Pillars of Customer Success” from Amazon

2. "Customer Success: How Innovative Companies Are Reducing Churn and Growing Recurring Revenue" by Nick Mehta, Dan Steinman, Lincoln Murphy, and Maria Martinez

From this book, the readers get the opportunity to explore how successful companies are utilizing customer success tactics to reduce churn and drive regular income. The book also provides useful recommendations for this fast-growing industry.

Learnings

📌
You’ll learn how to align business strategies with customer success.

Where can you get it: Buy  "Customer Success"  from Amazon

3. "Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose" by Tony Hsieh

In this book, the author shares his journey and strategies for delivering extraordinary customer experiences by highlighting the importance of happiness and the main purpose of customers in business growth.

Learnings

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You’ll learn how constant improvement and innovation is important to meet customers’ demand.

Where can you get it: Buy "Delivering Happiness" from Amazon

4. "HYPERGROWTH: How the Customer-Driven Model is Revolutionizing the Way Businesses Build Products, Teams, & Brands" by David Cancel

In this book the author guides the readers about how a customer-oriented approach can bring a huge change into a business. The book also tells how focusing on building products, teams, and brands that prioritize customer needs can boost the growth of the business.

Learnings

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You’ll learn how important it is in business to understand customer needs to achieve business growth and success.

Where can you get it: Buy “Hypergrowth”  from Amazon

5. "Talking to Humans: Success Starts with Understanding Your Customers" by Giff Constable

The author in this book focuses on the powerful interaction with customers and tells the importance of understanding the customers through effective communication and customer-centric approaches to achieve business growth.

Learnings

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You’ll learn how effective customer interviews or interactions can help to grow the business.

Where can you get it: Buy "Talking to Humans” from Amazon

6. "Farm Don't Hunt: The Definitive Guide to Customer Success" by Guy Nirpaz and Fernando Pizarro

In this book the author provides better understanding to adopt a customer success approach in business by focusing on nurturing existing customer relationships rather than completely chasing new leads.

Learnings

📌
You’ll learn to build and improve customer success for long-term customer relationships.

Where can you get it: Buy "Farm Don't Hunt”  from Amazon

7. "Leading Executive Conversations" by Sally Williamson

The author in this book provides effective strategies for engaging in effective conversation to build strong long-term relationships and drive success in customer-centric organizations.

Learnings

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You’ll understand how good conversation can build better relationships with customers.

Where can you get it: Buy "Leading Executive Conversations" from Amazon

8. "Onboarding Matters: How Successful Companies Transform New Customers Into Loyal Champions" by Donna Weber

This book highlights the importance of a well-executed onboarding process to convert new customers into loyal customers with the help of practical advice and case studies for achieving customer success.

Learnings

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You’ll learn the simple and effective onboarding process can help in boosting business growth and customer relationships.

Where can you get it: Buy “Onboarding Matters” from Amazon

9. "The Startup's Guide to Customer Success" by Jennifer Chiang

The author in this book is especially focused on startups. In this book the author offers valuable recommendations and strategies to execute customer success approaches from the early stages, nourishing growth and customer satisfaction.

Learnings

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You’ll learn to focus on all different stages are important for customer success.

Where can you get it: Buy “The Startup's Guide to Customer Success"  from Amazon

10. "The Trusted Advisor" by David H. Maister, Charles H. Green, and Robert M. Galford

In this book the author shares the learning of how to build trust among customers and become a trusted advisor. This book prioritizes creating long-lasting relationships, loyalty of customers by providing them exceptional value.

Learnings

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You’ll learn how easily trust can be created with the customers by using simple models.

Where can you get it: Buy “The trusted Advisor” from Amazon

11. "The Effortless Experience: Conquering the New Battleground for Customer Loyalty" by Matthew Dixon, Nick Toman, and Rick DeLisi

This book lets readers explore how companies can create effortless customer satisfaction and experience that create loyalty by challenging traditional knowledge and providing readers practical strategies for improving customer satisfaction and relationships.

Learnings

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You’ll learn about the better customer experience and satisfaction that is needed to boost the business.

Where can you get it: Buy "The Effortless Experience” from Amazon

12. "Subscribed: Why the Subscription Model Will Be Your Company's Future" by Tien Tzuo and Gabe Weisert

In this book the author allows readers to discover the power of the subscription business model and learn how to utilize the model to drive business growth and build long-term customer relationships along with guiding them with the help of industry experts.

Learnings

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You’ll learn how an effective subscription model can improve customer satisfaction.

Where can you get it: Buy "Subscribed” from Amazon

13. "From Impossible to Inevitable: How SaaS and Other Hyper-Growth Companies Create Predictable Revenue" by Aaron Ross and Jason Lemkin

The author in this book offers practical and proven strategies for achieving predictable revenue growth in hyper-growth companies by focusing on Software as a Service (SaaS) businesses and  implementable recommendations for sales and customer success teams.

Learnings

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You’ll learn how an appropriate approach can help companies to achieve sustainable growth in the market.

Where can you get it: Buy "From Impossible to Inevitable” from Amazon

14. "Chief Customer Officer 2.0: How to Build Your Customer-Driven Growth Engine" by Jeanne Bliss

In this book the author talks about the Chief Customer Officer whose role is to create customer-oriented growth. The book gives you insight on how to create a customer-focus organization with the help of real-world examples and proper guidance to the readers.

Learnings

📌
You'll learn how to develop a customer success strategy to align your business goals with maximized customer satisfaction.

Where can you get it: Buy "Chief Customer Officer 2.0” from Amazon

15. "The Customer Success Pioneer: the First 12 Months of Your Journey Into Growth" by Kellie Lucas

This book provides learnings and strategies for professionals beginning with a customer success journey. The book offers practical advice and models to instruct the struggle of the first 12 months which are very critical to drive customer success growth.

Learnings

📌
You’ll learn how the initial onboarding process is important for a successful customer relationship. 

Where can you get it: Buy"The Customer Success Pioneer” from Amazon

16. "What Customers Crave" by Nicholas J. Webb

In this book the author guides readers to understand and fulfill customers' desires and expectations to create extraordinary experiences by disclosing the secrets to build customer loyalty and long-lasting relationships to drive business growth and success.

Learnings

📌
You’ll learn how to build a skilled customer success team that can impactfully engage with customers, understand their needs, and help them achieve their results.

Where can you get it: Buy "What Customers Crave" from Amazon

17. "Never Lose A Customer Again: Turn Any Sale Into Lifelong Loyalty In 100 Days" by Joey Coleman

The author in this book allows readers to discover tactics for turning occasional customers into lifelong loyal advocates by creating memorable experiences throughout the customer journey which highlights the importance of customer sustainability.

Learnings

📌
You’ll learn how providing a memorable customer experience is important for building customer loyalty

Where can you get it: Buy "Never Lose A Customer Again” from Amazon

18. "Emotional Intelligence for Sales Success: Connect with Customers and Get Results" by Colleen Stanley

The author in this book enables readers to explore the role of emotional intelligence in sales by providing strategies to build strong relationships by understanding customer needs to develop successful sales outcomes.

Learnings

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You’ll learn to understand your own emotions, triggers, and behavioral patterns for providing better responses in sales circumstances.

Where can you get it: Buy "Emotional Intelligence for Sales Success” from Amazon

19. "The Customer Success Professional's Handbook: How to Thrive in One of the World's Fastest Growing Careers — While Driving Growth For Your Company" by Ashvin Vaidyanathan

The author in this book offers guidance and recommendations for professionals starting a career in customer success by covering key skills, approaches, and proven practices to excel in this fast growing field.

Learnings

📌
You’ll learn how important it is to understand the true essence of customer success to drive business growth for both the customer and the company.

Where can you get it: Buy "The Customer Success Professional's Handbook” from Amazon

20. "The Customer Success Economy: Why Every Aspect of Your Business Model Needs A Paradigm Shift" by Nick Mehta

From this book the readers get the opportunity to explore the evolving environment of the customer success economy. Readers can also discover why adopting a customer-focus approach is important for the success and growth of businesses in today's business environment.

Learnings

📌
You'll learn how to focus on expanding customer relationships by identifying opportunities for fostering long-term customer loyalty.

Where can you get it: Buy  "The Customer Success Economy” from Amazon

Conclusion

The customer success books mentioned above provide knowledge and practical advice for businesses to improve their customer relationships and achieve sustainable growth. The books offer models, real-life examples, and actionable tactics that can be applied in every industry and company size.

With the help of these provided principles and approaches from these books, businesses can improve their interactions with customers and boost customer retention, and satisfaction to drive revenue growth.

So, read them and improve your customer relationships to grow the business.

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Nagma Nasim

Nagma Nasim

Nagma is a content writer who creates informative articles, blogs, & other engaging content. In her free time, you can find her immersed in academic papers, novels, or movie marathons.