consulting

The Basic Principles of Effective Consulting
$34.95
This is pretty easy to read. I didn't want to waste like 20 bucks on a book that I was only going to use for a semester, but I did. So yeah. Nice examples. Informative. But keep the paperback because you probably can't sell it to anyone anyway.

The Boston Consulting Group on Strategy: Classic Concepts and New Perspectives
$34.95
I'm a grad student with IT background and want to become a management consultant or a CEO.
This is not a coffe-table book. The best is to have a business encyclopedia by the hand when reading it (i recommend Business: The ultimate resource,2nd).
For more info about table of contents click on the book picture.

The essays are short (cca 2 pages), but extremely consciously and well written. I think, no former business knowledge is necessary: anybody can pick up this book, who is interested in business, likes to think deeply and have persistence (you'll need it to get through the book).
After reading the book, the reader will have an superb overview of business concepts, strategy, leadership -- i dare to say, that s/he will have all the knowledge a big CEO needs to have.

Flawless Consulting: A Guide to Getting Your Expertise Used
$52.00
Excellent book, excellent resource. It was recommended to me by a friend who has been consulting for some time, and it is written in a practical, cogent, and to-the-point style that presents topics in a manner allowing immediate assimilation of content.

If it had substantive advice on business development, it would be the only book one would ever need.

Getting Started in Consulting
$19.95
This book was very helpful and in depth. Examples were very helpful. The author was realistic about what to expect.