8 Best-Selling Scrum Books Millions Trust

Discover Scrum books authored by leading experts like Jeff Sutherland and Ken Schwaber, featuring best-selling titles that deliver proven, practical guidance

Updated on June 28, 2025
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There's something special about books that both critics and crowds love — and Scrum literature fits that bill perfectly. Scrum remains a cornerstone methodology for managing complex projects efficiently, with millions worldwide adopting its principles to boost productivity and collaboration. In a landscape where agile frameworks compete, these Scrum books stand out for their real-world impact and enduring relevance.

This curated selection features works authored by the creators and foremost practitioners of Scrum, including Jeff Sutherland, co-creator of Scrum, and Ken Schwaber. These authors draw on decades of experience guiding teams from startups to Fortune 500 companies, offering insights grounded in both theory and practice. Their books have shaped how organizations approach agile transformation and project delivery.

While these popular books provide proven frameworks, readers seeking content tailored to their specific Scrum needs might consider creating a personalized Scrum book that combines these validated approaches with your unique challenges and goals. This way, you get focused guidance that complements the broad expertise found in these best sellers.

Best for foundational Scrum productivity
Jeff Sutherland, founder and Chairman of Scrum Inc. and one of the original Agile Manifesto signers, brings decades of leadership experience to this book. His deep involvement in innovation and productivity, combined with his background as a fighter pilot and technology executive, uniquely positions him to explain Scrum’s impact. Alongside his son J.J. Sutherland, CEO of Scrum Inc. and award-winning journalist, they offer insights born from global organizational transformations and frontline agile implementations.
Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time book cover

by Jeff Sutherland, J.J. Sutherland··You?

The methods Jeff Sutherland developed while working across diverse fields—from West Point to technology leadership—form the core of this book. You’ll learn how Scrum transforms chaotic teamwork into streamlined productivity, with examples ranging from FBI modernization to pandemic supply chain resilience. It breaks down why traditional work habits fail and offers a clear framework to double output while halving wasted effort. If you’re managing teams or projects that feel stuck in inefficiency, this book delivers practical insights drawn from real-world applications and scientific research into culture and psychological safety.

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Best for advanced Scrum application
JJ Sutherland is a renowned expert in Agile methodologies and has extensive experience in implementing Scrum practices in various industries. He draws on years of work with companies like Bosch, 3M, and Rio Tinto to present a practical guide that helps leaders and teams navigate the complexities of Agile transformation. His insights provide a valuable bridge between foundational Scrum concepts and real-world application, making this book a useful resource for those aiming to move their organizations forward with Scrum.
2019·272 pages·Scrum, Agile, Project Management, Performance Acceleration, Organizational Change

After analyzing extensive real-world implementations, J.J. Sutherland developed this book to move beyond theory into practical application of Scrum across diverse industries. Drawing on projects with companies like Bosch and 3M, he offers insights into accelerating performance and overcoming common challenges in Agile transformations. You’ll learn how Scrum principles can be tailored to fit any organization, whether in technology, manufacturing, or non-profits, with examples ranging from fighter plane builders to genetic science firms. This book suits managers and teams seeking to deepen their Scrum expertise and achieve measurable results beyond the basics.

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Best for personalized Scrum mastery
This personalized AI book about Scrum mastery is created after you share your experience with Scrum roles, team dynamics, and your specific goals. Using AI, the book focuses on the aspects you find most relevant, whether it's deepening your understanding of the Scrum Master role or improving collaboration in your team. This approach ensures you get a custom guide that fits your background and helps you navigate the complexities of Scrum effectively.
2025·50-300 pages·Scrum, Scrum Basics, Team Roles, Role Responsibilities, Scrum Events

This tailored book explores proven techniques for mastering Scrum roles and team dynamics, focusing on your unique interests and background. It examines the responsibilities and interactions of Scrum Masters, Product Owners, and Developers, revealing how effective collaboration drives project success. The content matches your specific goals to help you navigate challenges and enhance team performance. Through a personalized approach, it covers practical scenarios and common pitfalls, enabling you to deepen your understanding of Scrum's core principles. This book blends widely validated insights with a custom focus, fostering a thorough grasp of Scrum roles and their impact on agile teamwork.

Tailored Content
Team Dynamics Insights
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for practical Scrum project management
Ken Schwaber, known for co-creating Scrum, shares insights gathered from years coaching companies through agile transformations in this influential book. It breaks down Scrum’s simple yet powerful rules and practices through vivid case studies, showing how to manage complex projects by streamlining teams and accelerating delivery. This book appeals to anyone looking to adopt Scrum’s iterative cycles to improve software development outcomes and reduce project overhead. Its practical focus helps you understand how to avoid common pitfalls and harness Scrum’s strengths, making it a foundational read for agile practitioners striving for better results.
2004·192 pages·Agile Software Development, Scrum, Agile Programming, Project Management, Team Collaboration

What keeps this book relevant decades after its release is Ken Schwaber's firsthand experience as co-creator of Scrum and his clear-eyed look at what works and what doesn’t in agile project management. You’ll explore a collection of case studies drawn from real companies, learning how Scrum can tame even the most complex projects by simplifying team dynamics and accelerating delivery cycles. Chapters cover topics like managing shifting requirements and coordinating multiple teams across locations, making it ideal if you want to move beyond theory to practical application. If you’re ready to rethink traditional project management habits and embrace a more iterative, feedback-driven approach, this book offers a grounded roadmap without overcomplicating things.

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Best for scaling Scrum enterprise-wide
Ken Schwaber, cofounder of Scrum and a leader in agile-process revolution, offers a unique perspective by extending Scrum benefits from single teams to entire enterprises. This book has earned its place among Scrum guides because it tackles the real challenge of organizational change management with practical case studies and proven practices. It walks you through adopting and adapting Scrum at scale, helping you gain transparency and improve delivery across your development processes. If you’re aiming to transform your whole organization with Scrum, this book sheds light on the path forward with clarity and experience.
2007·176 pages·Scrum, Agile, Project Management, Change Management, Product Backlog

Ken Schwaber's decades of pioneering experience with agile processes led him to write this guide focused on scaling Scrum beyond individual teams to entire organizations. You learn how to manage the friction of organizational change when transitioning away from traditional project management, with detailed case studies illustrating practical strategies. The book covers methods to implement prioritized product backlogs, organize Scrum teams top-down, and integrate engineering practices across multiple teams. If you're responsible for enterprise agile adoption or want to understand how to embed Scrum deeply in a complex environment, this book provides clear frameworks and actionable insights.

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Best for comprehensive Scrum frameworks
Kenneth S. Rubin brings a wealth of experience as a Certified Scrum Trainer and former executive with roles spanning ScrumMaster to VP of Engineering. Having trained over eighteen thousand professionals and coached companies from startups to Fortune 10 giants, Rubin channels these insights into this book. His leadership of the Scrum Alliance and diverse development background equip him uniquely to guide you through Scrum’s values, principles, and practices with clarity and practical depth.

This isn't another Scrum book promising quick fixes; Kenneth Rubin draws on decades of hands-on experience from roles as ScrumMaster, product owner, and executive to offer a grounded, nuanced look at Scrum. You learn not only the core values and roles but also practical frameworks for scaling Scrum across teams and portfolios, supported by over two hundred original illustrations that clarify complex concepts. Rubin’s insights come from coaching hundreds of organizations, making his guidance applicable whether you're just starting or deepening your Scrum practice. If you manage teams or products, this book sharpens your ability to align people and processes effectively, though it's less suited for readers seeking only high-level overviews.

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Best for rapid Scrum results
This custom AI book on Scrum sprint execution is created based on your background, current experience, and specific goals. By sharing what aspects of sprint planning and execution you want to focus on, you get a book tailored to help you achieve rapid improvements. It’s designed to fit your unique context, making it easier to apply Scrum principles effectively and see real progress in just 30 days.
2025·50-300 pages·Scrum, Scrum Basics, Sprint Planning, Task Prioritization, Team Collaboration

This tailored book explores the detailed process of Scrum sprint planning and execution, crafted to match your unique background and goals. It reveals how to structure and conduct sprints step-by-step, focusing on practices that deliver quick, measurable improvements. By concentrating on your specific interests, it examines how to align sprint activities with team dynamics, project scope, and agile principles for rapid results. You’ll gain insights into prioritizing work, coordinating collaboration, and managing sprint reviews and retrospectives in a way that fits your context. This personalized guide helps you grasp core Scrum elements while addressing your individual challenges, accelerating your journey to agile effectiveness in just 30 days.

Tailored Guide
Sprint Optimization
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for overcoming Scrum adoption challenges
Mike Cohn is the founder of Mountain Goat Software, a consultancy specializing in Scrum and agile transformations. With over 25 years of experience as a technology executive and trainer, he co-taught the first Certified ScrumMaster class and is a founding member of both the Agile Alliance and Scrum Alliance. His deep expertise and practical insights form the backbone of this book, which aims to help software professionals at all levels succeed with Scrum and agile methodologies.

What if everything you knew about implementing Scrum was wrong? Mike Cohn draws on over 25 years of hands-on experience to show you how to make Scrum and agile deliver real results in your organization. You’ll learn how to handle common obstacles, build effective teams, manage distributed projects, and scale Scrum practices beyond a single team. The book’s “Things to Try Now” and “Objection” sections offer practical guidance for overcoming resistance and driving change, making it especially useful if you’re managing transitions or struggling with agile adoption. Whether you’re a developer, ScrumMaster, or manager, this book delivers grounded advice to help your next project succeed and transform your entire development process.

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Best for Scrum product ownership
Agile Product Management with Scrum offers a clear, practical approach to mastering the product owner's role in Scrum. Roman Pichler draws on extensive consulting experience to present how agile product management differs from traditional methods, focusing on real-world application. This book guides you through envisioning products, grooming backlogs, planning releases, and collaborating in sprint meetings, making it a valuable resource for anyone aiming to succeed as a Scrum product owner or establish agile product management in their organization.
2010·160 pages·Product Management, Scrum, Agile Practices, Product Ownership, Backlog Grooming

Roman Pichler's decades of experience as a Scrum consultant shaped this focused guide on agile product management. You learn the nuances of the product owner's role, including how to craft a compelling product vision and effectively manage the product backlog. The book drills down into applying Scrum principles to real challenges like creating minimal marketable products and leveraging early customer feedback. If you're stepping into product ownership or want to sharpen your agile approach, this book offers practical insights without fluff, making it clear what distinguishes Scrum product management from traditional methods.

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Best for Scrum in game development
Agile Game Development with SCRUM offers a focused approach to tackling the unique challenges in game creation using Agile principles. Clinton Keith’s firsthand experience in game studios shines through as he details how Scrum can transform chaotic projects into well-orchestrated efforts that keep teams motivated and on schedule. This book has become a go-to guide for those looking to bring predictability and creativity back to game development, emphasizing practical frameworks that teams of programmers, artists, testers, and designers can adopt to enhance collaboration and output.
2010·366 pages·Game Development, Agile Software Development, Agile Programming, Scrum, Team Collaboration

When Clinton Keith first realized how traditional game development often spiraled into chaotic schedules and overblown budgets, he turned to Scrum as a remedy tailored for this creative yet complex industry. Drawing on over fifteen years in game development, including seven immersed in Agile and Scrum practices, Keith breaks down how to build cross-disciplinary teams that include programmers, artists, and designers working in sync. You gain practical insights into iterative planning, progress tracking, and scaling Scrum across distributed teams, all aimed at delivering playable game versions every few weeks. This book suits game developers and producers eager to restore order and creativity to their workflows without sacrificing fun or quality.

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Conclusion

These eight Scrum books collectively emphasize frameworks that have been widely validated in diverse industries and project types. They offer a spectrum of guidance, from foundational principles in "Scrum" by Jeff Sutherland to enterprise-scale strategies in "Enterprise and Scrum, The" by Ken Schwaber.

If you prefer proven methods grounded in the origins of Scrum, starting with "Scrum" and "Essential Scrum" will anchor your understanding. For those aiming to apply Scrum in complex or large-scale settings, pairing "The Scrum Fieldbook" with "Enterprise and Scrum, The" offers actionable strategies. Product owners will find targeted insights in Roman Pichler’s "Agile Product Management with Scrum," while game developers can turn to Clinton Keith’s tailored approach.

Alternatively, you can create a personalized Scrum book to combine proven methods with your unique needs. These widely-adopted approaches have helped many readers succeed by turning Scrum theory into real-world results.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which Scrum book should I start with?

Starting with Jeff Sutherland's "Scrum" is a solid choice since it lays the foundation of the methodology. From there, "Essential Scrum" by Kenneth Rubin expands on practical frameworks to deepen your understanding.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Scrum?

Not at all. While some books dive deep, titles like "Scrum" and "Essential Scrum" are accessible for beginners, explaining core concepts clearly before moving to more complex topics.

What's the best order to read these Scrum books?

Begin with foundational texts like "Scrum" and "Essential Scrum." Next, explore practical application through "Agile Project Management with Scrum" and "Succeeding with Agile." Then, delve into scaling with "Enterprise and Scrum, The."

Do these books assume I already have experience in Scrum?

These books cater to various levels. Some start with basics suitable for newcomers, while others, like "The Scrum Fieldbook," are tailored for readers seeking advanced application and industry adaptation.

Which Scrum book gives the most actionable advice I can use right away?

Mike Cohn's "Succeeding with Agile" provides practical tips and 'Things to Try Now' sections that help you apply Scrum concepts immediately within your teams and projects.

Can I get Scrum guidance tailored to my specific needs instead of reading all these books?

Yes! While these books offer expert insights, you can create a personalized Scrum book that blends proven methods with your unique context, saving time and focusing on what matters most to you.

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