12 Best Power BI Books to Enhance Skills and Career Growth in 2025

Do you know that experts believe the global business intelligence (BI) market will expand to $53.88 billion by 2034? Therefore, organizations are prioritizing data-driven decision-making processes, and enhancing skills through BI and Power BI books is paramount for success. 

In 2025, Microsoft Power BI's popularity continues to grow, with 6.5 million developers using the platform. Books are essential for mastering its basics and practical applications. Top books for beginners include Microsoft Power BI Quick Start Guide, while advanced users can benefit from Mastering Microsoft Power BI and others.

In this article, we’ll explore how books lay the foundation for learning Power BI, catering to all skill levels and offering practical insights into its features and applications! 

 Top 12 Power BI Books to Read in 2025: Key Considerations

Power BI books enable users to gain a better understanding of data analytics concepts and visualizations for real-world business cases. The global Power BI market will reach a staggering $33.3 billion by 2025. Books provide in-depth understanding and practical insights that other resources may lack. 

Short online tutorials or videos provide an easier way to learn Power BI. However, books provide a deep understanding of real-world use cases, strategic reporting, and advanced data modeling techniques that are valuable to learners. 

Below are the top 12 Power BI books, handpicked to enhance your knowledge and expertise! 

Best Power BI Books for Beginners

If you're new to data analytics, Power BI’s extensive features may seem overwhelming. Beginner books guide you through the basics, teaching you how to import data, create interactive dashboards, and visualize key metrics. These books break down complex concepts into simple lessons, helping you build a strong foundation in data analysis and reporting with Power BI. 

Let’s explore some of the best Power BI books for beginners in 2025! 

1. Beginning Microsoft Power BI: A Practical Guide to Self-Service Data Analytics

This book will guide you through getting started with Power BI, teaching you how to import and transform data, as well as create basic visualizations. You'll learn how to build reports and dashboards and grasp essential concepts like Power Query and DAX. It offers practical, hands-on lessons to help you master foundational data analytics skills.

Source: Beginning Microsoft Power BI: A Practical Guide to Self-Service Data Analytics by Dan Clark

Key Features:

• Hands-On Learning Approach: The book emphasizes practical exercises, allowing you to directly apply what you learn with step-by-step guidance.
• Beginner-Friendly Structure: It breaks down complex Power BI concepts into simple, digestible lessons, making it easy for those with no prior experience in data analytics.
• Focus on Self-Service Analytics: It teaches you how to independently analyze data, build reports, and create dashboards, empowering you to leverage Power BI for your own data projects.

About the Author

Dan Clark specializes in Microsoft technologies, focusing on BI and data-oriented solutions. He has published several books on .NET programming and BI development and actively engages with Microsoft developers and database communities. 

Why Should You Read It?

The book is excellent for grasping the core concepts of self-service BI, including aspects such as data modelling and transformation. It also provides practical experience in Power Query and visual design for creating effective data pipelines. 

Looking to turn data into smarter business decisions with AI and ML? upGrad’s Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning – AI ML Courses cover deep learning, NLP, and AI for business applications. Apply these skills with Power BI to drive real impact.

If you are looking for a quick starter to Power BI, the Microsoft Power BI Quick Start Guide can be a great option for a direct approach without overwhelming details. 

2. Microsoft Power BI Quick Start Guide

This book will teach you how to quickly get up to speed with Power BI, focusing on essential tasks like data import, creating visualizations, and designing interactive reports. You'll learn how to navigate the Power BI interface and use built-in tools to analyze and present data. It provides a fast, practical introduction to get you started with self-service data analytics.

Source: Microsoft Power BI Quick Start Guide by Devin Knight, Erin Ostrowsky, Mitchell Pearson, and Bradley Schacht

Key Features:

• Concise and Focused Learning: The book offers a quick, no-fluff approach, ideal for beginners who want to start using Power BI immediately without a steep learning curve.
• Step-by-Step Visual Walkthroughs: It provides detailed, visual instructions to guide you through the key processes of setting up Power BI and creating your first reports.
• Practical Examples: The guide includes real-world examples, allowing you to see how Power BI can be applied to solve common business data problems right from the start.

About the Authors

The authors are experts in data analytics with backgrounds in consulting, training, and practical BI implementation. Their shared expertise provides valuable insights to beginners looking to learn Power BI. 

Why Should You Read It?

The book offers technical expertise in bite-sized lessons for readers looking to start with Power BI immediately. It covers the fundamentals of data modeling with relationships and DAX, along with advanced visualization techniques and algorithms that are valuable for beginners. 

Looking to sharpen your Power BI skills and grow your data career in 2025? Pair your reading with hands-on AI and data training in the DBA in Emerging Technologies with Concentration in Generative AI by upGrad. Build real-world expertise that goes beyond dashboards.

If you are looking for a detailed overview of DAX, the next one can be the best choice for you due to its hands-on accessibility of DAX for effective Power BI reports. 

3. Beginning DAX with Power BI

The book is beneficial for beginners as it provides the necessary resources for the Data Analysis Expressions (DAX) language, which is an integral part of Power BI. The book focuses on simplifying the essentials of DAX for those with no prior knowledge or experience. From concepts to methods, the book emphasizes DAX, which is necessary for data modeling and reporting. 

Source: Beginning DAX with Power BI, The SQL Pro’s Guide to Better Business Intelligence by Philip Seamark

Key Features:

• Clear concepts: The book focuses on principles that are critical to understanding DAX, including functions and syntax. 
• Data modeling: Beginners can gain valuable insights into developing and optimizing data models, which are useful for creating proficient Power BI reports. 
• Advanced techniques: Bite-sized, digestible sections for complex topics in DAX, such as time intelligence functions and other calculations, are a highlighting feature of the book. 

About the Author

Philip Seamark has extensive knowledge of BI and over 25 years of experience in the field. He specializes in optimizing Power BI solutions and primarily focuses on DAX optimization and data modeling. His knowledge is a leading authority in data analytics. 

Why Should You Read It?

One of the book's highlighting features is its genuine insights into writing efficient DAX codes for beginners. The book also includes sections on practical exercises that help readers apply the DAX formula to solve data analysis problems. 

If you are absolutely new to Power BI, the following book, written by Alberto Ferrari and Marco Russo, can help you understand the tool and concepts holistically. 

4. Introducing Microsoft Power BI 

The book provides a comprehensive guide for beginners who want to understand the absolute basics of Power BI. The content is tailor-made for readers who wish to learn about the practicality of Power BI in real-world situations. The book highlights the difference between data science and data analytics to ease young readers' journey. 

Source: Introducing Microsoft Power BI by Alberto Ferrari and Marco Russo

Key Features: 

• Comprehensive introduction: The book provides a step-by-step guide to Power BI and includes digestible sections to create visually compelling dashboards. 
• Natural-language queries: The book provides a roadmap for beginners to use Power BI’s natural-language query feature. 
• Close Collaboration with Microsoft Office: The content cross-collaborates with the functionality of Power BI with Microsoft Office to gain hands-on experience in data analytics. 

About the Authors

Alberto Ferrari and Marco Russo are experts in BI and data modeling and the founders of SQLBI.com. They regularly publish articles for Microsoft Power BI and SQL Server Analysis Services and are frequent speakers at international conferences like Microsoft Ignite and PASS Summit. 

Why Should You Read It?

The book can be a major starting point for beginners, as it focuses on clear concepts and practical examples to understand data analytics. The cross-functionality of utilizing Microsoft Office with Power BI is also a highlighting aspect for users looking to use Power BI in their regular tasks. 

That said, regular Excel-based analyses will remain prominent in 2025. However, if you are among those who wish to transition from such an application to a more advanced platform, the next book is your best ally. 

5. Master Your Data with Power Query in Excel and Power BI

The book is an excellent choice for gaining expertise in data preparation and is suitable for users at all levels. It is particularly well-suited for individuals eager to learn data transformation with the M language and optimize analytics workflows using query folding and parameterized queries. 

Source: Master Your Data with Power Query in Excel and Power BI by Ken Puls and Miguel Escobar

Key Features: 

• Advanced-Data Transformation: The book covers the essentials for complex data transformation patterns, reshaping the parameters for tabular data and conditional logic. 
• Basics on integration: The book allows you to understand queries between Excel and Power BI for effective workflow integration. 
• User-friendly: The book covers all the necessary elements for Power Queries and progresses with advanced topics like custom functions, query folding, and error handling. 

About the Authors

Miguel Escobar is recognized for their work from 2014 to 2017 and serves as a program manager at Microsoft, focusing on Power Query. Ken Puls, on the other hand, has extensive knowledge of public practice accounting. Their collaborative efforts bring valuable insights into data analytics for beginners. 

Why Should You Read It?

The book is best for users looking to gain an understanding of data transformation using Power Query in Excel and Power BI. It also provides structured learning to grasp concepts on automation for data preparation and analytics. 

If you are exclusively looking for a book that lets you transition from Excel to Power Bi analytics, the next book from Wyn Hopkins can be a great option. 

6. Power BI for Excel Analyst

The book acts as a bridge between Microsoft Excel and Power BI. Excel users at all stages who are willing to transition to Power BI or enhance their overall analytics workflow can benefit from this book. It covers data connections and advanced report generation using Excel proficiency in Power BI. The core concepts for the book include Power Query and data modelling, which are necessary for transforming Excel tables into interactive reports. 

Source: Power BI for the Excel Analyst, Your Essential Guide to Power BI by Wyn Hopkins

Key Features:

• Integration of Excel and Power BI: It provides a roadmap for readers who are transitioning from Excel-based analytics to advanced Power BI features. 
• Data Modelling and DAX: The book introduces the concepts of DAX effectively to create dynamic data models for beginners with no prior experience. 
• Practical examples: The sections in the book highlight appropriate public reports to Power BI.com and managing workspaces to gain hands-on experience. 

About the Author

Wyn Hopkins specializes in Excel and Power BI training and development. He is a Microsoft MVP and works closely with Power BI communities, providing insights through training sessions for those who are upscaling in data analytics. 

Why Should You Read It?

In most cases, it is difficult to find a book that best suits beginners stuck with Excel-based analytics. However, Wyn Hopkins’ book focuses on bridging the gap between Excel and Power BI. It provides a user-friendly experience for concepts like data importing, transformation, modeling, and visualization, which are critical in Power BI applications. 

Transition from Excel to Power BI effortlessly! Enhance your data analytics skills with the Data Science PGD IIITB! 

Advanced Power BI Books for Professionals

Advanced books for Power BI have slightly more specialized content and cover topics like advanced DAX formulas and data modeling techniques. They also provide an in-depth idea of how to integrate the tools and services necessary for Power BI applications. 

One specific tool for advanced users is the Tabular Editor, which is useful for messing with DAX and applying best practices for model optimizations. 

Let’s explore some of the best Power BI books for Professionals in 2025:

1. Mastering Microsoft Power BI

The book is a great choice for intermediate to advanced users. It provides insights into sophisticated data modeling, DAX formulas, and custom visuals. The book also provides a layout for readers to develop intricate dashboards and reports. 

Source: Mastering Microsoft Power BI by Greg Decker and Brett Powell

Key Features:

• Advanced DAX concepts: The book allows you to explore the advanced functionalities of DAX and the formulas for complex data analysis. 
• Deployment Strategies: It lets you understand how to effectively manage and monitor Power BI services and implement deployment pipelines. Moreover, it also enables you to gather expertise in an on-premise data gateway. 
• Security features: It provides insights into Power BI’s security features and ensures data remains compliant under all circumstances. 

About the Authors

Greg Decker is the author of several books on Power BI and is constantly engaged with the community. Bret Powell, on the other hand, has extensive experience designing and implementing Power BI solutions. Their collaborative efforts enable readers to gain a better understanding of advanced DAX and its functionality. 

The book allows professionals to fully utilize the advanced features of Power BI and improve BI projects. 

Why Should You Read It?

The book is best suited for those who are seeking to gain expertise and implement enterprise-level Power BI solutions for data modeling and deployment. It also provides knowledge on how to create custom visuals for advanced reports. 

Creating visually stunning dashboards is what sets Power BI apart from the competition. If you're looking to create compelling visuals, this next book could be the perfect choice. 

2. Data Visualization with Microsoft Power BI

With a strong emphasis on real-time reporting, interaction, and responsive layers, the book helps you understand how to create visually compelling results from raw data. It also teaches you how to align visuals with key performance indicators (KPIs) and measure DAX for improved visual performance. 

Source: Data Visualization with Microsoft Power BI: How To Design Savvy Dashboard by Alex Kolokolov and Maxim Zelensky

Key Features:

• Design Principles: This book guides you through various formats of visualizations and equips you with the skills to select the right types of graphs for creating visually stunning dashboards. 
• Practical Applications: The book's bite-sized sections include step-by-step processes and quizzes that allow readers to apply concepts in practical cases. 
• Advanced Visualization: The book is a guide for different types of visualization charts, such as waterfall, Sankey, and Gantt charts. 

About the Authors

Alex Kolokolov has over 15 years of hands-on experience in business intelligence, and Maxim Zelensky is an expert in visualization. With their collaborative efforts and strong storytelling skills, the book is a perfect choice for experts looking to upscale their skills in data analytics. 

Why Should You Read It?

The book is an excellent choice for advanced Power BI users seeking to enhance their understanding of advanced visualization techniques and create dashboards that promote better decision-making. Additionally, the thorough explanation of various visualization parameters for data representation, such as Waterfall charts, distinguishes this book from others. 

DAX operations are gaining significant importance for Power BI. The next choice specifically targets that concept for professionals. 

3. The Definitive Guide to DAX

The book is a great foundation for Power professionals looking to command DAX languages on scalable applications. It also acts as a definitive guide for users who are looking for advanced topics like performance optimizations, filter contexts, and transition. 

Source: Definitive Guide to DAX by Marco Russo and Alberto Ferrari

Key Features: 

• Semantic Understanding: The book allows you to understand the internal logic of DAX and calculate functions, which are the core functionalities of Power BI operations. 
• Practical Use Cases: The book features scenario-based examples that are vital data science use cases. Moreover, it provides insights into design calculations and isolates pitfalls for data models.  
• Performance Optimizations: It also offers a roadmap to understanding storage engine behavior and evaluating optimization techniques for enterprise-level efficiencies.

About the Authors

Both authors are globally famous for tier expertise in DAX and Power BI operations. Their collaborative efforts are instrumental in reforming modern BI practices. 

Why Should You Read It?

The book provides an in-depth understanding of DAX algorithms, which are necessary for calculations and data modeling. Its highlighting feature is the accurate depiction of components, with a focus on optimizing dashboards. 

The next book is the right choice if you are looking for a comprehensive overview of interactive data analysis. 

4. Pro Power BI Desktop

The book is a comprehensive guide that empowers users to use Power BI's full capabilities. It is best for professionals and experienced users. In addition, it provides advanced techniques to understand data analysis, reporting, and decision-making processes. 

Source: Pro Power BI Desktop by Adam Aspin

Key Features:

• Advanced data modeling: This book explores advanced concepts for data modeling, such as importing, shaping, and transforming data from multiple sources. 
• DAX: This book includes all the essentials of DAX for calculations and for creating powerful data models that meet various analytics needs. 
• Advanced analytics: The book also focuses on critical concepts for forecasting, clustering, and custom visuals that frame the functionalities of Power BI. 

About the Author:

Adam Aspin has decades of experience in data analytics and has made major contributions to books on SQL servers and Power BI. His primary focus is practical application and technical expertise in data analytics. 

Why Should You Use It?

The book is best suited for professionals who want to build high-performance BI solutions and are willing to move beyond surface-level reporting. 

If you are an expert in machine learning (ML) algorithms, the next book is the right choice. 

5. Advanced Analytics with Power BI and Excel

The book is suitable for those who have prior experience in machine learning and want to integrate their skills with Power BI and Excel. The book covers advanced statistics, regression analysis, and forecasting to implement scalable applications in businesses. 

Source: Advanced Analytics with Power BI and Excel by Dejan Sarka, Jernej Rihar, and Klemen Voncina

Key Features:

• Applied Machine Learning: The book provides in-depth knowledge of ML models such as clustering, decision trees, and forecasting. 
• Statistical Analysis: It focuses on a statistical foundation for data explorations and techniques like hypothesis texting and accuracy evaluation. 
• Integration of AI: The book allows you to integrate R and Python into Power BI and Excel. 

If you are curious about how Power BI intersects with AI, explore upGrad’s Introduction to Generative AI. This free course will help you understand the role of AI in automating data and enhancing analytics workflows.

About the Authors:

The authors have expertise in data science, and Dejan Sarka is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP. Jernej Rihar and Klemen Voncina have experience in advanced data analysis, which allows them to create a holistic book for Power BI professionals. 

Why Should You Use It?

The book is best for those who want to move beyond visual dashboards and integrate predictive analytics with Power BI. 

Also read: Top 30 Data Science Tools: Benefits and How to Choose the Right Tool for Your Needs in 2025

The next one showcases the utilization of R and Python with advanced Power BI; let’s take a closer look at it.

6. Advanced Analytics in Power BI with R and Python

The book offers fundamentals for analytical capabilities using R and Python. The book integrates statistical computing and machine learning models with Power BI dashboards, helping professionals with prescriptive analytics through automation.  

Source: Advanced Analytics in Power BI with R and Python by Ryan Wade 

Key Features:

• Visualization: Provide insights on custom visuals with the help of matplotlib/seaborn (Python). 
• Automation: The book provides a holistic understanding of model deployment and real-time insights on scripting with Power BI. 
• Advanced Modeling: It also covers fundamentals of classification, regression, and time-series evaluation for better visualizations. 

About the Author:

Ryan Wade specializes in hybrid analytics solutions and has hands-on experience in corporate BI. His strategies are best for understanding the strengths of Power BI, R, and Python.

Why Should You Use It?

The book is best for advanced users who are willing to integrate statistical computing and machine learning models with Power BI and R scripts. Python visualisations are another highlight of the book, where professionals can build predictive analytics platforms. 

Also read: Top 12 Data Science Programming Languages in 2025

Now, let’s understand how the right books can be the foundation for upskilling in Power BI. 

 How to Sharpen Your Power BI Skills with the Right Books? 

Selecting the right books is key to sharpening your Power BI skills. Books offer structured learning, practical exercises, and in-depth insights that videos and tutorials may lack. Below, we highlight specific strategies and resources to help you enhance your Power BI expertise, from mastering the basics to tackling advanced concepts.

 

Also Read: Machine Learning vs Data Analytics: Key Differences, Tools & Career Paths

Now, let’s explore how to evaluate your books to enhance your skills based on your career path.  

 How Can upGrad Help You Learn Power BI and Build a Strong Data Career? 

Top books like "Beginning Microsoft Power BI" for beginners and "Mastering Microsoft Power BI" for advanced users offer comprehensive guidance on mastering DAX, data visualization, and modeling. These books help you develop a deep understanding of Power BI, enabling you to tackle real-world data challenges with confidence.

In addition to self-study through books, upGrad’s specialized courses can further enhance your learning. With hands-on projects, real-world case studies, and expert mentorship, upGrad’s programs are designed to help you build practical skills and advance your career in data analytics and business intelligence!

• Analyzing Patterns in Data and Storytelling
• Introduction to Data Analysis using Excel
• Learn Basic Python Programming

If you want to begin your data analytics journey, schedule a free personalized career counseling session today to take the first step in advancing your career. For more details, visit the nearest upGrad offline center.

Stay informed and inspired with our popular Data Science articles, offering expert insights, trends, and practical tips for aspiring data professionals!

Read our popular Data Science Articles

Elevate your career by learning essential Data Science skills such as statistical modeling, big data processing, predictive analytics, and SQL!

Top Data Science Skills to Learn

Unlock the power of data with our popular Data Science courses, designed to make you proficient in analytics, machine learning, and big data!

Explore our Popular Data Science Courses