Glengarry Glen Ross, Mamet's 1983 exploration of the dynamics within a real-estate office, offers a gripping and unsettling portrayal of seven salesmen and their tactics to "close" deals with unsuspecting buyers of valueless land. This play won the Pulitzer Prize, solidifying Mamet's critical and commercial acclaim.

Writing in Restaurants (1986) is a collection of essays by Mamet in which he shares his fervent opinions on theater, Hollywood, and himself.

Though penned in 1596, nearly 400 years before American Buffalo, Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice also explores how people use the concept of "business" to justify their own aggressive behavior.

Arthur Miller's 1949 play Death of a Salesman delves into the minor role an average American holds in the realm of "big business" and how his self-deception and ambition for success ultimately lead to his demise.

The Theory of the Leisure Class (1899), written by Mamet's intellectual idol Thorstein Veblen, examines American beliefs in the myths of business and social status. This analysis reflects the values of the characters in American Buffalo.

Joel and Ethan Coen's screenplay for Miller's Crossing (1991), similar to American Buffalo, explores the contrast between business and friendship, and how an individual tries to navigate both sets of ideals.