The number of entrepreneurs in the world is increasing at a geometrical rate. Every day start-ups spring up and attempt to break into various markets. It is only necessary that entrepreneurs keep acquiring knowledge to help them in a very competitive market space. Reading books tops all ways to gain knowledge. The amount of information and motivation hidden in books is mind-blowing. We have compiled for you a list of books every entrepreneur should read for personal and business growth.
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1. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven R. Covey:
This classic is among the best books to read about entrepreneurship available in over 40 languages and millions of copies sold. Stephen R. Covey highlights important day-to-day habits that will propel you to achieve your goals. It is an easy-to-read and engaging book for entrepreneurs.
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2. The Four Steps of Epiphany by Steve Blank:
This is an influential book especially in Silicon Valley. People who have read and appraised it reviewed that it provides a lot of information to make entrepreneurs fit into a market. It provides a series of exercises and examples to guides and is one of the best books for entrepreneurs.
3. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill:
This book was first published in the Great Depression, and still holds much importance and motivation to entrepreneurs. Napoleon Hill begins by studying and interviewing successful men like Henry Ford, Andrew Carnegie among others. The pattern of their success stories provides the basis for a six-step guide that he provides in the book.
4. The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More and Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Stanier:
This is a very practical book that every entrepreneur should read. Its focus is on outlining problems using a model of seven questions. Each of the questions is backed with research data and concrete examples of their use.
5. The Creative Curve by Allen Gannett:
Allen Gannett tries to tackle the problems of self-efficacy in creativity that entrepreneurs face in this book. Allen explains that creativity is in only perfecting and following the creative curve laws. She also included examples for easy grasping of the concepts.
6. Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson:
This book shows a great way to succeed faster and easier in business. The duo of authors explains that to succeed you need to work hard for what you want to achieve and be persistent until the end. Enough motivation is included in this book andis one of the best for entrepreneurs to read.
7. Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard by Dan and Chip Heath:
These authors outline why most people achieve long-lasting changes in businesses. It explains how the brain can conflict with the changes we see and how to avoid them.
8. Tribes by Seth Godin:
Seth Godin seeks to train entrepreneurs on how to locate opportunities in business. As a Marketing expert, Seth Godin explains the reasons community is important to the success of any brand. This book gives a different mindset to succeed in business and marketing.
9. The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss:
Timothy Ferriss’s book gives insight on ways to reduce work content, while maintaining productivity level, making more money and living the life we desire. This book is a very popular one and is recommended as one of the best books every entrepreneur should read.
10. Good to Great by Jim Collins:
Frequent questions like ‘why do some companies last longer than others?’ is on the lips of every entrepreneur. In his book ‘Good to Great,’ Jim Collins researches a lot of companies to determine the criteria of success and failure.
11. The Essays of Warren Buffett by Warren Buffett:
Arguably the most influential investor in our time, Warren Buffet includes in this book principles that entrepreneurs can use in matching their interests to those of investors. With years of experience, Warren provides good advice on how to attract investors to your business.
12. The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton M. Christensen:
Clayton’s book has proven to be very instrumental to major entrepreneurs and managers. He explains in this book innovative steps to take as well as how to overcome the many dilemmas faced. This is a must-read for entrepreneurs.
13. This is Marketing You Can’t Be Seen Until You Learn to See by Seth Godin:
This book first portrays an overview of assumptions, paradigms, and tactics that are prevalent in marketing and then offers some alternatives, that will lead to business success.
14. The Referral Engine Your Business to Market Itself by John Jantsch:
In this book, you will learn important skills that will help you to market your business better. It explains that the most important team is your sales team and your customer’s satisfaction is paramount.
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15. The Little Big Things: 163 Ways to Pursue Excellence by Tom Peters:
Tom Peters explains skills that will help your business survive and thrive in the market space. Each of the 163 examples is self- explanatory and easy to understand for entrepreneurs.
16. Do More Faster by Brad Feld and David Cohen:
This is an excellent book for first-time entrepreneurs. The authors explain how to increase the working rate while still dissipating the same success levels.
17. Lost and Found by Rand Fishkin:
This book looks at the challenges that a start-up will most likely face. Rand exposes the internal and external battle that start-ups face and is a must-read for entrepreneurs.
18. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki:
This book is among the most read books not only by entrepreneurs. It provides a different view of issues to profit-making that entrepreneurs should use and read.
19. Mastering Leadership by Robert J Anderson and William Adams:
Every entrepreneur is a leader, and this book outlines how best to lead knowing your weaknesses and strengths. It explains that leaders aspire to be creative thinkers.
20. Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher and William Ury:
This is another book that every entrepreneur should read. It explains how to negotiate well into getting the best deals in business activities.
21. Daring Greatly by Brene Brown:
In this book, Brene expresses the view that exposing yourself for all to see the flaws and potential is important for a successful career especially as entrepreneurs.
22. Choose Yourself by James Altucher:
This book explains the realities of the business world to the reader. James explains that nothing in this world is stable and you have nothing to lose in changing your thoughts and actions. He provides motivation and inspiration that entrepreneurs need to make a great business success.
23. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert:
Elizabeth explains in this book about creativity and how it works. She provides rare tips that are useful for every entrepreneur on how to be creative, innovative and be great decision makers. Elizabeth makes use of her personal experience to drive her points home in the book.
24. You are Badass at Making Money: Master The Mindset Wealth by Jen Sincero:
Jen Sincero explains in this book that most people have defective thoughts about money and money making. He describes his ways of making money which is invaluable advice for every entrepreneur.
25. To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others by Daniel H. Pink:
This is a book every entrepreneur should read to make a great business success. Daniel H. Pink outlines a guide on how to sell and how it ‘comes naturally to all people.
26. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie:
The New York’s Best-Selling author, Dale Carnegie explains in this book, the need to be influential to friends and how to go about it. This classic describes communication as a key to being able to connect to people and consequently succeed as an entrepreneur. This book is among the best on the connection aspect of entrepreneurship.
27. The $100 Startup: Reinvent The Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, And Create a New Future by Chris Guillebeau:
One other book every entrepreneur should read is this classic by Chris Guillebeau. He explains how business can grow from little investments and how you can do the same. Reading and following the tenets in this book will benefit a budding entrepreneur greatly.
28. The Obstacles Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumphs by Ryan Holiday:
In this book, Ryan breaks down the importance of stoicism in overcoming obstacles. He uses the examples of great men to bolster his point. This is a must-read for entrepreneurs.
29. The Psychology of Selling by Brian Tracy:
Brian Tracy provides to readers of this book the strategies on how to sell more by focusing on the customer above all other things. He gives invaluable advice on how to sell to get the results you desire. Every entrepreneur should check this piece out.
30. Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cat Newport:
This book portrays four steps that are useful in cultivating better ethics at work. It is especially helpful to people who are easily distracted and find it difficult to focus.
31. Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons and World Class Performers by Tim Ferriss:
Few books provide as much insight as this work by Tim Ferriss. Through his research of over 200 prominent figures, he was able to come up with a model of habits that anyone can use to achieve greatness. Entrepreneurs should read this book as it contains some useful business advice.
32. Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell:
This book is recommended by almost every ardent reader of motivational books. Malcolm emphasizes the 10,000-hour rule and how it is key to mastery in any field. He gives practical examples like the selection of football team players, Bill Gates’ and Bill Joy’s success stories to bolster his point on the need to be dedicated to work and being ready for opportunities.
33. The Power of Broke: How Empty Pockets, a Tight Budget and a Hunger for Success Can Become Your Greatest Competitive Advantage by Daymond John:
Daymond John writes this piece with start-up entrepreneurs and veterans in mind. He outlines that not being financially buoyant can spark up creativity and innovative skills in an entrepreneur.
34. Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek:
The idea Simon had for this book is from his TED talk. He emphasizes that only leaders who behave differently to the customary can make a difference and influence decisions better. Entrepreneurs will want to read this as it offers good leadership advice.
35. The Motivation Myth: How High Achievers Set Themselves Up to Win by Jeff Haden:
Jeff Haden highlights in this book the major problem that most entrepreneurs face- motivation. He debunks some myths about how people stay motivated and offers some counterintuitive advice that is precious to any entrepreneur.
36. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck:
A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Mason: This book poses a worldview that is entirely different from the generally perceived one. Mark explains how to care less about trivial things of life and redirect your focus to the goals you set out to achieve. This book is filled with lots of examples, especially of his own life.
37. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg:
This book brings to light the power our daily habits have over what we achieve in our businesses and lives. It focuses on how to be centered on changing bad habits and the benefits it will bring.
38. So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love by Cal Newport:
Cal provides a different view to what most motivational speakers preach in this book. It debunks the popular ideology that following one’s passion is enough to achieve success. Instead, Cal emphasises that skills are a more deciding factor.
39. Never Split the Difference: Negotiate as If Your Life Depended On it by Chris Voss and Tahl Raz:
This book is among the best every entrepreneur should read especially to improve negotiation skills. The authors are former negotiators and are well experienced in the field. They emphasize how the negotiation skills they have practiced have given them the upper hand in numerous situations.
40. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell:
This is a business book that is recommended by business gurus for entrepreneurs. Malcolm holds the opinion that there are various types of personalities that turn ideas to delivered projects. He explains what some people he calls ‘magical’ do that others do not.
41. Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products by Nir Eyal:
This book describes why some companies make commercial and financial success and why others don’t. Nir provides to the readers of this book approaches that top companies make when delivering products that capture the public’s interest. This is an excellent book for all entrepreneurs.
42. Traction: How Any Start-up Can Achieve Explosive Customer Growth by Gabriel Weinberg and Justin Mares:
The duo of authors address the issue that prevents most people from starting companies. They use their own business as examples to drive home their point. Every starting entrepreneur should read this book to obtain invaluable advice.
43. What if it Does Work Out? Turn Your Passion into Cash, Make an Impact in the World and Live the Life You Were Born to by Susie Moore:
This is an entirely motivational book that comes in handy to all entrepreneurs feeling low. Susie instills the opinion that negative thinking has no good impact on the business owner.
44. The 4 Disciplines of Execution: Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey and Jim Huling:
This book is a must-read for business owners. The authors of this piece through their years of experience explain 4 disciplines that transforms strategy into definitive actions.
45. The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business by Erin Meyer:
Most entrepreneurs do not consider the cultural effects of a product to a particular market. Erin Meyer exposes to the readers the issues that could arise in marketing a product and how to deal with them.
46. The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham:
Every business is in some way an investment of some sort of resources. This book emphasizes the right and intelligent ways to invest resources. The idea of developing long-term strategies is a goal of this book.
47. The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Blueprint for Success by William N. Thorndike:
This book is highly recommended for business owners by influential people like Warren Buffet. The author examines the life and business stories of eight CEOs with a view to developing some sort of blueprint that others can use.
48. Mini Habits: Smaller Habits, Bigger Results by Stephen Guise:
Everyone sets either a mental or written goal at some time. Most do not get actualized because of the bad habits we have. In this book, Stephen emphasizes that it is those small positive habits that propel us to achieve all we want to.
49. 24/7: The First Person You Must Lead is You by Rebecca Halstead:
Rebecca uses her life as a former brigadier to explain leadership lessons and experiences in this book. She puts forward the fundamental truths about leadership and how one needs to lead one self first before others.
50. Smarter Faster Better: The Transformative Power of Real Productivity by Charles Duhigg:
Charles approaches the quite familiar topic of productivity from a different angle. In this book, the author puts forward the position that an intensive focus in our big ambitions is a flaw in business. He instead emphasizes the need to shift importance to smaller goals.
51. The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries:
This business book is a very important one for every entrepreneur. The author gives broad definitions to start-ups and explains how to manage businesses properly.
52. The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers by Ben Horowitz:
This book is one of the best for every entrepreneur. It infuses common examples as well as lyrics from popular rap songs to explain problems that confront leaders daily and how to face then.
53. The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business by Josh Kaufman:
The title of this book doesn’t reveal much about its content. But do not judge a book by its cover. Josh counters the popular belief that a Master’s degree in Business Administration is necessary to succeed in the business world. Rather, he conforms to the ‘personal MBA’ that emphasises learning through experience.
54. Choose Yourself! Be Happy, Make Millions, Live the Dream by James Altucher:
This book provides more motivation that every entrepreneur will need. It encourages the reader to make a difference in an ever tricky world. This book is your stop for a mix of humour and motivational quotes.
55. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown:
This book emphasizes ways to do more by engaging in less. The author admonishes that doing only the right things is more productive than engaging in trivial tasks. He outlines ways which this can be done and how to maintain the habit.
56. The Ten-Day MBA: A Step-by-step Guide to Mastering the Skills Taught in America’s Top Business Schools by Steven A. Silbiger:
This book doesn’t downplay the need to get an actual MBA. It instead provides a summary of important skills that are taught in such classes so that entrepreneurs can get to apply them immediately. Every entrepreneur should read this book.
57. What I wish I Knew When I was 20: A Crash Course on Making Your Place in the World by Tina Seeling:
This book is very important to the young entrepreneur. Tina discusses the things she wished she had learnt, taken not of or even avoided at an earlier age. She explains how these invaluable lessons would have stopped her from making some grave mistakes.
58. Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry:
Emotional intelligence is becoming an increasingly popular term in the world. This book provides a set of sequential steps that will help you to improve your emotional intelligence. There is an online test to check how the book has helped to do so as well.
59. The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey:
Every business is set up to achieve a goal. More often than not, that goal is to make profit. This book explains ways to handle your finances properly and have total control. He also includes some myths about money and how to avoid them.
60. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t by Jim Collins:
This book outlines the reasons why some companies make ground-breaking success and others don’t. The author at the end of the day attributes it to the practices that these better companies ultimately partake in.
61. When Genius Failed: The Rise and Fall of Long-Term Capital Management by Roger Lowenstein:
This book draws off from interviews and internal memos. Explained in it are the ways to make funds and how these funds are lost. The author includes the risks and uncertainty that prominent personalities have taken causing them to rise and fall.
62. Reengineering the Corporation: A Manifesto for Business Revolution by Michael Hammer and James Champy:
Reengineering is a concept most firms seem to be less interested in nowadays. The duo of authors explain in this book how reengineering processes in business have helped save a lot of waste and increased productivity. Every entrepreneur should read this book to gain insights that they can apply to their own business.
63. The Smartest Guys in the Room: The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Eron by Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind:
A popular scandal of the ’90s was that of Eron. As a company that seemed to be ready to make groundbreaking records, a lot of books have been published of this scandal. This book provides a better analysis of what transpired.
64. The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith:
This book is a classic that every economics major must have come across before. The Wealth of Nations explains various economic concepts like division of labour, reasons why some nations are more wealthy than others, among others.
65. Barbarians at The Gate by Bryan Burrough and John Helyar:
The authors of this classical describe the rise and fall of Nabisco. The story of double-dealings and greed is not far from the mouths of many prominent organisations. These authors present the story more comprehensively and understandably.
66. Crushing It: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence-and How You Can Too by Gary Vaynerchuk:
Gary is an increasingly popular motivational speaker. He writes this book from his wealth of knowledge of owner and managing business such as his father’s wine store. He explains ways of setting up a good business and how to influence market decisions as an entrepreneur.
67. The Secrets to Success; When You Want to Succeed as Bad as You Want to Breather by Eric Thomas:
Very few people can claim not to know Eric Thomas in the business world. This black motivational speaker puts forward skills that he believes every entrepreneur should have. He uses the analogy of the lion and gazelle to drive home his points of ‘wanting to succeed as bad as wanting a breather’.
68. The Entrepreneur Mind: 100 Essential Beliefs, Characteristics, and Habits of Elite Entrepreneurs by Kevin Johnson:
This book examines the life of 100 prominent entrepreneurs that have lived with a view to providing patterns and advice for the budding entrepreneur. With the stories of so many achievers, every entrepreneur should read this book to learn.
69. The Social History of the Machine Gun by John Ellis:
This is another classic book on business. It focuses on the consequences of lethal technology such as the machine gun. This is an important book for start-up entrepreneurs.
70. Small Business, Big Vision: Lessons on How to Dominate Your Market from Self-Made Entrepreneurs Who Did It Right by Adam and Matthew Toren:
This is another book that focuses on the various achievements of self-made entrepreneurs. However, this book is particular that its principles can be applied by anyone to any business.
71. The Barefoot Executive: The Ultimate Guide for Being Your Own Boss and Achieving Financial Freedom by Carrie Wilkerson:
This is a motivational book that guides entrepreneurs on the steps of operations and planning to achieve any goal. Although its title sounds business specific, its content is applied to any sphere of life.
72. Impact: What Every Woman Needs to Know to Invisible to Invincible by Nancy Solomon:
At a first glance, the title of this book seems to be a typographical error. It’s not. This book admonishes women on how to create their own happiness and not conform to that of anyone else.
73. The Champion’s Mind: How Great Athletes Think, Train and Thrive by James Afremow:
The author of this book uses the lives of athletes as a reference and example. He explains the determination and persistence of great athletes in their thinking and training.
74. The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Discipline into Massive Success and Happiness by Jeff Olson:
The main idea of this book is the advantage of a changed mindset. The author explains the need to repeat daily activities until the results become obvious.
75. The Success Principle-How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Jack Canfield and Janet Switzer:
This classic provides 64 principles that are being used by successful women and men and which should be used by every entrepreneur.
76. The 12-week year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others do in 12 Months by Brian Moran and Michael Lennington:
This book admonishes business to consider their business year to be 12 weeks instead of 12 months. This would cause entrepreneurs to think on their feet on better solutions to problems.
77. Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity by Hugh MacLead:
Hugh writes in this book the many ways to improve creativity in businesses. This is precious advice for every entrepreneur.
78. Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies by Jim Collins and Jerry I. Porras:
This book focuses on the result of a research carried out in Stanford University. It exposes the behaviours that make some companies outshine others.
79. Reinvent Yourself by James Altucher:
The author of this book uses his personal life to write this book. He explains his failures, pains, regrets and how all these have helped him to ‘reinvent himself’ to what he is today. He explains that such change can actualize in any other person too.
80. The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure:
Achieve massive action, results and accomplish your business dreams! Grant cardone is on a mission to transform businesses that 10X everything
81. What if It Does Work Out? Turn Your Passion into Cash, make an Impact in the World and Live the Life You Were Born to Live by Susie Moore:
This business book is motivational. It encourages the reader to pursue that dream and passion. Entrepreneurs will find this book very helpful and should read it.
82. Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work by Chip and Dan Heath:
As entrepreneurs, some hard and tough decisions will always be required of you. The author of this book poses a four step approach to tackling problems of choice and how to make better decisions.
83. Essentialism: The Discipline Study of Less by Greg McKeown:
Motivational speakers will make you think like every idea that comes to your head should be executed. Greg is of the opinion that by completing rather than adding tasks, we can achieve more. This is the main idea of this book.
84. Virtuous Leadership by Alexandre Havard:
This book is widely read by all professionals in the business world. It explains how virtues can affect both professional and personal situations and decisions.
85. Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant:
This book admonishes the reader to use creativity and innovation to fight against conformity to paradigms of the world.
86. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson:
The Apple company is more of a buzzword than its founder Steve Jobs. Walter Isaacson writes the biography of Steve and covers both his personal and professional lives.
87. Just Start: Take Action, Embrace Uncertainty, Create the Future by Leonard A. Schlesinger and Charles F. Keifer:
Many times, entrepreneurs waste too much time in over thinking actions and decisions. This book pushes its readers to follow their instincts and create the future they desire.
88. Pre-Suasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade by Robert Cialdini:
Persuasion is a skill of every successful marketing professional. This book explains techniques that entrepreneurs can use to influence and persuade clients.
89. A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas by Warren Berger:
In this book, Warren argues that the most decisive way to know is to be curious and ask intelligent questions. Every entrepreneur should read this book to help the creative thinking process.
90. The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Thing Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller:
With the number of mediocre entrepreneurs increasing, this book is quite valuable to every business owner. Gary puts forward his ideology from experience about the simple thing that can make anyone achieve outstanding results in any field.
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