Books have the potential to teach something that a course could never teach. And reading books provides the in-depth knowledge that one needs. Entrepreneurs having in-depth knowledge about the field will benefit them and help them on their journey. But being an entrepreneur isn’t an easy job. One has to handle many things simultaneously; it could be about their business idea, funding, investors and whatnot! Things could get overwhelming for one but taking one step at a time helps. Investing in the right book can save you from many losses that might come your way on your journey as an entrepreneur. The most important thing when starting as an entrepreneur would be investing in the right kinds of books, as they can bring incredible results for their startup. Below mentioned are some of the best books for entrepreneurs to read.
10 Must-Read Books for Entrepreneurs Planning to Bring Groundbreaking Changes in the Market
1. How to Win Friends and Influence People
Author: Dale Carnegie
Goodreads Rating: 4.2/5
Who is it for?
This book is primarily for people who want to improve themselves and evolve as great human beings. It is for those willing to work on different aspects of their life, including many areas such as knowing how to respond smartly, how to make people feel seen and heard, and how to be empathetic. If you look closely, an entrepreneur needs to have these traits, and this book teaches you just that.
What is it about?
It teaches how to handle others gracefully, which is the most crucial trait an entrepreneur must possess. Knowing how to handle any situation or people can turn the tables for you, and this book helps you get there. ‘How to win friends and influence people’ teaches the most critical aspects in the simplest of ways. It can be your number-one go-to as an entrepreneur.
2. Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
Author: Simon Sinek
Goodreads Rating: 4.1/5
Who is it for?
This book is for those who want to find their “WHY” to live a happier, flourished and much more fulfilling life. It will help people figure out the purpose behind starting a business, and the purpose behind doing whatever they are doing. Like, entrepreneurs who need to know their “why” when they start their business or startup.
What is it about?
This book emphasises knowing your “why”. It teaches that there are two ways to influence people, either manipulate or inspire them. It talks about the Golden Circle, which comprises three things, i.e., knowing your why, what and how. It also talks about how important it is to build trust and how knowing your “how” is equally important as knowing your “why” because knowing your “how” will give you an idea about how to bring your thoughts to reality.
3. Think and Grow Rich
Author: Napolean Hill
Goodreads Rating: 4.2/5
Who is it for?
It is for anyone who wants to learn the art of being rich by acquiring some traits. This book has some profound knowledge as the author wrote it after observing many wealthy people and their habits. Thus, making itself a must-read for every entrepreneur out there. Entrepreneurs need to acquire the necessary skills to make money, and this book provides them with that. It has been a bestseller for more than 70+ years, and we all know the reason behind it now.
What is it about?
This book talks about many techniques that are proven to work. It says to use autosuggestion, which is a way to train our subconscious mind. Also, it tells us to stick to our decisions, no matter how hard, and it teaches us to join a mastermind group to speed up our growth. Hill talks about desire, faith, imagination and many other concepts.
4. The Lean Startup
Author: Eric Ries
Goodreads Rating: 4.1/5
Who is it for?
Ries did a commendable job writing this book. It is a must-read for anyone who is an entrepreneur or wants to be one because it has some valuable lessons and wisdom in there.
What is it about?
If there’s one book we would want you to read before starting a business, this book would be it. Ries has explained five essential principles in this book – entrepreneurs are everywhere, it is a form of management, and setting up sustainable business in the long term are some of them. The book is divided into three parts – Vision, Steer and Acceleration.
5. Zero to One
Author: Peter Thiel and Blake Masters
Goodreads Rating: 4.2/5
Who is it for?
In this book, Thiel shares some fantastic tips (drawing inspiration from his experiences) with the readers. Zero to One has quite a different approach to startups, and it will allow the reader to look at things from a different perspective. And, if you are an entrepreneur, you must read this gem.
What is it about?
He shares his experiences at PayPal and Palantir, through which he tries to give value and bits of advice for technology startups. Thiel talks about going from 0 to 1 and 1 to n (0 to 1 means going vertically, i.e., creating something from nothing, whereas 1 to n means going horizontal, i.e., modifying something that’s already in existence), monopoly, cash flow, mindset, etc.
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6. The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It
Author: Michael E. Gerber
Goodreads Rating: 4/5
Who is it for?
A must-read for anyone about to start their business so they could know how to make it successful.
What is it about?
This book bursts all the myths you might have about starting your own business. Gerber says that every person who does business has a combination of three personalities – the entrepreneur, manager and technician. Identify what your business needs and provide it with that. The book tells us that people who are good at their business are because of their unquenchable enthusiasm, and most small business owners work in their business and not on it.
7. Entrepreneurial You
Author: Dorie Clark
Goodreads Rating: 4/5
Who is it for?
This book is for anyone who wants more than one income stream. If you are someone who has a job but still wants to have a side hustle that pays well, read this book. It offers the reader a lot of ideas, bits of advice, and choices to choose from. Entrepreneurs must read this, as it will teach them some valuable lessons.
What is it about?
This book’s crux is diversifying revenue streams. It firmly believes in the idiom “don’t put all your eggs in one basket”, i.e., it asks you not to rely on just one revenue stream. The book has been broken down into three main parts: building a brand, monetising expertise, and extending the reach and impacts online.
8. Rework
Author: Jason Fried and David Hansson
Goodreads Rating: 4/5
Who is it for?
Anyone who wants to do something on their own and doesn’t have a jaw-dropping business plan or a stacked team of professionals. It is for those who aren’t afraid to start small and do things essential for their business to grow. Entrepreneurs should definitely read it as it will teach them life-changing lessons.
What is it about?
Sometimes, you don’t have to climb a mountain or swim a river to make your business successful. This book tells you the A-Z of how to have a successful business. It will make you contemplate why your business is underperforming and offer you the simplest things to follow that can be a game changer for your business.
9. The 100$ Startup
Author: Chris Guillebeau
Goodreads Rating: 3.9/5
Who is it for?
Entrepreneurs who want to launch their businesses should invest in this book. It will give them the push and the motivation they need to start their own business. This book is full of priceless information and knowledge.
What is it about?
Following are some key points of the book:
- Chris states that your passion alone won’t get you a paycheque; it has to be coupled with some skills you bring to the table and some customers who will pay you.
- If you have a plan but never execute it, your business has no chance of growing.
- It would be best if you marketed for people to know more about your business, but it should be under your budget.
- Have a simple business plan.
10. The Hard Thing About Hard Things
Author: Ben Horowitz
Goodreads Rating: 4.2/5
Who is it for?
This book is for people who want to know all the aspects of running a business and moreover for those that may need a reminder to stay strong when the business starts to go downhill. Entrepreneurs must read this book to remind themselves of it when facing a hard time with their business.
What is it about?
This book teaches you something that no one else does: how to face hard times. As someone who starts a business, it is crucial to be strong enough to face hard times and overcome them. When all the other books in the world tell you about the perfect business plan, a great workplace, etc., Horowitz tells you the non-sugarcoated version of starting a business, i.e., the rejections, the struggles, etc. He normalises entrepreneurial slump and advises business owners to take care of people, products and profits.
Final Words
Despite having everything available online today, reading a book beats everything else as you have everything you need to know in a few pages. Entrepreneurs should read books as it provides them with priceless insights and wisdom. To bring groundbreaking changes in the market, one needs to invest time in reading such incredible books that will provide in-depth knowledge of the market.
It’s overwhelming to keep up with all the new books that keep getting added to the market; therefore, those mentioned above are a few books that will surely help entrepreneurs.
