This article will discuss the 51 best business books for entrepreneurs. These books will help you on your business path by enlightening you, enhancing your expertise, and providing you with clarity. So without further ado, let’s begin.
51 Best Business Books for Entrepreneurs
- Start with Why by Simon Sinek
- Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
- Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss.
- The Entrepreneur Mind by Kevin D. Johnson
- Execution by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan
- The Founder’s Dilemmas by Noam Wasserman
- Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months by Melinda Emerson
- The Art of the Start 2.0 by Guy Kawasaki
- The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
- Zero to One by Peter Thiel
- Influence by PhD Cialdini Robert B
- Getting More by Stuart Diamond
- Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher
- Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss
- Pre-Suasion by Robert Cialdini
- It’s Your Ship by Captain D. Michael Abrashoff
- The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger
- The Dichotomy of Leadership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
- How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
- Great by Choice Jim Collins and Morten T. Hansen
- True North by Bill George
- The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau
- Side Hustle by Chris Guillebeau
- Company of One by Paul Jarvis
- Virtual Freedom by Chris C. Ducker
- Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
- How to Be a Bawse by Lilly Singh
- Shark Tales by Barbara Corcoran
- How Women Rise by Marshall Goldsmith and Sally Helgesen
- Women and Leadership by Julia Gillard and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
- The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman
- Accounting for the Numberphobic by Dawn Fotopulos
- The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
- How Finance Works by Mihir A. Desai
- Valuation by McKinsey & Company Inc.
- Power Questions by Andrew Sobel
- Five Stars by Carmine Gallo
- Words That Work by Frank I. Luntz
- Unleash The Power Of Storytelling by Rob Biesenbach
- Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson
- Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
- Losing My Virginity by Richard Branson
- Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
- Alibaba by Duncan Clark
- Elon Musk by Ashlee Vance
- The Everything Store by Brad Stone
- Do Nothing by Celeste Headlee
- Can’t Even by Anne Helen Petersen
- Mindfulness for Stress Management by Dr. Robert Schachter
- The Burnout Fix by Dr. Jacinta M. Jiménez
- Boundaries by Henry Cloud
Mindset Books for Entrepreneurial Success
It all started here, in my mind. If you have made up your mind to it. You have already won one part of the fight. Check out the below-listed books to start with the right mindset.
#1. Start with Why by Simon Sinek
Start With Why asks (and provides answers to) why certain individuals and organizations are more creative, influential, and successful than others? Why do certain people garner more support from both clients and staff?
Why can few people consistently replicate their achievements, even the successful ones? The answer to this is also a question: “Why?” Numerous companies have found success by understanding why they exist. What is their purpose? This book will enable you to ask important questions before you begin anything.
#2. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
Think & Grow Rich is regarded by many as the greatest business book since it contains advice from hundreds of billionaires, including titans like Andrew Carnegie.
It aids in attitude, vision, focus, and belief, aiding and directing you through those difficult moments.
#3. Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss
The entire title of the book is “Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers.”
The title sums up what the book is about. Tim conducted interviews with successful business leaders, movie stars, and other celebrities and wrote this book based on what he learned about what aided their success.
This is a must-read book if you want to achieve big things in life, as this book will provide valuable information for you.
#4. The Entrepreneur Mind by Kevin D. Johnson
Do you subscribe to the 80/20 rule? The 80-20 formula implies 20% skills and 80% mindset. People widely believe this formula because it has worked out. However, our successes and failures partly depend on the mindset we have.
If we have a failure mindset, it will enable us to take decisions and actions that lead to failure, and if we have a winning mindset, we do the opposite. So, Kevin took on the topic and wrote a book about it.
In this book, he has described the shared thought processes of successful entrepreneurs like Mark Zuckerberg, Sara Blakely, and many other uber-talented entrepreneurs.
#5. Execution by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan
The great General Electric CEO Jack Welch and his practices have influenced the writing of this book.
This book provides a wealth of insights on how to develop a business culture that works not only in planning but also in executing your ideas.
Books on How to Start a Business
Books that every aspiring entrepreneur should read because they will help them in the most significant stage of their career, the beginning.
#6. The Founder’s Dilemmas by Noam Wasserman
You have an idea and are set to start the entrepreneurial journey, but you cannot know it all when starting from scratch. No one knows it all. You must make many decisions and steps and always have a dilemma; this book will help you deal with situations like that.
The author has discussed the difficulties a founder faces at the start of a start-up and how they can deal with them without falling apart. This makes it a great book for aspiring entrepreneurs.
#7. Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months by Melinda Emerson
If you are done with your 9–to-5 jobs and have decided to become your own boss, this handbook, authored by Melinda Emerson, will help you turn your desire into reality.
Melinda is an expert in helping small businesses, and she has curated this book with her years of business development experience.
The book includes step-by-step instructions, marketing planning, and financing options, among other things, to guide you.
#8. The Art of the Start 2.0 by Guy Kawasaki
This book, written by Silicon Valley venture capitalist, successful marketer, and author Guy Kawasaki, is a must-read for anyone serious about launching an idea, a product, or promoting a business.
This is another book written by someone who knows what he is talking about and has the wisdom to share with anyone willing to listen and apply his teachings.
#9. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
This book has changed many organizations thinking differently regarding how one should run a start-up. A book that supports adaptation to change constantly to be relevant to customers’ needs.
Eric has changed entrepreneurs’ beliefs and forced them to be flexible. If you are starting a new business and looking for a relevant book that discusses innovations, this book is for you. Grab your copy.
#10. Zero to One by Peter Thiel
A strategy book coming straight from a billionaire entrepreneur that can help you build your start-up successfully.
Mastering chess by age twenty-one, a doctorate in law by age twenty-five, and a billionaire by age thirty-five. Peter has been an achiever, and in this book, he has shared his philosophies, experiences, and learnings that enable you to shape the future of your start-up.
Best Books that Teach Negotiations In Business
Negotiation is an art that gives rewards to the artist. Are you an artist? No? The following books will help.
#11. Influence by Ph.D. Cialdini Robert B
In this book, the author, Dr. Robert, has shown factors that can influence our thought processes. You will learn how our brain works and how you can persuade it.
You can use the learnings from the book, presented to you after years of scientific research, for your business’s benefit. You will learn the psychology of persuasion, enabling you to pursue anything that gives you an advantage.
#12. Getting More by Stuart Diamond
“Getting More” is the result of thirty years of research by Pulitzer Prize winner and Wharton Business School Professor Stuart Diamond. It is a book that gives you advice on negotiations that can be used in most conversation topics, whether you are discussing relationships or a business deal.
The teaching of this book will help you get more in life.
#13. Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher
Published in 1981, this book was updated many times to stay relevant. As a result, it has been one of the classic books on negotiations.
The author has broken the negotiation process to be helpful, and it gives you a framework to use in real-life scenarios and make the situation a win for you.
#14. Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss
The book is brought to you by Chris Voss, the CEO of The Black Swan Group Ltd., a negotiation training institute. Chris was a kidnapping negotiator.
Simply put, he was the person who used to negotiate with bank robbers, kidnappers, and terrorists to reach an agreement that did not harm innocent people. He is one of the best guys to learn negotiation from.
#15. Pre-Suasion by Robert Cialdini
Is it always difficult to persuade someone of an idea or pitch your point of view? If you answered yes, grab this book, and sink into the advice presented to you by the author.
If you have noticed, the book title is “Pre-Suasion,” not “Persuasion,” which means that the entire plot revolves around teaching you what to do BEFORE you pitch into anyone. It helps you learn how to set the environment in your favor before you reveal your idea.
Best Books on Leadership
The captain has a significant impact on whether the ship will sink or navigate through challenging conditions. Do you want to be a leader? The below-listed books can help improve your leadership skills.
#16. It’s Your Ship by Captain D. Michael Abrashoff
This book is about Michael Abrashoff, a US navy officer who turned a worst-performing ship into the best-performing one within twelve months. He accomplished this without hiring or firing any crew members. Instead, he restored the fortunes of the USS Benfold with the same crew he had when he took command.
And this book is brought to you by Michael himself. In this book, you will learn about his challenges in leading a group of sulky, uninterested navy officers and making it a success.
#17. The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger
A biography of the former CEO of Disney, one of the most beloved brands in history. This book’s takeaways will shape your leadership approach.
The book does not provide step-by-step instructions; it is about how Disney became so successful and how a laborer working as an assistant on the television sets became the chief executive officer of Disney for fifteen years.
#18. The Dichotomy of Leadership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
This book on leadership comes from two former US Navy officers. In this book, they have discussed leadership in great depth. The book will let you know when to lead and follow.
Since the authors were in the Navy, they have shared their leadership lessons in the light of a wartime environment.
#19. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Leadership is easier if your team likes you. The chances of them listening to you increase, and this book can help make people like you.
This book, released in 1936, is still relevant and popular among all generations.
#20. Great by Choice Jim Collins and Morten T. Hansen
After the successful launch of “Good to Great,” Kim published another book after ten years, making all his fans happy. This book asks and revolves around the question of why some businesses thrive in adverse conditions while others fail.
The authors will assist you in understanding the principles of building a successful empire in today’s uncertain world. The authors researched for nine years to complete this book.
#21. True North by Bill George
True North is a great book on leadership that you wish you had read earlier. This book was written after analyzing and interviewing 125 leading personalities. As a result, this book can contribute to a large extent to identifying your authentic personality, describing your leadership values and principles, and shaping you to be a good leader in your skin.
Books on Starting Solo
All it takes to start something new is YOU.
#22. The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau
The symptoms suggest you are not built to work for anybody if you believe you are not suited for the 9 to 5 grind, you are incapable of being managed by others, or independence is one of your top priorities.
If you agree with the above, you must do something about it, and asking for help is not wrong. This book is your help and one of the most popular books to support your solo endeavor.
#23. Side Hustle by Chris Guillebeau
This book is brought to you by the author of the bestselling book “The $100 Startup.” Side Hustle is a handbook that provides a roadmap for turning an idea into an income-generating source in only 27 days.
In addition, the author advises not to let perfectionism stop you from achieving your purpose.
#24. Company of One by Paul Jarvis
Do you aim for rich life or want to be rich through wealth? This book prioritizes quality over quantity. The author argues you can enjoy life by not scaling the business.
It assists its readers in starting and growing their businesses without excessive manpower. If you can relate to the ideology, you must read this book.
#25. Virtual Freedom by Chris C. Ducker
Are you a solo entrepreneur? Then this book is helpful to you. In this book, the author shows you how to start your own business even if you do not have an office or dozens of employees working for you.
The author suggests that you can receive help by outsourcing your business tasks. He also teaches you why, when, and how to outsource to a virtual team of professionals to assist you in your mission.
Business Books for Women Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurship is a playground for women too.
#26. Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
This book was written by a billionaire businesswoman, former Chief Operating Officer at Facebook, and the first woman to make it to Facebook’s board of directors. Sheryl has a lot of achievements on her resume. You can Google her to learn more about her.
Sheryl has shared her experiences and challenges working at successful businesses like Google and Facebook through this book. It is a must-read book for women entrepreneurs.
#27. How to Be a Bawse by Lilly Singh
Popular Canadian YouTuber Lilly Singh has written the book. She is known by her pseudonym, “Superwoman,” and enjoys a massive following across social networks.
From an unwanted girl child from an Indian family to a successful career as a Youtuber, comedian, actor, and influencer, she has had quite a journey. The journey that comes with lots of hardships and learnings she shared in her book will help you fight your fear and do better in your life.
If you plan to start a new endeavor online, this book may be helpful to you as you can relate to Lilly’s journey.
#28. Shark Tales by Barbara Corcoran
Shark Tales follows the journey of Barbara Corcoran, who is well-known for being a panelist on the popular US show Shark Tank. It will be interesting to learn about her journey and her mother’s lessons that she used in the business world. In addition, it will be inspiring to know how a dyslexic student could turn a $1,000 bill into a $6 billion business.
You will find this book inspirational if you are building a business from the ground.
#29. How Women Rise by Marshall Goldsmith and Sally Helgesen
Remove all obstacles that have been keeping you from becoming your successful version.
This book is the collaborative product of two business leadership coaches. They tell us how women can break twelve habits that have been holding them back from achieving greatness. The authors have thoroughly discussed women’s habits that can brighten their futures. You will be exposed to your behavior patterns and advised to fix what is not working.
Marshall and Sally are business leadership coaches who have coached thousands of candidates and helped them in their professional journeys.
#30. Women and Leadership by Julia Gillard and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
A book about the sexism barriers women face that prevent them from achieving leadership roles. A fight against the thinking that denies women access to power.
This book by Julia Gillard and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will guide you to find sexism in your working environment, overcome it, and achieve what you need to.
Books on Money Management
Below are the books that help you understand the financial aspect of the business.
#31. The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman
In simpler words, this is a business school program in a bound book. This book teaches you a lot about business and its model and gives you an overview of what a two-year MBA program offers at the end of the course.
This book will teach you about funding, purchasing power, pricing, cash flow, income statements, and many other subjects. So, if you intend to learn more about the financial aspect of business, grab this book and start reading; it will be well worth your time if you are interested in the subject.
#32. Accounting for the Numberphobic by Dawn Fotopulos
Dawn Fotospulos, the book’s author, uses her blog to help small business owners and solopreneurs. This book aimed to teach small business owners about business finances and accounting. This book will help you learn the subject, even if it is new to you.
In this book, the author has discussed subjects like cash flow, balance sheet analysis, and income statements to help aspiring entrepreneurs make informed decisions.
#33. The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
When discussing finance or money, how can we not mention this book? One of the best books written on the subject, which everyone should read if they want to learn about money
You will learn the subject with the help of funny anecdotes that the author has used to convey the concept. This book is about mindset and money. It talks about the mindset needed to accumulate money.
#34. How Finance Works by Mihir A. Desai
This book comes straight from the wisdom and knowledge of a Harvard professor who knows the subject and has presented the complex finance subject to you as simply as he could.
He will help you understand how companies fund their businesses, why cash flow is imperative, and other finance-related subjects through discussing financial case studies.
Whether you are a new entrepreneur or a college student, if you want to educate yourself on business finance, you must try this book.
#35. Valuation by McKinsey & Company Inc.
McKinsey & Company is a popular consulting firm, so the book is costly. However, this book discusses and teaches about company valuation and is considered one of the best.
If you want a deep insight into the topic, you can buy the book and explore corporate valuation.
Best Books on Communications
Good communication skill comes with a lot of perks.
#36. Power Questions by Andrew Sobel
You can derive a lot from the type of questions one asks. If no one asks a question during your presentation, the audience is ignoring your presentation. The author showed how to instantly transform a conversation and connect with your audience.
By asking the right questions, you can establish clear communication based on which you can make the best business decision. If, as an entrepreneur, you often feel that you could have asked better questions or missed out on knowing important information, this book can help you improve that skill and transform your overall communication experience.
#37. Five Stars by Carmine Gallo
This book will teach you the art of persuasion, as the author believes that ideas do not sell themselves; we sell them.
The author believes that good communication gives you an edge that helps you move forward, and it is no longer only a soft skill in today’s times. This book will also teach you valuable tips shared by billionaire personalities such as Warren Buffet and brain hacks used by Leonardo da Vinci, Steve Jobs, and Pablo Picasso to sell their ideas. There is a lot to this book.
#38. Words That Work by Frank I. Luntz
A good conversation does not require you to know complex vocabulary; this will only lead to confusion and will not convey your intentions precisely. Instead, a good conversation is one where the message is nicely conveyed.
And this book will precisely assist you in selecting the appropriate words to achieve that.
#39. Unleash The Power Of Storytelling by Rob Biesenbach
The art of storytelling requires thinking in a certain way to deliver the story by conveying all the emotions present. This strengthens the connection with the audience.
The author, Rob Biesenbach, will teach you how to think to deliver a story, what words, what structure to omit, and how to present an idea, etc. If you can connect with your audience, the deal is yours. And this is why this book adds a lot of value to your career.
#40. Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson
A lot can happen over a session of conversation. Especially in difficult situations where important matters are discussed and not amicable. Crucial Conversations will help you start the right conversation in difficult situations.
The book consists of practical examples of difficult situations and how you can converse effectively.
Best Biographical Books of Successful Entrepreneurs
Learn how it gets done from the people who have done it in the past.
#41. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
This book is a memoir of Phil Knight, the man who co-founded the successful sports shoe company we know as Nike.
In this book, you will learn how he built one of the most valuable brands and became one of the most successful billionaires. You will know the history of Nike, the early life of Phil, and his advice that might work for your big idea.
#42. Losing My Virginity by Richard Branson
This book is the autobiography of the founder of the Virgin Group. He has also published a second memoir, “Finding my Virginity,” which you can check out. He is a successful billionaire who rose, failed, and rose again. As a child, Richard suffered from dyslexia, a reading disorder. His teacher once told him he would be in jail or become a millionaire.
He is an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, and a conglomerate who recently made a trip to space in his Virgin Galactic spaceflight. This book and his following memoir, “Finding my Virginity,” are must-reads if one needs to know his life story and get inspired.
#43. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
Steve Jobs, the man who gave birth to the most desired product—Apple. Steve was a creative entrepreneur. And this book was curated after interviewing him, his 100 family members, friends, colleagues, and competitors over two years.
Walter Isaacson has also written biographies on personalities like Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, and Benjamin Franklin. Therefore, Steve Jobs chose him to write his biography as he wanted his stories to be heard.
If you are interested in innovation and creativity, you must try this book.
#44. Alibaba by Duncan Clark
Jack Ma was a friend of failure and rejection. He failed twice in his school entrance exam, thrice in university, had his application to Harvard University rejected ten times, and once applied to thirty-one odd jobs but did not select any.
After facing many rejections, he became a successful entrepreneur who introduced an eCommerce store to his country. As a result, he is a successful billionaire in China and the world. This book talks about his journey.
#45. Elon Musk by Ashlee Vance
Elon Musk, the man who needs no introduction, is the richest man on earth as of the date of this article, and this book is about his story, his journey, his early life, his failures, and his endeavors. How he became what he is today.
If you want to become an unstoppable entrepreneur like him, read this book and get the inspiration.
#46. The Everything Store by Brad Stone
If you want to know Amazon and its founder, Jeff Bezos, read this book.
Brad has covered the early life of Jeff’s and Amazon’s inception story, how the company rose, how it got turbulent, and how it navigated through to become one of the most popular organizations.
Best Books to Deal with Burnouts
Be ready for sacrifices if you want to become an entrepreneur. Successful entrepreneurs mostly ignore everything that comes their way while pursuing their dreams: birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, skipping health checkups, and mental health largely ignored. They forget that overdoing does more harm than good.
Overworking increases the chances of being burned out easily, which puts one in a phase where they are no longer productive. You need to learn that dreams, goals, and work are parts of a life you can pursue, but it is not a life if we put everything else behind us. You should know when to stop and take a rest to ensure you are healthy.
The following books can help you learn how to draw the line between work and life.
#47. Do Nothing by Celeste Headlee
Award-winning journalist Celeste Headless wrote, “Do Nothing.”. A book testimonial wrote, “In this thought-provoking, well-researched book, Celeste invites readers to push back against the “I’m too busy narrative and discover what it means to be truly successful.”
This book can change how you think about hustle culture and sheds light on why you should rest and improve your well-being.
#48. Can’t Even by Anne Helen Petersen
The author, Anne Helen Petersen, has deeply discussed burnout and its causes. This book will assist you in determining why you are exhausted, demotivated, and mindlessly scroll through social media sites.
#49. Mindfulness for Stress Management by Dr. Robert Schachter
These days, stress is part of life. However, it is not good for your health as it can make you miserable by causing unnecessary worry.
This book is a great handbook consisting of fifty practical stress management exercises to practice and better manage their worries. Every entrepreneur who deals with unpredictability and challenges daily should read this book.
#50. The Burnout Fix by Dr. Jacinta M. Jiménez
The Burnout Fix is a step-by-step handbook on how to get past the burnout phase without letting it empower you. The book’s author, Dr. Jacinta, is a psychologist and a certified coach whose advice and recommendations you can follow. This is an excellent book for changing your mind about burnout and reshaping your career.
#51. Boundaries by Henry Cloud
People please often put themselves in unpleasant situations as they cannot say no.
And as an entrepreneur, you cannot afford to be a people-pleaser, or you will harm your business and sanity. With years of research and experiments, this book will help you set boundaries that no one can cross and sabotage your needs.
Conclusion
That was our list of the 51 Best Business Books for Entrepreneurs. In the comment section below, tell us how you liked this article and which book/books most excited you.
