Entrepreneurship is a never-ending process of learning something new, which is packed with ups and downs. Learning from those who have been there before you, understanding the reasons for both their achievements and crashes is a must for every entrepreneur.
One of the greatest ways to get this indispensable knowledge is to read, and luckily there are lots of wonderful books out there. If you’re searching for inspiration, here you’ll find 10 best business books you should read.
1. Blake Mycoskie’s Start Something That Matters
The first book on our list is written by TOMS shoes founder Blake Mycoskie. In this book, the author describes not only how he built a thriving company, but how it made a true difference for millions of people all over the world. It’s a great inspiring book that’ll surely push entrepreneurs to create something that matters.
2. Pat Flynn’s Will It Fly?
Finding a great business idea and taking it to the market is a risky thing to do in any sphere. In this book, Flynn doesn’t simply warn the readers to be careful with poorly thought-through ideas, but rather teachers them to separate the good ideas from the bad ones. What is more, in this book you’ll find a roadmap for actually starting a business with reliable wings.
3. Sophia Amoruso’s #Girlboss
In this book, you’ll find the Nasty Gal founder Sophia Amoruso’s genuine rags-to-riches story about the hard work of the entrepreneurial spirit. The business memoir is sure to motivate female entrepreneurs now and for many years to come. Amoruso shows how her little eBay business became a huge clothing retailer brand. Read the book to get Amoruso’s funny and helpful business insights.
4. Chris Guillebeau’s The $100 Startup
A tiny amount of motivation can help an idea take off — even if you don’t have much money in the bank. Writer Chris Guillebeau provides a valid argument that it’s not all about the money. The author offers 50 success stories, in which people made a difference without having a huge pile of cash.
5. Jim Collins’s Good to Great
Jim Collins analyzes 28 different companies over 20 years as well as their practices to understand what helped them to climb to the top. The book contains an interesting view on management strategy. In addition, it takes a look at how to build such a successful business culture. Long story short, those who want their business to advance from being good to being great, this book is an excellent tool to help.
6. Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead
Probably one of the most famous novels among business leaders and CEOs, this book will, of course, be helpful for any person having their own business. It was first published in 1943, but it still inspires lots of entrepreneurs who aspire to have their own path.
7. Scott Alexander’s Rhinoceros Success
Those entrepreneurs who want to find the secret formula of long-term success, have to charge full speed with the energy of a rhinoceros. Despite being written in 1980, the book is still amazingly relevant and inspiring to this day, as it tells about how you can throw yourself completely into a goal to build a flourishing business or career.
8. Conscious Capitalism by John Mackey and Raj Sisodia
Whole Foods founder John Macky changed the image of a grocery forever. In this book, written together with co-author Raj Sisodia, he answers a question of how to grow a business that has bigger goals than simply getting a profit.
9. The Glitter Plan by Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor
Juicy Couture, the million-dollar fashion brand it is today, actually began with only $200. The book is partly a business memoir and partly a how-to guide, where the company’s founders Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor give the reader a very entertaining yet informative read about the story behind their success and lessons they’ve learned.
10. Ryan Holiday’s The Obstacle
Everyone has to learn how to cope with the obstacles and hardships we all face in life. And we all learn to deal with them differently, but some people tend to do it more successfully. So what’s their secret? Writer Ryan Holiday describes the answer in this read.
