There’s no shortage of information and advice on how to start and run a business — you’ve got podcasts, blogs, conferences and, of course, books.
Below, we rounded up some of the best books for new and aspiring business owners. We considered consumer sentiment and ratings based on Amazon and Goodreads reviews, as well as our own editorial judgment (including some of the author’s personal favorites) to curate our picks. Read on to find your next entrepreneurial page-turner.
Best books for new and aspiring business owners
Best for practical advice if you’re just getting started
‘Dream Big and Win’
Who’s this for? Personally, I read this book over a year ago, kind of thinking that the dreamy title signaled a book meant for motivating yourself into the results you want. In some ways, it was and in other ways, it was better than that. In “Dream Big and Win,” author Liz Elting recounts her journey from her time as a young employee after college to starting her language translation business and the principles that helped her identify white spaces in her market and eventually grow her business to a billion dollar company. Readers may be able to relate to some parts of Elting’s early experience — like being inspired to improve the inefficiencies in their workplace — and learn from how she used those observations to create a competitive business. Throughout the book, she gives practical, realistic advice on how to think about and manage your business and frequently shares “words of wisdom” — quotes from prominent figures in the business and finance space.
Best for a mindset shift
‘The Diary of a CEO: The 33 Laws of Business and Life’
Who’s this for? “The Diary of a CEO” author Steven Bartlett found success early as the CEO of his own marketing agency as a 20-something-year-old. He shares his learnings and retells parts of his story in his book by breaking everything down into 33 “laws,” or principles, he has observed and experienced on his journey. But the laws are categorized under four main “pillars of greatness”: the self, the story, the philosophy and the team. Some of his principles are more directly focused on shaping the direction of your business while others are more focused on helping you create the mindset shift you need in order to be a successful business owner. One of my favorite lessons in this book that even transcends business and is a great life lesson as a whole (that I still often quote to friends and colleagues) is, “Leaning out will leave you behind.” Why? Well, you’ll just have to read the book for yourself to find out!
Best for getting motivated
‘It’s About Damn Time: How to Turn Being Underestimated Into Your Greatest Advantage’
Who’s this for? Arlan Hamilton may be most known for her unique pathway into venture capital and becoming the founder of Backstage Capital. But her storytelling in “It’s About Damn Time” may resonate with “wantrepreneurs” who are still looking for that push to take the first few steps. In her book, she takes us back in time to a part of her life when she was homeless and sleeping on the floors of the San Francisco airport, and we see her learnings as a former tour manager for musicians and as a managing partner of her VC firm in the same rooms as multi-millionaires. Her book is packed with advice on the attitude with which to move through the world, how to hustle for what you want and how to roll with the punches life throws at you. If you’re looking for inspiration and for your sign to get up and get to work, this book is it.
Best if you plan on managing a team
‘The Hard Thing About Hard Things’
Who’s this for? Ben Horowitz is a former tech CEO turned venture capitalist and is one-half of the famed multi-billion dollar venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (sometimes called a16z). So, as you might imagine, his professional journey is rife with stories of success, failure and lesson after lesson. According to reviewers, “The Hard Thing About Hard Things” shares advice on how to be a strong manager of your own company and how to develop your decision-making skills. Some reviewers mention that this book may be best for those who are building in the fast-paced startup space but others remark that those who aspire to be a CEO or are merely interested in entrepreneurship can still benefit from Horowitz’s advice.
Best for early-stage startup founders
‘The Lean Startup’
Who’s this for? If you’re an aspiring startup founder, you’re probably already aware of Eric Ries’ “Lean Startup” and maybe you just haven’t yet pulled the trigger on getting yourself a copy. The book is meant to provide a framework for experimenting and learning quickly, running a startup that isn’t burning cash, measuring real progress and centering human creativity. Reviewers highlight that some of the most valuable learnings in the book have been around prioritizing “complete” over “perfect” products so you can validate your customers’ needs quickly, responding to customer feedback in a timely manner and creating sustainable success over short-lived hype.
Best for productivity
‘The Four Tendencies’
Who’s this for? Entrepreneurship is a unique challenge because of how self-reliant you need to be as a business owner. You don’t have anyone standing over your shoulder giving you assignments and deadlines and creating success metrics for you. And, sometimes, if you don’t understand how you work best or if you struggle with motivation and productivity, your entry into entrepreneurship can feel like a hot mess before it’s even begun. Enter Gretchen Rubin’s “Four Tendencies.” If you’re a fan of personality tests, this book may pique your interest since Rubin explains what she believes to be four major tendency types that influence and inform how we respond to internal and external expectations: the Upholder, the Obliger, the Questioner and the Rebel. Understanding your tendency can help you better navigate relationships and expectations in your home life, career and beyond. Sure, this book may not deal directly with business, but if you wonder why certain business tasks excite you while others feel like pulling teeth, your tendency could help shed some light on how you need to frame your work so you can achieve success more consistently.
Best for memoir
‘Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike’
Who’s this for? Memoirs may not always offer clearly highlighted and practical advice but sometimes, simply peeking behind the scenes of someone else’s journey is more than enough to inspire our own ideas. In “Shoe Dog,” author Phil Knight shares how he started the multi-billion dollar company Nike with just $50 from his father — and all the ups and downs that followed. Reviewers say that the memoir affirmed for them that the American Dream is still alive, even if it isn’t as straightforward as we would like it to be. But they also revel in the intimate details Knight shared, like having to work full-time while building his company because it wasn’t making enough money to sustain him and grappling with instances of wondering whether the struggle was worth it.
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Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
