7 Best Entrepreneurial Books to Achieve Success
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we may receive a commission as an Amazon Associate if you click a link, at no cost to you. Please read our Terms of Service for more information.
Yes, there are many book lists flooding the internet with more added daily.
What makes this list different?
We curated our list from the reading lists of the most successful entrepreneurs of the last 50 years. A sample from the group includes:
Bill Gates
(Co-founder, Microsoft)
Warren Buffet
(Chairman & CEO, Berkshire Hathaway)
Elon Musk
(CEO and significant shareholder, Tesla Inc., Twitter Inc., SpaceX, The Boring Company)
Tim Cook
(CEO, Apple Inc.)
Mark Cuban
(Co-founder, Broadcast.com and sold it to Yahoo)(Owner, NBA’s Dallas Mavericks)(Investor “Shark” on ABC’s Shark Tank)
Mark Zuckerberg
(Co-founder and Executive Chairman, Meta Platforms Inc. (formerly Facebook Inc.))
Jeff Bezos
(Founder and Executive Chairman, Amazon.com Inc.)
Jamie Dimon
(Chairman and CEO, JPMorgan Chase)
Few individuals possess an entrepreneurial spirit. Fewer still have the what it takes to embrace the high risk levels and sacrifices necessary to build something truly great.
The process is extremely demanding on the organization, employees, directors, shareholders, and the families thereof.
It is easy to get bogged down with the requisite financial reporting, budgeting, financing, marketing, advertising, compliance, regulatory, taxation, and the list goes on.
You need to take the time to step back and fuel your strategic planning with insights from the successes - and failures - of those that have reached the summit. It is essential that we embrace,
An outside-the-box perspective
Top 7 List
We consider the following books an essential part of any entrepreneur’s reading list.
Shoe Dog
A Memoir By The Creator of NIKE
Author: Phil Knight
Salient Quote:
“The trouble in America is not that we are making too many mistakes, but that we are making too few.”
Synopsis
Join the visionary entrepreneur Phil Knight as he takes you on a rollercoaster ride through his professional and personal struggles while providing captivating insights into his transformation of Blue Ribbon Sports into the iconic Nike brand.
Read how the company culture and values fostered a passionate and dedicated workforce that created an environment built on risk-taking, creativity, and collaboration.
Explore the highs and lows that spanned the supply chain, manufacturing, sports marketing, athlete endorsements, global expansion, and how such impacted his personal relationships and health.
2. Zero to One
Notes On Startups, Or How To Build The Future
Author: Peter Thiel
Salient Quote
“EVERY MOMENT IN business happens only once. The next Bill Gates will not build an operating system. The next Larry Page or Sergey Brin won’t make a search engine. And the next Mark Zuckerberg won’t create a social network. If you are copying these guys, you aren’t learning from them.”
Synopsis
Peter Thiel draws on his vast experience as co-founder of PayPal and Palantir and investor in start ups including Facebook and SpaceX while providing a unique perspective on entrepreneurship and innovation.
Readers will gain valuable insights from his views on the importance of vertical progress and how it involves disrupting existing industries by creating entirely new products, technologies, and business models. His outside-the-box perspective and contrarian views are illustrated throughout the book.
Unleash your creative potential while building a strong foundation for your start-up. Learn the importance of establishing a compelling vision, robust business strategy, and executing such with a winning team.
This book is a must read for entrepreneurs looking for a cutting edge perspective aimed at growing their start-up.
3. Principles
Author: Ray Dalio
Salient Quote
“I saw that to do exceptionally well you have to push your limits and that, if you push your limits, you will crash and it will hurt a lot. You will think you have failed—but that won’t be true unless you give up.”
Synopsis
Ray Dalio founded Bridgewater Associates and grew it into one of the most successful hedge funds in the world. This groundbreaking book provides a comprehensive guide to achieving success and building meaningful relationships. He shares personal stories and experiences that illustrate his holistic approach that goes beyond conventional business advice. His fundamental principles cover a broad spectrum including decision-making, problem-solving, and cultivating a healthy work culture while nurturing relationships.
Author: Andrew S. Grove
Salient Quote
“My day always ends when I’m tired and ready to go home, not when I’m done. I am never done.”
Synopsis
Andrew Grove co-founded Intel Corp. and is a Silicon Valley legend. This book provides invaluable strategies for optimizing output and driving success. Learn how to build teams while mastering the art of productivity and implementing actionable strategies for effective management. Whether you are an entrepreneur, aspiring manager, or seasoned executive, this book can guide you to optimizing your team’s performance and achieving high output.
5. Built to Last
Successful Habits of Visionary Companies
Author: Jim Collins
Salient Quote
“One of the most important steps you can take in building a visionary company is not an action, but a shift in perspective.”
Synopsis
Are you looking to take your organization to the next level? Do you aspire to build a company that stands the test of time, creates lasting impact, and leaves an enduring legacy? Look no further than Built to Last.
Immerse yourself in stories of exceptional companies and their leaders that transformed industries and left a lasting impact. The time tested principles and insights from their successful leaders emphasize a long-term focus while building enduring core values and sustainable growth strategies.
6. Rework
Authors: Jason Fried & David Henemeier Hansson
Salient Quote
“Whenever you can, swap “Let’s think about it” for “Let’s decide on it.” Commit to making decisions. Don’t wait for the perfect solution. Decide and move forward.”
Synopsis
Attention all business professionals and entrepreneurs! Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed and stuck in the daily grind? Do you long for a more efficient and productive work environment? Well, look no further.
Rework is a groundbreaking book that has revolutionized the way people think about work. It is a game-changer, providing you with a fresh perspective on how to achieve success in today's fast-paced world.
Learn how to cut through all of the noise and focus on what truly matters while reimagining work and maximizing productivity. This book will empower you to make bold decisions, challenge the status quo, and ultimately create a work environment that fosters innovation and success.
You may want to re-read this book every few years in order to revisit its many lessons.
7. The Innovator's Dilemma
When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail
Author: Clayton M. Christensen
Salient Quote
“Experts’ forecasts will always be wrong. It is simply impossible to predict with any useful degree of precision how disruptive products will be used or how large their markets will be. An important corollary is that, because markets for disruptive technologies are unpredictable, companies’ initial strategies for entering these markets will generally be wrong.”
Synopsis
Are you tired of playing it safe and following the same old strategies in your business? Do you yearn to disrupt industries, revolutionize markets, and become a true innovator? Look no further than The Innovator's Dilemma, the ultimate guide to understanding and navigating the challenges of innovation.
The innovator’s dilemma is a paradoxical situation where companies that have historically excelled in their industry struggle to adapt to emerging technologies and disruptive business models.
Real world examples illustrate the downfall of successful companies as they failed to stay ahead of the curve. Invaluable insights and actionable strategies will help you avoid the same fate.