Maybe the title “A book per month” instead of the top 12 best books for entrepreneurs would be ideal for those budding entrepreneurs who want to jump into a new lifestyle full of exciting business adventures, and fresh new financial freedom. If you want to be the best, it pays to learn from the best, and that’s what these books are all about whether you chose to read one book per day, per week or at least per month. These are our favorite, top 12 best books for entrepreneurs, and they each bring a little something different to the table.
12 Best Books For Entrepreneurs
1. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
Priority. You should have read this book at least once if you’re reading this post. If you haven’t, you should shut down your computer, go buy a copy, and read it. This book is the original source of the “law of attraction”: that what you desire most is what you will achieve. If you have the tendency to get so caught up in the busywork of running a business that you forget why you are working! This book teaches you that if you have that constant goal in your mind, you will achieve it.
2. The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss
A catchy title one. I believe this book is responsible for waking up so many people to the concept of time freedom and how to make the most of your time with your own business. Really? Who doesn’t have 4 hours?! Ferriss covers over 50 different tips to creating that 4-hour work week! This is a must-have!
3. The Power of Broke by Daymond John
Hands down. I’m a huge fan of great stories about how entrepreneurs have risen from a humble beginnings to start a business from scratch and rise to fame. Shark Tank star and Fubu Founder, Daymond John embodies this in true form through his origin story within The Power of Broke. In this business book, he discusses how to get scrappy and how to leverage the tools, relationships, and resources at your disposal to build a successful business on a small budget.
4. The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz
We are what we think. The new-thought movement gave birth to another classic by David J. Schwartz entitled, The Magic of Thinking Big, which argued that the one prominent issue separating us from those that are succeeding at the highest level is this ability to think really big. He argues that the state and quality of our lives are a direct result of the state and quality of our thoughts. Think, and you shall become.
5. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini
A classic one. Influence teaches you how to master these principles of persuasion, as well as how to identify when others are attempting to use these tactics on you. This is a classic business book for marketers and people looking to build their marketing skills. Dr. Robert Cialdini first published this in 1984, yet it’s still just as relevant today as it was then. Influence discusses how you can use the power of persuasion to influence how other people react. There are six universal principles at the core of Cialdini’s thesis of how to become a successful persuader: Reciprocation, commitment, and consistency, social proof, liking, authority, and scarcity.
6. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
A must-have. As entrepreneurs, it’s easy to get lost in the fray. It’s easy to allow circumstances and situations to get the better of us. We spend more time worrying about the future than we do living in the present. When that happens, we fail to realize our dreams because we fail to take action. That’s why Tolle’s book is such a must-read and is so inspiring.
7. The Third Wave by Steve Case
Favorite of favorites. Part memoir, part vision for the future, Case’s story begins when he co-founded America Online (AOL) back in 1985, a time many of us remember with the sound of a loud modem connecting to the Internet. The Third Wave tells the story of AOL’s massive merger with Time Warner, as well as his take on the next generation of the Internet. First, there was AOL and other companies that laid the foundation. Second were companies like Google and Facebook, which helped make the Internet more social. Today, we are entering The Third Wave, in which technology and the real world have become synonymous and in which startups are using the Internet to transform our everyday reality.
8. The 10X Rule: by Grant Cardone
Hands down X2. Most people operate with three degrees of action in a situation—no action, retreat, or normal action. The 10X Rule by bestselling author and sales consultant Grant Cardone gives readers a brand new level of action: “Massive Action.” It’s this principle of Massive Action that allows you to reach your dreams. In this business book, Cardone argues that in order to succeed in life, you first need to set massive goals and then take massive action towards meeting those goals.
In simple terms, The 10X Rule teaches you to aim high and work harder. In fact, both your goal and the effort you put into achieving it should be 10x greater than would have been the case before reading this business book. On top of that, Cardone teaches you the importance of selling yourself, keeping track of your biggest wins (having a strong freelance portfolio is key for those in the gig economy), and using your successes to catapult yourself even further ahead at every opportunity.
The Only Difference Between Success and Failure #10xit
9. The Obstacle is the Way’ by Ryan Holiday
No pain, No gain. This book is about success and the leading indicator of whether you will be successful or not is how you handle obstacles and hurdles. As an entrepreneur, there will be hurdles from every side: technology, regulation, disruptive competitors. How does one handle these and thrive? Ryan Holiday goes back to history to look at individuals who mastered the art of shining despite deep setbacks and personal challenges. It’s a must-read, and I would say every morning you can open a few pages and read this to rise and shine.
10. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
A masterpiece. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, author Stephen R. Covey, has sold more than 15 million copies since it was first published in 2004. The book presents a holistic, integrated, principle-centered approach for solving personal and professional problems, but my words, compared to Covey’s, just can’t do it justice. With penetrating insights and pointed anecdotes, Covey reveals a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, service, and human dignity – principles that give us the security to adapt to change, and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates. It’s a book for life, and a book that everyone should read, not just own. For entrepreneurs, it’s important to look at how to change the way we live, which will not only affect our personal life but our businesses too.
11. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
Financial Coaching 101. Personal finance author and lecturer Robert T. Kiyosaki developed his unique economic perspective from two very different influences – his two fathers. This text lays out Kiyosaki’s philosophy and his relationship with money. This book will explode the myth that you need to earn a high income to become rich, challenge the belief that your house is an asset, show parents why they can’t rely on the school system to teach their kids about money, define once and for all an asset and a liability, and teach you what to teach your kids about money for their future financial success.
12. The Power of Habits by Charles Duhigg
Fresh from the oven. This book topped most of the bestseller lists and spent more than 60 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List. In this business book, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Charles Duhigg takes us to the edge of scientific discoveries, explains why habits exist and how they can be proactively changed to create positive results in our lives. In this business book, Duhigg emphasizes how important habits are to our success. Habits are the essential keys to achieving meaningful goals. It’s our good habits that give us the structure and discipline to exercise regularly, be more productive, and continue making progress towards our larger life goals. Without good habits, it’s all too easy to give up when the going gets rough. This business book will give you the foundation for creating success-driving habits.
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We really hope that this intro about the 12 best books for entrepreneurs is a great source of motivation to keep you going.
