Top 10 Entrepreneurship Books to Optimise Your Success

If you aspire to learn entrepreneurship, it won’t always be an easy way ahead in practice. Along the way, you must learn how famous entrepreneurs have become successful and develop your own insights. While there is lots of advice on forums, YouTube channels, and the like, we wouldn’t want you to get overwhelmed at times. That’s why we have compiled the best entrepreneurship books. You can bookmark and keep returning to this quintessential list. 

1. Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future | Peter Thiel and Blake Masters

Recommended by Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, the authors’ main agenda is to help you think for yourself to succeed in any industry from scratch. The book, published in 2014, delves into areas that help you think of the bigger picture, i.e., offering the best value for the future through innovation. 

Instead of getting caught up in short-term goals and blindly emulating the competition, Thiel gives a better blueprint of how, as an entrepreneur, you can make a difference. 

Who is this for? It is not just a great beginner’s book for aspiring minds, but it also inspires and gives direction to ones to create something better and different. 

2. Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike | Phil Knight

A must-read for every entrepreneur at any stage of their careers, Shoe Dog is truly inspiring and intimate. It is not your run-of-the-mill book containing checklists of becoming successful, according to Bill Gates. 

The author talks about persistence, which is a rare appearance in most. It is his journey of selling Japanese athletic shoes from his convertible. You will learn about the stifles of making this company the giant in popular culture that it is today. Overall, the book is packed with insights on making the toughest decisions, being a leader, and more. 

This book on entrepreneurship will help those looking to overcome adversity in tough business situations. 

3. The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future | Chris Guillebeau

If you wish to be successful in what you love to do, go for this motivational read. It serves as a helpful guide covering aspects of life that have meaning for you while you earn. And let’s be honest about it - not everyone in this world gets to earn from what they love most. Most join corporates or find thankless jobs just to make ends meet. This book reverses that mindset by helping you find beneficial solutions for you and others through your passion or hobbies, so that you can earn well without a high investment. 

Guillebeau sorts out case studies and experiences from his own life. The key takeaway from his writings is that you do not need an MBA or know jargon like returns to know how to earn. 

Get this book only if you have hobbies and/or plan to have a good side income by being your own boss. 

4. Harvard Business Review Entrepreneur's Handbook: Everything You Need to Launch and Grow Your New Business | Harvard Business Review

This captivating read lets you think about the journey that lies ahead of you as an entrepreneur. It provides a framework that you can refer to at any time in your career. It will help you chart the business model you should be concerned about and refine as your business takes off. You will be able to understand how to gain financial capital to keep your company running. 

This book is great for aspiring and budding entrepreneurs.

5. Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action | Simon Sinek

Entrepreneurs will never be successful if they do not know how to lead. Leadership qualities are paramount in this role. Now this book will take you through a ride to make you understand leadership and how it helps organisations succeed with loyal customers and employees. 

This book is for all kinds of entrepreneurs looking to grow their leadership skills. 

6. Without Their Permission: How the 21st Century Will Be Made, Not Managed |  Alexis Ohanian 

The book may be a rarity in many lists on Google search for the term - best entrepreneurship books, but just like all rare items are gems, this one is too. Written by Ohanian, who founded Reddit, the book is split into three parts. The first part is about the author’s journey into startups, which is quite inspiring. Overall, the book helps readers leverage the internet for running a business and being successful from it.

The book is for aspiring entrepreneurs who are planning on creating successful online businesses. 

7. Black Box Thinking: The Surprising Truth About Success | Matthew Syed

This book is about learning from mistakes and not forgetting them. Also, it helps readers see what failures mean in different industries, such as healthcare vs airlines. The author argues that failures are important to be understood so that the next attempt becomes an innovation that actually makes one successful. 

Who will benefit from this book? It is best for entrepreneurs, irrespective of industry.

8. Traction: A Startup Guide to Getting Customers | Gabriel Weinberg and Justin Mares

Startups are not always successful. About 65% of startups can’t stretch to 10 years (Explodingtopics). 

The book introduces the Bullseye Framework that speaks of focusing on one marketing channel by brainstorming on all channels and then ranking them based on a scale of priority. The author is of the view that businesses make the mistake of not prioritising channels that give more value than others.

This book will help all aspiring entrepreneurs and will help those getting into marketing. Ideally, pair this book with free digital marketing courses.

9. Founders at Work: Stories of Startups' Early Days | Jessica Livingstone

One book that has all the interviews with famous entrepreneurs globally is this. The crux of the book is simple: every founder has created value for customers. The insights here are priceless for those who have an understanding of how businesses work. 

This book will inspire budding entrepreneurs. 

10. Lean Startup | Eric Ries

This list will not be complete without this book’s mention. Eric Ries, who popularised MVP (minimal viable product), provides a fine framework to improve upon products that customers love. It also gives learners an understanding of minimising risks.  

If you are looking to be a technopreneur or a product manager, this top-rated entrepreneurship book is for you. 

Which of these Entrepreneurship Books is Right for You?

If you are looking for 

Motivation

• Shoe Dog: Inspiring story of Phil Knight's persistence and overcoming adversity.
• The $100 Startup: Guides you towards turning your passion into a profitable business.
• Founders at Work: Inspiring interviews with successful entrepreneurs.

Strategy

• Zero to One: Teaches building unique value and innovating for the future.
• Harvard Business Review Entrepreneur's Handbook: Provides a comprehensive framework for launching and growing your business.
• Traction: Introduces the Bullseye Framework for optimising marketing channels.
• Lean Startup: Offers a risk-minimizing approach to product development with MVPs.

Leadership

• Start with Why: Explains the importance of finding your company's core purpose and inspiring others.
• Without Their Permission: Provides insights on leveraging the internet for success and leading online businesses.
• Black Box Thinking: Emphasises learning from mistakes and understanding failure as a crucial stepping stone.