19 Entrepreneurs List Their Favorite Business Books

Start with Why by Simon Sinek is a groundbreaking business book that puts forward a simple yet powerful idea -successful leaders and organizations are those who start by defining their purpose or ‘why'. Sinek argues that people don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it. One quote from the book that has stayed with me is, “People don't buy WHAT you do, they buy WHY you do it.” This has profoundly resonated with my approach to business, helping me focus on the core purpose of Authors On Mission and inspiring our authors to share their impactful stories with the world.

One book I highly recommend to fellow entrepreneurs is Napoleon Hill’s Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude. It gives entrepreneurs wisdom on tapping into the deep recesses of their minds to develop a sustained positive mental attitude for continuous progress and self-improvement in their business ventures. It taught me how to view setbacks, and how opportunities arise intuitively when you have your positive mindset right. As a young entrepreneur, it taught me key lessons on PMA and your relationship with motivating myself and maintaining progress via work-life balance.

Thanks to Reeve Benaron, Intrivo!

This book really helped me as a leader to understand the best way to work effectively and communicate with employees, vendors, and external partners. It helped me develop a more personal way of communicating with my staff and directing them in a polite, professional, and effective way. The business itself is transactional, but the relationships with my employees are not. I’ve learned that by understanding their perspective and simply being respectful.'

Thanks to Chris Gerbig, Pink Lily!

My favorite business book is “The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau”. The core idea that this book teaches is that starting a business need not cost a lot of money. This book proves it with case studies of successful entrepreneurs or solopreneurs who have created revenue streams by identifying and monetizing their passions. It showcases their struggles, the early mistakes, and how simple practical steps allowed them to pivot and find profitability. If anybody is struggling with the idea of entrepreneurship, this book shows a step-by-step breakdown of how to convert your passion to profit.

Thanks to Roman Milyushkevich, Scrapeitcloud!

Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. This book resonates with me because it gave me valuable insights into entrepreneurship, building wealth through smart investments, and most importantly financial independence. The message of adopting a mindset that goes beyond traditional employment and being financially educated aligns with my own journey of leaving my 9-to-5 grind and starting my own business. It provides valuable lessons and views that can inspire and motivate me to continue pursuing my entrepreneurial aspirations and financial success.

Thanks to Brian Campbell, WaterFilterGuru.com!

My love for physical books is profound, and my bookshelves are filled with them. While some say collecting books and reading them are separate hobbies, I delight in both. Two books in particular, “Think Fast, Think Slow” by Daniel Kahneman and “Black Swan” by Nassim Taleb, have captivated me with their insights into human behavior in business. If only there were more hours in a day, I would gladly spend more time immersed in reading. In fact, I eagerly anticipate revisiting “Steppenwolf” by Hesse for the third time.

Thanks to Sigita Kotlere, Dyninno!

My favorite business book is “Never Split the Difference” by Chris Voss. This book offers a fascinating deep dive into the high-stakes world of hostage negotiations, from which Voss extrapolates practical negotiation principles applicable to the business world. The central idea – that compromising is not the most effective strategy – has profoundly influenced my business decisions.  This book equipped me with the ability to approach negotiations as collaborations rather than competitions. As such, I've been able to forge stronger, more beneficial business relationships.

Thanks to Safeer Qureshi, SPG Media!

The business book that really resonates with me is “Obviously Awesome” by April Dunford. It's an exceptional guide when it comes to figuring out company positioning, a crucial factor that I believe can make or break any business. It's especially useful in a very crowded space like ours. I really enjoy Dunford's straightforward, no-nonsense approach, coupled with her practical advice. I've had the pleasure of seeing April speak live, and her insights were as impactful and compelling as they are in her book. It's a resource I would recommend to every business leader.

Thanks to Vadim Katcherovski, Birdview PSA!

Almost any of Brene Brown's books could top my list but it really has to be James Kerr's Legacy – what the All Blacks can teach us about the business of life. In it, Kerr outlines the 15 lessons of leadership he thinks we can take from the rise and sustained success of the All Blacks, New Zealand's famous rugby team. There are so many excellent takeaways in this book, including the importance of adaptability, responsibility, and authenticity – aspects of leadership that are often seen as “soft” But the lesson that is central to the book‘s message is ‘sweeping the sheds'.

Thanks to Juliet Robinson, Big Goals!

The Lean Startup is a remarkable guide that revolutionizes the way we think about launching and scaling a business. It presents a fresh perspective on entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of agility, experimentation, and continuous improvement. What I particularly appreciate about this book is its practicality and actionable insights. Ries shares real-world examples and strategies that can be readily applied to various business scenarios. The book instilled in me the mindset of constantly seeking customer feedback and incorporating it into my decision-making process.

Thanks to Mathew Coulton, Gentle Dog Trainers!

The Innovator's Dilemma” by Clayton M. Christensen is a worthwhile book to read to better understand how to make your business withstand industry disruption. Christensen describes disruptive innovation and the roadblocks that established companies face when dealing with new technologies or disruptive market forces. Ultimately, this book offers helpful strategies for managing and embracing evolving industry trends that could otherwise threaten your business.

Thanks to Brandon Adcock, Nugenix!

Crossing the Chasm is a highly influential book that has significantly contributed to early strategic planning for Lawcadia, a legal technology company. The book, written by Geoffrey A. Moore, offers valuable insights into the challenges faced by startups as they transition from early adoption to mainstream success. By introducing the concept of the technology adoption lifecycle, Moore identifies the “chasm” as the critical gap between early adopters and the majority market. The book provides a comprehensive framework for understanding this gap and offers strategies for successfully crossing it.

Thanks to Warwick Walsh, Lawcadia!

I’ve read and re-read ‘Building A StoryBrand’ by Donald Miller several times and it’s my absolute go-to when anyone in business asks for a book recommendation. It’s chock-full of insight and inspiration but, more importantly, practical advice and application. It comes with a free online brand script builder and steps you through the process of clarifying your brand, your website, and your marketing messages. This book is dripping with all the common sense things we should know and execute…but ironically commonly don’t!

Thanks to Katrina Ferguson, Photogeek!

I've read countless business books to nourish my knowledge. But if I have to pick my favorite, it would be “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't” by Jim Collins. This book stands out for its valuable insights into what differentiates truly great companies from the rest. It offers valuable lessons on leadership, strategy, and the importance of getting the right people on board, concepts that have greatly influenced how I operate Nako.

Thanks to Sophia Tang, Nako!

The best business book is “Too Big To Fail – The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System–And Themselves” by Andrew Ross Sorkin. It's a great book because it's written like a thriller from the perspectives of these really big business and government personalities. The writer (himself a well-known US business journo) also covers the career backgrounds of each of the key players, and so there are some really interesting lessons and insights that can be picked up.

Thanks to Chris Hill, Stadium Legal!

What's your favorite business book? Tell us in the comments below. Don’t forget to join our #IamCEO Community.