12 Best Entrepreneur Books to Activate Your CEO Mindset

Every successful business starts somewhere. Google started in a garage, Airbnb was funded by cereal, and your first company can get its foundations from the pages of the best entrepreneur books.

While breaking free from your 9-to-5 can feel like a solo venture, there are thousands of entrepreneurs who were once in your shoes — and many are ready and willing to share practical advice that you don’t learn in business school. Here are nine of the best books for new and aspiring entrepreneurs who want to become movers and shakers of the business world.

You can dream about your business all day long, but serious go-getters take actual steps to achieve clear-cut goals each day. It takes more than passion to get into the groove of entrepreneurship. You need good productivity habits — and you might need a bit of habit-breaking, too.

Here are three of the best books for entrepreneurs who want to learn the habits of successful entrepreneurs, get productive, and make the most of their time.

If you’ve ever found yourself scrolling through social media instead of brainstorming ideas or delaying decision-making by grabbing a third cup of coffee, this book on habit formation is for you.

In “Atomic Habits,”James Clear shows that creating a system of productive routines keeps you on track to score big in your business endeavors.

This book provides tips for making small changes that lead to major behavioral changes, which can help you hugely improve your productivity. Pair it with Clear’s step by step workbook so you can achieve more with his tips.

In today’s world, a luxury lifestyle — one that offers time, freedom, and flexibility — is the ultimate reward for business success.

In “The 4-Hour Workweek,“ New York Times bestseller Timothy Ferriss, who achieved a five-figure monthly income while working four hours per week, offers a four-step framework to help you focus on building a successful business that runs itself. 

As you adopt productivity hacks like setting up email auto-replies or outsourcing your tasks, you can earn time to focus on your passions and win in business as well as in your personal life.

People listen to people they like, which means being likable is one of the most valuable traits a business leader can have. While not everyone can naturally exude superstar CEO charisma like Steve Jobs of Apple, any entrepreneur can learn the people skills needed to build trust and develop meaningful connections with employees, clients, investors, and more.

“How to Win Friends and Influence People“ is a classic business book that offers practical advice for making positive connections with everyone you meet. Written by Dale Carnegie in 1936, the tips in this text have long withstood the test of time.

Employees don’t work at Tesla because they want to make Elon Musk rich, and consumers don’t shop at Amazon to send Jeff Bezos to space. When business leaders earn the loyalty of the people around them, it’s because they have a captivating purpose and know how to communicate their “why.”

Simon Sinek, who presented a viral TED Talk about being an inspirational leader, explains how you can identify your company’s unique purpose. “Start with Why“ is easily one of the best business books for entrepreneurs who want to hone their ability to motivate people and set your business apart from all the rest.

Successful business owners don’t just lead people. They also lead their industry. Written by Peter Thiel, the co-founder of PayPal, and Blake Masters, “Zero to One“ is the ultimate guide to thinking like a great entrepreneur or innovator who finds brilliant ideas in brand new places. By asking the right questions, you can be the first to enter a promising market with a profitable business.

If you ever dreamed of transforming or disrupting an industry, “Zero to One” is one of the best entrepreneur books for you.

Unleashing your productivity and leadership skills can help you confidently take the reins of your business, but at the end of the day, you still need a good business strategy to make your efforts worthwhile. 

These three must-read business books will help you pave the way toward your next entrepreneurial triumphs.

You’ve got a great business idea. You also have the drive to make it work. However, starting a business isn’t for the faint-hearted. Only 50% of small businesses survive more than five years. The good news is, the right strategy can keep you in the winner’s circle.

“The Lean Startup“ by Eric Ries offers a cost-effective approach that helps you manage your risk by staying agile and adapting to market conditions fast. Instead of wasting time writing 20-page business plans, this book calls for entrepreneurs to continuously test new ideas and innovate at the speed of the modern world.

“The Lean Startup” is widely regarded as one of the best books for entrepreneurs who are diving into the fast-paced startup world for the first time.

If you’re tired of getting repetitive tips for entrepreneurs — make a business plan, do market research, apply for funding, and so on — “Rework“ could be the best entrepreneur book for you. “Rework” explains how you can get started right now and doesn’t take any excuses for delays.

Authors Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, the co-founders of Basecamp, show how you can take a minimalist approach to starting your own business to achieve your goals faster than ever before. This book is for the self-starters who want to escape their day jobs and turn a profit ASAP.

For many small business owners, turning a passion project into a full-time job feels a lot like winning the jackpot. However, you don’t need any luck to make a living doing what you love. In many cases, all you need is $100 or less.

In “The $100 Startup,“ Chris Guillebeau offers 50 case studies of entrepreneurs who built successful businesses without taking risky business loans. Read this book to get realistic ideas for reaching approachable financial goals.

When you’re entering your twenties, you have the opportunity to choose your path: waste away your years doing easy jobs, partying, and struggling with relationships, or use your young adulthood to take the world by storm.

“The Defining Decade” by Meg Jay offers actionable advice and tools for making the most of your twenties. Read this book to start building a successful career, social network, identity, and mindset that can all lend a hand when you’re ready to dive head-first into entrepreneurship.

When you hear the phrase “Just do it” or see a swoosh on the side of a shoe, Nike instantly comes to mind. But while Nike is an iconic brand today, the business actually started in the trunk of founder Phil Knight’s car. In “Shoe Dog,” Knight tells the real-life story of how Nike was built — including the harsh realities of entrepreneurship and how Nike overcame them.

“Shoe Dog” is one of the best entrepreneur books for any business owner seeking an inspirational read. This must-read proves that no matter how many obstacles you face, whether it’s while seeking funding or tackling competition, your brand can become an industry leader.

Before Bridgewater Associates became one of the most successful investment firms in history, Ray Dalio operated out of a humble New York City apartment. What changed was his creation of a set of principles that helped his investment firm and his life run like a well-oiled machine.

If you want to be the one leading a profitable business instead of getting stuck as a cog in someone else’s machine, “Principles” is a practical, must-read entrepreneur book that will help you maximize your employees’ skills and make better decisions.

The entrepreneurial path can be a tough road to take, but you’re never alone in your journey. When you’re ready to boost your productivity, become a better leader, or bring your business to life, there are thousands of books that can give you the knowledge you need to keep scoring wins in your venture. 

Pick up one of these titles to start making headway toward your goals. You can also listen to “The Sport of Business” podcast for regular audio inspiration.