July 11, 2023

12 Best Entrepreneur Books to Activate Your CEO Mindset

Entrepreneurship

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.

3 Best Entrepreneur Books for Boosting Productivity

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.

1. “Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones”

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.

2. “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”
Once you know how to adopt new habits, you need to know what habits to adopt. Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” explains how you can shift your focus toward the tasks and goals that really matter. This book offers actionable advice, like beginning with your end goals in mind, to help you become a more productive, effective entrepreneur.
3. “The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich”

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.

3 Best Entrepreneur Books for Becoming an Effective Leader
The most successful people in the world don’t wait for others to pave their path. They’re leaders and visionaries who inspire other people (and even their competitors). Here are three of the best books for entrepreneurs who want to influence, rather than get influenced by, the world.
1. “How to Win Friends and Influence People”

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.

2. “Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action”

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.

3. “Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future”

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.

3 Best Entrepreneur Books for Bringing Your Success Story to Life

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.

1. “The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses”

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.

2. “Rework”

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.