Many well-known entrepreneurs in recent history are well-read. Take, for example, Elon Musk and Richard Branson. They have a long list, ranging from science fiction and fantasy to historical and business books.
ContentsThe Lean StartupThe Art of Getting StartedREWORKMoonwalking with Einstein:The Art and Science of Remember EverythingElon Musk:Tesla, SpaceX and the Quest for a Great FutureAlthough reading is only one of the factors that can contribute to success, it is a habit that strongly influences the mind. So, for someone just starting out in the business world, you have to pick the ideas that live and influence your plans, goals, and strategies.
Take some time out this weekend and snuggle up with a good book, starting with the following best business books.
Author: Eric Ries
First published in 2011, the book and its central topic remain relevant. To make launching a business less risky, Eric Ries presents the lean startup methodology. As this Harvard Business Review article says, the lean startup “prefers experimentation over elaborate planning, customer feedback over intuition, and iterative design over traditional ‘big design up front’ development.” P>
Pick it up from the shelf if you want to learn the techniques that will help you spend less time, money and energy developing your business idea. Although the goal of the Lean Startup is to present alternatives to traditional business practices. It can also help build your confidence to fail quickly and keep learning.
Author: Guy Kawasaki
If you're busy and have to pick just one book to digest this year, this should be the one. If you are at the stage of preparing a pitch and meeting with potential investors, the concepts that Guy Kawasaki has laid out in this book will be of great help to you. Kawasaki, a former chief evangelist at Apple, even shared a list of top ten lies about entrepreneurs you can avoid.
Complete it with the The Art of Departure 2.0 or devour it as standalone material. Some readers describe the Art of Leaving so fun and complete. Kawasaki's writing style is clear, informative and insightful. I bet you will enjoy this book as much as I do.
Authors: Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson
“If I have the choice between investing in someone who has read REWORK or who has an MBA, I always invest in REWORK. A must read for every entrepreneur. This comment comes from serial entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.
Indeed, for a startup or small business owner, this book is gold. It's written for people like you in the first place.
REWORK consists of short essays. Each of them is one to two pages long and uses plain language throughout. Primarily, the essays rework some dominant mindsets regarding topics like the workaholic, meetings, and competition. You're about to take a ride as this book challenges conventional wisdom and the status quo. Also, instead of illustrations, it contains artwork to complement the text.
Author: Joshua Foer
"Our lives are the sum of our memories", says Joshua Foer, a freelance journalist who has studied and written about memory enhancement. There's a good review here of his book, Moonwalking with Einstein , which details his journey from following mental athletes to learning ancient mnemonic techniques himself.
Moonwalking with Einstein does not fall into the category of commercial books. But, it's an engaging read for anyone who wants to improve their ability to remember things, including entrepreneurial concepts and ideas. The techniques are easy to learn if you have the time to devote to them.
Author: Ashlee Vance
The only biography on the list, Elon Musk will take you deeper into the life and mind of the man behind some of the world's most advanced technologies:spaceships and electric cars. Far from being a science fiction read, it traces the beginnings of Musk's adventure in space and automotive territories. Journalist Ashlee Vance covers the basics needed for readers to understand the nerdy kid who was designing video game codes at age 12.
If anything, it can provide the impetus you need to start, last, and keep moving forward on your entrepreneurial journey. The book will tell you that even Elon Musk, with his Silicon Valley demigod status, didn't get this far without stumbling several times.
