There are tons of business books out there. Some are better than others. Here’s a few that I think should be read by any curious entrepreneur, in no particular order.
- The Reluctant Entrepreneur- This book was really helpful at giving a framework for building successful businesses that I think is actionable and easy to understand. I think the level of detail was good at making this more of an introduction rather than a compendium, and it’s emphasis on being sure to sell the entire way up to fill market niches was helpful and also concise enough to be absorbed easily. I took notes on what I got out of it here.
- Zero to One- This book is one of my favorite entrepreneurial books because I think it alludes to the importance of a moat, or something that prevents other people from just reverse-engineering and bringing a product to market. I think his discussion of monopolies is provocative, and reads like it recently read Schumpeter’s work. Tyler Cowen’s first podcast episode is with the author, Peter Thiel.
- How To Win Friends and Influence People- This book is my all-time favorite self-help book, and is brimming with insight. It took a while for it to get through my head that people respond better to praise, active listening, and understanding than anything else. If you view business as an extension of the individual, and want to better your relationships, I’d give this a go. Here’s an audiobook version you can listen to for free on Youtube.
- Eat That Frog- Brian Tracey’s books are well-organized, funny, and full of actionable advice. One of the biggest challenges many people face is breaking down problems into manageable tasks, and getting the undesirable parts done with. Eat That Frog! gives a bunch of actionable advice about how to manage time and build effectiveness.
Now, stop delaying, get off my blog, and take the first bite!
Isadore Johnson's Website 