DISCLOSURE: As an Amazon Associate, some of the links below are affiliate links. This means, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission from qualifying purchases
How many times have you been in a job you hate and thought to yourself, “I’m done with this sh*t – I want to be my own boss?”
The sheer volume of business books all promising to set you free from the shackles of being an employee shows you’re not alone. Research from Guidant Financial cites the idea of being your own boss as the biggest reason why entrepreneurs start their businesses.
But where to start? Seeking out the best business books and online courses is a natural first step when trying to figure out whether entrepreneurship is for you.
What are the best business books for aspiring entrepreneurs?
Over the years, I’ve read a number of different business books to try and set myself up for entrepreneurship. For me, the best business books combine helpful, practical advice with first-hand accounts of what it is actually like to run a business, warts ‘n’ all.
This top-five list showcases the best business books I have come across. There are plenty of others, for sure. Despite me thinking I can do everything, I sadly don’t have nearly enough time or energy to read all the business bestsellers out there!
The titles that have made it into my best business books list may not be the most well-known, but they have had an impact on me one way or another.
Dear Female Founder edited by Lu Li
Dear Female Founder is a collection of 66 letters of advice from female entrepreneurs who have made it big.
No matter where you are in your entrepreneurship journey, you will find some real gems of advice in this collection. The letters are organised into three sections – start, learn and reflect – to make it really easy to pick out the piece of advice you’re looking for.
The book is the brainchild of Lu Li, serial entrepreneur and founder of Blooming Founders, an “ecosystem of products and services” designed to help female entrepreneurs flourish.
I was lucky enough to attend the launch event of Dear Female Founders in London back in 2016. I even bagged myself a signed copy of the book! Attending the launch and hearing some of the letters’ authors speak about their journeys made me realise just how powerful it is to learn from others’ experiences.
The New Rules of Business by Dan Matthews
The aim of The New Rules of Business is “to reveal what makes successful entrepreneurs tick” by interviewing some of the best brains in business. The author, Dan Matthews, a senior business journalist, interviewed 36 entrepreneurs, from big-name millionaires to relatively new business people, to show there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to entrepreneurship.
What I love about this book is reading the stories of how people built their empires. From Dragons’ Den icons to internet moguls, it’s inspiring to read how others have made it.
Maybe skip the chapter on disgraced PR man Max Clifford. No one needs to take publicity advice from him.
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
Despite first being published in 1937, Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich remains one of the best business books out there. It has sold an estimated 100 million copies worldwide and has never been out of print, which is pretty remarkable when you think about it. Talk about longevity!
Think and Grow Rich explains how industrialist and one of the richest Americans in history Andrew Carnegie became so successful. Through in-depth interviews with Carnegie and detailed research into over 500 of America’s most successful people spanning more than 20 years, Hill sets out how people can replicate their models in their own lives.
It’s amazing how relevant this book still is today. Maybe there is a formula for success after all.
The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman
I bought this book about 10 years ago when I was coming towards the end of my university studies. After realising that an arts degree and little practical work experience wasn’t going to help me find a job during an economic downturn, I decided to teach myself about business. Buying a book seemed like a more sensible investment than taking on yet more student debt to fund another degree I couldn’t afford.
The Personal MBA didn’t disappoint. Kaufman does a deep dive into the fundamental principles of building a successful business, from finance to understanding how to work with others. It’s basically a condensed MBA full of practical advice, without the huge amounts of debt. The founding executive editor of Wired, Kevin Kelly, went as far as to say that “you’ll be far ahead in the business game” by reading this book and applying its principles. High praise indeed!
Founded After Forty by Glenda Shawley
Budding entrepreneurs sometimes think that age is a barrier to business success. However, research shows that this is nothing more than a myth.
After studying 2.7 million start-ups, the Census Bureau and two MIT professors found that the average start-up founder was 45 years old when they set-up the most successful tech companies. In fact, according to the research, a 50-year-old is over twice as likely to found a successful start-up as a 30-year-old.
Founded After Forty is the perfect reminder that great businesses can be built later on in life. I originally bought it for my mum as a gift a couple of years ago, but have slowly brought it back into my possession.
I like Founded After Forty because it is a very practical guide on how to set-up a business and provides more of a step-by-step guide than the others on my best business books list. One caveat is that it is a little more focused on building a physical business than it is a pure online player. Nevertheless, it is full of useful hints and tips.
What are your best business books?
I would love to hear your thoughts on this list and what your favourite business books are. Get in touch or let me know in the comments below!
