The 31 Best Entrepreneur Books of All Time (2024)

Welcome to our Best Entrepreneur Books Collection. Here you’ll find summaries of the best books for entrepreneurs.

Whether you’re a beginner launching a startup or a business owner growing an established business, these must-reads will inspire you and give you the knowledge to succeed.

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 Summary

The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber is a crucial read for entrepreneurs, explaining why 80% of small businesses fail and offering invaluable strategies for success.

It teaches how to get your business to run without you, using systems and processes, that reduce your work and stress.

It shows how to work ON your business, not just IN it.

"That Fatal Assumption is: if you understand the technical work of a business, you understand a business that does that technical work." —Michael E. Gerber

Why should you read it?

Decades after it was published, this book continues to be a much-recommended bestseller for entrepreneurs worldwide.

Its evergreen popularity is proof of the timeless business wisdom packed inside.

If you’ve ever questioned why running your “dream business” feels more like working a nightmare 80-hour-per-week job, then this book is what you need!

It’s like having a business coach in your pocket, telling you exactly HOW to work smarter rather than harder. (Hint: by building systems in your business.)

 Summary

Zero to One is about the future of technology and a guide for startup business founders.

Peter Thiel is a billionaire entrepreneur and investor that shares many unconventional ideas.

He says entrepreneurs should avoid competition.

Instead build a (legal) monopoly selling something completely new and incomparable.

"The perfect target market for a startup is a small group of particular people concentrated together and served by few or no competitors." —Peter Thiel

Why should you read it?

If you're trying to come up with an innovative new business idea, or if you're struggling to stay afloat in an overcrowded market, Peter Thiel's "Zero to One" may be your life jacket.

Peter Thiel, the entrepreneur and investor behind major names like PayPal, Facebook and Palantir — challenges us to think about creating something so unique it goes from zero (nonexistent) to one (the first of its kind).

This isn't about following trends; it's about setting them.

This book urges you to look where others don't and think differently. 🏆

 Summary

"The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries is about how to build new startup businesses smarter, using lean and agile methods.

It emphasizes launching a Minimum Viable Product, gathering customer feedback with scientific tests, and pivoting based on insights.

This approach helps quickly develop valuable products that truly benefit customers.

"A startup is a human institution designed to create a new product or service under conditions of extreme uncertainty." —Eric Ries

Why should you read it?

If you're banging your head against the wall trying to make your startup work, "The Lean Startup" can give you a much-needed plan for success.

Eric Ries flips traditional business launch strategies upside down, arguing for a smarter, not harder, approach.

It's all about building a minimal product, getting it out there fast, "failing fast," and then tweaking it based on real feedback. (Rather than perfecting something in a vacuum and hoping it flies.) Think of it like playing a video game where you get a bunch of lives to keep trying. 🎮

 Summary

$100M Offers by Alex Hormozi teaches business owners how to create irresistible offers that sell better and at higher prices.

He explains how to increase revenue by raising the perceived value of your product or service, using strategies like premium pricing, risk-free guarantees, stacking, bonuses, scarcity, and exclusivity.

"The point of good writing is for the reader to understand. The point of good persuasion is for the prospect to feel understood." —Alex Hormozi

Why should you read it?

At the heart of every business is the offer——what you're essentially saying is, "Hey, give me your money, and I'll give you something cool in return." This book is packed with many powerful strategies that will transform your approach to sales and pricing.

The end result?

To show you how to "make people an offer so good they would feel stupid saying no." Along the way, you'll enjoy Hormozi's communication style, which is direct, blunt, but often hilarious.

 Summary

The 4-Hour Workweek is about building a passive income business so we can escape the usual 40-hour workweek, and design our ideal lifestyle.

Tim Ferris also shows how we can improve our productivity by following the 80/20 rule and a 'low information diet.'

"If you are insecure, guess what? The rest of the world is, too. Do not overestimate the competition and underestimate yourself. You are better than you think." —Tim Ferriss

Why should you read it?

This book is practically the bible of the "digital nomad" movement, where some people figured out how to work from their laptop anywhere in the world.

To most people it sounds like a complete fantasy: Imagine traveling the world, indulging your curiosity, all while your business runs itself.

But Tim Ferriss shares many inspirational case studies of people who have done it successfully.

It's kind of like finding out that unicorns are real—and they know how to code websites!

This book has opened the eyes of countless people that a radically different, unconventional type of lifestyle is possible.

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Shoe Dog is an inspiring story of entrepreneurship from Nike's founder Phil Knight.

He started as a regular kid who loved running and built the largest sportswear brand ever.

But there were many challenging times that Nike barely survived.

"Let everyone else call your idea crazy... just keep going. Don't stop. Don't even think of stopping until you get there, and don't give much thought to where 'there' is. Whatever comes, just don't stop." —Phil Knight
 Summary

Traction explains an 'operating system' that can help entrepreneurs achieve more control and organization in your business.

Gino Wickman has assembled many practical management tools including: a 10-year vision, a people-grading chart, a data dashboard, a systems documentation method, and 90-day priorities called "Rocks."

"Above all else, your leaders need to be able to simplify, delegate, predict, systemize, and structure." —Gino Wickman

Why should you read it?

If you're burning out trying to push your small business beyond the startup phase and into real, sustainable growth, "Traction" by Gino Wickman may be right for you.

Wickman cuts through the noise with the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), a clear framework that has helped many business owners stop spinning their wheels; and finally gain the grip to drive their business forward. 🛞

 Summary

Sam Walton: Made in America shows how Walmart grew from one small store into the largest retail business in the world.

Sam Walton is often seen as one of the greatest entrepreneurs ever.

His journey was filled with risk, obstacles, adversity, failure... but also fun, discovery, passion and persistence.

"You've got to give folks responsibility, you've got to trust them, and then you've got to check on them." —Sam Walton
 Summary

The Millionaire Fastlane is about getting wealthy and retiring in 10 years rather than 40 years.

At first the title may sound unrealistic, but MJ DeMarco offers hard-earned business wisdom based on his success making millions of dollars after building a limousine booking website.

"Stop thinking about business in terms of your selfish desires, whether it's money, dreams or "do what you love." Instead, chase needs, problems, pain points, service deficiencies, and emotions." —MJ DeMarco

Why should you read it?

Reading 'The Millionaire Fastlane' is like having an exhilarating chat over coffee with a funny friend who also happens to be your millionaire mentor.

Half the time, you'll be cracking up; the other half, you'll be scribbling down money-making ideas.

It's a compact blast of inspiration for anyone ready to speed up their entrepreneurial journey.

 Summary

DotCom Secrets is a guide to building a successful online business using marketing funnels.

Russel Brunson teaches how to grow an online audience with email marketing, multiply profits with "value ladders," and even provides exact scripts to create our own sales videos.

"One of the fundamental rules of marketing is that "a confused mind always says no."" —Russell Brunson

Why should you read it?

Russell Brunson is the marketing brain behind the multi-million dollar software company ClickFunnels.

In this book, he goes far beyond the basics, providing dozens of templates for effective sales funnels that can change the game for your online business.

It's a must-read for anyone serious about digital marketing, and probably contains more useful info than most thousand-dollar courses.

 Summary

Start With Why says that great companies, organizations, and leaders are those who first understand their 'Why' - their purpose, cause, or reason for existing.

Simon Sinek shows how leading companies like Apple inspire extraordinary loyalty with a strong focus on 'Why' they do what they do, not 'What' they sell, or 'How' they do things.

"People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it. And what you do simply proves what you believe." —Simon Sinek
 Summary

"Blue Ocean Strategy" by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne introduces a groundbreaking approach to strategic business planning, focusing on creating uncontested market spaces (Blue Oceans) rather than competing in overcrowded markets (Red Oceans).

"Blue Ocean Strategy argues that firms need to go beyond competing and the mere improvement of product or services in overcrowded industries and pursue value innovation to open up new market space and make the competition irrelevant." —W. Chan Kim

Why should you read it?

Imagine that instead of focusing on beating your competitors, you could create a whole new market space where you had none?

It's an idea that is both liberating and compelling.

Through numerous case studies, these authors show how it has been done in the past and how we may be able to create our own Blue Ocean.

This book is a must read for anyone who wants to be an innovator and redefine their market so they can win.

 Summary

Elon Musk is a biography of the man who led Tesla, SpaceX and PayPal.

Musk inspires many people with his futuristic plans for new technologies, and his seemingly unstoppable ability to overcome all obstacles.

But his employees are often pushed to their limit, trying to reach impossible deadlines.

"What Musk has developed that so many of the entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley lack is a meaningful worldview. [...] Musk wants to... well... save the human race from self-imposed or accidental annihilation." —Ashlee Vance
 Summary

Steve Jobs is the official biography of the co-founder of Apple and Pixar.

He had an intense passion to create revolutionary products like the iPhone, iPad, iPod, iTunes, and Macintosh computers.

His personality was an unusual mix of Zen hippie and brash business visionary.

"In the annals of innovation, new ideas are only part of the equation. Execution is just as important." —Walter Isaacson

Why should you read it?

If you've ever wondered how a man who only owned black turtlenecks became the icon of innovation, or how persuasive one needs to be to sell a phone without buttons, this is your golden ticket!

Isaacson’s book isn’t just a biography; it’s a roller coaster ride through the ups and downs of a man who could sell sand in the desert.

For anyone into business, startups, or leadership, this book is like sitting down for a chat with the obsessive entrepreneur who thought different. 🖥️🍏

 Summary

"Traffic Secrets" by Russell Brunson is a guide to generating consistent traffic for your website and online business.

It covers fundamental marketing strategies, including sales funnels, email marketing, and competitive research.

The book also explains how to drive free traffic and run paid ads on platforms like YouTube, Google, Instagram, and Facebook.

"Being obsessed with your customer means understanding them just as well, if not better, than they understand themselves." —Russell Brunson

Why should you read it?

You should definitely read "Traffic Secrets" because it makes getting traffic to your website simple, and that's a crucial ingredient for any online business.

Based on his experience getting over 100,600 paying members to his ClickFunnels software, using traffic sources as diverse as Facebook Ads, Instagram posts, YouTube videos, Google SEO, affiliate marketing, and more.