5 Best Startup Books for Entrepreneurs in 2024

Every successful entrepreneur learns every day! 

Yes, the process of business growth is mostly about self-discovery. But the reality is that most of us have also learned by reading a ton of books – be it on marketing strategies, sales techniques, and, well, everything about business growth. Success comes from discovering new insights that we wouldn’t typically think of. It’s about exploring ideas we might miss and learning from other successful entrepreneurs.

Luckily for us, there are so many industry leaders out there – and many of them have decided to share their incredible wealth of knowledge and experience through books. So, where should you start? What are the best business books, and which one should you choose?

We’ve compiled a list of the best books for entrepreneurs looking to start their own startup, grow their business, or just upskill themselves. 

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1. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries 

The Lean Startup is easily one of the best books for starting a business and I strongly believe that all aspiring entrepreneurs should read this book. Eric Ries explains the importance of building a product that customers actually want – and, well, that they are willing to buy. This way, this book provides you with a new mindset on how to approach building a business, focusing on using human creativity to turn your startup into a sustainable business. 

No. of Pages: 336

Goodreads Rating: 4.1/5.0

Estimated Reading Time: 6-7 hours

The Lean Startup Key Takeaways:

• Create a minimum viable product (MVP).
• Use a loop of build-measure-learn.
• How to leverage innovation accounting.
• Understand the 3 A’s of metrics.
• Use the 3 engines of growth.

“We must learn what customers really want, not what they say they want or what we think they should want.” – Eric Ries in The Lean Startup.

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2. Zero to One by Peter Thiel with Blake Masters

Peter Thiel is the co-founder of PayPal and shares in his book unique insights and expertise acquired over the years working with other startups and growing them from, well… zero. This book is a must-read for all entrepreneurs because it will transform how you approach innovation in startups. Why exactly? “Zero to One” emphasizes the importance of creating something new and innovative rather than focusing on what already exists on the market.

No. of Pages: 195

Goodreads Rating: 4.15/5.0

Estimated Reading Time: 3-4 hours

Zero to One Key Takeaways:

• Seek market dominance, not competition.
• Timing and innovation are key.
• You need a vision and a secret
• How to reach your audience through effective distribution channels.
• Sales are the key to your success.
• Embrace a contrarian mindset to identify possible opportunities.
• Focus on long-term success, and don’t expect quick success.
• Embrace failure to learn.

“The most contrarian thing of all is not to oppose the crowd but to think for yourself.” – Peter Thiel in Zero to One.

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3. Start with Why by Simon Sinek 

Simon Sinek is an incredible storyteller who caters to both people who want to be inspired and those who want to inspire others. “Start with Why” is one of the best entrepreneur books and talks about ethical leadership and the need to ask ourselves “WHY”. For this reason, Sinek explains that we, as leaders, must first understand our purpose and what we want to bring to life with our company before trying to sell it to others. 

No. of Pages: 256

Goodreads Rating: 4.1/5.0

Estimated Reading Time: 3-5 hours

Start with Why Key Takeaways:

• People buy why we do it, not what we do.
• Find your Golden Circle (Why, How, and What) and follow it.
• Being a leader is more than just leading a group.
• Build a team that embraces your WHY
• Focus on your WHY, not on what your competitors are doing. 

“Great leaders are those who trust their gut. They are those who understand the art before the science. They win hearts before minds. They are the ones who start with WHY.” – Simon Sinek in Start with Why. 

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4. The Startup Owner’s Manual by Steve Blank and Bob Dorf

“The Startup Owner’s Manual” is by far one of my favorite business books, and I recommend it to every entrepreneur looking to start and build a successful startup. It provides helpful tips, incredible expert insights, practical advice, and real-world examples to guide us through the startup journey. 

No. of Pages: 608

Goodreads Rating: 4.1/5.0

Estimated Reading Time: 15 hours

The Startup Owner’s Manual Takeaways:

• Customer development is key in defining your startup’s direction.
• Focus on creating a well-thought-out business plan.
• How to look at data and metrics and improve them.
• The options available for raising capital.
• Networking is necessary for business growth.
• The importance of a customer-centric business model.
• Always seek guidance and support from mentors and advisors.

“In a startup, the founders define the product vision and then use customer discovery to find customers and a market for that vision.” – Steve Blank in The Startup Owner’s Manual.

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5. The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber

When talking about Gerber’s book with a friend, he said it’s like an overnight MBA school – and I couldn’t agree more. 

No. of Pages: 269 

Goodreads Rating: 4.07/5.0

Estimated Reading Time: 15 hours

The E-Myth Revisited’s Manual Takeaways:

• Work on your business, not just in it.
• Every business has three key roles: the Entrepreneur, the Manager, and the Technician.
• Focus on your systems and processes
• Aim to build a replicable "franchise prototype" of your business.
• Focus on delivering exceptional customer experiences.
• Continuous learning and improvement are essential for long-term success.

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Contact us today to get a personalized quote for your business needs, and let’s start building the path to your next level of success together!

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