7 Books Every Entrepreneur Must Read Before Starting a Business
Starting a business without reading the right books is like navigating without a map. You might eventually get there, but you'll waste years making mistakes that others have already solved.
These 7 books cover every aspect of entrepreneurship: from finding ideas and building products to selling, marketing, and scaling. Read these before you invest a single dollar in your business.
#1. Zero to One
by Peter Thiel — ★★★★★
Notes on startups, or how to build the future. Why the next Bill Gates won't build an operating system.
Why it matters: Going from 0 to 1 (creating something new) is infinitely more valuable than 1 to n (copying)
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#2. The Millionaire Fastlane
by MJ DeMarco — ★★★★★
Why the "slow lane" of saving and investing won't make you rich. A blueprint for creating explosive wealth through entrepreneurship.
Why it matters: There are three financial roads: sidewalk (poor), slow lane (mediocre), and fast lane (wealthy)
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#3. The Lean Startup
by Eric Ries — ★★★★☆
Build a successful business using the Build-Measure-Learn cycle. Stop wasting time building products nobody wants.
Why it matters: Build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and test it with real customers immediately
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#4. The 4-Hour Workweek
by Tim Ferriss — ★★★★☆
Escape the 9-5, live anywhere, and join the new rich. A guide to lifestyle design, automation, and building passive income.
Why it matters: Define your ideal lifestyle first, then work backwards to fund it
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#5. The $100 Startup
by Chris Guillebeau — ★★★★☆
How to start a business with almost no money. Real stories of people who built $50,000+ businesses from tiny investments.
Why it matters: You don't need a lot of money to start a business — most started for under $100
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#6. How to Win Friends and Influence People
by Dale Carnegie — ★★★★★
The original people skills book. Master the art of relationships, persuasion, and leadership that drives business success.
Why it matters: Become genuinely interested in other people
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#7. Dotcom Secrets
by Russell Brunson — ★★★★☆
The underground playbook for growing your online business with sales funnels. A must-read for online entrepreneurs.
Why it matters: Every online business needs a sales funnel — a structured path from visitor to customer
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Ready to Start?
Don't read all 7 and then procrastinate. Read the first 2-3, then start building. Come back to the rest as you need them. The best entrepreneurs learn by doing, with books as their guide.