Startup Good Reads

“The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them.” – Mark Twain

MY FAVORITE ENTREPRENEUR BOOKS

1. THE THIRD WAVE BY STEVE CASE

This book blew my mind. Steve Case, the founder of AOL and pioneer of the modern internet, provides insight into the “Third Wave” of the internet. He projects that everything will be connected to the internet like a “smart” device. He envisions a future of ultra-connected devices (even toasters) and people which will revolutionize health, business, politics, transportation and many other facets of the modern world. I didn’t mind the first half of the book essentially being a memoir of his days creating AOL and the modern internet because I love a good entrepreneur story.

2. VENTURE DEALS BY BRAD FELD AND JASON MENDELSON

The bible for breaking down venture capital deals, this book provides a complete walkthrough of the funding process from how to engage venture capital firms to closing a multi-million dollar deal. It provides fantastic definitions and insight to both an entrepreneur and an aspiring venture capitalist. A must-read before setting out to raise capital.

3. BLOCKCHAIN REVOLUTION BY DON AND ALEX TAPSCOTT

Bitcoin, the blockchain, Ethereum, smart contracts – how do you make sense of it all? Well, start here by reading Blockchain Revolution. Perhaps the best book on blockchain technology, Blockchain Revolution provides a holistic view of how the blockchain began, where it is now, and where it is headed in the near and distant future. For a young entrepreneur, understanding how blockchain technology will affect the world is essential. This book very well may spark an idea for your new blockchain startup.

4. SHOE DOG BY PHIL KNIGHT

I love a good entrepreneur story, and Phil Knight’s memoir on founding Nike did not disappoint. Shoe Dog focuses on Phil’s early days – when he was selling radical track shoes out of his parent’s basement. The many roadblocks along Nike’s creation provide the great storyline for his entrepreneurial spirit. Cash flow nightmares, foreign lawsuits by big-time creditors, and a man on a mission making his dream come to life. Inspiring, entertaining, and a great read for anyone.

5. THE START-UP J CURVE BY HOWARD LOVE

The Start-Up J Curve changed my startup methodology in a profound way. Before reading this book, I naively thought: get an idea, raise a few million dollars, use that money to build a perfect product, then release that perfect product to the public and then collect my exit check. Man, was I wrong. The Start-Up J Curve breaks down the process of creating a company in an efficient and methodical way. First, create an MVP, then release the MVP to real users to gather feedback and morph the product. Once you have a morphed product that customers love, then it’s time to create a business model to maximize profits and seize opportunities. The next step is scaling and finally harvesting (exiting). The essential note to this methodology is that you cannot move onto the next step until you have completed the step you are on. This has saved me thousands of dollars I would’ve poured into a product that no one wanted.

6. THE LEAN STARTUP BY ERIC RIES

This book explores methods entrepreneurs can adopt when beginning their venture. The author Eric Ries believes there are alternative ways to navigate business outside what is typically taught in the entrepreneur world. It is a great read that can impact any stage of a business.

7. REWORK BY JASON FRIED

The title says it all. There’s a common saying: “work smarter, not harder.” Rework uncovers obstacles to avoid when starting a business that will speed up the launch process. It also reveals how investors are not required and explain why you should completely ignore the competition. After this book, you’ll want to put your plans into action ASAP.

8. THE 1-PAGE MARKETING PLAN BY ALLAN DIB

This read also revolves around the idea of “work smarter, not harder.” Included is literally one page to fill out with your marketing plan. This book emphasizes the fact that professionals don’t just “wing it,” they have plans in place to stay ahead so they don’t fall behind. 

9. THE HARD THING ABOUT HARD THINGS BY BEN HOROWITZ

This book is highly recommended for startups today. The Hard Thing About Hard Things advocates how the perfect business doesn’t exist – and plans can inevitably change over time (especially in today’s climate). The author informs the reader about big mistakes to avoid as a leader. 

10. FOUNDERS AT WORK BY JESSICA LIVINGSTON

If you’re an entrepreneur, you most likely have successful entrepreneurs you look up to. To learn from the best, Founders at Work is a collection of unique interviews from founders of successful startups. Topics include teams, investing, and the importance of customer engagement. 

11. THE ENTREPRENEUR MIND BY KEVIN JOHNSON

The Entrepreneur Mind is another book that correlates beliefs, characteristics, and habits of top entrepreneurs on how they got to where they are today, including one of my favorites, Sara Blakely of Spanx. “To change the way you live, must change the way you think.”

12. THANK YOU ECONOMY BY GARY VAYNERCHUK

The Thank You Economy talks about how important customer engagement and relationships are in a business; the energy you put out is what you receive. These interactions now take place on social media, which have forever influenced the way businesses should redirect their attention. Gary Vee constantly talks about digital marketing trends, which is what this book zeros in on to stay in-the-know. 

13. ATOMIC HABITS BY JAMES CLEAR

Our behavior influences our progress, so it’s important to be aware of what we do every day. This book will teach you how to form good habits and break those bad ones. This read isn’t just for entrepreneurs, but anyone who wants to commit to a goal, big or small. 

14. CONTAGIOUS BY JONAH BERGER

Lockdown has shown us how rapidly information can spread. Contagious includes methods to reach people – whether it be advertising, or organic content. This book demonstrates how ideas catch on and grow.