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5 of the Best Books to Read When Starting a Business

Business woman reading book

One of the most important things you can do when starting a business is take advice from other successful entrepreneurs. Running a business comes with plenty of ups and downs, and books are a great way to learn more about the entrepreneurial world. Check out this list of some of the best books to read when starting a business.

5 Must-Read Books Before You Start Your Business

  1. The Founder’s Dilemmas: Anticipating and Avoiding the Pitfalls That Can Sink a Startup
    By Noam Wasserman
    A book all about the importance of studying the founders before you, Wasserman writes about the different ways business founders fail and succeed. He illustrates why some ways of approaching your entrepreneurial career are better than others.

    “This book scrutinizes those all-important “people problems” that bedevil all founders - even solo founders - and their startup.”
  1. The Art of the Start 2.0: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything
    Guy Kawasaki
    This is an essential guide for anyone overwhelmed by the abundance of advice that comes with starting something new. Guy Kawasaki has decades of experience and will help you master basic yet fundamental challenges, from building a strong team to facing your competition.

    “I assume that your goal is to change the world - not study it. Entrepreneurship is about doing, not learning to do.”
  1. In the Company of Women: Inspiration and Advice from Over 100 Makers, Artists, and Entrepreneurs
    By Grace Bonney
    This is the perfect book for women looking to start their own business. Bonney compiles advice from some of the most influential and passionate women in the business world. Over 100 women describe how they embraced their creativity and overcame adversity - a rousing demonstration of what happens when people pursue their passions.

    “‘The world needs more gratitude and less narcissism.’”
  1. The Power of Broke: How Empty Pockets, a Tight Budget, and a Hunger for Success Can Become Your Greatest Competitive Advantage
    By Daymond John and Daniel Paisner
    Shark Tank star and FUBU founder Daymond John writes about why starting a business on a limited budget can actually be a tremendous advantage. He follows the ideology that desperation breeds innovation; his own success might not have been possible if not for his hope and drive stemming from his lack of money.

    “The Power of Broke is all about substance over flash. It’s about creativity over certainty. It’s about taking a shot over playing it safe.”
  1. The Disney Way: Harnessing the Management Secrets of Disney in Your Company
    By Bill Capodagli and Lynn Jackson
    It’s important to foster a fun and inviting culture within your business. This book covers the four-pillared credo of Disney - dream, believe, dare, and do - and discusses how any business can incorporate them into their own plan. The Disney Way revolutionizes the art of management and creating a consumer-centric culture.

    “This book tells the story of how passion for employees, customers, and products has translated into immeasurable success for Walt Disney and other great leaders, past and present.”



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