A List of Must-Read Books for Startups and Entrepreneurs

The essential book for anyone bringing a product to market, writing a business plan, marketing plan or sales plan. Step-by-step strategy of how to successfully organize sales, marketing and business development for a new product or company.

Rework shows you a better, faster, easier way to succeed in business. Read it and you'll know why plans are actually harmful, why you don't need outside investors, and why you're better off ignoring the competition. The truth is, you need less than you think.

Most startups fail. But many of those failures are preventable. The Lean Startup is a new approach being adopted across the globe, changing the way companies are built and new products are launched.

Guy Kawasaki explains how to transform ideas into action, offering a step-by-step approach to launching great products, services, and companies and demonstrating how managers can unleash a creative approach to business at established companies.

Paul Graham on importance of beauty in software design, how to make wealth, heresy and free speech, the programming language renaissance, the open-source movement, digital design, internet startups, and more.

Durable economic principles can guide you in today's frenetic business environment. Technology changes. Economic laws do not.

Collection of advice that comes from individuals who have passed through, or are part of, Techstars accelerator.

We are living in the ‘Thank You Economy’ thanks to social media and other forms of instant communication. This book is about building loyalty, trust, and repeatable business.

Disruptive vs. Sustaining Technologies. Professor Clayton Christensen of Harvard Business School describes a theory about how large, outstanding firms can fail "by doing everything right."

Customer Development is a four-step framework for helping startups discover and validate their customers, product, and go-to-market strategy, developed by Steve Blank and an integral part of Eric Ries' Lean Startup methodology.

An engaging guide to excelling in today's venture capital arena by managing directors at Foundry Group.

If you can't see yourself doing this business for the rest of your life, don't start it. In other words, angel investor Randy Komisar wants to see passion and purpose in business, not just spreadsheets and a by-the-numbers business model.

CEO of Zappos explains how he created a corporate culture with a commitment to service that aims to improve the lives of its employees, customers, vendors, and backers.

Leaders often fall into "endless self-justification" This book shows us the way out while focusing on five specific areas: hiring, team-building, conflict resolution, accountability, and personal growth and development.

Josh Kaufman shares the essentials of entrepreneurship, marketing, sales, negotiation, operations, productivity, systems design, and much more, in one comprehensive volume.

The gold standard in business by ex- Chairman and CEO of General Electric. Jack Welch made GE the world's leading company.

Worlds leader on corporate strategy defines a clear way to create and implement a powerful action-oriented strategy for the real world.

Required reading at the best business schools. This book is an excellent introduction to game theory.

Timeless piece written by ancient Chinese military general, strategist and philosopher.

On being remarkable - a classic by godfather of modern marketing.

Digital Marketing Evangelist for Google and the co-Founder of Market Motive on creating an actionable strategy, applying analytical techniques correctly, measuring social media and multi channel campaigns, leveraging experimentation and more.

The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.

The bible for bringing disruptive products to larger markets.

The groundbreaking concept that enables marketers to shape their message so that consumers will willingly accept it.

Arguably the most popular productivity system used by many tech entrepreneurs. David Allen gives you a framework that you can easily customize to your own needs on how you get things done.

The leading choreographer of her generation, Tharp will lead you from scratching for ideas, finding the spine of your work to building a highly productive habits.

A book full of great tips on how you can work from anywhere you want and achieve more in less time.

A classic personal productivity piece on balance of personal and professional effectiveness.

In psychology “flow” is a mental state in which a person is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of the activity.

Pink examines the elements of true motivation - autonomy, mastery, and purpose--and offers smart and surprising techniques for putting these into action in a unique book that will change how we think and transform how we live.

The Inner Game of Tennis is a revolutionary program for overcoming the self-doubt, nervousness, and lapses of concentration that can keep a player from winning. 

Lifehacker’s guide to being more efficient and productive. There is a strong focus on use of technology and it’s a great book if you like how-to books.

A classic piece in the self-help industry. Napoleon Hill shares his years of studying of successful people on underlying principles of how they got wealthy.

"It changed my life" Warren Buffett

This book is just fascinating as is the entrepreneurial life of Richard Branson. From starting a record label that backed bands such as Sex Pistols or Rolling Stones, ballooning around the world, to building the first space travel company. Do we need to say any more?

A short but very powerful metaphoric tale about getting where you want to go in life, your story in life, your path, your mission, your purpose.

Despite the lame title this book is just a must-read. Very funny, straightforward distillation of Felix Dennis’s business wisdom. (Dennis is a British self made billionaire)

Donald Trump is the top real estate developer in NYC, famous entrepreneur and probably the World's #1 self-promoter. Art of the deal is considered a business classic. This book is super inspirational and a great insight in what makes him one of the best deal makers out there. While you can skip all of his other books this one is a must.

Biography of Steve Jobs period.

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