The Best Books To Read When Starting A Business

Best Books To Start A BusinessIn this episode of Startup Daddy, I talk about the best business books for starting a business, and a service that makes it easy to share large files with clients (or anyone else).  I get asked about books a lot, so I made a new page on this site called, Recommended Reading.  I thought it may be interesting to do a podcast episode on the subject, and I also thought it may be interesting to turn this into a video, so I did that too.  We’ll see how much extra work it is, and your feedback, and maybe I’ll do it this way more often.

I want to build up my Youtube Channel, so if all works as intended, you’ll be able to watch OR listen in your iPod or iPhone or Zune, OR watch it on this site or Youtube.  Please drop by the Startup Daddy Youtube Channel, and subscribe to the channel to be notified when I post a video there.  I plan on having some fun with that soon.

Below the video for this episode are the links for the books I talk about.  These are Amazon affiliate links. If you are concerned with this, it may be a good time to review my Disclosures Page.

Here are my picks for the best business books to read when you are starting a business

Some are literally how to start a business, some are about getting more done and productivity, but all have something that you can take away that will make you a better business owner, and hopefully, make you more money.  I have read them all, and they have all influenced how I think and act as an entrepreneur.  It is far from a complete list of good business books, but it’s a great start.

After watching the video, drop me a comment and let me know if you have any great business books to add.

If you only read one book about starting a business, please read this one. Seriously.

The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It, by Michael E. Gerber

Books About Getting A Business Started and Transitioning from Corporate Life to the Entrepreneurial Life:

Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money-That the Poor and the Middle Class Do Not! by Robert T. Kiyosaki

The Art of the Start: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything by Guy Kawasaki

Escape From Cubicle Nation: From Corporate Prisoner to Thriving Entrepreneur, by Pamela Slim

Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion, by Gary Vaynerchuk

The 4-Hour Workweek, by Tim Ferriss

Books About Productivity and Getting Things Done

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, by David Allen

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

Leo Babauta’s  EBook, Zen to Done

File Sharing

The files sharing service I talk about is called Dropbox.  It is a free service that makes it easy to share large files with other people or keep them synced with multiple devices.  If you have an iPad, it’s a must.  If you use this link to sign up with Dropbox, we both get a little more free storage.

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Photo Credit by p!o

Do you have any great business books to add?  Let me know in the comments.

Startup Daddy is a Business Startup Podcast hosted by Ian Gordon.  We discuss the issues surrounding getting a business started, and growing that business once you get it off the ground.

20 replies
  2. Rissana says:

    hi, Ian, thanks for the podcast and for this book list in particular! i've been reading Kyosaki books for a while now and completely agree that some of them are a must read. as well as the last three are also very beneficial, not only for business starters :) what i'd add is Dr. Adizes with his “managing corporate life cycles”. gives a lot of understanding about how the company works from the first days… i was also highly recommended his books about management styles, but it's no my reading list, thus cannot comment just yet :)

  3. robertlongley says:

    I would add ReWork by Jason Fried and David Hansson. These are the founders of 37 Signals who are masters of questioning everything and challenging assumptions. Also, Linchpin by Seth Godin. It's not just about new ways to work, it's about new roles where we do work. And on the Tim Ferris front, I recommend people read the original version first. The second may as well be a different book except for the title. They are both good for different reasons. Dispite the fact that I'm in the second one, the original is still my favorite of the two.

    • Ian Gordon says:

      I have a whole list of marketing books that I'll talk about in part
      two. I'm a big Seth Godin fan. Thanks for the insight about 4 hour
      Workweek. I only read the first edition. Great suggestions Robert!

  4. Greg Dunn says:

    Lots of good recommendations here! Someone gave me a copy of Rich Dad, Poor Dad when it came out and I've read it at least a couple of times. Right now going through Getting Things Done and I think it's going to be very useful.

    I would second Robert's recommendation of Linchpin by Seth Godin. It really blew my mind and I'm going back through it a second time now. I went through the first edition of the Four Hour Work Week, so I'll have to go through the second edition (which I have, but assumed it was probably very similar) now.

    I also keep hearing about ReWork, so I need to check that one out, too.

  5. Justin Walker says:

    I commented on your youtube video, but it occurred to me that this is probably where people are chiming in on their favorite books. I was right!
    I heard Gary Vaynerchuk speak once, and I knew I had to read his book ‘Crush It!’ He’s incredibly engaging.
    One of my recent favorite business books — “Finish What You Start” by Craig Copeland (http://www.finishwhatyoustartbook.com). Have any of you read it?

  6. RichardHaralson says:

    Just found your site and listening to you on your podcast. Are you still
    active on this podcasting? Anyway, I have enjoyed your podcast. Few new
    books that i am reading that I think have published since this was
    posted.
    100 startup chris guillebeau
    Platform michael hyatt
    wisdom meets passion dan miller
    no more mondays dan miller
    entreleadership dave ramsey

    and drop box is awesome. I have nearly 14.75 gigs free from friends signing up – awesome.

  10. Jepthah K Cole says:

    here are 3 books that I think should be on the list. “The Magic Of Thinking BIG” writing by David J. schwartz Ph.D, “THE SLIGHT EDGE” writing by Jeff Olson and “THE 21 IRREFUTABLE LAWS OF LEADERSHIP” writing by John C. Maxwell.

  14. Prayank Chopra says:

    Loved reading your article cum listing. Yeah Rich Dad Poor Dad truly transforms ones attitude towards Money , Work & Credit – Business.

    One should also get in touch with good businesses in their locality using business portals like IndiaBizClub

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