For some people, the learning process ends at school. But if you want to continue to grow and improve, having a consistent reading habit can help you keep your mind sharp and develop the skills you need to take your next step.
let’s dive in!
You are reading: Best intro to business books
how reading fuels success
many wildly successful people tout the benefits of reading and claim that this habit is crucial to getting where they are today.
take a look:
- warren buffett spends 80% of his time reading.
- bill gates reads about 50 books every year.
- mark zuckerberg reads a book every two weeks.
- Oprah Winfrey calls the books her “path to personal freedom.”
- Bookmark Cuban reading for three hours a day.
So why exactly do successful people from Wall Street to Silicon Valley spend so much time reading?
These are some of the main reasons:
- learn new skills
- discover how business people see the world
- expand your worldview and knowledge of different industries
- find inspiration when obstacles seem overwhelming
Reading helps you keep your mind sharp, explore new solutions to old problems, and learn firsthand from experts. In other words, reading allows you to continue learning long after you’ve completed school or formal training.
if you’re convinced, but don’t know where to start, we’ve got you covered!
Let’s take a look at the best business books to get you started. then we’ll break this must-read list down into different categories to help you decide where to start.
top 10 business books
here’s our ultimate list of the top 10 business books you should dig into:
- rich dad poor dad by robert kiyosaki
- shoe dog by phil knight
- the hard of hard things by ben horowitz
- deep work by cal newport
- how to win friends and influence people by dale carnegie
- start with why by simon sinek
- atomic habits by james clear
- zero to one by peter thiel
- good to great by jim collins
- think and grow rich by napoleon hill
Now, let’s break them down into categories so you have an idea of where to start.
best business books for beginners
here are two beginner books you can add to your reading list. They’ll show you what an entrepreneurial mindset is all about and demonstrate the value of working smarter.
rich dad poor dad by robert kiyosaki
Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad Poor Dad has become the top personal finance book of all time. Kiyosaki shares the story of growing up with two fatherly influences — his own and his close friend’s “rich dad.”
Kiyosaki explains how each of these men shaped the way he thought about money and investing. he pulls back the curtain on the expected financial misconceptions that keep people from reaching their earning potential. he also shares his journey and shows the power of making your money work for you.
shoe dog by phil knight
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Nike might be a global icon today, but it took a lot of hard work to get it there. In his book Shoe Dog, Nike co-founder Phil Knight talks about launching his startup after business school with $50 he borrowed from a friend.
Knight’s funny, personable and unfiltered character shines through in his memoir and talks about how he came to choose the unconventional path of entrepreneur life. Readers will meet Knight like never before and will leave inspired by his journey and empowered with his hard-earned wisdom about entrepreneurship.
best business books for managers
Knowing how to do your job well is one thing, learning how to manage a team of others is another.
These are some of the best leadership books for learning how to create productive relationships at work and get your team through tough times and successes.
the hard of hard things by ben horowitz
Ben Horowitz is one of the most respected entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley. In The Hard Thing About Hard Things, Horowitz pulls back the curtain to reveal the truth about what it’s like to lead a successful business through challenging times.
Horowitz’s book contains essential advice for any business leader, wrapped in his no-nonsense writing style with some characteristic references to the life of a rap fan. is a must-read for beginners and veterans alike, and is especially well-suited for those going through tough times with challenging obstacles.
cal newport deep work
Professor Cal Newport teaches computer science at Georgetown University. He coined the term “deep work” and explains how modern business perks like open offices and distractions such as social media get in the way of high-quality work.
In his book Deep Work, Newport highlights the significant negative impact that distractions have on working well. He wraps up several memorable stories that show the importance of creating a better workplace in a distracted world and offers surprising advice, like the value of boredom.
how to win friends and influence people by dale carnegie
Dale Carnegie’s New York Times bestseller How to Win Friends and Influence People has sold over 30 million copies worldwide since first published in 1936. Despite being the oldest book on the list, it’s one of the most well-known business books ever written. Carnegie’s advice continues to stand the test of time.
As a manager, you need to sell your ideas and business changes to your team members. carnegie teaches you a simple but effective technique based on good habits to communicate with people and win others to your way of thinking without burning bridges.
best business books to start and scale a business
Starting and scaling a business is no small feat, and your journey along the way is sure to be an exciting one.
here are the best business books to navigate financing, start a business, and climb to success.
starts with why by simon sinek
One of the first problems entrepreneurs face is finding and sustaining that feeling of inspiration that moves others. Simon Sinek has been on a mission to find out what makes some organizations innovative and influential and find a way to help you feel more inspired at work.
To start with why, Sinek shows you how leaders ranging from Martin Luther King Jr. And Steve Jobs found success because they were rooted in their “why.” he builds a golden circle framework that allows him to use the same process to build a business that inspires others.
atomic habits of james clear
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Keeping the inspiration alive in the early days can be challenging, and there’s nothing like bad habits that can get in between you and success.
author and entrepreneur james clear believes that the problem is not you. instead, it is his system. In Atomic Habits: An Easy, Proven Way to Break Bad Habits and Build Good Habits, Clear gives you a proven system you can use every day to improve your decision-making, develop better habits, and overcome a lack of willpower.
By creating an environment for success, you don’t have to rely on mustering motivation every day. clear breaks down complex ideas into simple, actionable recommendations, helping you master the small actions that build good habits and ultimately lead to significant results.
zero to one by peter thiel
If you’re looking for a practical and optimistic book to get your creative juices flowing, pick up Peter Thiel’s Zero to One. Peter Thiel is the co-founder of PayPal, and in his book, he outlines his thoughts and insights on how to build the future you want to see.
It’s a quick read and you can finish the book in a day or two. however, it is still full of inspiring stories from the days of thiel at paypal and other pioneering founders like bill gates. You can use his “Seven Questions Every Business Should Answer” to test and refine your ideas and processes.
best business books for small business owners
Small business owners face unique challenges, but their goals are the same: build a thriving business, not just survive.
here are the best books for small business owners ready to take their operation to the next level.
good to great by jim collins
Jim Collins began his journey to writing Good to Great with one question: “Why do some businesses last and others don’t?” He assembled a team to study elite companies that lasted longer than 15 years and built success.
In his book, Collins describes the facets of greatness, including “Level 5 leaders” and “a culture of discipline.” it is well researched and well written and offers practical advice for building a successful business.
think and grow rich napoleon hill
Like How to Win Friends and Influence People, Think and Grow Rich has been around since the 1930s and offers insights that stand the test of time. It’s full of timeless wisdom and actionable advice to help you get what you want out of life.
napoleon hill demonstrates the power of your mindset and outlines methods for dealing with personal obstacles like insecurity and laziness. Fans of the book recommend working Hill’s exercises while reading the book and reviewing it several times to get the most out of it.
summary
If you want to take your career and business to the next level, any of these best sellers can help you get there. Books like the ones on our list can help you see into the minds of successful people in the business world and learn from their hard-earned wisdom.
This list is a great starting point for those who want to improve their trading skills. however, there are plenty of insightful business books beyond these that can help you dig deeper into any topic that interests you.
For more valuable advice and insightful lessons from successful entrepreneurs, listen to our reverse engineering podcast. You can explore topics ranging from creating a great culture to building a business so you can support the lifestyle you want to lead.
and now, we’d love to hear from you. which business books did you enjoy the most? what titles should we add to our list and why? let us know in the comments section.
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