11 Epic Books Every Entrepreneur Should Read This Year

September 21, 2020
149 Comments

Last Updated on August 26, 2021 by NandiNN

Best books for aspiring entrepreneurs

Here is a list of the best books every entrepreneur should read if you plan on becoming successful.

When it comes to the entrepreneurial lifestyle, it is clear that to be successful, you need to keep on growing daily. And what better way to do it than to learn from others?

For example, if you want to know more about Instagram, I recommend reading this post where I outline 9 fierce female entrepreneurs to follow on Instagram?

Why?

They know what they are doing on Instagram and are gaining followers every single day.

But the thing about learning these days is that it relies so heavily on instant gratification.

Don’t know the answer to a problem?

Just Google it!

Want to get something done fast?

There is probably an app that will automate the process.

Yet the big question remains: do we really gain something from these shortcuts? Or do we need to take an old-school approach to learn?

I am more into reading and really learning what needs to be done to get to the next step successfully.

For this, I turn to some of the most inspirational books for entrepreneurs to help guide me.

Why Is Reading Still Relevant?

Now, let us set one thing straight: learning from books is far from the most effective way to gain new skills.

If we want to get good at something, we need real-life practice, we need to make mistakes, and we need feedback from our community and mentors.

But, that’s not to say that reading isn’t a big part of entrepreneurship.

For one, research shows that reading is one of the best ways to manage stress.

Furthermore, when you read physical copies of books, you’re both giving yourself the chance to remember more information, as well as to rest more effectively.

I really recommend checking out our recommendations for top entrepreneur books to read.

By taking up the habit of reading a few pages each day before bed (or with your morning coffee in the morning) simply may turn out to be the better alternative to playing Candy Crush or scrolling your Social Media feed.

Plus, if you choose the right books, you just might find yourself gaining invaluable skills for running your own online business.

With that in mind, our readers still asked a lot of amazing questions such as:

What books should entrepreneurs read?
How many books do entrepreneurs read?
Do successful entrepreneurs read?
Why should entrepreneurs read books?
What are the best entrepreneur books of all time?

I knew I needed to dig deep in my reading library to come up with this epic list.

Trust me, we do not disappoint!

So if you are on the hunt for books for female entrepreneurs, anyone on this list will do the job in answering any of your questions.

For today’s post I will be sharing:

The most inspiring books for women entrepreneurs
The best books for female entrepreneurs to learn about becoming entrepreneurs
And the best business books for women on starting thriving businesses

I obviously do not want to overwhelm you, but when I was starting my own business and entrepreneurial journey, I would have loved to read all these books.

I did end up reading them at some point, but I wish I had started much earlier.

I have started a few successful businesses and a lot of success is due to reading women entrepreneur books and creating a solid plan.

I have personally used this exact business plan multiple times to land my dream career not only once but 6 times.

So what are the best books recommended by successful entrepreneurs?

Before we get started on what the best books every entrepreneur should read are, we did want you to follow us on Facebook for more awesome ideas on saving or making more money. You can also follow us on Instagram for more tips.

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Entrepreneurship books for beginners

If you are just starting out and your true goal is to become as successful as possible, reading these books may open up a whole world of possibilities for you.

I personally love to read and I have taught myself many amazing skills over the last 4 years as an entrepreneur.

For example, I got into design last year and I now design epic templates that bloggers use every day to grow their own presence on Pinterest.

And I spend a few hours a week reading and learning so I can continue to improve my craft.

So what books do entrepreneurs read?

Obviously, it will depend on what you are hoping to achieve.

But there are a few books we definitely recommend you read regardless as long as you want to become a successful entrepreneur.

So, regardless of whether you’re already an avid reader, or just considering picking up the habit, the following are the books every entrepreneur should read.

Best Books Every Entrepreneur Should Read

1. Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

If you are looking for the best books for female entrepreneurs in 2021, this one should be it.

One of the most inspirational speakers of our time, Simon Sinek, is a treasure box of insightful information on how to build and lead teams that perform.

His focus is often on developing trust within teams, and he is a strong advocate for putting culture first.

But what his book Start with Why covers are the basic questions you need to ask yourself, even before heading down the entrepreneurial path.

Sinek claims that for organizations to be profitable, they need to answer not the what and how, but the why behind their entrepreneurial endeavours.

According to him, once a company defines its why, it can go on to inspire innovation, gather influence, and command loyalty, both from employees and customers.

This is one of the best books recommended by successful entrepreneurs!

You can grab Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action right here!

2. Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts

We could not leave this out from our list of the best Books Every Entrepreneur Should Read!

Here is another researcher who tackles questions of leadership, courage, vulnerability, and mentorship, Brené Brown encourages entrepreneurs to invest in their organization’s culture for it to grow.

By teaching readers how to lead, she is giving them answers about how they can develop and shape their teams to be the best they can possibly be.

For a teaser of what you can expect from Dare to Lead, make sure to check out the author’s Netflix special Call to Courage.

You’re sure to come out of it inspired: not just to take your company to the next level, but to adopt the values of authority and accountability in all spheres of your life.

Grab Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts right here.

3. High-Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way

You may already be familiar with Brendon Burchard from The Brendon Show podcast.

The bestselling author is an excellent source of information for all entrepreneurs who are after success but aren’t ready to sacrifice their health for it.

This book is definitely on our top list of entrepreneur books to read as it offers so much value.

High-Performance Habit is a how-to guide for anyone who is looking to improve their productivity, tap into their motivation, or become a better leader.

If you are looking for some of the best entrepreneurship books for beginners, this is it.

Through seven chapters, Burchard guides his readers through the seven crucial habits of successful people. These include:

Seeking clarity
Generating energy
Raising necessity
Increasing productivity
Developing influence
Demonstrating courage
Sustaining success

The book relies both on motivational stories as well as scientific research and is an excellent resource for anyone looking to grow, either personally or professionally.

And the best part about it is that it encourages a healthy work-life balance that ensures you’re able to maintain your results in the long-run.

Grab High-Performing Habits here!

4. You Are A Badass At Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth

The best books for female entrepreneurs in my opinion are the ones that make you a better person.

Not only has this amazing author lived through everything she teaches in this book, but she gives practical advice on how to make more money (either in your current business or by changing your life if that’s what it takes) and how to overcome money blocks (that you probably don’t even realize you have).

If you are asking yourself – “What books do entrepreneurs read?”

This one is for sure on their list.

I think I have seen this book mentioned by almost all the epic entrepreneurs I personally follow.

This tells you for sure that this is one of the best books every entrepreneur should read!

And that’s why it comes highly recommended.

Here is a snip of what you will learn from this epic book:

   • Uncover what’s holding you back from making money
   • Give your doubts, fears, and excuses the heave-ho
   • Relate to money in a new (and lucrative) way
   • Shake up the cocktail of creation
   • Tap into your natural ability to grow rich
   • Shape your reality—stop playing victim to circumstance
• Get as wealthy as you wanna be

Grab your copy of You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth right here.

5. Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products

Now, although entrepreneurship means being a leader, it also requires you to do a fair share of the technical work as well.

And often, innovative work requires clarity, open-mindedness, and some inside information.

If those sound good to you, then Hooked by Nir Eyal is definitely a book you’ll want to check out.

This how-to guide gives entrepreneurs priceless information on how they can develop great products.

And not just great, but even more, products that become an integral part of users’ lives, without having to constantly invest in advertising.

In this guide, Nir Eyal gives readers an actionable plan on how to turn their solutions into habits.

He shows them how to get the absolute most out of their idea, maximizing their chances of success, and giving them a strong edge over their competition.

Whether you’re leading a startup, trying to blog your way to success or work for a corporation, Hooked should be a definite must on your to-read list.

Get your Copy of Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products!

6. She Means Business

I have mentioned this book several times on my blog as I truly believe in it.

It is one of the best business books for women!

If you are looking for the best books every entrepreneur must read and you are into blogging, grab this.

Are you ready to turn your ideas into reality and build a wildly successful business?

With a computer and an Internet connection, you can get your ideas, messages, and business out there like never before and create so much success.

In this book, Carrie Green shows you exactly how to do that.

Carrie started her first online business at the age of 20 – she knows what it’s like to be an ambitious and creative woman with big dreams and huge determination.

Here is what her book will help you with:

Get clear on your business vision
Move past the fears and doubts that can get in the way
Understand your audience, so you can truly connect with them
Create your brand and build a tribe of raving fans, subscribers, and customers
Manage your time, maintain focus, and keep going in the right direction
Condition yourself for success

If you can relate, then this is obviously something you need to grab today.

Grab She Means Business today!

7. Big Ideas… For Small Businesses

Do you like the idea of running a lifestyle business, rather than putting in 15-hour days, day-after-day?

If so, then this is the book for you!

In fact, this should be on every entrepreneur’s must-read book list!

John Lamerton is a marketing pot of gold that’s going to help you grow, market, and expand your business (or blog).

If you want to grow your small business, without having to learn complex marketing strategies, and without being told to simply “work harder than everyone else”, then “Big Ideas… for Small Businesses” could be the “lightbulb moment” you’ve been waiting for!

It’s definitely one of the best books for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Find out everything you need to know about how to be successful and how to win with your online business in this book today!

Big Ideas… For Small Businesses: Simple, Practical Tools and Tactics to Help Your Small Business Grow by John Lamerton can be found on Amazon!

8. The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape the 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the Rich

Every time I recommend epic books every entrepreneur should read, I always come back to this one.

Why?

Because time is precious and if you can cut out all the fluff and concentrate on things that will take you to the next level fast, then you will be very successful!

This is where this epic 4-hour workweek comes in.

The 4-Hour Work Week: Escape the 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Tim Ferriss is a practical road map filled with resources, tips, and strategies to help you take advantage of the busy times we live in.

Whether your dream is escaping the rat race, experiencing high-end world travel, or earning a monthly five-figure income with zero management, The 4-Hour Workweek is the blueprint you need.

Here is what is included and why you need it:

How Tim went from $40,000 per year and 80 hours per week to $40,000 per month and 4 hours per week
How to outsource your life to overseas virtual assistants for $5 per hour and do whatever you want
How blue-chip escape artists travel the world without quitting their jobs
How to eliminate 50% of your work in 48 hours using the principles of a forgotten Italian economist
How to trade a long-haul career for short work bursts and frequent “mini-retirements”
More than 50 practical tips and case studies from readers (including families) who have doubled income, overcome common sticking points and reinvented themselves using the original book as a starting point
Real-world templates you can copy for eliminating e-mail, negotiating with bosses and clients, or getting a private chef for less than $8 a meal
How Lifestyle Design principles can be suited to unpredictable economic times
The latest tools and tricks, as well as high-tech shortcuts, for living like a diplomat or millionaire without being either

If you are ready to make more money working from home without wasting all your precious time, then The 4-Hour Work Week: Escape the 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Tim Ferriss today!

This is one of the best entrepreneur books of all time!

9. Blog Income Strategies Simplified

Want to learn how popular blogs make money?

Every day, more and more people are achieving financial freedom and living their ideal lifestyle by starting successful blogs.

For those that want to make a full-time income blogging, you need this eBook.

If you have read every guide out there, and you are still not making money with your blog then Blog Income Strategies Simplified is for you.

Learn how to write good articles, and how to turn those articles into money-making machines.

Anyone can make money blogging.

This book contains everything you need to know to turn your blog from zero to income in no time.

This book is designed to help you put some awesome money-making strategies into place so that you can make income with your blog passively!

In the book, you will find over 65 ways to make extra money with your blog each month. These are the exact steps and strategies I use and continue to implement to make over $5, 000 per month with my blog!

Grab the Blog Income Strategies Simplified here!

10. Entrepreneurial You

What does it take to create the career you want?

It’s no secret that the world of work has changed, and we’re shifting toward an ever more entrepreneurial, self-reliant, work-from-wherever-you-are economy.

This has been true for a while now.

If you are dreaming of becoming independent, whether by starting your own small businesses, becoming a consultant, or even a freelancer then this is a great book for you to start with.

Dorie Clark’s book is a classic tale of the modern economy and how you can thrive in it.

In the “Entrepreneurial You”, she provides a blueprint for professional independence, with insights and advice on building your brand, monetizing your expertise, and extending your reach and impact online.

She outlines the necessary elements and concrete tactics for entrepreneurial success.

Ready to grow?

Then grab the Entrepreneurial You by Dorie Clark today!

11. Crushing It!: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence-and How You Can, Too

For the last recommendation on this list, let’s dive into the importance of branding.

Your collection of must-read books for entrepreneurs will not be complete without reading up more about branding.

No matter your niche, the right branding, and marketing strategies are going to be essential for getting your message across to potential customers.

And Gary Vaynerchuk has some pretty awesome advice.

Crushing It!

is an easy-to-read guide on how to tackle the various social media platforms available today, making them work in your favour.

With actionable advice on how to approach Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and many more, you’ll be taken on a course in modern-day branding that lets you get the absolute most out of each platform.

Grab the Crushing It!: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence-and How You Can, Too by Gary Vaynerchuk right now.

And there you have it, a great list of books recommended by successful entrepreneurs!

Of course, that’s not to say you should stop at these 11 entrepreneurship books for beginners.

The truth is, there are numerous amazing books out there for female entrepreneurs.

Whether you’re just getting started or have been at it for a few years, the 11 books we’ve listed are sure to offer you great value in your entrepreneurial journey.

Reading is such a great way to develop, both personally and professionally. So make sure you’re always on the lookout for new sources of information.

Whether that’s through exploring websites like Goodreads or subscribing to a couple of business-oriented podcasts, you’ll find that widening your horizons will do wonders for your success.

In all of life’s spheres.

We hope you enjoyed this list of Books Every Entrepreneur Should Read!

If we have missed anything out, please comment below with your epic recommendations.

Read this next:

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