14 Entrepreneurship Books For Aspiring Entrepreneurs

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How do you squeeze 20 years of entrepreneurship experience into your very first year of business or even before you’ve officially started your business? The answer is simple… books!

Entrepreneurship books let you learn directly from people who’ve already walked this entrepreneurial path. They’ve made all the mistakes and gathered most of the knowledge so you don’t have to. But with so many options to read, which should you read first? 

We’ve done the digging for you and found 14 highly recommended books that are perfect for aspiring entrepreneurs. These books meet you where you are, that is, at the beginning, and give you valuable advice you’ll need as you start and run your own business. 

1. Start With Why by Simon Sinek

Before you think about the profit you’re going to make or even how your business is going to run, you need to know why you’re doing this. Simon Sinek, in this book, argues that the most successful companies and leaders out there inspire people by starting with their “why” which is their deeper purpose for starting a business. This book will help you clarify your own reason for wanting to be an entrepreneur. Maybe it’s freedom to be your own boss, maybe it’s solving a problem you care about, maybe it’s creating opportunities for others. Whatever it is, this book will help you know your “why” which will, in turn, keep you motivated and able to inspire others to join you. 

2. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries

This is a must-read if you’re worried about how to start your business without wasting time or money. In his book, Eric Ries will introduce you to the idea of creating a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) which is a simple version of your idea you can test with real customers. Instead of spending years building something you think must be perfect, you’ll learn how to let go and launch quickly then improve as you go. This book will help you start small, learn fast, and build something that people actually want. 

3. The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau

The $100 Startup is filled with real stories of people who started their businesses with less than $100 and grew them into something meaningful. This book will show you how to use the skills and resources you already have right now to create something valuable. So you don’t have to wait until you’re rich or have an insane amount of money to start your business. You’ll learn how to take what you love, package it creatively and turn it into income for yourself today. It is very enlightening read which shows that you can start where you are, just with what you have.

4. The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

Most entrepreneurship books sugarcoat entrepreneurship but this one doesn’t. In this book, Ben Horowitz shares the tough lessons he learned running companies, even the times he had to fire his friends and handle moments of near-collapse. Reading this early on in your entrepreneurship journey will help you brace yourself for challenges and remind you that even if you struggle while building your business, it doesn’t mean you’re failing.

5. Atomic Habits by James Clear

A successful venture is built on consistency. As an entrepreneur, your habits matter a lot and can determine the success or failure of your business. James Clear, in this book, will show you how to make small, consistent changes that eventually transform your life and business. This book will help you focus on the little actions that will drive big results in business and in life.

6. The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber

Being good at something doesn’t mean you’ll automatically be good at running a business around it. In his book, Michael Gerber, explains that many small businesses fail because the owner spends all their time in the business (doing tasks) instead of on the business (creating systems that make it run smoothly). This book is important because it will teach you to build a business that doesn’t burn you out. So that you don’t end up starting a business that becomes another job for you. Instead you create a structure that can grow and eventually run without you.

7. Zero to One by Peter Thiel with Blake Masters

This book will push you to think differently. Thiel argues that real innovation happens when you go from “zero to one”, that is, creating something new, rather than from “one to many,” where you just copy what’s already out there. For you, this actually doesn’t mean inventing a product that has never been made before, it means asking, “What unique value can I bring that others can’t?” Beginners often feel pressured to compete in crowded markets, but this book will inspire you to stand out and build something that makes people stop and take notice.

8. Build the Damn Thing by Kathryn Finney

This book was written with founders like you in mind, the ones who may not have access to wealthy investors or fancy connections. In this book, Finney will lay out real, practical steps for building anyway. She’s honest about the struggles but equally determined to show you that they don’t have to stop you. This is a very empowering read. It will show you that you don’t need to have everything figured out or come from privilege to build a successful business. 

9. The Startup Owner’s Manual by Steve Blank & Bob Dorf

Think of this book as a step-by-step playbook. It will walk you through customer discovery, testing your ideas and even building your business model. It’s a very practical and hands-on book, almost like a workbook you can follow as you build your first business. This book will be useful when you’re ready to move from dreaming to actual execution. It will give you a roadmap to test and validate your ideas before you risk too much.

10. Good to Great by Jim Collins

Do you know why some companies manage to leap from being good to being truly great? Jim Collins studied businesses that made that leap and discovered the principles behind their success and he shares it in this book. Even if you’re starting small, this book will plant the seeds for long-term thinking in your mindset. It will teach you to build with discipline from the beginning so you’re not just hustling for today, but laying the foundation for business greatness tomorrow. 

11. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

This book is a literal gem. It is all about authentic communication and building strong relationships which are skills that every entrepreneur needs. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn how to network and build genuine connections and influence without tricky manipulation and the likes. 

12. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Napoleon Hill’s book is one the best classics out there… and for good reason. Hill interviewed hundreds of successful people and boiled down what they had in common and dropped it all in his book. This book will shape your mindset so you actually believe you can achieve success and stay committed long enough to make it happen. If you can master the mindset this book teaches, the strategies and tools to build a successful business will all fall into place for you.

13. Purple Cow by Seth Godin

Seth Godin’s book, Purple Cow drives home the point that to stand out, your business must be truly remarkable… literally worth making a remark about. He used the metaphor of a “purple cow in a field of regular cows” to show how only something unique captures attention. With this book, you’ll learn how to design your business in a way that people can’t help but talk about. It will also keep you from wasting energy on “me-too” ideas.

14. Founders at Work by Jessica Livingston

Reading this book is like sitting in a coffee shop and listening to legendary founders share their startup stories. Jessica Livingston interviewed the people behind companies like Apple and Hotmail, and they revealed how messy and uncertain their beginnings were. The book is encouraging and perfect for those moments when you need reassurance that you’re not alone in figuring things in entrepreneurship out.

How to build a reading habit as an entrepreneur 

It’s one thing to have a stack of books and another thing entirely to actually read them. The best way to ensure you read these books is to build a reading habit which you follow religiously. We’ll show you how. 

1. Start small

Know your current reading capacity and start from there no matter how little. If you continue to read consistently, even if it’s a page a day, you’ll see that your reading capacity improves over time. 

2. Apply as you read

“Education without application is just entertainment” - Tim Sanders. 

As you read, try to apply the principles and knowledge you learn. This will help you retain it better and even get results faster. 

3. Choose the right book format

If we’re being honest most people are more receptive to some book formats than others. If you want to easily build a reading habit, find your format and start with that. For instance, if you struggle with sitting down to read, try audiobooks while commuting or walking. The format of the book doesn’t really matter as much as the absorption of ideas.

4. Stack it into your routine

Not a spoiler but you’ll learn this technique in Atomic Habits. Link reading to an existing habit you already do, like right after your morning coffee or before bed. That way, it becomes automatic rather than a chore.

Reading Inspires. Action Transforms.

Books are a powerful way to fast-track your entrepreneurial growth — but reading alone won’t build your business. That’s where Edventures comes in. Our platform helps you turn the lessons you learn into real action, with tailored guidance, tools, and support at every step. Ready to take what you read and put it into practice?

Join Edventures today and start building your business with confidence.

Happy reading!