Unlock Success: The Best Books for Business Owners [2024]

Warren Buffet, Oprah Winfrey, and Mark Zuckerberg have something in common. While you may point to the stereotypical money factor, there’s something else to consider – all of these business tycoons are fond of reading books. 

Reading as much as you can on the subject allows for you to learn what do do and what NOT to do when starting and growing and ecommerce business. 

While 99% of the global population prefers reading for entertainment, the top 1% do it to move closer to success. Buffet spends 80% of his time reading, while Oprah Winfrey buys at least one book monthly for her book club. Mark Zuckerberg reads a book every two weeks and shares it in his online book club. 

Therefore, like these celebrity business persons, you too can rely on good books as they may help you stimulate your efficacy. However, if you are unsure what to pick, this post has got you covered! Read on and learn about the seven best books for business owner needs to consider in 2023. 

7 Best Books for Business Owners – A Handpicked List

1. Start With Why – Simon Sinek
2. No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention – Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer 
3. The Lean Startup – Eric Ries
4. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen R. Covey
5. The $100 Startup – Chris Guillebeau
6. How to Win Friends & Influence People – Dale Carnegie
7. The E-Myth Revisited – Michael E. Gerber

1. Start With Why – Simon Sinek

In ‘Start With Why’, the author Simon Sinek has beautifully portrayed the importance of ‘why.’ He has strategically broken down how to rethink your goals by finding a ‘why’. Sinek has targeted the primary idea of ‘The Golden Circle’, which defines why as the source of how and what. 

While modern business trends focus more on the what, customers are more concerned about the why. They tend to figure out why your company is proceeding with a specific product, proposing a particular job, or developing a certain brand. 

Sinek has successfully woven the entire value chain of the relationship between the brand, the users, the workers, and the decision-makers. While the book is all about seemingly simplistic ideas, it can work as a foundational tool for purpose-led organizations. 

Concisely, ‘Start With Why’ helps you understand why successful entrepreneurs or organizations can influence people better and why they make more profit than others. 

2. No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention – Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer 

‘No Rules Rules’ explores an incredibly unique and productive company culture. This book shows why you should integrate freedom and innovation into your work culture and explores this from Netflix’s perspective. One of the founders of Netflix, Hastings, teamed up with famous business author Erin Meyer to create this fascinating presentation of Netflix’s unconventional business model. 

The central idea of this book is ‘radical candor.’ According to this ideology, employees can and should contradict the thoughts of their supervisors in business meetings. They do so to help your business perform better. Thus, it may be a sign of disloyalty or fear if your employees don’t vent out. 

The book also suggests you dispose of unproductive policies. Netflix doesn’t have a vacation policy, nor does the company observe their people’s total login hours. This eventually helps the workers to understand that their organization trusts them. Hence, they are liable to maintain accountability. 

By referring to this book, small business owners and successful companies can learn the secret to developing a good work culture. 

3. The Lean Startup – Eric Ries

The author, Eric Ries, has designed this book as a methodology that may radically help you increase conversions. Eric Ries started his career as an entrepreneur. He formed several startups, and he learned a lot from his mistakes. Throughout his journey, he encountered a few elements that helped him understand the vitality of lean manufacturing ideas. 

In this bestseller, Eric Ries has explained the five principles of the lean startup theory. First off, he defined the term entrepreneur. Then, he clarified the idea of entrepreneurship. Next, he projected the validation of learning and the fundamental activity that every startup should consider. Finally, he introduced the importance of innovation accounting.

Divided into three parts – vision, steering, and acceleration, this book exhausts the principles fronted by the theory. Moreover, each part comprehensively describes the different layers of lean startup methodology and different startup mechanisms. Therefore, this book is a must-read for every small business owner who strives to design a unique business model. 

4. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen R. Covey

First published in 1989, Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a timeless jewel. If you are struggling to determine the fundamentals of self-improvement, you can refer to this international bestseller. The book has been ruling over the market for over two decades, evidencing its efficiency in changing both professional and personal life. 

The book helps you understand the importance of changing your habits to alter how the world sees you. When read carefully and comprehended precisely, this book may help you make more strategic, smarter, and well-informed decisions. 

In this book, Covey has rationally explained the pivotality of prioritization. Besides, it conveys the idea of public victory and synergy. Furthermore, the book motivates you to take action, organize planning, target victory, and commit to a win-win decision. Concisely, it motivates you to master specific habits that can eventually help you achieve bigger goals.

5. The $100 Startup – Chris Guillebeau

The $100 Startup is a refreshingly different business book that helps solopreneurs or individual entrepreneurs learn different micro-business strategies. Chris Guillebeau, the author, has extensive experience in entrepreneurship, and in his book, he has tried to portray his experiences to help micro businesses. 

The book methodologically describes how to generate revenue from simple and small ideas. According to the author, this book is a pursuit of freedom, financial independence, and abundance. In addition, the book features various approaches for giveaways, cross-selling, outsourcing, partnerships, etc. 

The author has tried keeping things simple using easy-to-understand sidebars, checklists, and tables. Furthermore, this book will teach you about numerous individuals who kickstarted their businesses with $100 or even less. 

All of them have been able to take their turnover to the mark of $50k. They have monitored their passion and leveraged their skills to restructure their way of living. Concisely, this book can meticulously help people who have recently stepped into the business world.

6. How to Win Friends & Influence People – Dale Carnegie

This legendary book’s first edition was published in 1936, and its most recent revised edition came out in 1981. Written by Dale Carnegie, this 250-page knowledge base doesn’t only help big or small businesses, but it assists common people in learning how to look after one’s egos. 

Since it was first published, the book has sold over 45 million copies across the globe. However, the original version has passed through numerous revision sessions after the author’s demands. His wife and daughter attempted these revisions to update instances provided by the author about the renowned personalities of 1936.

The book begins with the entrustment of eight fundamental rules to make the most out of the book itself. Moving further, it discloses three rational techniques for handling people and the secret to dealing with people. Then, the second part discusses six ways to make people admire you. Here you learn the basics of productive conversations. 

The book, then, takes you through the ways to win people, earn cooperation, and become a leader. Overall, the book revolves around the idea of establishing primordial importance that accords with one’s self-esteem. 

7. The E-Myth Revisited – Michael E. Gerber

Michael Gerber’s E-Myth Revisited aims to dispel the myths about starting your own business. The author strategically explains how generic assumptions or expectations can obstruct your business’s success. Besides, it discusses some important franchising lessons that may contribute to your business’ growth. Most importantly, this book highlights the thin line between working on your business and working for your business.

Furthermore, the book makes you more attuned to the needs of your business. Besides, it motivates you to push your limits and step out of your comfort zone. According to the author, you can control the workload by leveraging three solutions – going back to the infancy stage, destroying your momentum, or adapting to the changes to fulfill the evolving needs of your business.

Further, the author has offered the example of McDonald’s to help you understand the basics of establishing a successful company. Overall, the book is helpful in fixing strategic objectives and achieving success. 

How to Choose the Best Business Books

Startups are indeed a dime a dozen. However, a good business book should be your go-to tool if you strive to grow your startup into a million-dollar revenue generator. While you can always refer to the suggestions mentioned above when buying a functional business book, the following are a few considerations for picking up other unlisted jewels.

Readability 

To make the most of your chosen book, it’s crucial to consider the readability factor. You should understand what you are reading to get the most out of it. Thus, check the reviews and the summary of the book before heading towards the purchase. 

Preference

Well, it’s not just the book; your preference also matters. Are you looking for an information card, or do you find the humorous presentation interesting? Do you enjoy reading about successful people, or do the stories of great leaders inspire you? Consider your preferences well before you seal the deal.

Relativity

Books are always good; however, relativity matters when you read one to support your business. Does the book align well with the purpose of reading? Find out the answer to cherish an informed purchase. 

Wrap Up

To conclude, business books help you understand psychological business concepts. Consequently, you can improve your productivity and personal anecdotes, pushing you to become a better leader. However, to get the most out of a business book, you must choose it carefully and ensure its purposefulness. 

Research well, check out the reviews of your chosen book, and refer to their summary. Remember, learning and self-improvement are never-ending processes. Thus, push your limits every day and read as much as you can. After all, “a reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one” (George R.R. Martin). 

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