A curated list of the best business books for online entrepreneurs
Are you tired of your traditional job in the 9-5 work force? Do you want to start your own project or perhaps boost your current online business? From starting your own online business to growing your current venture, we’ve rounded up a selection of 15 of the best business books for online entrepreneurs.
The following books have been selected specifically for adults, who want to learn more about entrepreneurship including tips and techniques.
Best Business Books for Online Entrepreneurs
1. The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss
Escape the 9-5, Live Anywhere and Join the New Rich. In this New York Times bestseller by Timothy Ferriss, readers will learn how to recreate their lives and prevent them from being consumed with work. The book is nonfiction and suitable for those who want an escape from their 9-5 jobs or stay-at-home lifestyle. View Bookstore.
Ferriss provides a blend of methods that focus on the 80/20 rule—80 % of effects/results come from 20% of your causes/actions. From outsourcing work through virtual assistants to creating flexible business models with technology, Ferriss takes you through the many ways you can start living the life you want without the limitations of a job.
2. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
How Constant Innovation Creates Radically Successful Businesses. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries is another New York Times bestseller, which focuses on the Lean Startup methodology. Created by Riles, the Lean Startup technique is based on validated learning, or constant and consistent customer feedback, to develop both businesses and merchandise. This book takes readers inside the ingenious practices used by companies such as Facebook and Google.
3. Zero to One: Notes Startups. How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel
Thiel takes you into the world of venture capital and startup businesses. While this book does explore business, it is also a platform for Thiel’s political ideas such as the good of a monopoly. The main point throughout the text is that, “businesses succeed better when they differentiate rather than compete,” while direct competitions lessens a company’s value. Differentiation is the backbone of creating worth for wanted products that customers can’t find anywhere else.
4. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Written by Dale Carnegie in 1937, this book has remained a classic guide for those who seek financial and personal success. He provides techniques to deal get what you want from people without leaving them feeling manipulated. With a combination of business leader and historical figures, this book will help you sway others into liking you and listening to your opinions. Every entrepreneur should read this business classic at least once in his or her life.
5. How To Stop Worrying And Start Living by Dale Carnegie
This is another gem of a self-help book created by Dale Carnegie. In life and especially business, worrying can negatively impact you. Carnegie uses both famous and ordinary people to show how combatting worrying can lead to a more successful life. He provides ways to personally and financially solve these issues in order to prevent stress in your life. This book contains worry-free tips as well as strategies to get rid of destructive habits, thinking or behavior.
6. The Psychology of Selling by Brian Tracy
Brian Tracy has made his mark in the business world with numerous videos and books depicting marketing brands and sales. In this non-fiction book, Tracy includes the aspect of psychology for those readers looking to change their mindset. He gives advice to prepare readers for making a successful sale with motivation talks, visualization techniques, and sales advice. This book will provide you with ways to make more sales faster and limit obstacles.
7. Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson
An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life. Who Moved My Cheese is another classic business book you should take the time to read if you are currently or plan on starting your own business. The story revolves around four characters that live in a maze. There is a piece of cheese, which represents what you seek in life, such as a good job, passionate love life, or money. The cheese is fulfillment, but like many things in life, it keeps moving. In the story the characters have to adapt to change in order to succeed. Johnson provides insight into reducing stress and increasing success in your life.
8. The $100 Startup by Chris Gillebeau
True to its name, The $100 Startup is the perfect “how-to” book for those who want to create a successful business from the ground up with just $100. It’s a creative guide meant for setting up online business with little start up money. Gillebeau’s leading principles include concrete ideas such as, “planning, action, and sacrifice,” instead of a spiritual guide.
9. The Startup Playbook by David Kidder
Secrets of the Fastest-Growing Startups From Their Founding Entrepreneurs. Kidder has created a book of entrepreneurial knowledge that inspires people and helps them succeed. He visits big time achievers such as Zipcar’s Robin Chase, Scott Harrison of Charity, and AOL’s Steve Case to provide additional advice and the secrets “key practices, behaviors, and ideas” behind their success.
10. Rework by Jason Fried by David Heinemeier Hansson
Rework is an ideal piece of writing for those who are interested in starting and running their own business. The language is simple and easy to read, so you don’t have to worry about digging through jargon to get to the heart of the book. Hansson shows an easier way to succeed without the traditional stress of an office, workers, or a 9-5 job. He guides readers to find effective ways for your business to thrive.
11. The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz
Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers. In this personal non-fiction narrative, Ben Horowitz takes us into his world of engineering, founding a company, while maintaining a company. He explains his own background as an engineer at NetLabs before diving into the story of creating LoudCloud. While this isn’t set up as your typical management book, Horowitz includes personal anecdotes as well as real-life problems he faced on his journey as an entrepreneur.
12. To Sell Is Human by Daniel Pink
Daniel Pink is known for his previous motivational and empathetic bestselling books. To Sell is Human explores the sales world and how to succeed in the 21st century. His main drive throughout the book is how we as humans try to sell everyday. Selling is not just reserved for entrepreneurs, but is an action done daily. Pink provides advice for how to act in the sales world with your customer in mind.
13. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference. In this book, Gladwell reflects on what makes certain things, ideas, and actions spread. He refers to them as epidemics that spread around like viral videos, teenage smoking, and crime otherwise known as “the tipping point.” The “stickiness” of ideas and things can be applied to the world of business for entrepreneurs trying to spread their creation. Gladwell explains both of these concepts in relation to the social dynamics that cause them.
14. Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
Malcom Gladwell makes another appearance on the list with his clever and engaging writing. In his book, an outlier is an exception individual. Notable outliers he includes are Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, alongside many others. Gladwell shows that success isn’t what we do or where we came from. It will encourage you to think about your own unique strengths to succeed in business.
15. Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger
In this must-read, Berger discusses the factors behind ideas that catch and those that fade away. He delves into what makes products and ideas popular, focusing on the way social influence can make something contagious. If you are curious as to why certain online content goes viral or the popularity of rumors, then this book will help you understand the influence of people’s opinions. Berger explores the logos and trademark looks that represent some of the most powerful companies in the world such as Apple, Louboutin, and Nike.
Best Business Books for Online Entrepreneurs – Summary
From business secrets directly from some of the most successful people on the planet to psychological relaxation techniques, our list has a range of books to cover every area of the business world. Current, new, and prospective entrepreneurs would certainly benefit from reading any of the listed best business books for online entrepreneurs.
All of the titles are worth reading, but there are timeless pieces such as The Lean Start Up, Who Moved My Cheese?, How to Win Friends and Influence People, and The 4-Hour Work Week that would be great starting points.
What is the best business book in your opinion? Feel free to share your very own reading list in the comments below.
Further Reading: Resources Entrepreneurship | Speed Reading Courses | Speed Reading Books | Dyslexia Books