With so many books about business out there, it’s tough to know which ones to read — and believe. 

These 10 best business books are critically acclaimed best-sellers, recommended over and over by both readers and experts. Read them all for a crash course in business success!

Zero to One

PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel’s #1 New York Times bestseller rethinks the American way of innovation, encouraging entrepreneurs to create new concepts by truly thinking for themselves. If you’re part of a startup and planning for the future, there’s no better place to start than Zero.

Key takeaways

  • Doing something new = going from 0 to 1
  • New inventions are waiting to be created
  • How to make your ideas a reality

What reviewers say

“Zero to One should be read not just by aspiring entrepreneurs but by anyone seeking a thoughtful alternative to the current pervasive gloom about the prospects for the world.” — The Economist

Shelve under: #economicpolicy #entrepreneurship #startingabusiness

The E-Myth Revisited

Think you know everything about entrepreneurs? Michael E. Gerber wants you to think again. The revised version of this classic from “the world’s #1 small business guru” further dispels the assumptions and misconceptions involved with starting and growing a successful company. 

Key takeaways

  • Most business starters are not entrepreneurs 
  • The differences between working on and in your business
  • Knowing how a business works is not the same thing as running one

What reviewers say

“Gerber loves to exhort people to develop powerful visions for their companies.” — Fortune

Shelve under: #businessmanagement #entrepreneurship #leadership

Good to Great

After the success of Built to Last — a bestseller based on a six-year business research project — Jim Collins returned with five years of findings from a 28-company study. The first in a six-book series, Good to Great is essential for entrepreneurs seeking greatness. 

Key takeaways

  • Types of leadership required to make the leap
  • Why some companies succeed and others don’t
  • Data and interviews reveal the keys to greatness 

What reviewers say

“One of the top ten business books of 2001.” — Business Week

Shelve under: #businessmanagement #companybusinessprofiles #leadership 

The Lean Startup

In his investigation of successful startups and the entrepreneurs behind them, Eric Ries examines what keeps businesses going when the future is uncertain. Adopting an approach based on lean manufacturing, Ries shares innovative ways to achieve success while remaining agile in the business world.

Key takeaways

  • What it takes to succeed despite uncertainty
  • Launching and maintaining a successful startup 
  • How lean manufacturing facilitates business agility

What reviewers say

“If you are an entrepreneur, read this book. If you are thinking about becoming an entrepreneur, read this book. If you are just curious about entrepreneurship, read this book. Starting lean is today’s best practice for innovators. Do yourself a favor and read this book.” — Randy Komisar, founding director of TiVo & author of The Monk and the Riddle

Shelve under: #businessmanagement #entrepreneurship #startingabusiness 

Start with Why

Simon Sinek’s inquisitive bestseller has seen success ranging from TikTok to TED Talks, but why? Investigating the motivations behind influence and innovation, Sinek answers the question of what it takes to make it — and keep making it — in today’s competitive business world.

Key takeaways

  • The big questions great leaders ask 
  • Inside the success of top influencers 
  • Why some are more successful than others

What reviewers say

“Start with Why fanned the flames inside me. This book can lead you to levels of excellence you never considered attainable.” — General Charles Horner, air boss in Operation “Desert Shield/Desert Storm”

Shelve under: #businessmanagement #entrepreneurship #leadership

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Stephen R. Covey’s study on success is considered the #1 most influential business book of the 20th century, and for good reason. With 40+ million copies sold since its first publication in 1989, Covey’s step-by-step guide to personal and professional achievement is still highly effective. 

Key takeaways

  • Proactive solutions for personal and professional problems
  • How to wield the effective power of discipline and character
  • Tips for effectively adapting to and taking advantage of change

What reviewers say

“Every so often a book comes along that not only alters the lives of readers but leaves an imprint on the culture itself. The 7 Habits is one of those books.” — Daniel Pink, author of Drive and When

Shelve under: #businessmanagement #leadership #selfhelp

Shoe Dog

Even if you’ve never owned a pair of Nikes, this memoir from the footwear company’s creator and CEO is worth checking out. Following founder Phil Knight’s journey from startup to success, the story of the famous Nike swoosh takes an inspiring jog down memory lane to show just how he did it.

Key takeaways

  • Insights on Knight’s success despite setbacks
  • How forming the right relationships led to success
  • The tale of Nike’s first sales from the trunk of a car

What reviewers say

“The best book I read […] was Shoe Dog by Nike’s Phil Knight. Phil is a very wise, intelligent, and competitive fellow who is also a gifted storyteller.” — Warren Buffett, Chairman & CEO of Berkshire Hathaway

Shelve under: #biography #memoir #startingabusiness 

Rich Dad Poor Dad

Initially published in 1997, Robert T. Kiyosaki’s unflinching insights on generational wealth have only gained value over time. The 20th anniversary edition of “the #1 personal finance book of all time” revisits the Kiyosaki family’s financial advice and features new lessons from both of his father figures.

Key takeaways

  • Being rich doesn’t require a high income
  • Passing family wealth to future generations
  • Lessons on making your money work for you

What reviewers say

“It’s interesting that, no matter how successful you get, it’s really difficult to shake your mindset. I still have a poor-person mentality. I can’t shake it, and it gets really detrimental when you can’t just shake off the ideas.” — Will Smith, discussing Rich Dad Poor Dad on Oprah

Shelve under: #economics #moneymanagement #personalfinance 

The 4-Hour Workweek

Named one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Business People,” lifestyle guru Timothy Ferriss kicked off his 4-Hour self-help book series with this excellent guide to escaping the grind. Whether you want to get rich quicker or just get away from the 9–5, this is the book “4” you. 😉

Key takeaways

  • Real-life stories of lifestyle success
  • A guide to working smarter, not harder
  • Ways to maximize money and minimize work

What reviewers say

“The 4-Hour Workweek is a new way of solving a very old problem: just how can we work to live and prevent our lives from being all about work? A world of infinite options awaits those who would read this book and be inspired by it!” — Michael E. Gerber, Founder & Chairman of EMyth and author of The EMyth Revisited

Shelve under: #economics #selfhelp #timemanagement 

The Hard Thing About Hard Things

Silicon Valley entrepreneur Ben Horowitz confronts the difficult truths of starting and sustaining a business from scratch in this hard-hitting book. Praised by Peter Thiel as “the first true guide for protecting a startup from self-sabotage,” this read is just what the subtitle suggests: a guide to building a business when there are no easy answers.

Key takeaways

  • Business lessons in the form of lyrics
  • Insider insight on launching and leading startups
  • Practical business wisdom based on personal experience

What reviewers say

“There is more than enough substance in Mr. Horowitz’s impressive tome to turn it into a leadership classic.” —The Economist

Shelve under: #businessmanagement #entrepreneurship #leadership