When you read a book, it feels great to put yourself into a world the writer has created for you. You understand your thoughts and emotions more clearly.
It makes you realize who you really are and makes your life more meaningful. Reading books makes you a better thinker and a better man. Reflect upon the thoughts that come to your mind when you read a great book. You will know whether a book is great or not based on the thoughts it awakens inside you. So here are those books every aspiring entrepreneur should read.
Table of Contents
“Business Adventures” – John Brooks
The Power of Broke is for anyone looking to crush those excuses for whatever is holding him or her back from success. Bootstrapping your way to success can be a viable and sustainable way to grow your empire. Author (and Shark Tank entrepreneur) Daymond John built his own fashion label starting with home-sewn clothes and almost no money; he turned around his “broke” status with pure innovation. The book also explores how other everyday people took a similar approach. One entrepreneur, for instance, started a million-dollar cupcake business with the $33 balance in her checking account.
“Thinking, Fast and Slow” – Daniel Kahneman
Though originally published in 2011, this book continues to be a best-seller in 2016. Renowned psychologist Daniel Kahneman does a deep dive analysis of the two cognitive systems that shape the judgments and decisions we make in our everyday lives.
“How to Win Friends & Influence People” – Dale Carnegie
One of the first best-selling self-help books that were ever published, this book can be read by anyone but is a must for entrepreneurs. After reading this book, you will be able to make friends quickly, get your employees to start thinking the way you do, avoid conflicts at the workplace and become a better visionary.
“The $100 Startup” – Chris Guillebeau
Without direction, purpose and strategy, any startup stands very little chance of succeeding. From the initial stages of starting a business to managing the growing operations, this book will assist you at every stage.
The book was written after conducting interviews and surveys with founders of real startups and hence is a must read for entrepreneurs who are thinking of starting their own business.
“Start With Why” – Simon Sinek
Great leaders inspire others by putting the Why (the purpose) before the How (the process) or the What (the product). In the book, the author uses real-world examples of great leaders to show you how they communicate and how you can adapt their mindset to inspire others. Once you are finished reading this book, you will be equipped with the tools which will help you to lead and inspire.
“Rich Dad Poor Dad” – Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter
Everyone would like to become an entrepreneur after reading this book. It is about a person who has two fathers; one rich and the other poor. Both fathers teach their kid on how to achieve success but differ vastly in their approach.
The theme revolves around two things: a can-do attitude and fearless entrepreneurship. The lesson is simple: if you desire to be an entrepreneur, you must take charge of your life by overcoming fear, laziness, cynicism and arrogance.
“Idea to Execution” – Ari Meisel and Nick Sonnenberg
Virtual assistants are no longer a distant idea in an imaginative future. In fact, they are becoming more and more actively involved in the building of a business from the ground up, especially when finances are tight. Authors Meisel and Sonnenberg birthed their VA business from scribbled notes on cocktail napkins. They were up and running less than 24 hours later.
“The Power of Habit” – Charles Duhigg
According to Charles Duhigg, they have a far greater impact on our happiness, productivity, relationships, and everything in between than we might think. It was Duhigg’s interest in the science of habits that sparked this well-known book, and in it, he tackles questions like how and why companies use the science of habit building to influence what we buy–and when we buy it.
“Never Eat Alone” – Keith Ferrazzi
Never Eat Alone is a tactical guide to networking the right way, and the power of giving first. Here, readers will find advice on how to handle rejection, find their way into certain “inner circles,” and make the most of a conference. Ferrazzi’s approach to networking is both insightful and highly practical and built on the proven principles he has employed in his own career.
“Meditation and Its Methods” – Swami Vivekananda
This is a collection of the writings and talks of Swami Vivekananda on the theory and practice of meditation. It is more of an introductory book with plenty of inspiration passages to get one started. Vivekananda left a body of philosophical works (see Vivekananda’s complete works). His books (compiled from lectures given around the world) on the four Yogas (Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga) are very influential and still seen as fundamental texts for anyone interested in the practice of Yoga.
