If you are also an aspiring entrepreneur or are planning to start your own startup, then this article is for you! Many people come up with ideas, but it is important to start them at the right time, learn quickly, and stay firm even in difficult times. And at such a time, some books can be useful for you, which not only inspire but also prepare you for action.
Here are 7 books (7 Must-Read Startup Books) that every new entrepreneur must read—these are not just for reading, but for understanding and applying.
1. The Lean Startup – Eric Ries
If any one book is called the Bible in the world of startups, then it is this one. It neither has the pretense of hustle culture nor false dreams of overnight success. It teaches how to make a product in a smart way – test, fail, learn and repeat.
2. Zero to One – Peter Thiel
This book is for those who think differently. It tells how to create something new instead of copying others. Building a monopoly and standing out from the crowd is its core message.
3. The Hard Thing About Hard Things – Ben Horowitz
This book shows the tough realities of a startup – like layoffs, bad decisions, and broken trust. If you want to be prepared for tough times, this book will help you.
4. Rework – Jason Fried & David Heinemeier
Hansson
This book shakes up traditional business thinking. The author explains how to get by without huge investments — by staying simple and doing only the things that are really important.
5. Shoe Dog – Phil Knight
This story of Nike’s co-founder will tell you how messy the beginning of any big company is. This is a story written from the heart – full of inspiration.
6. The Mom Test – Rob
Fitzpatrick
“Your idea is great”: when friends say this, it is not necessarily true. The Mom Test shows you how to gather honest feedback by learning to ask smarter, more effective questions. This book can save you from many weeks of wasted effort.
7. Founders at Work – Jessica Livingston
This book will tell you about their life experiences of how brands like PayPal, Apple, Hotmail started. What decisions they took at the early stage and what can be learnt from them is all there in it.
Conclusion
Running a startup is not a guaranteed path to success — but these books can prepare you for the journey. These are books that give you action, not inspiration. So don’t just keep them on a shelf — open them up and read them when things get tough.
