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Best Entrepreneur Books & Audiobooks

Entrepreneur Books & Audiobooks for Starting a Business

What if you had the best collection of entrepreneurial, mindset and business books all in one place. Always at your disposal, wouldn’t it allow you to become the most knowledgeable version of yourself? 

You bet it would!

I’ve taken the time to curate the following entrepreneur books & audiobooks that will help you start a brand new business or scale your existing business. Check this Membership site for more business resources.

Select one of the books from the list that resonates most with, read it and take notes as you do. Then, come back and select the next one that you need.

You can also use Audible to listen to books so you can absorb them quickly and save money if you plan to read books regularly. Find the right Audible plan for you. 

Let’s dive in…

Affiliate Disclaimer: I earn commission (get paid) if you click on the links and purchase a product below. My earnings do not impact the price you pay.

Table of Contents

Best Books For Entrepreneurial Mindset

1. Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill


Since its publication in 1937, this book has remained one of the
best books for aspiring entrepreneurs. Napoleon Hill invested 20 years of his life studying more than 500 successful in a quest to understand the most common success habits. He boiled his research down to the 13 habits that showed up over and over with each successful and wealthy person he studied. Follow the 13 key points taught by Hill and you can improve your life and/or business. Here are three to get you started:

  1. Shorten your learning curve by joining a Mastermind
  2. Create belief that becomes unshakable by using autosuggestion
  3. See your decisions through until completion

Key Quote : Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.

2. The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement - 30th Anniversary Edition, by Eliyahu M. Goldratt & Jeff Cox


The authors teach tactics for strategic planning and other management concepts through a story. The key figure in the story, Alex Rogo, has a failing marriage and works as a plant manager at UniCo. The company is in trouble and Alex follows a former college professor’s advice to improve things. “The Goal” is one of those must read business books that teaches you how to improve a company’s profitability through various economic models.

Key Quote : A Process of Ongoing Improvement: “Making an employee work and profiting from that work are two different things.

3. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, by Charles Duhigg


Here’s a book that’ll help you take better control over your life. Using real-life stories, research and science, the author explains how habits work. If you’re looking for one of the best books for young professionals (or anyone, for that matter), then you’ll discover practical techniques and methods that can help you create positive societal, organizational and individual change. The strategies reveal how to alter your habits as they take you through the civil rights movement, the workings of an NFL sideline and into the boardrooms of top U.S. companies. The bottom line is that you’ll learn how better habits can help you when it comes to achieving success, losing weight or becoming more productive.

Key Quote : Change might not be fast and it isn’t always easy. But with time and effort, almost any habit can be reshaped.

Best Books On Sales Method and Persuasion Techniques

1. The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure, by Grant Cardone


Grant Cardone teaches the concept of “big thinking” in The 10X Rule. He says that most people fail to achieve their goals because they set goals that don’t motivate them enough. He talks about the power of thinking bigger if you want to attain big results. Cardone also helps you overcome the human tendency to underestimate how many resources or how much effort is required to achieve the goals that we set. The key is preparing mentally for the challenges that lay ahead instead of getting upset or demotivated when you encounter them. In my opinion, this is one of the best entrepreneur books of all time.

Key Quote :  One of the major differences between successful and unsuccessful people is that the former look for problems to resolve, whereas the latter make every attempt to avoid them.

2. The Greatest Salesman in the World, by Og Mandino


Mandino uses a fable to teach personal success and salesmanship principles. The fable takes you on a journey as a poor camel boy rises to success. The boy becomes known as the greatest salesman in the world by owning a powerful and profitable trade empire. The boy’s name is Hafid and Mandino uses the first half of the book to point out how the boy found salesmanship training inside ancient scrolls. The text from those scrolls is revealed inside the second half of the book. This book is not only motivational, but also one of the best business books for beginners.

Key Quote : Never feel shame for trying and failing for he who has never failed is he who has never tried.

3. The Little Red Book of Selling: 12.5 Principles of Sales Greatness, by Jeffrey Gitomer

 

This is one of the best entrepreneur books you can buy because it helps you see a timeless principle for selling well: You must get people to know you, like you and trust you in order to get them to feel comfortable buying from you. Three key points repeat throughout the book:

  1. Focus on creating value for customers
  2. Always be prepared for closing the sale
  3. Engage your customers and help them see that your product is their best option

Key Quote : Change is not a four letter word…but often your reaction to it is!

Books on Customer Behavior Psychology

1. How to Win Friends & Influence People, by Dale Carnegie

 

It’s difficult to understand customer behavior if you don’t first become trained on how people behave in general. Carnegie’s book is one of the best selling business books of all time because it teaches how to get people to like you, as well as techniques for winning people over to thinking positively about your ideas. One of the most important aspects of Carnegie’s teachings is that you must change yourself if you expect to change the behaviors of others. Read this book if you want to win others over more frequently, become more likable and turn yourself into a master salesperson or entrepreneur.

Key Quote : The rare individual who unselfishly tries to serve others has an enormous advantage.

2. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, by Robert B. Cialdini

 

Cialdini brings forth six key principles that can help you to more effectively understand what causes people to alter their behavior. The main principles taught are Commitment & consistency, Liking, Reciprocation, Scarcity, Authority and Social proof. The book is based on the author’s 35 years of research. If you need to become better at the art of persuasion, then this is a good read. It’s one of the best books for small business owners and can help you drive more sales by influencing your leads to commit to your solutions.

Key Quote : A well-known principle of human behavior says that when we ask someone to do us a favor we will be more successful if we provide a reason. People simply like to have reasons for what they do.

3. The Psychology of Selling: Increase Your Sales Faster and Easier Than You Ever Thought Possible, by Brian Tracy

 

There’s a reason that Brian Tracy is one of the most influential sales trainers out there. He understands how people work and he’s good at passing that information on to others. Use the tactics taught in The Psychology of Selling to upgrade your sales and persuasion skills. It’s one of the best business motivational books because it can help you learn how to control your actions, feelings, and thoughts in a way that makes you more effective with each customer.

Key Quote : A person who really likes himself or herself has high self-esteem and therefore a positive self-concept. When you really like yourself in a particular role, you perform at your best in that role.

Best Books On Leadership and Visionary

1. Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, by Simon Sinek

 

Few people understand the power of vision better than Simon Sinek. In Start with Why, he shows you the value in starting all plans with the “why”. Leaning into your “why” and allowing it to guide you is an effective way to attain long-lasting and authentic success. If you’re looking for one of the best books for aspiring entrepreneurs, then this is one to add to your collection of business-building and leadership tools. Sinek breaks down what the most profitable, influential and innovative organizations and people do that sets them apart. You’ll learn how to use their principles and get customers and employees to follow your vision.

Key Quote : There are only two ways to influence human behavior: you can manipulate it or you can inspire it.

2. #AskGaryVee: One Entrepreneur's Take on Leadership, Social Media, and Self-Awareness, by Gary Vaynerchuk

 

Looking for one of the best books on business and leadership? Look no further than this gem from Gary Vee, where he dives deep into entrepreneurship, social media and marketing and provides timeless and actionable tips for success. You’ll gain insight into important topics like:

  • Launching products
  • Hiring good people
  • Starting a business
  • How to lead others
  • Remaining healthy

Gary’s advice is evergreen and practical. Use it to become a better leader, visionary and entrepreneur. 

Key Quote : Stop focusing on dumb shit. Don’t be afraid to break things. Don’t be romantic. Don’t take the time to breathe. Don’t aim for perfect. And whatever you do, keep moving. Reread this a few times…”

3. Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable, Tim S. Grover

 

Grover details out 13 actions that very successful people do. He shows you the difference between being good, great and unstoppable. This is not only excellent leadership training, but also one of the best marketing books for beginners. Why? Because you must become relentless about continuing to test as you transform from a new marketer into an expert marketer.  The author categorized people into three groups:

  1. Cooler: The person who must be told what to do and waits around to follow others
  2. Closer: Gets the job done and handles pressure well
  3. Cleaner: The person who’s never satisfied

Read this book and learn how to become a Cleaner, where you strive to be good and then you go after being great. Once you’re great at what you do, you then push onward until you’re unstoppable.

Key Quote : Being relentless means demanding more of yourself than anyone else could ever demand of you, knowing that every time you stop, you can still do more. You must do more.

Self Improvement and Productivity

1. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, by David Allen

 

Being more productive as an entrepreneur is critical and Allen’s book can help you understand how to get more done in less time. It’s one of the best books for young professionals because it can ensure that you get your business-building activities off to the correct start. In the book, Allen talks about the importance of keeping our thoughts organized and clear because this state of mind leads to improved productivity. He then teaches a framework for how to get more done while staying energized and relaxed. If you’re looking for a way to become great while maintaining a healthy work-life balance, then pick this one up.

Key Quote : Your ability to generate power is directly proportional to your ability to relax.

2. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol S. Dweck

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success 

You’ll read one of the top entrepreneurial books available when picking up Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. That’s because your success is shaped by the way you see yourself from the inside out. Your sense of personal self worth dictates how you react to events and people. It affects the outcome of each interaction. Dweck helps you with a process for understanding how to change your mindset inside your business, as well as your personal relationships.

Key Quote : Picture your brain forming new connections as you meet the challenge and learn. Keep on going.

3. The Entrepreneur Mind: 100 Essential Beliefs, Characteristics, and Habits of Elite Entrepreneurs

The Entrepreneur Mind 

Johnson offers one of the best business motivational books with The Entrepreneur Mind because he helps uncover how to change your thinking for the better. At the same time, he teaches seven basic business fundamentals that you must master while you’re becoming more productive and thinking correctly:

  1. Education
  2. Strategy
  3. Finance
  4. Leadership
  5. Marketing and sales
  6. People
  7. Motivation

Allow the author to help you possess the habits, characteristics and beliefs that lead to success.

Key Quote : Ideas are easy. It’s the execution of ideas that really separates the sheep from the goats.

Creativity and Innovation

1. Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by being Remarkable, Seth Godin

Creativity and Innovation 

Feeling like you need some creativity added into the mix for your business? Look no further than this gem from Seth Godin, one of the best books for small business owners on the market. Godin’s message is this: You must be remarkable if you expect to cut through all the noise and position your company at the top of your industry. He talks about the importance of innovation and standing out so that people start talking about you. Rather than relying on advertising and marketing alone, strive to become remarkable. Godin points out the way that Krispy Kreme, Google, Starbucks, JetBlue and IKEA all used this idea to get people talking about their companies and how this helped create more growth than advertising alone would have.

Key Quote : As consumers, we’re too busy to pay attention to advertising, but we’re desperate to find good stuff that solves our problems.

2. The Innovator's Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail, by Clayton M. Christensen

The Innovator's Dilemma 

Christensen’s book has become known as a classic when it comes to “disruption innovation”. In fact, Steve Jobs had this one on his list of favorite books. He said that he was “deeply influenced” by the information in this book. I think that’s good enough for any of us to classify this as one of the best online business books available. You’ll learn why many companies miss opportunities to become more innovative and how you can avoid those mistakes.

Key Quote : Disruptive technology should be framed as a marketing challenge, not a technological one.

3. The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It, by Michael E. Gerber

 

Gerber walks through how to become more creative in the way you work inside your business. He uses lessons about running your business as a franchise. It doesn’t matter whether you’re running a franchise or not. This education is useful no matter what type of business you’re in. The key is understanding the difference between working IN your business as opposed to working ON your business. I classify this one as a must read business book.

Key Quote : If your business depends on you, you don’t own a business—you have a job. And it’s the worst job in the world because you’re working for a lunatic!

Influence Building and Networking

1. Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders, by L. David Marquet

 

Marquet teaches leadership skills by telling the story about how he turned the USS Santa Fe submarine into a success. He made it best in its fleet in under 12 months. Discover how his “leader-leader” formula can help you become a more effective influencer in both your life and business.

Key Quote : Leadership is communicating to people their worth and potential so clearly that they are inspired to see it in themselves.”

2. Strengths Finder 2.0, by Tom Rath

 

Rath shows that building influence starts with fixing ourselves. However, instead of focusing on fixing your weaknesses, you should go all in with doubling down on your strengths. He teaches you how to discover five main strengths that are already a part of who you are and how you can use them to network and build influence in your business pursuits. One of the best business motivational books on the shelf today.

Key Quote : The key to human development is building on who you already are.

3. Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World, by Michael Hyatt

 

Nothing will help you gain more influence faster than building out your platform. Hyatt gives practical advice that works to help you start with an excellent product, get prepared to launch it, how to overcome inner resistance, create an online presence, expand your overall reach over time, and keep your tribe engaged with you.

Key Quote : You will never see the full path. The important thing is to do the next right thing.

Business and sales management

1. The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done, by Peter Drucker

 

Drucker does an amazing job with teaching you how to become a better business owner by paying close attention to how you use your time and organize it. You’ll learn how to more effectively contribute as you lead, identify strengths within you and raise your overall energy levels.

Key Quote : It is more productive to convert an opportunity into results than to solve a problem – which only restores the equilibrium of yesterday.

2. The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers, by Ben Horowitz

 

Horowitz gives out tremendous advice about creating and running a successful startup. You’ll find wisdom that you never learned in any classroom that helps you more effectively navigate the biggest business problems. In one of the best books for small business owners, he’s honest about how tough it is to build a business and lead others at the same time. 

Key Quote : Every really good, really experienced CEO I know shares one important characteristic: They tend to opt for the hard answer to organizational issues.

3. Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future, by Peter Thiel

 

Learn a unique perspective on building startups. Thiel provides a specific engineering approach when it comes to building a successful business. He uses scientific data and shows you how to use that data to recognize opportunity and execute well on strategy. Definitely one of the best books for starting a business. Pick it up and discover a new way to build your future.

Key Quote : The best entrepreneurs know this: every great business is built around a secret that’s hidden from the outside. A great company is a conspiracy to change the world; when you share your secret, the recipient becomes a fellow conspirator.

Investment Finance Books For Beginners

1. Rich Dad's Guide to Investing: What the Rich Invest In That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! By Robert T. Kiyosaki

 

Develop the mindset that Kiyosaki teaches in this book and you’ll find out that it’s 100% up to you when it comes to whether you become rich through investing or not. This is one of the best entrepreneur books of all time for beginners because you’ll learn how to start from nothing and invest your way to the top. The author reveals you can’t invest in “get rich schemes”. You must work hard, keep learning and invest like the rich do.

Key Quote : The person becomes attached to the vehicle and then fails to see all the other investment vehicles and procedures available.

2. The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing. A Book of Practical Counsel, by Benjamin Graham

 

Graham’s masterpiece is one of the best books for aspiring entrepreneurs because he teaches the value investing philosophy that will help you avoid making mistakes as a beginner. As the years have gone by, his strategies have continued to be proven as solid and worthy of helping investors win inside the market.

Key Quote : The intelligent investor is a realist who sells to optimists and buys from pessimists.

3. A Beginner's Guide to Investing: How to Grow Your Money the Smart and Easy Way, by Ivy Bytes and Alex H Frey

 

This book helps you avoid crazy “get rich quick” schemes that seem to lurk at every corner. You’ll learn how to invest properly and protect your assets when times become turbulent. Gain an understanding about what financial news to listen to and when to turn it all off. Use this book to discover why some investors make it big and many others fail to reach their goals.

Key Quote : Diversifying your investments allows you to earn greater returns without taking on more risk, or equivalently to take less risk without sacrificing any returns.

Business Laws and Tax

1. Limited Liability Companies For Dummies, by Jennifer Reuting

 

Discover all the pros and cons when it comes to setting up and using a Limited Liability Company (LLC). You need to know how to choose a company name, choose members, file the Articles of Organization and manage each day of operations. This simple book takes you through each of these important LLC details and makes it easy to implement each strategy.

Key Quote : You need to create an entity to protect yourself.

2. Rich Dad Advisors: Tax-Free Wealth: How to Build Massive Wealth by Permanently Lowering Your Taxes, by Tom Wheelwright

 

Tom Wheelwright is the author of Tax-Free Wealth and a Rich Dad Advisor. You must understand tax law and how to maximize savings when investing in real estate as a business. This is one of the best investment audiobooks or books that you can pick up on the subject. You’ll learn fundamental principles about topics such as property management, zoning and leasing and how to manage taxes around it all.

Key Quote : Tax-Free Wealth: How to Build Massive Wealth by Permanently Lowering Your Taxes: “Taxes will either make you rich or make your poor.”

3. Tax Savvy for Small Business: A Complete Tax Strategy Guide, by Frederick W. Daily

 

 

Did you know that you can minimize taxes and stay out of IRS or legal challenges? And do it all while running an honest and profitable business? Learn all the key strategies inside this best selling powerhouse. You’ll discover methods for maximizing fringe benefits, claiming all deductions owed to you, how to document expenses and keep accurate records.

Key Quote : Owning and operating a small business, full time or part time, has been called the little guy’s tax shelter. 

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