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The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
Most startups fail, with or without large investments backing them. The author, Eric Ries, defines a startup as an organization dedicated to creating something new under conditions of extreme uncertainty.
The Lean Startup consists of developing products that are proven to be desired by the customers, so the sales can boost immediately as soon as they’re available in the market. This is the opposite of the normal method of entrepreneurship that consists of developing a product and waiting for the demand.
The lessons taught by this book applies to all forms of entrepreneurship, but it’s written from the perspective of the software development industry.
see also: The Concept of a Lean Startup
Who Is Bill Gates?
Bill Gates is a computer programmer, investor, and the co-founder of the massive company known as Microsoft. Along with Paul Allen, he become a millionaire overnight, and then a multi-billionaire at the start of the 1990’s.
This book by Patricia Brennan Demuth goes beyond his business ventures and into the personal life of Bill Gates. Chiefly, you will see the cut-throat business practices behind the scenes of Microsoft that quashed the competition.
Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software
While Code is not a book about entrepreneurship, we believe it’s a must read for anyone involved in the tech industry to have a grasp on how our computers and electronic devices really work.
The book starts out simple, but it will immediately get into some technical stuff that some people have trouble taking in.
Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur
Derek Sivers (from sive.rs) is an “accidental” was behind the web 1.0 startup CD Baby, and independent online CD store that achieved over $100 million in sales. He later went on to helping entrepreneurs build overseas companies with his other venture, Wood Egg.
This book breaks down the lessons that he learned as a young entrepreneur while maintaining CD Baby. It’s a very concise and engaging book that should take no longer than an evening to read.
The $100 Startup
The author Chris Guillebeau had traveled the whole world, yet never actually had a real job or business to bring in a stable income. He compiled case studies of successful self-employed individuals that started with $100 or less, and compiled his findings into this book.
The lessons learned in The $100 Startup resonates similarly with The Lean Startup, but is appealing to young entrepreneurs with just a bit of pocket money.
The Third Wave: An Entrepreneur’s Vision of the Future
The co-founder of Steve Case presents his vision of the future in regards technological changes reshaping business. When the book was written in 2017, he believed we are entering the “third wave” of the Internet, which might also be known as web 3.0 to some.
This book is inspired by a similarly titled book “The Third Wave” by Alvin Toffler, which was originally written published in 1980.
Keep in mind that the predictions made in the book are quite broad, so it’s up to the reader to interpret and apply it themselves.
The 7 Day Startup: You Don’t Learn Until You Launch
Dan Norris, author and founder of wpcurve.com, showcases how he was able to launch a startup from scratch in 7 days. The idea is to get the product launched ASAP and perfect things along the way.
And just like other lean startup books, the idea is to launch with little investment as possible to probe if your idea has paying customers.
The Art of the Start 2.0
Written by Guy Kawasaki, a revered business, strategist this book is a go-to guide for launching a business, product, or just about anything. It’s quite longer than the first version of the book, and includes more modern tech concepts.
This is a great read for entrepreneurs in it for the long-haul of bringing their ideas into fruition.
Mastering the VC Game: A Venture Capital Insider Reveals How to Get from Start-Up to IPO on Your Terms
The author Jeffrey Bussgang is experienced in the world of venture capital. He just happened to be the co-founder of Upromise, a loyalty program that helps college students pay off their student loans.
This book will give the reader a unique perspective on the VC funding world and it enjoyable for small entrepreneurs and investors alike.
The Startup Owner’s Manual: The Step-By-Step Guide for Building a Great Company
Steve Blank is considered to be the co-creator of the Lean Startup movement, and this book is a good for those taking their startups to the next level. You’ll find details charts, graphs, diagrams and check lists to obtain scalable profits.
Lifescale: How to Live a More Creative, Productive, and Happy Life
The author, Brian Solis, is one of the most popular influencers in the futurist and digital anthropology space that you’ll find online. In Lifescale, he explains the techniques and exercises he developed to avoid distractions in a time where they are plentiful.
Start Something That Matters
This book is by Blake Mycoskie, the founder of the online fashion company Toms Shoes. This is a wonderful guide for socially conscious entrepreneurs to use their for-profit venture to make an impact on those in need.
The E Myth Revisited
Michael E. Gerber is a legendary entrepreneur behind The Gerber Companies, a chain of companies that helps small companies grow. In the E Myth Revisited, he gives the secret formula for small businesses to succeed.
Do More Faster
Brad Feld and David G. Cohen, the co-founders of Techstars, had put together their advice and experiences in this book to help the next generation of entrepreneurs. If you want to create a sustainable business, definitely add this to your reading list.