10 Best Books for Entrepreneurs
from INC magazine 20 March 15 enhanced by Peter/CXO Wiz4biz
There are thousands of books written about entrepreneurs, but few written by the entrepreneurs themselves, probably because they don’t have the time. That’s a shame, because knowing how entrepreneurs think, is more useful than observing what they do. Here are the 10 books that do this best:
LOSING my VIRGINITY by Richard Branson. Subtitle: How I Survived, had Fun, & made a Fortune doing Business my way. Why It’s Worth Reading: Most business books are dry. This book is different. It’s about adventure, both inside & outside the business world. More than any other entrepreneur, Branson is “larger than life” and this lively description of his Branson’s exploits, ideas & businesses will is destined to be a classic that will read and appreciated generations from now.Best Quote: “Screw it. Let’s do it.”
STEVE JOBS – Auto-Biography. Subtitle: His Own Words & Wisdom. Why It’s Worth Reading: This book – which is only available as an eBook – consists of an alphabetical list of things Jobs said, selected by the Cupertino Silicon Valley Press. The quotes run the gamut: arrogant, prescient, funny, wise & weird. As such, the selection reflects the man himself. Note: to put some of the quotes in context it helps if you know something about Apple’s history and Jobs’ life.
HOW to WIN at the SPORT of BUSINESS by Mark Cuban, Shark Tank. Subtitle: If I Can Do It, You Can Do It. Why It’s Worth Reading: Some people (like me) know from childhood what career will suit them best. Many people, though, often struggle to find their place and, in the process, get bogged down in go-nowhere jobs. Cuban’s invaluable observation & philosophy is that everything in lifes is a learning experience, even if you’re not sure where you’re headed. Note: while most of the material in this book originally appeared on Cuban’s blog, arranging it into book format makes his ideas & experiences easier to understand. Best Quote: “In every job, I would justify it in my mind, whether I loved or hated it, that I was getting paid to learn. Every experience would be of value, when I figured out what I wanted to do when I grew up.”
iWOZ by Steve Wozniak, Apple. Subtitle: Computer Geek to Cult Icon: How I Invented the Personal Computer, Co-Founded Apple, & had Fun doing it. Why It’s Worth Reading: Two reasons. First, the book provides an insider’s view of the mythic events that led to the Macintosh and the very human people behind the technology. Second, and more important, this book is about an engineer rather than a business person. One gets the impression that Wozniak would have led just as happy a life had he remained in an engineering group somewhere, building stuff. As a former engineer myself, I know exactly what he means. Best Quote: “[My Dad taught me] that engineering was the highest level of importance you could reach in the world, that someone who could make devices that do something good for people takes society to a new level. He told me that as an engineer, you can change your world and change the way of life for lots of people.”
The TRUMP Card by Ivanka. Subtitle: Playing to Win in Work and Life. Why It’s Worth Reading: I was originally going to include Donald Trump’s “The Art of the Deal” in this list. However, while that’s a good book, I find Ms. Trump’s to be more introspective than her father, with an engaging wit that makes this book a fun read. Best Quote: “We’ve all got our own baggage. Whatever we do, whatever our backgrounds, we’ve all had some kind of advantage somewhere along the way. Some break that might have gone to someone else. Some edge of inside track we couldn’t have counted on.”
The Books: “Lean-In, The Art of the Start, Thrive, Money: Master the Game” & others in Premium Content.