written by | May 3, 2022

Best Business Books to Read for Inspiration

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Table of Content


Starting a business might seem like a daunting task, but good research and guidance are all you need to start a business. Today, virtual work and freelance jobs are growing, with more and more people looking to quit the 9 to 5 grind. People want to do something fulfilling that can provide freedom and money.

Here we have compiled the best books for starting a business!

Why should you go through business books? Business books can instruct us on strategies, lessons, and ideas backed by a lot of statistics, research and experience. Additionally, they are written by people who studied and managed businesses. By studying these, we will get to learn from their mistakes.

Did You Know?

The Holy Bible has been the most-read book in the world, with over 3.9 billion copies sold in the last 50 years.

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Best Business Books to Read

For some people, school is the conclusion of the learning process. However, if you want to keep growing and improving, a regular reading habit will help you maintain your mind fresh and acquire the skills you need to make your next move. A ravenous appetite for information is a characteristic shared by many great corporate leaders. Thankfully, many of them have published books to share their knowledge. If you're interested in business, here's our ultimate selection of the best 10 business books to read:

1). Good to Great by Jim Collins

Among the best books to read for business, this is the first & best choice. "Good is not the same as great" is the mantra made to describe Jim Collins to set off the book's tone. It's the result of his research team and businesses' path from being good to becoming excellent for more than a decade.

The process of transforming from 'Good to Great' can be more easily talked about than done. The writer, in this book, provides a methodical approach to the same issue in three parts:

(A) Procedure: Working toward getting your breakthrough.

(B) Phases: 3 phases that go from good to great are disciplined people, thoughts and action.

(C) Flywheel: A process of introspection, finding out the best steps to achieve the desired outcomes until you reach the breakthrough point.

This book goes far beyond the common wisdom and reveals that even companies with huge potential can also shrink in the long run. It's a must-read for managers and CEOs.

2). The Lean Startup by Eric Ries

'The Lean Startup' by Eric Ries is an inspiration for lean manufacturing, a revolution in manufacturing created at Toyota. It encompasses everything from creating small batches to speeding the cycle time. Lean startup is inherently a way of designing and managing startups as startups cannot adhere to traditional business methods. It's an excellent read that teaches the correct approach to follow this method and prevents the failure of a startup. This method is widely used worldwide and is unique in its way. So, knowing about it is essential for anyone who wants to establish a company.

3). Start With Why by Simon Sinek

In his captivating book, TEDx keynote speaker and British inspirational speaker Simon Sinek reveals organisations and leaders that stood out from the crowd and explains the reasons. Simon says in his book, "people don't care about what you do. They are interested in the reasons you are doing it."

Simon argues his belief that all leaders and businesses are aware of how they do it and the things they do, but since the WHY is what drives their being, they must take note of that first. Simon believes that the order should be a journey from 'Why' to 'How' and end with 'What'.

So, if you're beginning a new venture, creating products or managing a team, do not forget to start with 'Why' since it's the most effective method to win the minds and hearts of the people around you, and that's exactly what successful leaders do.

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4). The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton Christensen

Leaders of the highest calibre mentioned Clayton's work, including Malcolm Gladwell and Steve Jobs. His bestseller demonstrates that even the top firms can have everything in place and still lose market dominance.

This book is considered to be revolutionary because it exposes the secrets to leveraging disruptive technology by analysing the lessons and failures of companies that have been successful.

Incisive, sharp and inspiring are among the most powerful and best business books ever written. 'The Innovator's Dilemma' is the book you need to get your hands on! 

5). Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

In this book, bestseller Malcolm Gladwell, who has numerous other excellent books such as 'The Tipping Point' and 'Blink', will take us on an educational journey through his 'Outliers', the bold, the brave and the brightest. What is it that makes them different from the rest of us?

"It isn't the brightest that succeed, nor is it an accumulation of the choices and efforts we take in our personal capacity. It's actually the result of a gift. Outliers are those who were given opportunities and have the determination and the mind to grasp opportunities.", Gladwell writes.

In the book, he recounts the stories of others who have succeeded through back-to-back stories, interspersed with Bill Gates, titans of Silicon Valley, Beatles and the enormously profitable New York Jews of the 20th century and more. The writer makes his case clearly and logically. This is among the best business books ever written and more political than his earlier work, which is almost an ode to us all that calls us to think differently.

6). The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

The book written by Ben Horowitz is a brutally honest business book that ranks among the best business books ever written and is strongly recommended by top entrepreneurs around the globe.

It is a way to get around the reality that there isn't a way to run a perfect business, and there will be mistakes despite the most innovative concepts, plans and execution.

He smacks us that entrepreneurship is about experiencing extreme moments of highs and downs. Every entrepreneur has to learn how to face difficult challenges with the same enthusiasm. Also, communication skills are crucial to learning to make your business succeed.

Straight and funny, the author shares his personal experience of establishing, managing, buying and selling businesses. He covers a broad range of subjects from hiring-firing to psychology to emphasise his point. This is among the most popular business books ever written. 

7). Romancing The Balance Sheet by Anil Lamba

This book is mostly an informal guide to managing a business in a pretty efficient way. It also teaches us about the importance of decision-making and action in the life of a company.

The author stresses the significance of managing finances and the balance sheet, which can bring things together. A different perspective on balance analysis reveals how crucial financial management is for business!

It addresses every aspect of effects, such as efficient use of capital money, marginal costing, leverage, the flow of funds, etc. This book is a delight for those who want to master the art of financial management.

8). The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz

The book is built on a simple idea: If you don't make an effort to think about the big picture, your hopes and desires will remain what they are. We are often afflicted with anxieties, fears and a myriad of "problems" that seem to stop us from getting the things we desire in our lives. 

However, the problem is that the issues aren't as severe as we believe they are. There is a solution that works, but only when we focus on the things we want to achieve the success the universe is waiting for us.

9). The Little Red Book of Selling by Jeffrey Gitomer

When people hear "sales", they instantly imagine shady, used car salespeople, shady mortgage brokers who encourage their clients to take out fraudulently expensive loans, or fraudsters that prey upon innocent customers. 

However, there's more than the above. In the book, Jeffrey Gitomer outlines what makes the perfect salesperson and offers specific guidelines on how you can apply them to your own business. It's an easy, entertaining book that will change your thinking about selling and those who offer it. These were all books related to business ideas.

10). Zero to One by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters 

'Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future, is a 2014 book by the American entrepreneur and investor Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal, and co-written with Blake Masters. 

"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." - Peter Thiel.

The best paths in business are new and untried. For this reason, there can be no definite blueprint for the setting up of a business. Every formula for innovation is new and unique. This book on business and startups is a profound thesis about the relationship between technology, society, and historical moments. This is one of the most celebrated business books ever written and for a good.

reason.

Conclusion

It is essential to realise that reading is an essential tool to achieve success. You should always keep at least one book in your hand to study and read. They are great to read when we're bored or need a bit of motivation in tough times. 

The books listed here will aid anyone in taking his or her business to the highest level. These aren't easy things to complete; however, with just a little commitment, time and effort, you can achieve success!
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FAQs

Q: What are the best books on business strategy?

Ans:

  • 'Good Strategy/Bad Strategy' by Richard P. Rumelt
  • 'Your Strategy Needs a Strategy' by Janmejaya Sinha, Knut Haanaes, and Martin Reeves
  • 'Competing Against Luck' by Clayton Christensen

Q: Which are the best books for starting a business?

Ans:

These are the best business books of all time:

  • 'The Lean Startup' by Eric Ries
  • 'The Founder's Dilemmas' by Noam T. Wasserman
  • 'The Peter Principle by Laurence J. Peter
  • 'The Disney Way' by Bill Capodagli
  • 'Behind the Cloud' by Carlye Adler

Q: What are the best business books as per Bill Gates?

Ans:

  • 'Business Adventures' by John Brooks.  
  • 'Life is What You Make It' by Peter Buffett.
  • 'Tap Dancing to Work' by Carol Loomis.  
  • 'Awakening Joy' by James Baraz.    
  • 'Moonwalking with Einstein' by Joshua Foer.
  • 'Where Good Ideas Come From' by Steven Johnson.

Q: Which are the top business books for sales?

Ans:

  • 'The Lost Art of Closing' by Anthony Iannarino
  • 'The Sales Acceleration Formula' by Mark Roberge
  • 'The Sales Enablement Playbook' by Cory Bray and Hilmon Sorey
  • 'Combo Prospecting' by Tony Hughes
  • 'The Sales Development Playbook' by Trish Bertuzzi
  • 'The Science of Selling' by David Hoffeld
  • 'To Sell Is Human' by Daniel H. Pink
  • 'Little Red Book of Selling' by Jeffrey Gitomer

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Disclaimer :
The information, product and services provided on this website are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis without any warranty or representation, express or implied. Khatabook Blogs are meant purely for educational discussion of financial products and services. Khatabook does not make a guarantee that the service will meet your requirements, or that it will be uninterrupted, timely and secure, and that errors, if any, will be corrected. The material and information contained herein is for general information purposes only. Consult a professional before relying on the information to make any legal, financial or business decisions. Use this information strictly at your own risk. Khatabook will not be liable for any false, inaccurate or incomplete information present on the website. Although every effort is made to ensure that the information contained in this website is updated, relevant and accurate, Khatabook makes no guarantees about the completeness, reliability, accuracy, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, product, services or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Khatabook will not be liable for the website being temporarily unavailable, due to any technical issues or otherwise, beyond its control and for any loss or damage suffered as a result of the use of or access to, or inability to use or access to this website whatsoever.