Most business books are just noise.
They’re either written by people who got rich selling books—or they’re packed with fluffy advice you could find on a Pinterest quote board.
I’ve made that mistake too. Bought the hype, read the book, and got nothing useful.
But then I found a few that felt different. Books that were honest, practical, and written by people who actually built real businesses.
In this post, I’m sharing 10 powerful business books that real entrepreneurs swear by. No gurus. No upsells. Just solid advice from people who’ve done the work.
If you’ve been burned by bad books before, this list might surprise you.
Let’s dive in—starting with a classic that still holds up.
Table of Contents
10 Best Business Books From Entrepreneurs
Most business books aren’t written for entrepreneurs. They’re written to build a personal brand.
So when I came across a Reddit thread where actual founders were sharing the books that actually helped them, I paid attention.
If you’re tired of recycled advice, this list is for you.
Let’s get into the 10 business books real entrepreneurs actually recommend—and why.
1. The E-Myth Revisited – Michael E. Gerber
Why most small businesses fail (and how not to)
This one came up again and again.
The E-Myth breaks down why talented people fail at business—not because they’re lazy or dumb—but because they don’t understand systems.
One Redditor said it best:
“It’s SOPs that build the safety net that allows the business to scale.”
If you’re the kind of person who thinks “I’ll just do it all myself,” this book will change how you think.
2. Millionaire Fastlane – MJ DeMarco
Ignore the title—read it anyway
Don’t let the clickbait name fool you.
This book isn’t about getting rich overnight.
It’s about flipping the script on traditional career paths.
The author made his money before writing the book—selling a business, not dreams.
One user put it perfectly:
“It’s one of the few books that actually galvanized me to take action.”
If you’re feeling stuck in the “work-save-retire” hamster wheel, this one hits hard.
3. How to Win Friends & Influence People – Dale Carnegie
Still relevant almost 90 years later
Yes, it’s old.
Yes, the examples are dated.
And yes—it’s still insanely useful.
Every entrepreneur needs people skills. Whether you’re pitching investors, hiring a team, or talking to customers, this book is a masterclass in human behavior.
It teaches you how to:
- Be genuinely interested in others
- Make people feel heard
- Win cooperation instead of arguments
Simple ideas. Big impact.
4. How to Get Rich – Felix Dennis
Written by a billionaire who hated writing books
This one stood out because of the author’s blunt honesty.
Felix Dennis didn’t write books to make money—he was already filthy rich from publishing.
And he pulls no punches. He talks about:
- The sacrifices it takes to build serious wealth
- How hiring poorly can sink you
- The loneliness of success
It’s not motivational. It’s raw. That’s what makes it powerful.
5. Profit First – Mike Michalowicz
Because revenue doesn’t mean anything if you’re broke
Too many entrepreneurs focus on growth and ignore profitability.
Profit First flips the equation.
Instead of “Sales – Expenses = Profit”, the method is:
Sales – Profit = Expenses
It forces you to treat profit like a non-negotiable line item.
One Redditor mentioned this book helped them fix their cash flow within months.
If you’ve ever thought “I’m making money, but I’m always broke,” you’ll want this one on your shelf.
6. The Million Dollar Weekend – Noah Kagan
Build and launch in 48 hours
Noah’s book isn’t theory-heavy.
It’s hands-on. Practical. Actionable.
He walks you through launching a real product or business in one weekend—no fluff, no fluff funnels, just real steps.
Redditors praised it for:
- Concrete examples
- Free tools you can use
- A sense of urgency that pushes you to start now
And if you’ve got a Spotify Premium account, the audiobook’s free. That’s a win.
7. The Hard Thing About Hard Things – Ben Horowitz
The stuff no one tells you about running a business
This isn’t a “how to start a business” book.
It’s a “what to do when things go sideways” book.
Ben Horowitz, cofounder of Andreessen Horowitz, shares war stories from running startups through brutal times.
Expect chapters like:
- “When smart people are bad employees”
- “How to fire a loyal friend”
- “Take care of the people, the products, and the profits—in that order”
Not feel-good reading. But real.
8. Zero to One – Peter Thiel
Build something new, not better
If you’re trying to start a copy-paste business, skip this.
But if you want to think about creating something unique—this book delivers.
Peter Thiel, cofounder of PayPal, dives deep into:
- Why competition is overrated
- How monopolies win
- What to look for when building a startup that can’t be easily copied
It’s more philosophical than tactical—but it makes you rethink how business works.
9. The Lean Startup – Eric Ries
Build. Measure. Learn. Repeat.
The Lean Startup helped kick off the whole “build fast, learn fast” movement.
It’s all about validating your business idea before spending months (or years) building it.
Redditors say it’s especially good for:
- First-time founders
- Solo builders
- Anyone who tends to overthink before launching
If you’ve got perfectionist tendencies, this book will nudge you into action. You can read my review of the lean startup here.
10. The Almanack of Naval Ravikant – Eric Jorgenson
Not strictly a business book—but still essential
This one isn’t about building companies.
It’s about building you.
Naval is an angel investor and entrepreneur known for sharing wisdom on wealth, leverage, and happiness.
This book curates his ideas into short, thoughtful chunks on:
- Getting rich without luck
- Creating leverage through code and content
- Designing a life you don’t need a vacation from
You’ll want to re-read it often. It’s that kind of book.
A Final Thought: Read Less. Do More.
Business books aren’t magic.
They won’t build your startup.
They won’t fix your cash flow.
They won’t turn you into an overnight success.
But the right ones can give you a push.
A new lens. A useful framework.
Just don’t get stuck reading endlessly.
Pick one. Apply it.
Then come back for the next.
Pingback: 10 Raw Lessons From An Entrepreneur Who Lost A Co-founder