The best 63 Start-Ups books

Rework (2010) throws out the traditional notions of what it takes to run a business and offers a collection of unorthodox advice, ranging from productivity to communication and product development.

These lessons are based on the authors’ own experiences in building, running and growing their company to a point where it generates millions of dollars in profits annually.

• Anyone who has ever considered starting their own company
• Anyone interested in what work should be like in the 21st century
• Anyone trying to create an environment of productivity

The Art of the Start offers a brief overview of some of the key aspects of starting and running a business. It covers topics such as pitching for funding, recruiting the right people, and building a successful brand.

• Entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs
• Anyone who works for a start-up or small company

The Lean Startup (2011) helps start-ups and tech companies develop sustainable business models. It advocates continuous rapid prototyping and focusing on customer-feedback data.

The method is based on the concepts of lean manufacturing and agile development, and its efficacy is backed up by case studies from the last few decades.

• Anyone interested in entrepreneurship and/or in starting their own company
• Anyone interested in quick product development and testing
• Founders, managers and employees in tech companies

The Start-Up of You (2012) is a guide to how you can leverage strategies used by start-ups in your own career: being adaptable, building relationships and pursuing breakout opportunities.

In a world where entire industries are being ravaged by global competition and traditional career paths are fast becoming dead-ends, everyone needs to hustle like an entrepreneur.

• Anyone who wants to understand what the right career is for them and how to achieve it
• Professionals who are considering a career or industry change
• Professionals who want to leverage their network more effectively

The $100 Startup is a guide for people who want to leave their nine-to-five jobs to start their own business. Drawing from case studies of 50 entrepreneurs who have started microbusinesses with $100 or less, Guillebeau gives advice and tools on how to successfully define and sell a product, as well as how to grow your business from there.

• Anyone who has ever thought of starting their own company
• Anyone interested in successful small-business ideas
• Anyone who wants to grow their microbusiness and increase their income

One Simple Idea (2015) argues that it takes only passion and one simple, marketable idea to start your own business. The book shows how building long-term partnerships with your manufacturers and vendors can help your business run smoothly, and how catering to your customers' needs and desires helps you sell your product on the market. In short, One Simple Idea gives concrete, firsthand advice for anyone who wants to get their one simple idea off the page and out into the world.

• Anyone who has a simple idea for a new product and wants to bring it to market                       
• Entrepreneurs who want to start a small product-based business    
• Anyone interested in entrepreneurship and creating their own business

Hatching Twitter tells the story of the four men responsible for Twitter as we know it. It’s a tale of backstabbing, superstar glory and billions of dollars that chronicles the drama and defining decisions that made Twitter what it is today.

• Anyone who uses Twitter
• Anyone who is interested in Twitter’s impact and origins
• Anyone who works in a start-up
• Anyone interested in the dangers of mixing business and friendship

Smart People Should Build Things explores the dangerous consequences of top students’ career choices in the United States, and offers practical solutions to reset the country’s course toward prosperity by encouraging students to adopt an entrepreneurial attitude. Along the way, the author provides solid advice for budding entrepreneurs on their first adventure into business.

• Anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit
• Anyone who wants to initiate positive change in the US economy
• Anyone with no idea about which career path to choose

Make Your Mark features the wisdom and tips of 21 of the most successful entrepreneurs and creatives of the last few years. These artists, coders, developers and writers share the secrets and ideas that have helped them take their respective markets by storm.

• People working in the creative industry
• Anyone looking to turn their creative skills into a business
• Leaders, managers and CEOs

The Founder’s Dilemmas (2013) reveals exactly what it takes to become the founder of a start-up company. Drawn from the author’s research and case studies, this step-by-step guide will help you navigate the rough waters of your company’s early stages.

• Budding entrepreneurs ready to start a new business
• Experienced business owners ready for a new challenge
• Investors looking for advice on evaluating start-up companies

The Startup-Playbook (2012) gives you business-building tips straight from the founders of some of the world’s biggest start-ups. By conducting interviews with the founders of companies like LinkedIn and Spanx, the author uncovers what you need to do to make it big.

• Current and aspiring start-up founders
• People interested in running a successful business

How to Start a Start-up (2015) is a practical guide to founding your own company. From pitching for funding to hiring employees, these blinks offer tips, strategies and insights about the first steps a start-up should take to forge a path toward solid, sustainable growth.

• Budding entrepreneurs
• Business students thinking about their options after completing their degree
• Anyone interested in what goes on behind the scenes at start-ups

Do More Faster (2011) presents a step-by-step guide to launching your start-up. It’s crucial to stay on track as you move toward success, from honing your ideas to finding the right team and getting investors. The author also stresses the importance of the work-life balance while showing you how to do more faster.

• Aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners
• Anyone interested in start-up culture

Business Execution for Results (2013) is a guide to building a better business. These blinks offer a practical plan for setting appropriate goals and performing the necessary analyses to create a winning business strategy that will lead your company straight to the top.

• Business owners and new entrepreneurs
• Leaders and executives in small to mid-sized companies

The Worst Business Model in the World (2018) takes a look at a business model that seems like a nightmare on paper but works like a dream in the real world. Traditionalists might call it anarchic but, as the go-getters putting it into practice know, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of creative chaos, especially if it helps you do more of what you love and less of what you hate.

• Entrepreneurs or people thinking about becoming one
• Start-up enthusiasts
• Freelancers

Lost and Founder (2018) is a hands-on guide to getting your startup off the ground. Written by the founder of a company that’s already made it and packed with cheat codes and hacks, this is the ultimate insider’s playbook of strategies and tactics for struggling founders and would-be innovators.

• Aspiring startup founders
• Entrepreneurs looking for insider tips
• Anyone fascinated by the world of business

Dear Founder (2018) is a comprehensive introduction to the basics of setting yourself up in business and founding a kick-ass startup. Packed full of handy tips and actionable advice from seasoned industry pros, these blinks will prepare you to both preempt and overcome everyday obstacles on your way to the top.

• Entrepreneurs
• Leaders
• Mentors and coaches

Founded After 40 (2017) examines the opportunities and challenges that present themselves to the later-life entrepreneur. Packed with practical advice and illuminating examples, these blinks are an essential guide to starting a thriving business at any age. 

• Mid-lifers seeking new horizons
• New entrepreneurs looking for advice
• Small-business owners wanting a fresh perspective

Simple Tips, Smart Ideas (2019) is a guide for small businesses that delivers on the promise of its title. Erica Wolfe-Murray distills cutting-edge industry knowledge on business growth, savvy marketing, and sustainable innovation into a range of easy-to-follow tips and ideas, all geared toward businesses that skew more boutique than behemoth. 

• Small business owners in need of a boost
• Employees dreaming of creating their own start-up
• Anyone who wants to turn a profit from their side-hustle

The Unfair Advantage (2020) demonstrates how we all have something that can catapult us to success.  Drawing on their extensive experience in the start-up world, co-authors Ash Ali and Hasan Kubba break down various personal advantages and how they can be leveraged for the benefit of your business.   Wherever you are on your start-up journey, The Unfair Advantage will help you identify what gives you the upper hand and how you can immediately start making it work for you.

• Aspiring founders who want to build their start-ups on solid groundwork
• Early-stage entrepreneurs grappling with challenges, from finding that big idea to funding their start-up
• Anyone looking to glean the secrets to a successful start-up

No Rules Rules (2020) sets out the principles of Netflix’s unique company culture, based on employee freedom and responsibility, and optimized for maximum innovation. In doing so, it charts the incredible journey of Netflix, a start-up fairytale.

• Anyone who works at a start-up
• Fans of the film The Social Network
• Those who are wary of Silicon Valley’s increasing dominance

UX for Lean Startups (2013) provides an innovative, cost-effective approach to researching and designing products and services. Geared toward start-ups and companies that want to act like them, it shows that you can provide your customers with an excellent user experience while keeping your time and money expenditures as lean as possible.

• Entrepreneurs
• Product designers, managers, and engineers
• Start-up workers and founders

Startup Seed Funding for the Rest of Us (2015) provides insight into how to secure investors for your new business, even if you’re located outside a major start-up community. Its practical advice will explain how to make your business more attractive to investors and how to build the relationships you need to secure start-up capital.

• Start-up founders looking for investors
• Entrepreneurs working outside a major start-up community
• Innovators wanting to commercialize a product

Resilient (2021) is an intimate account of entrepreneur Sevetri Wilson’s journey from self-funding her first company to securing ongoing capital for her second. It provides early-stage founders insight into every step of building a business – from initial concept to securing the finances needed to scale.

• Aspiring entrepreneurs
• Innovators looking to turn their ideas into marketable solutions
• Startup founders who need to raise capital

The Innovation Stack (2020) explores what it takes to be a true entrepreneur – that is, to find a problem no one else has solved, and do everything you can to solve it. It reveals how two friends built a billion-dollar financial-services company from the ground up through courage, ingenuity, and a touch of humor. 

• Would-be entrepreneurs looking to build their first company
• Established entrepreneurs seeking fresh inspiration
• Anyone interested in the evolution of a multibillion-dollar company

The Cult of We (2021) tells the story of how the office-space company WeWork became the world’s most valued startup – only to come crashing down a few years later. Written by the reporters who broke the story of WeWork’s disastrous downfall in 2019, it explores WeWork's trajectory through a journalistic and financial lens, demonstrating how the most prominent investors in the world were blinded to the company’s risks for nearly a decade.

• People interested in economics
• Startup and entrepreneurship enthusiasts
• Anyone curious about startup financing

Scale for Success (2021) is a guide to turning your small business into a far bigger and more successful enterprise than it is today. From crowdfunding to job descriptions, it covers the ins and outs – and highs and lows – of scaling up any firm.

• Entrepreneurs trying to break into the big league
• Anyone working at a small business or early-stage start-up
• Veteran businesspeople interested in mentoring small business owners

How to Avoid a Climate Disaster (2021) is a guidebook to getting the world to an important milestone: zero greenhouse gas emissions. Bill Gates shares the knowledge he’s gained through his role on international climate commissions and as a go-to source of funding for climate solution startups. He pinpoints the ideas that show the most promise and explains the work that still needs to be done. 

• Anyone concerned about climate change
• Investors interested in new funding opportunities
• Business leaders looking for ways to help

Testing Business Ideas (2021) explores how entrepreneurs can use experimentation to give their new venture the best chance of success. It outlines the rationale behind testing, and describes a framework for deciding how to proceed. 

• Anyone working at a small company or start-up
• Entrepreneurs hoping to turn their big idea into a profitable venture 
• Business students looking for fresh insights

Masters of Scale (2021) is part fascinating anecdote, part how-to guide for entrepreneurs who are preparing to launch their product or scale up their company. With case studies and stories behind some of the world’s biggest companies, it isolates the principles behind successfully scaling up.

• Serial entrepreneurs
• Investors looking to scale a startup
• Executives seeking to grow their companies

Why Startups Fail (2021) identifies six core reasons why startups fail. It presents a framework for analyzing startup failure that explores how different aspects of a business work together. Entrepreneurs can use this framework to evaluate the health of their own ventures. 

• Founders of early-stage startups
• Entrepreneurs looking to scale their companies successfully
• Innovators who’ve failed to get their project off the ground

Self-Made Boss (2022) is a practical starter kit for anyone looking to start a small business. It’s packed with advice and case studies looking at small businesses from across the United States, with step-by-step instructions for turning your great idea into a successful business. 

• Small business owners
• Aspiring entrepreneurs
• Anyone curious about how brands are built from the ground up

Disrupt You! (2015) is an entrepreneur’s guide to driving innovation and impact. It draws on some of the biggest success stories in business and offers actionable tips for solving real-world problems and finding opportunity in failure. 

• Entrepreneurs seeking to drive disruption
• Optimists who want to find opportunity in failure
• Anyone who looks at successful start-ups and asks, “What’s their secret?”

Build (2022) is a self-styled “mentor in a box” –⁠ an encyclopedia of business advice about everything from getting a job and managing a team to telling a story around your product and being a successful CEO. A mentor is an absolute must-have for anyone who aspires to start and run a business –⁠ but not everyone has one available right away. That’s what Build is for.

• New graduates who aspire to found their own businesses
• CEOs thinking about quitting and starting something new
• Anyone who wants to see their idea for a product, service, or company come to fruition

The Innovator’s Dilemma explains why so many well-established companies fail dismally when faced with the emerging markets they create. This Blink focuses on one of the book’s central themes: disruptive innovation.

• Anyone interested in why big companies are so vulnerable to disruptive technologies
• Business executives
• Anyone who wants to take advantage of technological innovations

From Start-Up to Grown-Up (2021) is a guide for founders and CEOs of start-ups that are on the way to scaling up. Combining the author’s award-winning coaching practices with collected insights from notable founders and CEOs, it outlines the leadership skills you need to grow alongside your business.

• Start-up founders
• New CEOs and managers
• People interested in boosting their leadership skills

Burn Rate (2022) is the no-holds-barred story of Andy Dunn, cofounder of menswear startup Bonobos, and his struggles with bipolar disorder. Long in denial about his diagnosis, Dunn eventually faced up to the condition – but not before it had nearly cost him everything.

• People interested in mental health
• Startup aficionados
• Memoir lovers

Zero to One (2014) offers advice to start-up founders. It shows how to establish a monopoly by creating proprietary technology, a strong brand, scalable products, and by using network effects.

• Current and potential start-up founders
• Anyone interested in why certain start-ups succeed and others fail
• Investors

The Pumpkin Plan (2012) presents a simple yet powerful strategy to help you grow your business and stand out in any industry. Through real-life examples and practical tips, you’ll learn how to identify and focus on your most profitable clients, streamline your operations, and create a company culture that fuels growth.

• Owners of small businesses looking to grow
• Entrepreneurs seeking sustainable success
• Startup founders needing a roadmap

Two Weeks Notice (2023) is your step-by-step guide to launching a successful online business. It provides you with the tools and tricks you need to become your own boss – and gain the creative and financial freedom to live your best life. 

• Newly minted online entrepreneurs and established business owners
• Courageous women who are ready to be their own boss
• Anyone fantasizing about ditching their 9-to-5 

Traffic Secrets (2023) reveals an explosive truth: your dream customers are primed and ready. Learn how to analyze your target audience, locate their hotspots, and capture them with evergreen growth-hacking strategies. This game-changing guide unveils precise techniques for driving consistent traffic to your funnels, laying the foundation for unstoppable online growth.

• Starving startups
• E-commerce entrepreneurs
• Online course creators

Third Shift Entrepreneur (2021) offers an effective mindset and strategies for starting or growing your business – without having to quit your day job. It weaves key observations throughout a fictional narrative about a group of entrepreneurs, then breaks out these points for closer examination with examples from real-world startup scenarios.

• Anyone interested in starting a side hustle
• People struggling to launch their business 
• Small business owners looking to take their company to the next level

Innovation in Real Places (2021) argues that the prevailing Silicon Valley model of growth creation has failed most cities and regions. Rather than chasing the chimera of becoming the next tech hub, communities should focus on identifying their niche in the global production process and fostering innovation based on their existing strengths. 

• Anyone interested in learning more about innovation and sources
• People interested in economic development and entrepreneurship
• Citizens and policy makers wishing to advance policies promoting growth and prosperity in their region

The Young Entrepreneur (2022) unveils the heart of the entrepreneurial journey for the next generation. Merging audacity with actionable insights and world-shaping vision, it invites young minds to navigate the business maze, tap into resilience, and become the force of change our world craves.

• Aspiring young business visionaries
• Students exploring entrepreneurial pathways
• Innovators seeking impactful change

Ready, Fire, Aim (2007) reveals proven business-building methods for achieving success fast. It also shows how you can duplicate winning strategies across multiple lucrative ventures so you never have to rely on just one. Learn essential entrepreneurial skills and strategies to vastly improve any business endeavor while positioning yourself to enjoy financial freedom.

• Experienced and aspiring entrepreneurs
• Career professionals
• People working in sales or marketing

The Idea is the Easy Part (2023) offers a refreshing, no-nonsense guide to the entrepreneurial journey, countering common myths about startup success and failure. With insights from decades of firsthand experience, it’s an enthusiastic yet realistic manual for aspiring entrepreneurs, providing practical advice on making informed decisions at every stage of the startup process, from ideation to execution.

• Current and aspiring entrepreneurs
• Anyone wanting to sort the startup fact from fiction 
• People with big ideas that they want to become a reality

Read Write Own (2024) shows how blockchain can revive the democratic promise of the early internet. It examines the internet across three eras: the early democratic but read-only age of the web, the “read-write” age, centralized under corporate control, and now the "read-write-own" movement, occasionally termed web3, whereby blockchain networks empower user communities, not just big tech firms. With lucid prose and tech industry expertise, it provides historical context and an inspirational guidebook for a more open, equitable digital future.

• Tech enthusiasts eager to understand the next major wave of internet innovation
• Entrepreneurs and builders seeking new opportunities in web3 spaces.
• Advocates of decentralized systems and collaborative economies who want an empowered open web

Problem Hunting (2023) is a comprehensive guide for aspiring tech entrepreneurs, offering practical advice on every aspect of building a startup. It provides step-by-step instructions for finding product-market fit, developing products, marketing, assembling a team, and securing funding. Drawing on the experiences of successful tech companies, it serves as a valuable reference for navigating the complexities of launching and scaling a business.

• Aspiring tech entrepreneurs seeking practical startup advice
• Tech industry professionals interested in product development
• Investors and venture capitalists evaluating new startups

Building Your Money Machine with ChatGPT (2024) opens up new possibilities for online business using AI to streamline tasks and spark creativity. It shows you how ChatGPT can assist in automating your marketing, generating fresh ideas, and increasing productivity. This guide is your key to transforming AI into a valuable business partner.

• Small business owners seeking AI-driven marketing and productivity enhancements
• Freelancers looking to streamline tasks and boost creativity
• Entrepreneurs exploring innovative tools to grow their online presence

The Startup Lifecycle (2024) gives you a step-by-step roadmap for navigating each phase of your startup’s journey, from initial concept to profitable exit. Avoid common pitfalls and master proven strategies to accelerate growth, secure investments, and achieve lasting success. Perfect for entrepreneurs looking to make a real impact and scale their business effectively.

• Aspiring entrepreneurs seeking a clear roadmap to startup success
• Early-stage founders looking to scale their businesses effectively
• Investors interested in understanding the startup growth and exit process

High Growth Handbook (2018) reveals how to confidently lead through high-growth periods by shifting your focus from everyday tasks to big-picture strategy. You’ll learn to empower your team and make effective decisions that guide the organization forward. This guide helps you refine your leadership style and adapt as your company grows, ensuring you’re well-prepared for the challenges ahead.

• CEOs seeking to enhance their leadership skills
• Entrepreneurs interested in rapid business growth
• Board members aiming for effective company governance

The SaaS Playbook (2023) offers practical strategies for building and scaling a SaaS business without relying on venture capital. It covers essential topics like finding product-market fit, setting effective pricing, standing out in competitive markets, and avoiding common pitfalls. Designed for both developers and nontechnical entrepreneurs, it provides actionable steps to bootstrap and grow a successful software business.

• Aspiring entrepreneurs
• Software developers and founders
• Nontechnical entrepreneurs

Mastering the VC Game (2011) gives you an insider’s guide to navigating the high-stakes world of venture capital, from landing funding to building a partnership that works. You’ll learn how to craft a winning pitch, negotiate like a pro, and keep control of your vision while working with investors. Packed with real-world stories and actionable advice, it’s your playbook for turning a startup into a success story.

• Aspiring entrepreneurs seeking venture capital insights
• First-time founders navigating startup funding challenges
• MBA students exploring careers in venture capital

Smart Startups (2023) uncovers the strategies used to build major companies, direct from 18 Harvard Business School founders. This guide puts to rest the myth of the instant genius and easy investor wins. Instead, you’ll see how practical, even if unconventional, wisdom is needed to turn a great idea into a company that lasts.

• Aspiring entrepreneurs looking for tips
• Current founders seeking insights beyond your average business advice
• Anyone intrigued by how successful HBS founders truly build world-class companies

After the Idea (2025) offers guidance to startup founders who are just getting started. From product discovery to choosing the right cofounder, learn how you can set yourself up for success.

• Anyone with an idea for a startup
• People who are struggling with their startup
• Entrepreneurs looking for expert guidance

Impossible to Possible (2024) recounts the journey of Maruti from its modest beginnings to becoming India’s leading automobile company. It highlights how innovation, collaboration, and perseverance transformed daunting challenges into opportunities for growth. Beyond the auto industry, it draws lessons on leadership, policy, and nation-building.

• Ambitious business leaders seeking lessons in transformation
• Policymakers interested in industrial development strategies
• Anyone eager to learn from success stories

Gilded Rage (2025) exposes how tech billionaires like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel became radicalized members of the MAGA movement and, more importantly, why. It unravels the strategic machinations of Big Tech’s support for Trump and lays bare just how much both parties stand to gain from what was, to start with, the unlikeliest of alliances.

• Voters who want to know how their political choices are really being shaped
• Tech workers ready to reckon with the industry’s rightwing shift
• Anyone still making sense of the 2024 US election

Unstoppable Entrepreneurs (2025) outlines seven distinct paths to entrepreneurial success, drawn from the diverse stories of successful founders. It provides practical frameworks for launching a  business, introduces the key ingredients for entrepreneurial success and shares strategies for overcoming funding obstacles and navigating setbacks.

• Budding entrepreneurs with groundbreaking ideas
• Business owners looking to scale their enterprise
• Employees who want to drive innovation in their organizations

All In Startup (2014) is a hybrid business guide and novel: it follows Owen Chase, a founder with nine days to save his failing company and crumbling marriage, as he unexpectedly advances through the World Series of Poker and meets Sam, a mysterious venture capitalist who offers both revolutionary business advice and romantic temptation. Through their high-stakes journey in Las Vegas, Sam teaches Owen how  to de-risk his startup ideas, conduct proper validation, and push forward only when the odds favor success rather than acting on unproven assumptions.

• Aspiring entrepreneurs who want to test their ideas’ validity
• Struggling start-up founders ready to be coached to identify pain points
• Product managers who want better customer discovery frameworks

"MAKE: Electronics" by Charles Platt is a comprehensive guide that takes readers on a journey through the world of electronics. With clear explanations and hands-on experiments, the book teaches beginners how to create their own electronic projects. Covering topics such as basic components, circuitry, and microcontrollers, it is a must-read for anyone interested in learning about electronics.

• Anyone interested in getting started with electronics and DIY projects
• Students or hobbyists looking to build a strong foundation in electronics
• Professionals who want to expand their skills and knowledge in the field of electronics

Scaling Lean by Ash Maurya provides a practical guide for entrepreneurs and business leaders on how to apply lean principles to grow their startups and businesses. Maurya introduces a systematic approach to scaling that focuses on continuous innovation, validated learning, and a relentless focus on creating value for customers. Through real-world examples and actionable strategies, the book offers valuable insights for anyone looking to scale their business efficiently and sustainably.

• Entrepreneurs and startup founders looking to scale their businesses
• Business leaders seeking practical strategies for growth and innovation
• Individuals interested in applying lean principles to streamline and improve their organizations

Explosive Growth by Cliff Lerner is a captivating book that delves into the strategies and tactics behind the rapid expansion of successful startups. Drawing from his own experiences, Lerner provides valuable insights and practical advice for entrepreneurs looking to achieve explosive growth in their own ventures. Whether you're a seasoned business owner or just starting out, this book offers a wealth of knowledge to help propel your company to new heights.

• Entrepreneurs looking to accelerate the growth of their startup
• Business professionals seeking practical strategies for achieving rapid expansion
• Individuals interested in the behind-the-scenes stories of successful tech companies

The Startup Owner's Manual by Steve Blank and Bob Dorf is a comprehensive guide for entrepreneurs looking to build a successful startup. It provides practical advice and step-by-step instructions on how to develop a business model, validate your ideas, and effectively launch your product or service. Whether you're a first-time entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, this book offers valuable insights and strategies to help you navigate the challenges of starting and growing a business.

• Entrepreneurs who want to launch and grow a successful startup
• Startup founders and small business owners seeking practical guidance
• Individuals looking to validate their business idea and identify their target market