Regardless of your niche, learning something new is essential if you want to keep up with the latest trends in your market and innovate. 

In the digital world, knowledge is key. It’s a very competitive environment and if you have a business or if you want to start one, it’s essential to keep learning. 

The problem is, there are too many books for entrepreneurs out there. To help you in your journey to acquire more knowledge, we’ve carefully curated a list with must-read books. 

Take your pick from the books for entrepreneurs and get inspired! 

1. Obvious Adams: The story of a successful businessman – Robert R. Updegraff

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Although it was first published in 1916, Obvious Adams is still very relevant.

It tells the story of an advertising executive who uses objectivity to solve everyday problems that other people are unable to solve.

We have chosen it as one of the books for entrepreneurs on our list because we often seek innovative and complex solutions to something routine in our companies. 

What Obvious Adams teaches us is that things don’t need to be complicated, and that the answer you’re looking for may lie in something much simpler than you thought.

2. Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration – Ed Catmull

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Based on movies such as Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and Monsters, Inc., Ed Catmull’s book shows the formula for success that has made many people love these productions.

Creativity, Inc. tells the entire Pixar trajectory from the perspective of one of its founders.

We recommend this book for entrepreneurs because many insights for those who are building a company and want to maintain the essence of their business.

Ed Catmull talks about meetings with Pixar teams and building the company’s culture based on creativity. It’s an inspiration for those who are just starting out and for those who wish to improve their company’s business environment.

3. Be our guest. Perfecting the Art of Customer Service – Disney Institute

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If you want to learn how the magic behind Disney works, and what has made it one of the biggest companies in the world, Perfecting the Art of Customer Service is the book for you.

The book is based on Walt Disney’s ideals and vision and has powerful insights for those looking for ways to motivate their employees.

In addition, this is one of the books for entrepreneurs that will teach you a few leadership behaviors, customer loyalty, management, service, and creativity for you to implement every day in your business.

4. The Hard Thing About Hard Things – Ben Horowitz

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As the name implies, this is a book on entrepreneurship for those who want to learn how to build a business even when there are no ready answers.

Despite being the desire of many people, we know that starting a business and managing several employees is not easy.

In his book, Ben Horowitz, one of Silicon Valley’s most well-known and respected entrepreneurs, tells us how he got his start and how he managed and invested in his own company, Andressen Horowitz, and other tech companies.

The book also discusses controversial topics such as firing friends and selling companies.

Like Horowitz points out, building your own business is no easy task. But here at Hotmart, we offer not only valuable content, but also features tailored-made for creators. Check it out: 

 

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5. Grow to Greatness: smart growth for entrepreneurial businesses – Edward D. Hess 

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We couldn’t leave Grow to greatness out of our list of books for entrepreneurs mainly because of how it discusses the topic.

Edward Hess talks about a challenge — which is often unexpected — faced by entrepreneurs who invest in a business: how to successfully grow their company.

Besides presenting the entrepreneur’s top 10 challenges, Hess also provides possible solutions for each of them. 

Grow to greatness is your chance to better understand the right time to expand your business and how to manage its growth.

6. Zero to one: notes on startups, or how to build the future – Peter Thiel

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There’s nothing better than learning about a certain subject from someone who’s an expert in that field, right?

If you’re thinking about creating a business or already own one, you need to check out the insights from Peter Thiel, PayPal cofounder, about the future of the market.

In Zero to One, the author talks about monopolies and the importance of creating something that has never been done before.

As the book talks about innovation, Peter Thiel does not promise an easy path for success. 

Instead, he opens a discussion to teach you to question yourself and, be able to find answers and value in unexpected places.   

7. The Servant: a simple story about the true essence of leadership – James C. Hunter

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Although the book was originally published in 1998, the story behind The Servant is still quite relevant.

The book tells the story of John Daily, a man who is successful at his job but a failure as a husband, father, and boss.

To regain control of the situation, the businessperson decides to go to a retreat on leadership.

Among the topics covered in the classes given at this retreat are:

• The difference between authority and power.
• The concept and models of leadership.
• How to amaze your customers and turn them into your allies.
• How to improve your relationship with others, and pave the way for lasting success.

8. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen R. Covey

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Forbes considered The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People one of the most influential business books of the 20th century. 

We are confident that this is one of the big reasons why it’s one of the books for entrepreneurs you need to read. 

But, besides this, themes such as the balance to solve difficult situations, be it in the family, affective, or professional sphere, make this book a must-read for those who wish to overcome challenges.

With the 7 habits suggested by Stephen Covey, he believes it’s possible to change not only yourself but also other people and organizations around the world.

9. Invisible Influence: The Hidden Forces that Shape Behavior – Jonah Berger

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Jonah Berger believes it’s possible to use our power of influence to succeed in business.

In Invisible Influence, Berger shows how the small choices we make, for example, what we eat for lunch, all the way up to more difficult decisions, such as an investment in the stock market, may have been made because of the behavior of other people around us.

This doesn’t mean that we’re should mimic what others do, but there’s a subtle influence behind all of our individual choices.

10. The Startup Owner’s Manual: – Steve Blank and Bob Dorf

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As the name implies, this is a step-by-step manual for building a great company.

For Steve Blank and Bob Dorf, merely creating a company and hoping it works out isn’t enough. Entrepreneurs need to go where their potential customers are to understand their needs and create products that have great sales potential.

11. The Power of Habit: why we do what we do in life and in business – Charles Duhigg

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Charles Duhigg shows that with small habit changes, it’s possible to improve your productivity, financial life and even increase your happiness.

In The Power of Habit, you’ll learn how to contribute to your own success by correcting some of your attitudes at the right time.

Duhigg also shares the story of important figures, such as Martin Luther King, Michael Phelps, and Howard Schultz (CEO of Starbucks) to prove his point.  

12. How to Win Friends & Influence People – Dale Carnegie 

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Everyone needs to set goals to be achieved in both professional and personal life. 

Setting these goals isn’t an easy task, but especially when we think about our careers, it is something that can be done. 

However, what do you do with your goals once you set them? 

In How to Win Friends & Influence People, you will learn methods and techniques that can help you achieve what you have set out to do. 

In addition, Dale Carnegie provides important information that shows what you can do to be remembered positively by other people. 

13. Elon Musk: How The Billionaire Ceo Of Spacex And Tesla Is Shaping Our Future – Ashlee Vance

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If you’re an entrepreneur, you’ve definitely heard of Elon Musk. 

From Tesla Motors’ luxury electric cars to SpaceX’s space rockets, Musk’s business trajectory is a success story that everyone should read about.

In this biography, Ashlee Vance tells a little more about the life and achievements of the man considered one of the boldest in Silicon Valley.

Did you enjoy these tips of books for entrepreneurs?

If you’re just starting your own business, we recommend you check out Hotmart’s YouTube channel to get valuable insights just like this: 

VIDEO: 7 TIPS FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO START A BUSINESS BY THEMSELVES | Hotmart Tips