Top Books for Entrepreneurs: Part One

As I have mentioned in previous entries, in my many conversations with successful entrepreneurs over the years, the one trait that seems to be shared by all is that they read books; lots of books.

So while I eventually intend to do a proper review of each of the following books individually, I would like to share what I believe are the top books that every entrepreneur or aspiring entrepreneur should read.

Four Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss: If I had to spend one year on a deserted island and only had one business book, this is the one that I would take. It blew my mind when it came out, mainly because it introduced a new way of doing business in a way that I could understand. It reinforced the idea that good businesses do not need huge offices and introduced me to the idea of testing. If you haven’t read this book, do it now.

If at First You Don’t Succeed…: The Eight Patterns of Highly Effective Entrepreneurs by Brent Bowers: I won’t spend a lot of time on this book because I reviewed it last week, but I will say here that it is terrific and should be considered mandatory reading for any entrepreneur.

Your Portable Empire: How to Make Money Anywhere While Doing What You Love by Pat O’Bryan: First, I need to start by saying that I find Pat O’Bryan a bit smarmy and think the same is doubly true for his mentor, Joe Vitale. Also, this book is now a bit dated. That said, it brilliantly lays out a step-by-step process for building a new email list and providing value through email marketing. Ignore the Joe Vitale references and buy this book.

Free by Chris Anderson: Here’s the deal: the more value you provide, the more people will want to purchase your products and services. This book is brilliant because it introduces the idea of giving value away to a large group of potential customers for bigger returns.

All Marketers are Liars by Seth Godin: I like all of Seth Godin’s books, but I don’t exactly know why. They are all good, short, and packed with content. But unlike other business books, for which I can point out nuggets of value that I have gained, Seth Godin’s books just work because he’s a smart dude. He’s written a lot and all of his books blend together for me, but this one is my favorite.

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