This curated list highlights the most influential and practical books for aspiring and experienced entrepreneurs. Selections are based on Amazon bestsellers (4.5+ stars), industry awards (Axiom, FT Business Book Awards, Porchlight), and expert recommendations from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Forbes, Inc., and the New York Times. The list spans essential startup methodologies, leadership, scaling, AI integration, and exit strategies, emphasizing books with lasting impact and real-world application.
| Rank | Title | Author(s) | Key Topics Covered | Why It Fits Criteria |
| 1 | The Lean Startup | Eric Ries | Lean methodology, MVP testing, pivoting | Amazon #1 bestseller; 4.6/5 stars (50k+ reviews); influential modern classic. |
| 2 | Zero to One | Peter Thiel with Blake Masters | Innovation, monopoly building, unique value | 4.7/5 stars; award-nominated; foundational for startup visioning. |
| 3 | The E-Myth Revisited | Michael E. Gerber | Systems thinking, franchising mindset | Perennial bestseller; core entrepreneurship framework. |
| 4 | Start Your Own Business | Entrepreneur Media Staff | Business planning, funding, marketing basics | 2025 edition; comprehensive startup guide. |
| 5 | Rich Dad Poor Dad | Robert T. Kiyosaki | Financial mindset, asset building | Timeless bestseller; over 100k reviews; mindset cornerstone. |
| 6 | The Hard Thing About Hard Things | Ben Horowitz | Leadership in crises, scaling challenges | Candid insights from a top venture capitalist; 4.8/5 stars. |
| 7 | Atomic Habits | James Clear | Habit formation for productivity | Global #1 bestseller; 200k+ reviews; high relevance for founders. |
| 8 | Shoe Dog | Phil Knight | Bootstrapping, perseverance | Inspirational memoir; top-rated across entrepreneurship lists. |
| 9 | $100M Offers | Alex Hormozi | Sales funnels, offer creation | 4.8/5 stars; Amazon #1 in Entrepreneurship; highly actionable. |
| 10 | Extreme Ownership | Jocko Willink & Leif Babin | Accountability, team leadership | Navy SEAL-tested leadership principles; NYT bestseller. |
| 11 | Traction | Gino Wickman | EOS framework, operations | Practical system for scaling operations; 8k+ reviews. |
| 12 | Good to Great | Jim Collins | Level 5 leadership, hedgehog concept | Business classic; 20k+ reviews; deep organizational insight. |
| 13 | How to Win Friends and Influence People | Dale Carnegie | Networking, persuasion | Evergreen classic; over 100k reviews; essential communication guide. |
| 14 | The Making of a Manager | Julie Zhuo | First-time management | Modern, relatable management guide; 4.7/5 stars. |
| 15 | Measure What Matters | John Doerr | Goal-setting frameworks (OKRs) | 4.6/5 stars; adopted by major tech firms globally. |
| 16 | Originals | Adam Grant | Innovation, risk-taking | Psychological insights into creative leadership. |
| 17 | Start with Why | Simon Sinek | Purpose-driven business | Inspires brand alignment and leadership authenticity. |
| 18 | The Power of Habit | Charles Duhigg | Habit loops in organizations | Behavioral science applied to business culture. |
| 19 | Building a StoryBrand | Donald Miller | Marketing storytelling | Customer communication framework; 4.8/5 stars. |
| 20 | Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat. | Colin C. Campbell | Practical tips on starting, scaling and, exiting | 2025 Axiom Gold winner; 33 Global Awards. |
| 21 | Build the Damn Thing | Kathryn Finney | Inclusive entrepreneurship | Empowering, diverse founder perspectives; 4.7/5 stars. |
| 22 | Burn Rate | Andy Dunn | Mental health in startups | Raw and relatable founder memoir; 2025 award mention. |
| 23 | The 5 Types of Wealth | Sahil Bloom | Holistic wealth building | 2025 release; Amazon Editors’ Pick; 4.8/5 stars. |
| 24 | Competing in the Age of AI | Marco Iansiti & Karim R. Lakhani | AI strategy, leadership | Forward-looking and academically solid; 2025 recommendation. |
| 25 | High Growth Handbook | Elad Gil | Scaling startups | Definitive guide for hypergrowth; widely cited by founders. |
Compiled for educational and reference purposes. All ratings and rankings current as of October 2025.
This list was generated based on knowledge of popular and influential books in the “Starting a Business” category. Here’s is the methodology that was used:
- Bestseller Status: Books listed currently on Amazon in the category of “Starting a Business” only as bestsellers with positive reviews were considered.
- Impact: The list includes books that have influenced startup founders and have been recognized by book awards in 2024/2025
- Wide Range of Topics: The list included books that cover a wide range of topics with expertise.
- Author Recognition: Well-known authors like Eric Ries, Peter Thiel, and Michael E. Gerber have a significant following and are often cited and look at new authors published over the last few years to balance it out the list.
- Cross-Referencing: The list was cross-referenced with lists from other platforms, mentioned in business discussions to ensure a comprehensive yet focused selection.
- Reputation and Reviews: Books with a strong reputation for providing practical advice, insights, or foundational knowledge in entrepreneurship were favored.