The Aspiring Entrepreneur's Reading List

by David Girault

As we get back into the routine of the academic year, I promised the E-Hall students that I’d kick off the E-blogosphere with a post listing a few books I feel are must-reads for every entrepreneur everywhere. To expand the list a bit, I asked my fellow Entrepreneurship faculty to throw in their suggestions. So, in no particular order, here’s the list of must-reads. Print this out, pin it to the wall above your desk, and check them off over the next 2, 3 or 4 years! Or even better, when you read one, write a book review blog post (and make $10)!

Jacob Gray, who teaches the capstone Entrepreneurship class recommends:

The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield – a different kind of self-help book, a guide to unlocking our creative side.

Zero to One, by Peter Thiel – Pay Pal founder wrote this as a summary of his thoughts following teaching entrepreneurship at Stanford.

Steve Patti, who teaches our Entrepreneurial Sales class suggests:

Selling the Invisible, by Harry Beckwith – a must read for anyone marketing & selling a service.

Treasure Hunt, by Michael Silverstien – for entrepreneurs seeking to market a premium product/brand to consumers.

The Challenger Sale, by Matt Dixon, Brent Adamson – revolutionary book on B2B selling and it’s my course textbook.

Michelle Mudge-Riley, my predecessor EIR, and developer of the new entrepreneurship course in the health field recommends:

Never Eat Alone, by Keith Ferrazi – Creating your own personal network is key to success as an entrepreneur, this breaks down some great tips to succeed at networking.

The Hard Thing About Hard Things, by Ben Horowitz – Sometimes entrepreneurship isn’t pretty; Horowitz shares advice and experiences for dealing with the not-so-easy parts.

Cole Wollak, the only Entrepreneurship alumnus on our faculty, and the instructor for the Entrepreneurial Planning & Strategies course adds:

Innovators Dilemma, Clayton M. Christensen – Thought provoking, data driven. A nice insight into the disruption of industries.

22 Immutable Laws of Marketing, Al Ries & Jack Trout – At 3 pages per chapter, this easy read highlights some good principles. Examples are dated but concepts are not.

And, lastly, my list:

Good to Great, by Jim Collins – a classic business book that looks at companies that made the breakout leap from “good” to “great.”

Start with Why, by Simon Sinek – a look at how highly successful individuals and groups work from purpose before product.

Talk Like Ted, by Carmine Gallo – everybody sells, Gallo breaks down how to be an effective speaker and presenter.

The E-Myth Revisited, by Michael Garber – another classic, this one updated and revised. Focus on distinguishing between knowing how to do what your business does, and how to work on your business.

Mastering the Rockefeller Habits, by Verne Harnish – A practical, step by step handbook for maintaining alignment and communication in a ultra-fast-growth company.

Venture Deals, by Feld & Mendelson – a guidebook for the novice to understand how venture capital investors think and function.

The Art of War, by Sun Tzu – yes, a 2,500 year old military treatise! Probably the ultimate book on strategic thinking.

Our Iceberg is Melting, by John Kotter – a quick easy read on change management.