books about business, what business books to read

Entrepreneurs...Take Out Your Business Books

Do you make time to read business books? If you don't, you should. Reading is a great way to learn more about business. And if you don't want to take the time right now to go back to school, books about business are required reading!

Start putting together a business library for yourself. Like I said before, the books can be purchased used or new... it doesn't matter. The ideas and experience you gain from reading about business will help you over and over. It's important for both your business and personal success. Give yourself time to read every day. You'll find these business books on tape, dvd & CDs too! Trust me... invest in yourself now. Get the knowledge you need to be successful in your business. You won't be sorry!.

This page lists what I've read so far, and what I'm still working my way through. When I have time, I'll begin to write reviews about those book to share with you. Since some of them were read a few years ago, I'll have to reread them, but that's okay too!

Of course, my idea of a good business-related book may be way different than yours. What I like you- may hate, and vice versa. There's so many business books. If one I rave about sounds ghastly to you, read something else. But READ!

One of the ways I rate a book is how excited I get while I'm reading it. Some of these business books were a struggle just to get through. Honestly, I've quit reading a lot before I finished. Life is too short to read books you hate. But on the other hand, I've read some that I can hardly wait to finish so I can pass it along to someone else. Be sure to talk about and share your books with other entrepreneurs you know.

Books About Business Basics

Start your own business and hire yourself by Suzanne Caplan, copyright 2010. Just like the title claims, it's a how-to book with the stuff you need to know to start your own business. I liked this book and wrote a review about it.

Entrepreneurial Education

Multiple Streams Of Income, by Robert Allen. Also "The One Minute Millionaire" by Robert Allen & Mark Victor Hansen. I credit this book with my personal and business recovery! One reason my business died was because of my financial ignorance. Robert Allen offers many ideas about earning money without buying into the "9-5, go be an employee for minimum wage" mind-set. That was very encouraging and inspiring to this burned-out but hungry entrepreneur! Multiple Streams Of Income was the main business book that got me where I am right now. I wrote a review about this book. I got a lot out of it... you may too!

4-Hour Work Week, by Tim Ferriss. Mind-bending premise! I'm in! I especially like his 'it's more efficient to ask forgiveness later than to wait for permission now" concept. I gave away my copy (I found my copy of this book in a thrift store!) but will buy a new copy. I want to reread it when I get a chance!

How To License Your Million Dollar Idea, by Harvey Reese. He makes it sound so simple. This is a very well-written business book with lots of suggestions to help you succeed with your inventions. Anyone that would like to earn residual income should look into inventing.

Conversations With Millionaires, by Mike Litman and Jason Oman. Interview format, with many of my personal favorite authors. So much to think about here!

The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell Interesting premise. I liked this book, and will read the next one too. I think in terms of 'connectors' and 'mavens' now when I meet people. I put this book in this category because business owners need to be on their toes watching for the next big trend!

The Bootstrapper's Bible, by Seth Godin. Subtitled "How to start and build a business with a great idea and (almost) no money". This is another book I think should be required reading on your entrepreneur reading list. Here's my review of The Bootstrapper's Bible. I'm not sure if it's still in print, but look for it at your library or bookstore.

Marketing and Advertising

Gorilla Marketing series, by Jay Conrad Levinson. I Wish that I read any of these books BEFORE I'd opened my business! Lots of cheap and easy marketing ideas. Any of this series of business books should be on the small business owner's book shelf! Read my review of Guerrilla Business Secrets here.

Why People Buy, by Paco Underhill. Great book about the sociology of retailing. Anybody in sales, especially not online sales should read this book. Very interesting, it's a look into the mind of your customer. I'll never forget his example of the 'butt brush' that killed a sale!

Marketing Plans, by Dan Kennedy. I read it and found some of the information very useful as a companion to a business plan.

Experience The Message; how experiential marketing is changing the brand world, by Max Lenderman. Interesting book on modern marketing and brand management. Introducing the concept of 'experiential marketing', and touches on marketing on the social networking sites.

Self improvement

ANY Dale Carnegie, How to win friends and influence people, etc.

Think And Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill. I think this book is on everyones "must share with others" list. This is an absolute classic! It covers everything you need for business and personal growth. I'm going to reread it when I get a chance. That's high praise!

The Power Of Focus by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Les Hewitt. This book's subtitled "how to hit your business, personal and financial targets with absolute certainty. I liked this book and wrote a review about it. Click here to read it. This book's about setting and achieving goals... an area I'm working on.

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. Explore the laws of attraction and other ideas that you've probably heard people talking about. More than simply positive thinking. I bought into the premise, you may think it's nuts! See for yourself. I picked up the DVD, and just picked up The Secret for Teens for my 13 year old.
The Aladdin Factor, by Jack Canfield. I'm still reading this one. It's a good book but I keep getting distracted with other books. So I set it aside while I read them. But this book has an interesting concept... just asking for what you want. Deceptively simple.

Sales

How I Raised Myself From Failure To Success In Selling, by Frank Bettger. I thought this was an amazing business book, but I haven't read some of the modern classics yet. It's an older book that I found used at a thrift store.

Debt

The Richest Man In Babylon, by George Clason. This is another classic book that belongs in everyones business library. I loved this book about debt. It's written like a story, and very clearly makes his points about getting into and out of debt. If you've somehow wandered deep into debt and don't see a way out, this offers hope without hype! Find it. And read it. Seriously!

Finances

Rich Dad, Poor Dad, by Robert Kiowsaki. Now a classic business book, this is well written, and easy to understand. I identified with this book and his premise that financial education is badly lacking in the US. I'd recommend this book to anyone along with any of his other excellent books.

9 Steps To Financial Freedom, by Suze Orman. I read it... and she says all the correct things. But I don't like her 'tone of voice'. (Whoa, I sound like my dad!) I should give her a second chance, but life is too short to read authors you don't care for. There are so many books written about finances and money. Find an author you 'get along with', and read their books on the subject.

Wealth 101, by John-Roger and Peter McWilliams. Ways of thinking about money. Interesting read.

Network Marketing

Your First Year In Network Marketing, by Mark Yarnell & Rene Reid Yarnell. Lots of solid info about network marketing. Brian loved this MLM business book, I haven't finished it yet.

The Wave 2 by Richard Poe. Network marketing book.

Business School For People Who Like To Help People, by Robert Kiowsaki. Similar in tone to "Rich Dad Poor Dad", but deals directly with network marketing. Again, my husband loved it, but it was borrowed and had to be returned before I got to read it. I'll find it later and read it.

How to choose your perfect business.

How To Find The Work You Love, by Laurence G. Boldt. About finding work you love by focusing on integrity, service, enjoyment and excellence. I liked this business book very much... it was an easy read AND thought provoking. Great for someone like me who is at a fork in the road, trying to decide which way to go in business.

Secrets Of Six-Figure Women; surprising strategies to up your earnings and change your life, by Barbara Stanny. I just finished this one, and am already looking forward to sharing it with family members! An excellent book... full of examples of under-earners and why women have problems with earning the money they desire. I highly recommend this excellent business book. Click here for my review of Secrets Of Six-Figure Women

Making A Living Without A Job; winning ways for creating work that you love, by Barbara J. Winter. Copyright 1993, but it's hardly dated at all except that there's little mention of the internet. That's understandable. This business book is worth taking the time to find it.

Nichecraft, by Lynda C. Falkenstein. How to create your perfect biz. Honestly, I never finished it. I'll find it and give it another try.

Body Language, by Allan & Barbara Pease. Exhaustive and fascinating primer of how to communicate with body language. Hubby's loving it. Me... I thought it was interesting but had a bit too much science in it for my taste. This subject should be mandatory for anyone in sales.

How to Make People Like You (in 90 seconds or less), by Nicholas Boothman. Another body language, 'schmooze - ed.' book.

How To Work A Room, by Susan Roane. This business book could have been in the self-improvement section too. It's basic, useful business networking how-to's. Lots of info you'd think I'd have learned somewhere, but it was news to me. Like sex education, I think these people-oriented business/life skills are important. One way or another you'll use them all of your life, and they should be taught sometime during high school!

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