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There’s something about the intense experience of building a startup that can be hard to explain…unless you write it down in a book.
Over the years, hundreds of entrepreneurs have put pen to paper, explaining their lessons, mistakes and insights into starting a business from scratch. These books have not just acted as inspiration for interested readers, but also as time capsules for those stories that have changed the startup world.
Who Are Some Of The World’s Most Successful Startup Founders?
Some of the products and companies that have changed the way we live and work were started by founders with big aspirations.
Some of the most famous include:
Steve Jobs, Co-Founder of Apple – the man who not only helped create one of the biggest tech companies in the world, but also saved Pixar Animation from shutting shown.
Elon Musk, Founder of SpaceX, CEO of Tesla and X – Elon Musk is undoubtedly one of the most innovative entrepreneurs of our time. He has led the charge in private space exploration and driverless technology, solidifying his place in the history books.
Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group – Richard Brandson founded the Virgin Group, which now includes over 400 companies. Having started with just Virgin Records, he has grown the group into a multi-million pound business and worldwide household name.
Reed Hastings, Founder of Netflix – Once just a video rental company, Netflix has grown into household name and one of the world’s most successful startups. Valued at over $300 billion, the company has changed how we consume video content forever.
What Are The Best Books Written By Startup Founders?
Here, we look at the best books written by startup founders that will help inspire your inner innovator.
Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
Phil Knight, the co-founder of Nike, talks about his journey building one of the world’s most iconic brands.
The book shares the struggles and setbacks he faced along the way, as well as the ideas and beliefs that turned his company into one of the world’s biggest brand names.
Download the book here.
Zero to One by Peter Thiel
Peter Thiel, the co-founder of PayPal and early investor in Facebook, talks about how to build companies that create new things. His ideology is all about how the best businesses don’t compete, but completely create new categories.
This is a great book for anyone who wants to build a business that challenges convention.
Download the book here.
Founders at Work by Jessica Livingston
Having seen thousands of business ideas land on her desk, Jessica Livingston, co-founder of Y Combinator, wrote a book that features interviews with some of the world’s most famous startup founders.
Founders like Steve Wozniak (Apple), Caterina Fake (Flickr), Mitch Kapor (Lotus), Max Levchin (PayPal) and Sabeer Bhatia (Hotmail) talk about the ideas and events that led to their success.
Download the book here.
Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
Sheryl Sandberg, though not technically a founder, is the COO of Facebook. Her book talks about her experience of a career in a male-dominated sector, bringing to light wider conversations about leadership and gender equality.
The book has been hailed as a great story for women in business, but also provides interesting insights for anyone looking to succeed in the world of business.
Download the book here.
The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz
The hard thing about hard things is known for being a brutally honest tale about the trials and tribulations of starting a business. No sugarcoating here—just brutal truth from a legendary Silicon Valley CEO.
Ben Horowitz, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz and former CEO of Opsware, talks candidly about what founders go through when things go wrong. The book is a great one for anyone looking for a realistic insight into what running a business takes.
Download the book here.
That Will Never Work by Marc Randolph
Marc Randolph, co-founder and first CEO of Netflix, shares early story of Netflix his book That Will Never Work.
Netflix is now a household name, but Randolph talks about the journey to getting it there, showing how they pivoted from mailing DVDs into a streaming service.
The book is great for anyone looking to learn about the power of adaptability and creativity in business.
Download the book here.
Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh
Company leaders regularly focus on the bottom line, but in Delivering Happiness, Tony Hsieh, the late CEO of Zappos, talks about the value of company culture.
For Hsieh, the happiness of his employees and customers was at the centre of Zappos’ growth. He talks about the importance of company culture and customer experiences, and how it can lead to incredible growth.
Download the book here.
