No Really…These Might Be The Best Books for Startup Founders
Every few years, another “best book for startup founders” emerges, making it difficult to keep track of which ones truly stand the test of time. Curious how the old guard stacks up to the new, I reviewed a dozen current blogs and videos claiming to list the best books for startup founders—and the results were fascinating.
I found 100 unique books in total, yet almost universally, the startup ecosystem agreed on these top four:
🔹 The Lean Startup by Eric Ries (92% of lists)
🔸 Zero to One by Peter Thiel (83% of lists)
🔹 The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz (75% of lists)
🔸 The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick (67% of lists)
Rounding out the top seven, these books appeared on 50% of the lists:
🔹 Founders at Work by Jessica Livingston
🔸 The Startup Owner’s Manual by Steve Blank & Bob Dorf
🔹 Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey A. Moore
In the process I realized something important: not all startup books serve the same purpose.
The Right Startup Book depends on What You Want Out of It!
Before picking up a book, founders should consider what they actually need/want. Some books offer general knowledge, others provide inspiration and entertainment, but only a few serve as true how-to guides with practical advice.
To help navigate this, I’ve structured startup books into four key categories:
1. Methodology & Frameworks (How-To Guides)
These books provide actionable strategies for building and scaling startups. They focus on lean methodologies, product-market fit, and execution tactics.
📖 The Lean Startup – Eric Ries 📖 The Startup Owner’s Manual – Steve Blank & Bob Dorf 📖 Crossing the Chasm – Geoffrey A. Moore 📖 The Mom Test – Rob Fitzpatrick
2. Founder Stories & Lessons (Experience-Based Insights)
These books share real-world experiences from successful entrepreneurs, offering lessons on leadership, resilience, and decision-making.
📖 The Hard Thing About Hard Things – Ben Horowitz 📖 Founders at Work – Jessica Livingston 📖 Shoe Dog – Phil Knight 📖 The Everything Store – Brad Stone
3. Big-Picture Thinking & Market Disruption (Vision & Strategy)
These books help founders think differently, challenge conventional wisdom, and identify opportunities for innovation.
📖 Zero to One – Peter Thiel 📖 The Innovator’s Dilemma – Clayton Christensen 📖 Blue Ocean Strategy – W. Chan Kim & Renée Mauborgne 📖 Measure What Matters – John Doerr
4. Startup Culture & Leadership (People & Growth)
These books focus on team-building, company culture, and leadership strategies for scaling a startup effectively.
📖 Radical Candor – Kim Scott 📖 The Culture Code – Daniel Coyle 📖 High Output Management – Andy Grove 📖 No Rules Rules – Reed Hastings & Erin Meyer
Final Thoughts: Read with Purpose
Startup books are not one-size-fits-all. Some are practical guides, others are inspirational stories, and a few are deep dives into market strategy.
Before picking up a book, ask yourself:
Do I need tactical advice or broad inspiration?
Am I looking for execution strategies or leadership insights?
Do I want to refine my startup’s methodology or rethink my vision?
Because the best book for you depends on what you need right now.