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This article showcases our top picks for the Business Books For Dummies. We reached out to industry leaders and experts who have contributed the suggestions within this article (they have been credited for their contributions below).
We are keen to hear your feedback on all of our content and our comment section is a moderated space to express your thoughts and feelings related (or not) to this article This list is in no particular order.
Personal Finance for Dummies, 9th Edition by Eric Tyson is an excellent finance book for those looking to enter the world of business and finance. This all-inclusive book includes a wellspring of financial insight on everything from budgeting and investing in mutual funds to understanding different types of insurance—newer topics include cryptocurrency, technology, and even millennial lifestyle changes. Personal Finance for Dummies provides pivotal information to make well-informed business investments.
This product was recommended by Michael Taylor from Shifting Shares
This book is easy-to-follow and really gives you a great foundation in what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. Mr. Ries’s concepts of lean and efficient capital, leveraging the creativity of yourself and employees, and shortening product development and release are all things we as entrepreneurs need to be thinking about. There are so many books out there that focus on the customer, and you don’t have sustainable business without maximizing your customers experience, but The Lean Startup shows reminds us of the fundamental efficiency you need to have as a foundation for building a long-lasting company.
The best business book I’ve ever read, and this one is on the top of several lists for a reason, is How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carneige. Business is really just a game of can you get people to trust and believe in you enough to give you their business or their money. There is no better book to help you become a better, more charismatic, communicator and business person than Dale Carneige’s seminal book. I make sure to read through it again every year or so to brush up on my person to person skills and it never fails to impress!
Good to Great by Jim Collins is a great business book to strengthen your entrepreneurial spirit. This book is not too complicated, introducing concepts like focusing on doing one thing better than anyone else. It can help you reframe your mindset to figure out what you are passionate about and how can I bring that passion into your business to make it successful. Since starting a business can be overwhelming, it’s crucial to set the foundation for success, and picking up this book can teach you to make better use of your limited resources to get the best results.
This product was recommended by Sudhir Khatwani from The Money Mongers
One of the best books that I have come across is Deep Work by Cal Newport. The book talks about the concept of deep work as well as its opposite shallow work. The book talks about how cultivating your ability to focus and think deeply is necessary for professionals to maximize their value. Also, Cal Newport has offered four rules to help one’s ability to improve to work deeply. It talks about how professional activities are performed in a state of destruction-free concentration that pushes one’s cognitive capabilities to their limit. The book shares four rules which are the work deeply and talks about how one can get into deep work. The second is to embrace boredom that walks you through the process of getting the work done without getting distracted. The third is quitting social media, and lastly, draining the shallows.
This is a simple but powerful book with a single message that will stick. Start with why is the most important thing to remember when starting a startup or any business. It’s easy to read and digest and a ‘business foundation’ book for any business beginner.
This product was recommended by Stella Scott from EasyPaydayLoan
This book is a treasure trove of helpful information for would-be business owners. Its content is a compilation of over ten best-selling books for dummies and will guide every part of starting your own business. The book covers the foundations of marketing, hiring, accounting, and success in any industry’s first year of business. You will learn how to tackle taxes, create a solid plan and determine your best business model.
This product was recommended by Stella Scott from EasyPaydayLoan
The business marketplace today is filled with news of small businesses making it big. This book got what you need to get started in business in one plainly and concise written package. It gives guidance step-by-step along the path to entrepreneurial success. The book also tells what’s necessary to start a business, from the creation of a business plan to finally launching your business.
This product was recommended by Markus Maibaum from Veganivore
Free, short business book for everyone (beginners)What makes this book great for beginners is Alex relatable writing style. He breaks down complex business topics in a logical, simple manner. The book is also a very short read with value on every page and no talking around. It is just 162 pages. And the best part is, Alex makes enough money from his main business, so he gives this book away for free. Audiobook is free and Kindle is the lowest amount you can charge on Amazon.
This product was recommended by Joseph Greene from Trinidad Birding
Rework by Jason Fried is a fantastic book for people looking to get into any business or are beginning to take an interest in business. Not only does it introduce the world of running your own business, but it is also full of tips and tricks that you will need to know and aren’t actually common knowledge. It almost acts as the ‘real’ book of business and gets you to the nitty gritty in no time.
This product was recommended by Jim Campbell from Honeymoon Goals
Grit by Angela Duckworth is one of my favorite books of all time and although it isn’t limited to just succeeding in business, it is a must-read for anyone who wants to get into the mind of a business leader. Grit outlines the psychology of succeeding and what headspace you have to be in when you want to start your own business. If you get why people are successful before you start your own business, you’re halfway to becoming a successful business leader already.
The cover tells you everything that you need to know. It’s a step-by-step guide to setting up and running a business for people who have absolutely no experience in the world of, well, business. It keeps everything simple and straightforward and avoids any and all confusing jargon and insider lingo, which ensures that it’s easy to both read and understand and that anyone and everyone can hit the ground running and build a business from the ground up.
This product was recommended by Morgan Lilker from Watches of Today
While it keeps things simple, Ken Colwell’s book doesn’t treat its readers like idiots and explains how to take the first steps in your entrepreneurial journey in a series of easy-to-digest and understand chapters. Don’t feel like a dummy, take a leaf out of Ken’s book and be everything that you ever wanted to, and dreamed you could be in the cut-and-thrust world of business.
This product was recommended by Karim Hachem from La Blanca
This is a book I recommend to everyone, but especially to new business owners. It is a guide to help yourself think and move with clear future objectives and goals in mind. It was such a transformative read for me and so many others. There is a reason it’s been an effective resource used for over 30 years! Do yourself a favor and pick up this book of invaluable information to give yourself (and your perspective) a refresh.
This product was recommended by Guna Kakulapati from CureSkin
Though this book isn’t necessarily a book on business, it still holds such valuable lessons and mindsets for business owners. Industry is always changing, and these days it seems like its changing quicker than ever before. As a business owner, you have to be able to adapt and think on your feet, to be in the moment to make the best decisions for your company. This book is a lesson on how to be in the moment, and has widely applying lessons that everyone can benefit from.
This product was recommended by Chandler Rogers from Relay
This long-time best-seller is a great tool for bringing a happiness centered mind-set to all. I feel like this is especially effective for new business owners to learn that happiness is something we create and decide to enjoy, otherwise we are just running out the clock wishing for greener pastures. As business owners, we have to be able to take care of ourselves, so we can take care of our business and our employees as well. Despite not being a ‘business’ book, this book brings a great amount of perspective and teachings that can be applied throughout one’s career.
This product was recommended by Jessica Lauren Vine from RV Idiots
Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell is one of my favorite business books and one that everyone looking to start a business should read. So many other business books make it seem that all you need to be successful in business is hard work and dedication. However, Gladwell highlights all of the different factors in becoming successful in business, including background, experience, and connections. It also shows you how to overcome certain drawbacks that are completely out of your control. I really recommend this book for any beginners in business..
This product was recommended by Marc Arbones from Altcoins Mastery
The first step to anything is awareness (understanding why you do what you do). MJ Demarco is a multi-millionaire online entrepreneur who has created the most comprehensive business framework I’ve ever seen. He doesn’t just tell you about how society has imposed the Script on you; he also lays out a practical framework called The Unscripted Entrepreneurial Framework (TUNEF) with a five-phase progression of both thoughts and action, uniting the macro (vision, mission, etc.) and micro (action) processes. If I have to pick one book from the list, this is the one I would pick without any doubt.
This product was recommended by Marc Arbones from Altcoins Mastery
Business is a creative undertaking fraught with internal conflicts and roadblocks. Although Steven Pressfield is not a psychologist, this is the best psychology/mindset book for business owners and entrepreneurs. Steven Pressfield describes the enemy: The Resistance, as well as how to defeat it via discipline and determination.
Most business greats experience success because they can persuade people to say yes. Cialdini uses seven Universal Principles of Persuasion, like social proof, authority, and reciprocation, that you can use at any point in your career to help improve key stakeholder buy-ins on your ideas. Whether you want to become a stronger salesperson or convince investors to help you build a startup, these practical lessons will help.
This product was recommended by John Li from Fig Loans
This book, developed by two highly-successful podcasters, is a great jumping-off point for would-be business professionals and entrepreneurs who don’t know where to start. By sharing crucial lessons across various topics, this book helps you glean the wisdom from 100 of the world’s greatest thinkers to help you become a better business person and pursue the career of your dreams.
A look inside numbers and why understanding and communicating them is so essential. Author Chip Heath’s newest book explores the most important principles that will help you translate a given number into our brain’s language. A very enjoyable read, this book is filled to the brim with great examples of extreme number makeovers, as well as impressive before and after examples that present a dry number in an easy-to-digest way.
This product was recommended by Ram Chaitanya from Be Zen
This book will change how you view work. It shows you how to focus on the patterns that subconsciously shape your lives and change them to achieve any goal you want. Be it losing weight or starting a business. It goes deep into analyzing why we do what we do daily and offers practical tips to tweak our habits to reach our optimum potential.
This product was recommended by Gisera Matanda from WeLoans
This book by Richard Pettinger is the perfect hands-on intro to business education and guidance on how to deal in the modern business market. The text is full of overviews that help readers understand the foundation of any business degree. It’s written in simple, understandable language that covers all topics around businesses such as start-up, finance, accounting, analytics, HR, economics, and operations, among others.
This product was recommended by Robert Calderon from Dalvey
A 30-year old book that continues to be relevant to this day. Based off of a six-year research project by the authors, this is practically a compilation of case studies and playbooks from 18 long-standing companies, their habits, strategies and ideas, and how they outlasted the competition. To be the best, one has to learn from the best, and this book is a good step in that direction.
