Most startup books are not very good.

You know why?

They weren’t written by actual founders. The problem is founders are usually too busy scaling their next big thing. They don’t have time to write books.

However, when they finally find the time to write (usually after they retire for life), it’s a gem.

This week I’ve put together following list of 8 books for founders, written by founders.

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8 Books by Founders, for Founders

The Hard Thing about Hard Things

Ben Horowitz is arguably one of the most successful entrepreneurs of our time - helping to shape the internet as we know it in Netscape, as well as founding a16z - American VC founding companies like Facebook, Twitter or Stripe.

This is a tougher read, for more seasoned CEOs that are going through tough times and need to learn how to address certain problems in their companies. If you go through such a struggle, it’s probable Ben explains how to get out of it in this one. Recommend revisiting the book in future.

The Lean Startup

The Lean Startup defines a new methodology prioritising validated learning. Build, Measure, Learn. Startups exist, not just to make a product and make money, but to learn how to create a sustainable business. This is done using frequent experiments and testing to reach a vision.

Traction

Traction offers a helping hand for beginning entrepreneurs and others whose businesses are stuck at a point where hard work and determination are no longer enough for them to survive and grow.

Gino Wickman explains how to structure your business to remove typical frustrations, so it regains momentum, it runs seamlessly, and you don’t experience daily headaches.

Company of One

It’s often assumed that hard work and smart thinking always result in business growth. But the opposite is often true: not all growth is beneficial, some growth can actually reduce your resilience and your autonomy.

The company of one model can be laid out in a similar fashion: “start small, define growth, and keep learning.”

The 4-Hour Work Week

Had to sneak Tim Ferriss in. Many entrepreneurs forget themselves in the process of building the next big thing and let their life split through their fingers.

This book emphasises the point of creating the dream life and fitting your ventures into it, not the other way around as we tend to do it.

The Great CEO Within

This book is a pragmatic instruction manual on how to deal with your daily CEO decisions, such as company vision, document processes, choosing KPIs, build an effective team and much more.

You don’t have to be an aspiring Silicon Valley founder to appreciate much of the valuable management and leadership advice..

Zero to One

Peter Thiel shares his thoughts on how to create something unique and valuable, avoiding competition by building businesses that are genuinely focusing on disruption and innovation over anything else.

I briefly mentioned what it entails to found a startup on the Future Vision path in my previous newsletter - these are companies like SpaceX, Tesla, Virgin..

The Diary of a CEO

Steven Bartlett’s recently published book is a nice summary of most self-improvement slash entrepreneurship books out there. Steven talks to the point and does not waste the readers time - the audible version (on 1x!) is just under 7 hours.

It provides practical advice and actionable strategies for success in both business and life.

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