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

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