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Starting your own business can be difficult, so it’s important to be prepared for any challenges that may present along the way.
And what better way to educate yourself than to seek guidance from those who have achieved their own success.
While not all founders may be accessible, some have written insightful books, which share the lessons they earned and advice for getting through hard times.
The 2017 Startup Muster report, released today, has revealed the top books that Australian founders recommend others read.
Here they are, with descriptions by Booktopia and Amazon (edited for clarity and length).
The Lean Startup — Eric Ries
“The Lean Startup is a new approach to business that’s being adopted around the world. It is changing the way companies are built and new products are launched.”
Zero to One — Peter Thiel
“Thiel and former Stanford student Blake Masters, whose notes on the class became an internet sensation, have revised, updated, and expanded on the best parts of the lectures. The result is this unique book: simultaneously an insider’s view of Silicon Valley, a practical guide for thinking about business, and a contrarian vision of the future.”
The Hard Thing About Hard Things — Ben Horowitz
“Filled with Horowitz’s trademark humor and straight talk, and drawing from his personal and often humbling experiences, The Hard Thing About Hard Things is invaluable for veteran entrepreneurs as well as those aspiring to their own new ventures.”
The Innovator’s Dilemma — Clayton Christensen
“Sharp, cogent, and provocative and consistently noted as one of the most valuable business ideas of all time The Innovator’s Dilemma is the book no manager, leader, or entrepreneur should be without.”
Purple Cow — Seth Godin
“In his new bestseller, Seth Godin urges you to put a Purple Cow into everything you build, and everything you do, to create something truly noticeable. It’s a manifesto for anyone who wants to help create products and services that are worth marketing in the first place.”
Running Lean — Ash Muraya
“Running Lean is an ideal tool for business managers, CEOs, small business owners, developers and programmers, and anyone who’s interested in starting a business project.”
Lean In — Sheryl Sandberg
“Written with humor and wisdom, Lean In is a revelatory, inspiring call to action and a blueprint for individual growth that will empower women around the world to achieve their full potential.”
Hooked — Nir Eyal
“Based on years of research, consulting, and practical experience, Hooked shows how to create user habits that stick. With practical insights and riveting examples, from the iPhone to Twitter, Pinterest and the Bible App, it’s for product designers, marketers and anyone who seeks to understand how products influence our behaviour. It’s the book Eyal wishes had been available to him as a start-up founder. “
Creativity Inc. — Ed Catmull
Part autobiography, part history of Pixar, part business book, Creativity Inc is an inspiring look at the role creativity plays in one of the most successful media businesses the world has ever seen
Startup Focus — Mick Liubinskas & Phil Morle
“The science of turning an idea into a business. A framework to help you focus and guide you through the life-cycle of a startup. Packed with tips, tools, case studies and action items to get you thinking, scribbling and referring back.”
The Startup of You — Reid Hoffman & Ben Casnocha
“A revolutionary new guide to thriving in today’s fractured world of work, the strategies in this book will help you survive and thrive and achieve your boldest professional ambitions. The “Start-Up of You” empowers you to become the CEO of your career and take control of your future.”
The Startup Muster report is based on the responses of 567 verified startup founders, 226 future founders and 452 startup supporters, making it the largest survey undertaken by the Australian startup ecosystem.
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