Noah Kagan’s Top 11 Must Reads for Young Entrepreneurs & College Students
Not to be rude to my great teachers in undergrad business but none of the books prepared me for the “real world.� I have spent 24 years compiling this list. This list comprises the best books to read for anybody wanting to be an entrepreneur or have a solid foundation in business. The categories the books include are: investing, marketing, personal development, venture capital, sales and relationships. You must read these before you do another deal, mend a broken relationship or start your startup:
Personal Development
1- 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Stephen Covey
The ultimate personal development book. This is a bible to me and many others. It will guide you on living a solid life with a great foundation.
2- Celestine Prophecy: James Redfield
Take 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and add in the Da Vinci Code and the baby is this book. A really great tale of being a better person.
Start-Up Advice
3- Art of the Start: Guy Kawasaki
Great insight and tactics for getting a startup going. Really straightforward and practical way of taking your start up to the next level.
Venture Capital
The real story of how VCs work. The writer followed Benchmark capital through some hard times and interesting portfolio companies
5- Barbarians at the Gate: Bryan Burrough
An interesting tale of LBOs, wasted money and how things change.
Relationships
6- Never Eat Alone: Keith Ferrazzi
A simple non-networky/slimy book on how to meet the right people and get to where you need to be.
7- How to Win Friends and Influence People: Dale Carnegie
The book on being nice to people. I know it seems too fake but this and #5 are great reads and just things you need to think more about daily.
Investing
8- The Intelligent Investor: Ben Graham
This is Warren Buffet’s secret book on investing. If you want to make money and have great skills for investing read this.
Marketing
9- Permission Marketing: Seth Godin
Seth Godin who owns marketing wrote this influential book on getting permission from customers. Great examples and ways to maintain customers.
10- Influence: Robert Cialdini
The best kept secret on marketing, sales and other business things. Provides in-depth and interesting research on influencing others.
Bonus: Naked Conversations: Robert Scoble and Shel Israel
The Book for everyone wanting to learn more about blogging and their impact on businesses.
Disclaimer: I have read all these books. Anything I am missing?
You should check out my Okdork Virgin Guide to get started.
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Thanks again for dropping by and I hope to see you soon! - Noah
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noah kagan wrote Noah Kagan’s Top 11 Must Reads for Young Entrepreneurs & College Students on June 20th, 2006 and there are 31 comments. There will be one more after you add yours, though. Read more posts by noah kagan.
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31 Responses to “Noah Kagan’s Top 11 Must Reads for Young Entrepreneurs & College Students”
June 20th, 2006
1:46 pm
From my bestsellers bookshelf:
The World is Flat
Tipping Point
Blink
Classic gems:
Reminiscences of a Stock Operator. This book is awesome — if I had one book to read in my life… this one would probably be on the top of my list. I normally never reference this book w/ the tech crowd, but since you mention Benjamin Graham, I had to reference this book.
Design of Everyday Things (the so call bible of designing)
June 20th, 2006
1:49 pm
i haven’t checked out the world is flat yet and i will read the stock and design book. i think malcolm writes great things but they could be condensed into 3 page highlights of what is important.
tipping point: how things go mainstream, lacked how to actually do it
blink: how people think about things. i think influence is better than this book.
more recommendations and feedback always appreciated.
June 20th, 2006
2:45 pm
Looks like a good list of books to read. Although I haven’t sat down and read a book in many years because I usually don’t have the time.
June 20th, 2006
3:32 pm
One thing you’re missing are the “individual tales” of entrepreneurs and their personal experiences. So often we get this idea in our heads of these people being larger-than-life and untouchable. But…they’re not.
With that in mind I recommend Walt Disney: An American Original by Bob Thomas. It’s a pretty detailed account of what I consider one of the greatest American entrepreneurs.
But I also have to add:
1. Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand. If you want motivation, this is it. Absolutely amazing.
2. Dig Your Hole Before You’re Thirsty, Harvey Mackay. About networking — practical, non-lame advice.
3. Basic Economics, Thomas Sowell. Every entrepreneur should have some idea about how the economy works and where they fit into it.
June 20th, 2006
3:46 pm
Good list. The only others I would think of are: A Whole New Mind and The Student Success Manifesto.
June 20th, 2006
8:01 pm
Great list Noah. For networking, I would include John Maxwell’s Winning With People, which I feel is an updated version of How to Win Friends and Influence People. I would also recommend Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. He’s the father of all modern self-help books. Guy Kawasaki’s Art of the Start is a GREAT book for entrepeneurs too.
You’ve got a few here I need to read too. Thanks for sharing them!
June 20th, 2006
9:20 pm
The World is Flat is a powerful look into the present and future of our world.
I think Covey is the most overrated author of our generation. Seven Habits is always listed in everyones list, but I found it boring. I could care less about a paradigm. And before you jump to any conclusions, I love to read. I read two to three books at a time. I just never got the whole Covey appeal.
The End of Marketing as WE Know It
Unstuck
The Marketing Playbook
Freakonomics (Fun Read)
June 21st, 2006
9:10 am
Great post … I was actually looking for a list along these lines.
As far as self-starting and getting your life in order, I highly recommend two more titles:
-”Getting Things Done,” By David Allen
-”Complete Idiots Guide to Organizing Your Life” (Don’t laugh, it literally changed my life completely)
Your mileage might vary, but I really liked both of those.
I’ve read a couple of the books and in general agree with your picks, but 7 Habits I tried maybe 6 years ago and just couldn’t get into it. Might give it another go, but for a while it became part of my falling asleep ritual.
June 21st, 2006
9:20 am
sweeeet, just when i was finally whittling down my reading list…no those are solid recommendations. I second the Atlas Shrugged suggestion and the Gladwell books. I would also add:
BUSINESS
-Good to Great - Jim Collins (tracks 10 pairs of comparable companies and distills the factors that made one outperform the other by 10x)
-Innovator’s Dilemna - Clayton Christiensen (the “design patterns” of business - commonly recurring trends seen across industries and how to make an idea disrupt an incumbent technology)
-New Rules for the New Economy - Kevin Kelley (solid rundown of how things have changed from a few years ago)
-Getting Things Done - David Allen (good system for tackling todo’s)
more here-> http://www.lightsoutproduction.com/index.php?option=com_awesom&Itemid=62&task=viewlist&listid=5
LIFE
-Alchemist - Paulo Coelho (best book ever)
-Peaceful Warrior - Dan Millman (there’s a movie out now so you could just watch that)
-Illusions - Robert Bach (killer story)
more here-> http://www.lightsoutproduction.com/index.php?option=com_awesom&Itemid=62&task=viewlist&listid=2
if you liked Celestine, you should definitely check out the last 3
sean
June 21st, 2006
11:24 am
Millionaire Next Door By Thomas J Stanley
June 21st, 2006
11:32 am
great recommendations from everyone. another one for startups that is helpful is the the high tech startup by john neshem. i am not sure why this book is not larger but it has great tips and strategies in creating/growing a startup.
June 21st, 2006
4:24 pm
I am honored that Naked Conversations made it as the bonus entry to this very esteemed list.
June 22nd, 2006
1:38 am
Nice list,to which I would add
The world is flat
Freakonomics
The undercover economist by Tim Harford
cheers
June 22nd, 2006
2:25 am
I would definitely recommend “21 Immutable Laws of Marketing” and, the follow up “22 Immutable Laws of Branding” by Al Ries and Jack Trout. These are relatively short (at least the first one is) and easy to digest, but they contain the best advice on marketing strategy I’ve ever found.
June 22nd, 2006
5:45 am
Noah Noah Noah! In response to your slight put down of the Gladwell books: tsk tsk. You don’t really expect Tipping Point to tell you HOW to make things tip do you? All the info is in there, it needs to be thought upon and the ideas developed in your head, for your circumstances. The book is there to open your eyes to the possibilities and what tools you need to accomplish the task.
Blink is not comparable to Influence. They are about two different topics!
My reccomendations to add:
Alan Pease - Body Language
Dale Carnegie - HTWFAIP
and a movie - Touching The Void
Also I believe that most of these books should be read twice in succession, after all repition is the mother of skill. (damn I can’t spell can I?)
June 22nd, 2006
12:12 pm
AHHHH! Not covey! I hate anything Covey related! Being an RA, they try to force the principals of Covey on us during training. Personally I think its a load of business buzzword bullshit and it doesnt really mean anything. Yes, if you are in marketing, you can say this crap to clients and they might be amazed, but talk to someone technical and they’ll tell you to eff off. “Sharpen the saw” - take time for yourself. Come on, this is crap, thanks for letting me know I shouldnt spend 24 hours a day working and should take a few hours a week for myself, I couldn’t have figured that out on my own.
As for never eat alone, let me summarize the entire book for you: Network Network Network, make sure when you talk to people, you follow up with them and build relationships and dont be afraid to ask for stuff! Repeat over 200 pages and you are all set, don’t waste time buying the book!
June 22nd, 2006
1:46 pm
Hmmmm…
I would agree with Shel’s book, but I’m not sure about the rest.
My top business books to read:
1 - The Cluetrain Manifesto
2 - No Logo (Naomi Klein)*
3 - Manufacturing Consent (Chomsky)*
4 - A Whole New Mind
5 - Blue Ocean Strategy
6 - The Tipping Point
7 - Freakonomics
8 - Guerrilla Marketing Handbook (still a classic, even if out of date now - very practical)
9 - Naked Conversations
10 - Non Zero
11 - The Lucifer Principle
12 - Mischief Marketing
13 - Gonzo Marketing
14 - Atlas Shrugged
15 - Innovator’s Dilemma
…and so forth (I quite like Scott, Jason and Sean’s lists)
* young business people need their doses of kickass anti-establishment business and media theory, too…
I agree that Covey et al are sort of watered down for the masses. So are a few on my list, but at least they get people out of their stale thinking mode.
T
June 25th, 2006
7:30 pm
Success Secrets of the Online Marketing Superstars is a great “quick reference” to have laying around. The book is basically composed of chapters from other famous marketing books, giving you a spectrum of different techniques and views.
June 26th, 2006
12:28 am
i co-lead a bookclub for entrepreneurs in austin, tx. our next book is losing my virginity by richard branson. i’m surprised no one has mentioned it.
douglas rushkoff’s get back in the box is another one that hasn’t been mentioned and is full of great ideas.
June 26th, 2006
9:52 pm
Neill Strauss - The Game
July 5th, 2006
7:54 am
I recently put together an Amazon Listmania list of inspiring books for aspiring entrepreneurs. Interestingly, I don’t see much overlap to what has already been suggested in the post or the comments … perhaps it’s an age thing. The Amazon list has annotationas and links; here’s a quick rundown of titles and authors:
The Art of the Start : The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything by Guy Kawasaki
A Good Hard Kick in the Ass: Basic Training for Entrepreneurs by Rob Adams
Pour Your Heart into It : How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time by Howard Schultz
Benjamin Franklin : An American Life by Walter Isaacson
The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Business Law (Entrepreneur’s Guide to Business Law) by Constance E. Bagley
Rules For Revolutionaries : The Capitalist Manifesto for Creating and Marketing New Products and Services by Guy Kawasaki
Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers
Creating the Work You Love : Courage, Commitment, and Career by Rick Jarow
The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer
July 7th, 2006
9:44 am
Robert Greene’s 48 Laws of Power should be a must read for anyone involved in business.
And for a simple quick read, Raving Fans by Ken Blanchard had a huge impact on me when I first started.
July 18th, 2006
11:42 pm
I’m really glad I came across you, just checked out the one you have about getting rich also (would be great to have links instead of paste and copy on the articles).
You have lots of great information here…I love to read. Wish I had more time.
P.S. You may need a code check up….weird stuff at the top and some overlapping near top.
July 25th, 2006
8:45 pm
And because the best way of avoiding mistakes to to know what they look like before you make them I highly recommend Burn Rate. In addition to being a kick-ass read and a great history of the early development of the PDA (anyone remember GO Computer?), it’s a “here’s how to raise money and not end up with a product” manifesto.
Bonus, most of the folks in this book made it huge down the road so that should tell you something about the value of trying and failing…
Oliver
July 26th, 2006
8:53 am
Don’t forget “Startup” by Jerry Kaplan and “the Google story”
add these books to
http://www.businessbookshelf.ning.com
July 26th, 2006
9:02 am
The link should be
http://businessbookshelf.ning.com/
i’ve added my fav books there. Add some more
August 7th, 2006
10:10 pm
[...] I will buy you 1 book from my top 11 reads for all college entrepreneurs and young professionals. [...]
September 29th, 2006
7:40 pm
Without question, the book that has most influenced my desire to pursue independent/freelance/entrepreneurial work is Atlas Shurgged. I’m a devoted liberal but Ayn Rand made me realize that is okay to dream big and that money is at its heart reward for determination and innovation.
January 21st, 2007
12:45 am
I know…I know…late to the post…just had to respond..
Cluetrain Manifesto
Gonzo Marketing
Note: I think the key to being a good marketer is not reading “marketing only” books. I would recommend books on customer service as well.
Other personal favorites:
Walden: Henry David Thoreau (question authority)
Nearly any book on doing Business in Asia and/or books on Asian history. As this region has the fastest growing economies in the world, I think folks would be remiss in not checking out the things that impacted their current development (history with the west, history of the culture, etc.)
“Celestine Prophecy: James Redfield”
I personally found this book to be a load of crap. I think the book is more oriented at spirituality than business.
August 28th, 2007
2:26 pm
This is a good list. I put together a list for my students at INSEAD of Top 10 books for entrepreneurs - it is here
September 24th, 2007
10:35 am
For personal development, a cautionary tale for all college students preparing to find their way in the word: WALDEN by Michael Dolan.
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