7 ms·

Ask HN: Suggested Reading List

9 points by kylelibra 16y ago

What books would you all recommend regarding entrepreneurship? I've recently read Rework, Escape from Cubicle Nation, Four Hour Work Week and Crush It.

DanielStraight 16y ago
If you haven't seen it before, you should check out the personal MBA reading list: http://personalmba.com/best-business-books/ http://personalmba.com/best-business-books/
- joshkaufman 16y ago
  Thanks for the mention, Daniel - I'm the guy who created this list. If anyone is looking for pointers to great books about specific business topics, I'd be happy to point you in the right direction.
  - tamersalama 16y ago
    Where can I suggest books? I didn't find "Founders at work"
mcdowall 16y ago
I'm currently working my way through Derek Sivers list: http://sivers.org/book http://sivers.org/book I would also recommend reading PG's essays: http://www.paulgraham.com/articles.html http://www.paulgraham.com/articles.html
slindstr 16y ago
I'm trying to read as much as I can about the topic too so here's what I'm reading: -Books- Lifecycle of a Technology Company by Edwin Miller The Game by Neil Strauss (you laugh but it's basically all about getting more confident) Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyasaki The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell They Call Me Coach by John Wooden -Magazines- Entrepreneur Fast Company BusinessWeek Fortune Money Inc. -Websites- Hacker News Fred Wilson's Blog (www.avc.com) FoundersSpace (www.foundersspace.com) A lot of these titles are more focused on leadership or business in general, but I think a successful entrepreneur should have a general knowledge of a lot of stuff out there. I'm sure that I'm forgetting some, and these don't include the books I've got for the MBA program I'm taking. I'd have to dig those up, but I can post the titles if you'd like. [Edited because the formatting was really screwy]
sethwartak 16y ago
DELIVERING Happiness by Tony Hsieh is an incredible book, especially concerning their customer service focus. (If you're especially interested in their culture, they give their culture book away for free at request). Also, Founders at Work by Jessica Livingston is a great book with some great insights by early entrepreneurial efforts.
elg0nz 16y ago
Founders at Work is a Must read for anyone here. Written by Paul Graham's Wife and really captures how a Startup Life is like. Plus the people she interviews are epic,Max Levchin, DHH, Steve Wozniak, PG, Evan Williams (before Twitter, a must read), etc.
mdg 16y ago
I dont think its a good idea to strictly focus on one subject when it comes to reading. It will be good for your brain to take a break from thinking about entrepreneurship and think about something fictional. Therefore, I suggest you add Fahrenheit 451 to your list.
sourc3 16y ago
I would definitely recommend the following books: - How Breakthroughs Happen: The Surprising Truth About How Companies Innovate by Andrew Hargadon - Micro ISV by Bob Walsh - Smart and Get Things Done by Joel Spolsky - 4 Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris and here is one that I used in school that has great intro level information on a variety of topics. - The Portable MBA in Entrepreneurship by Andrew Zacharakis (check the spelling)
johnarcews 16y ago
Try this 10 Must Have Inspirational, Motivational, Business & Startup Books for WebGeeks http://webgeekph.com/resources/10-must-have-inspirational-motivational-business-startup-books-for-webgeeks/ http://webgeekph.com/resources/10-must-have-inspirational-mo...

9 points by kylelibra 16y ago

What books would you all recommend regarding entrepreneurship? I've recently read Rework, Escape from Cubicle Nation, Four Hour Work Week and Crush It.

DanielStraight 16y ago

If you haven't seen it before, you should check out the personal MBA reading list: http://personalmba.com/best-business-books/ http://personalmba.com/best-business-books/

joshkaufman 16y ago
Thanks for the mention, Daniel - I'm the guy who created this list. If anyone is looking for pointers to great books about specific business topics, I'd be happy to point you in the right direction.
- tamersalama 16y ago
  Where can I suggest books? I didn't find "Founders at work"

mcdowall 16y ago

I'm currently working my way through Derek Sivers list: http://sivers.org/book http://sivers.org/book I would also recommend reading PG's essays: http://www.paulgraham.com/articles.html http://www.paulgraham.com/articles.html

slindstr 16y ago

I'm trying to read as much as I can about the topic too so here's what I'm reading: -Books- Lifecycle of a Technology Company by Edwin Miller The Game by Neil Strauss (you laugh but it's basically all about getting more confident) Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyasaki The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell They Call Me Coach by John Wooden -Magazines- Entrepreneur Fast Company BusinessWeek Fortune Money Inc. -Websites- Hacker News Fred Wilson's Blog (www.avc.com) FoundersSpace (www.foundersspace.com) A lot of these titles are more focused on leadership or business in general, but I think a successful entrepreneur should have a general knowledge of a lot of stuff out there. I'm sure that I'm forgetting some, and these don't include the books I've got for the MBA program I'm taking. I'd have to dig those up, but I can post the titles if you'd like. [Edited because the formatting was really screwy]

sethwartak 16y ago

DELIVERING Happiness by Tony Hsieh is an incredible book, especially concerning their customer service focus. (If you're especially interested in their culture, they give their culture book away for free at request). Also, Founders at Work by Jessica Livingston is a great book with some great insights by early entrepreneurial efforts.

elg0nz 16y ago

Founders at Work is a Must read for anyone here. Written by Paul Graham's Wife and really captures how a Startup Life is like. Plus the people she interviews are epic,Max Levchin, DHH, Steve Wozniak, PG, Evan Williams (before Twitter, a must read), etc.

mdg 16y ago

I dont think its a good idea to strictly focus on one subject when it comes to reading. It will be good for your brain to take a break from thinking about entrepreneurship and think about something fictional. Therefore, I suggest you add Fahrenheit 451 to your list.

sourc3 16y ago

I would definitely recommend the following books: - How Breakthroughs Happen: The Surprising Truth About How Companies Innovate by Andrew Hargadon - Micro ISV by Bob Walsh - Smart and Get Things Done by Joel Spolsky - 4 Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris and here is one that I used in school that has great intro level information on a variety of topics. - The Portable MBA in Entrepreneurship by Andrew Zacharakis (check the spelling)

johnarcews 16y ago

Try this 10 Must Have Inspirational, Motivational, Business & Startup Books for WebGeeks http://webgeekph.com/resources/10-must-have-inspirational-motivational-business-startup-books-for-webgeeks/ http://webgeekph.com/resources/10-must-have-inspirational-mo...