3 ms·

What are some good books for tech company founders?

8 points by abbasmehdi 16y ago

olalonde 16y ago
- The Four Steps to the Epiphany by Steven Blank. [1] - Founders at Work: Stories of Startups' Early Days by Jessica Livingston. [2] [1] http://www.amazon.com/Four-Steps-Epiphany-Steven-Blank/dp/0976470705 http://www.amazon.com/Four-Steps-Epiphany-Steven-Blank/dp/09... [2] http://www.amazon.com/Founders-Work-Stories-Startups-Problem-Solution/dp/1430210788/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302372083&sr=1-2 http://www.amazon.com/Founders-Work-Stories-Startups-Problem...
- hajrice 16y ago
  ^^ Great books. Also checkout the books about the lean startup by Eric Ries (there's like 3-4 of them now). I would also recommend the ultimate sales machine. Even though I've only read 20 pages since I started reading it one month ago (yes, I run a startup), it's really interesting and helpful.
- abbasmehdi 16y ago
  purple cow and how is that?
- hga 16y ago
  While I haven't read it (it came out after I'd left the "game"), what Four Steps.... covers is absolutely critical, I've seen and been in too many startups that failed due to failing in Customer Discovery in one way or another. In earlier times, here are the books I found to be particularly useful: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1021570 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1021570 Others have endorsed E-Myth and I'll note that what's most valuable in Walking the High-Tech High Wire is in part their Customer Discovery story....
vrikhter 16y ago
Made to Stick Delivering Happiness Good to Great
davetong 16y ago
Thomas, J.P. & Robert, H.W Jr 2004. "In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America's Best-Run Companies", Harper Paperbacks. Ignore what the critics say about this book because I think this book's strengths is in their case studies on the company cultures and qualities that made them successful decades ago. This is more about how to treat people and direct a company, while providing examples of how these companies had dedicated passionate micro teams who were their "lean startup" champions that drove their innovation and success.
naithemilkman 16y ago
Over 100 books listed here suggested for a similar question on Quora: http://www.quora.com/Book-Recommendations/What-books-should-entrepreneurs-read http://www.quora.com/Book-Recommendations/What-books-should-...? The next question you might ask is: how much time should I spend between reading/learning vs. actually doing stuff which this question might help: http://www.quora.com/How-much-time-should-entrepreneurs-spend-reading-books-or-online-materials http://www.quora.com/How-much-time-should-entrepreneurs-spen...
revorad 16y ago
Ignore everybody by Hugh McLeod.

8 points by abbasmehdi 16y ago

- The Four Steps to the Epiphany by Steven Blank. [1] - Founders at Work: Stories of Startups' Early Days by Jessica Livingston. [2] [1] http://www.amazon.com/Four-Steps-Epiphany-Steven-Blank/dp/0976470705 http://www.amazon.com/Four-Steps-Epiphany-Steven-Blank/dp/09... [2] http://www.amazon.com/Founders-Work-Stories-Startups-Problem-Solution/dp/1430210788/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302372083&sr=1-2 http://www.amazon.com/Founders-Work-Stories-Startups-Problem...

hajrice 16y ago
^^ Great books. Also checkout the books about the lean startup by Eric Ries (there's like 3-4 of them now). I would also recommend the ultimate sales machine. Even though I've only read 20 pages since I started reading it one month ago (yes, I run a startup), it's really interesting and helpful.
abbasmehdi 16y ago
purple cow and how is that?
hga 16y ago
While I haven't read it (it came out after I'd left the "game"), what Four Steps.... covers is absolutely critical, I've seen and been in too many startups that failed due to failing in Customer Discovery in one way or another. In earlier times, here are the books I found to be particularly useful: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1021570 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1021570 Others have endorsed E-Myth and I'll note that what's most valuable in Walking the High-Tech High Wire is in part their Customer Discovery story....

vrikhter 16y ago

Made to Stick Delivering Happiness Good to Great

davetong 16y ago

Thomas, J.P. & Robert, H.W Jr 2004. "In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America's Best-Run Companies", Harper Paperbacks. Ignore what the critics say about this book because I think this book's strengths is in their case studies on the company cultures and qualities that made them successful decades ago. This is more about how to treat people and direct a company, while providing examples of how these companies had dedicated passionate micro teams who were their "lean startup" champions that drove their innovation and success.

naithemilkman 16y ago

Over 100 books listed here suggested for a similar question on Quora: http://www.quora.com/Book-Recommendations/What-books-should-entrepreneurs-read http://www.quora.com/Book-Recommendations/What-books-should-...? The next question you might ask is: how much time should I spend between reading/learning vs. actually doing stuff which this question might help: http://www.quora.com/How-much-time-should-entrepreneurs-spend-reading-books-or-online-materials http://www.quora.com/How-much-time-should-entrepreneurs-spen...

revorad 16y ago

Ignore everybody by Hugh McLeod.