10 Business Books for Startuper to Read Twice (at least)
my post-Covid, post-ChatGPT, post-man-on-flying-pig list
The world has changed a lot since 2019, from smart working, to constant fear of recession, and currently obsession with AI.
While it is true that “agile” mindset is now more widespread and automation is becoming a common skill, certain aspects any founder should take care did not change. I thought to recreate this list of books, taking into a account those recent changes and rules that still counts.
Obviously, those are just advices from people, just doing things can teach more than 1000 books.
The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
This book advocates for a new approach to building startups, even before the home-working era COVID related. The key idea of the book is that traditional business planning and management methods are often ill-suited to the fast-paced, high-risk environment of startup companies. Apart start doing things in your garage, and as soon as possible. the book reimind us of the concept of the “minimum viable product” (MVP), which is the smallest possible version of a product that can be built and tested with real customers. By quickly testing an MVP with real users, startups can learn what works and what doesn’t, and make improvements based on that feedback. This approach helps startups avoid wasting time and money on building products that no one wants. This can be pushed to the extreme with no-code apps developed in 1 day and launched to early adopters in 1 week, instead of waiting years to redefine business plan and patents. This is also related to “validated learning” which involves using data and customer feedback to validate assumptions and make informed decisions. This is in contrast to traditional methods of planning and forecasting, which can be based on assumptions that may not be true.
Throughout the book, Ries provides practical advice and case studies to illustrate his points. He also discusses the importance of creating a culture of innovation and experimentation within a startup organization, and how to measure progress and success using metrics that are relevant to the stage of the company.
2. Build: The Power of Hip Dreams and the Business of Making Them Happen” by Tony Fadell
This is an almost over-comprehensive text touching many aspects, full of anecdotes and written by a builder/developer turned creator and entrepreneur. This book explores the process of creating innovative products and companies. Fadell is known for his work as the “father of the iPod” and a co-founder of Nest, the smart home technology company.
The key idea of the book is that successful products and companies are built through a combination of vision, iteration, and collaboration. Fadell emphasizes the importance of having a clear and compelling vision for the product or company, but also recognizes the need for flexibility and adaptability as the project evolves.
The book provides practical advices for entrepreneurs and product managers on how to build products that solve real customer problems and create lasting value. Fadell stresses the importance of listening to customer feedback, testing and iterating on prototypes, and designing products that are both functional and beautiful.
Fadell also shares insights from his experiences working with Steve Jobs at Apple, as well as his time at Nest and other companies. He discusses the challenges of building a startup from scratch, including fundraising, team building, and scaling. Overall, “Build” provides a roadmap for anyone who wants to create something new and innovative, whether it’s a product, company, or social movement. The book emphasizes the importance of combining passion, creativity, and hard work to make big dreams a reality
3. Zero to One by Peter Thiel
Thiel is a well-known entrepreneur and venture capitalist, having co-founded PayPal and invested in many successful startups.
The key idea of the book is that true innovation involves creating something new and valuable, rather than simply copying what already exists. Thiel argues that progress is driven by entrepreneurs who are willing to take risks and pursue bold ideas, rather than following the conventional wisdom or trying to compete in crowded markets. Thiel introduces the concept of “going from zero to one,” which means creating something entirely new that has never existed before. He emphasizes the importance of developing a unique and defensible business model, based on proprietary technology or other advantages that are difficult for competitors to replicate.
The book provides practical advice for entrepreneurs on how to create a successful startup, from identifying a promising market niche to building a strong team and managing growth. Thiel also discusses the role of technology and globalization in shaping the business landscape, and offers insights on how to navigate these forces to create value and achieve success.
4. The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton Christensen
Clayton Christiansen has been undoubtedly the major contributor for concepts related to disruptive innovations while being a professor at Harvard Business School.
In this (and related texts) the starting point is that successful companies often struggle to adapt to new technologies or business models that disrupt their existing products or services. Christensen argues that this is because established companies are often focused on improving their existing products, rather than exploring new opportunities or investing in disruptive technologies that may cannibalize their existing businesses.
The book provides practical examples of companies that have struggled with disruptive innovation, from the decline of the steel industry to the rise of digital photography. Christensen offers insights into why these companies failed to adapt, and what they could have done differently to stay ahead of the curve.
In short, it promotes business based in completely new ideas which can revolutionize a field (e.g. the e-mail compared the legacy post system).
5. The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz
A bit of truth, you might leave your 9–5 Mon/Fri job for 24 hours with no weekend hustle, this book offers practical advice and insights for entrepreneurs and business leaders who are facing tough challenges and difficult decisions.
The key idea of the book is that building a successful business is a hard and often messy process, filled with unexpected challenges and setbacks. Horowitz shares his own experiences of leading companies through difficult times, from navigating funding crises to managing conflicts among employees.
The book provides practical advice on how to lead a company through tough times, including strategies for dealing with layoffs, managing difficult employees, and making tough decisions that affect the future of the company. Horowitz emphasizes the importance of being transparent and honest with employees and stakeholders, and offers guidance on how to communicate effectively in times of crisis.
Horowitz also discusses the importance of building a strong culture within a company, and offers insights on how to hire and retain top talent. He shares his own experiences of building a culture of excellence and accountability, and offers practical advice for leaders who want to do the same.
6. Hooked by Nir Eyal
“Hooked” explains how companies create products that form habits in their users. The author describes a four-step process called the “Hook Model” that companies can use to create habit-forming products: trigger, action, reward, and investment.
The trigger is something that prompts the user to take action, which leads to a reward, creating a positive association in the user’s mind. The investment stage involves getting the user to put something into the product, such as time, data, or money, which increases the likelihood of the user returning and forming a habit.
The author also discusses how to make products more engaging by creating a sense of anticipation and providing variable rewards. He also cautions against creating addictive products that can harm users and emphasizes the importance of ethical considerations when designing habit-forming products.
7. Business Model Generation by Alexander Osterwalder
The cover says “you are holding a handbook for visionaries, game changers…”. This is a practical guidebook for entrepreneurs and business leaders on how to develop, evaluate, and refine a business model. Definitely a must in the context of technology transfer for example from academia.
The book provides a framework called the “Business Model Canvas” which consists of nine key elements: customer segments, value propositions, channels, customer relationships, revenue streams, key resources, key activities, key partnerships, and cost structure. By filling out these elements on a canvas, entrepreneurs and business leaders can visualize their business model and identify areas that need improvement.
The author emphasizes the importance of understanding the needs and preferences of customers, and how to create value for them through unique value propositions. He also discusses the importance of identifying key resources, activities, and partnerships needed to deliver that value.
The book also covers topics such as prototyping, testing, and iterating the business model to achieve product-market fit, and how to scale the business once the model has been proven successful.
8. Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey Moore
“Crossing the Chasm” describes the challenges that technology companies face when trying to bring new products to market and how to overcome these challenges. The author argues that there is a “chasm” between early adopters of a new technology product and the majority of the market, which makes it difficult for companies to achieve mainstream success.
The book identifies five different customer segments: innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards, and describes the unique characteristics and needs of each segment. Moore explains that while the early adopters are important for validating a new product, it is the early majority that determines the success of a product in the market.
To cross the chasm and reach the early majority, the author suggests that companies need to focus on a niche market, create a referenceable customer base, and establish a dominant market position. He also emphasizes the importance of creating a compelling value proposition, building partnerships with complementary products, and aligning the entire organization around the needs of the target market.
9. Traction by Gabriel Weinberg and Justin Mares
This book explores various strategies for startups to achieve sustainable growth. The authors emphasize the importance of focusing on customer acquisition and retention, as well as identifying the most effective marketing channels for a particular business. The book provides a comprehensive framework called the “Bullseye Framework” to help entrepreneurs prioritize and test different traction channels to find the ones that work best for their company. It covers nineteen different marketing channels, including viral marketing, public relations, content marketing, and more. The authors emphasize the need for continuous experimentation and data-driven decision-making to achieve traction and avoid wasting time and resources on ineffective strategies.
10. Crushing It! by Gary Vaynerchuk
“Crushing It!” is a motivational and practical guide for individuals looking to build a personal brand and achieve success in the digital age. Vaynerchuk shares his own experiences and those of other successful individuals to illustrate the power of leveraging social media platforms and technology to create opportunities and amplify one’s message.
The book emphasizes the importance of identifying one’s passion and using it as a foundation for building a personal brand. Vaynerchuk encourages readers to embrace their unique skills and interests, and to share their expertise through various content formats such as blogging, podcasting, and video creation. He stresses the significance of authenticity and genuine engagement with the audience as key factors in building a loyal following.
Vaynerchuk also discusses the various social media platforms available, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and others, and provides insights into how to effectively utilize each platform to reach and connect with the target audience. He emphasizes the importance of consistently producing high-quality content and engaging with followers to establish trust and credibility.
In addition to social media strategies, Vaynerchuk explores the power of personal branding, networking, and monetizing one’s online presence. He provides practical tips on leveraging platforms for monetization, such as influencer marketing, partnerships, and product development.
I hope this collection of book will provide you relevant advice. Although, as I said, advice is just advice, doing things is the best way to learn.