Books every solopreneur should read
by GuilhermeIf you’re reading this, that means you’re either a solopreneur or an aspiring one. If so, you’ve come to the right place.
Although I believe that practice makes perfect, it is also true that books can be a great source of inspiration, ideas, or practical knowledge. So today, I’m bringing you a list of books that you should read on your path to solopreneurship.
What this list is not: a complete and perfect selection of books that will completely change your life. Different books will fit different people, depending on what stage of their journey they are at. It is also not in any specific order of importance.
What this list is: a guide for you to pick and choose. A source of possible inspiration if you feel that you are stuck. Or maybe a nice gift for that friend of yours that keeps talking about building something? Your pick.
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The Solopreneur Life
Author Larry Keltto has assembled interviews with 42 successful solo entrepreneurs to discuss their experiences.
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The 4-Hour Work Week
Ferris’s focus is on sales rather than production, and some of the online marketing advice is dated, but his “work smarter, not harder” message has inspired millions.
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The Lean Startup
Author Eric Ries used his experience in failed software startups to develop the lean strategy described in this book.
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The $100 Startup
In this follow-up to his breakout book, “Art of Non-Conformity,” Chris Guillebeau condenses a series of blog posts into a motivational work meant to kickstart entrepreneurs into action.
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MAKE
Pieter Levels' book MAKE is a great example of how Startups should be created. Made with passion, not with VC money, while keeping the cost as low level as possible.
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Entrepreneur’s Toolkit
This book offers a general guide for individuals interested in gaining foundational knowledge about large-scale entrepreneurship and contains universal information that can be applied to any business size.
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Start It Up
The book’s message is that running your own business is much easier than you think, and to get started now. It’s a good read for a jolt of entrepreneurial enthusiasm.
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The 10% Entrepreneur
This popular book by Patrick McGinnis explains how to start a solo business venture while keeping your day job.
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Side Hustle
Chris Guillebeau is a popular blogger turned author who targets solopreneurs with advice and resources. As far as solopreneur books go, Side Hustle is one of the best.
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The Million-Dollar, One-Person Business
Pofeldt, a small business expert, explains how to identify, launch, grow and reinvent a business, showing how a single individual can generate $1 million in revenue.
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Virtual Freedom
Ducker wrote this book for the "solopreneur on a bootstrap budget" which, essentially, is every solopreneur.
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Company Of One
Jarvis' thesis is that a "company of one is simply a business that questions growth." Growth is not always the most beneficial or viable move.
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Hype Yourself
In an industry rife with jargon and snake oil, Lucy demystifies the dark arts of PR and cuts to the chase showing founders everywhere how to get the word out faster, more authentically and without a massive price tag.
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The E Myth
This is a book about entrepreneurship and how to approach starting your own company. It will help you take a step back and look at your business with fresh eyes.
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Freelance To Freedom
This book shares the story of how Vincent and his wife created a side hustle photographing weddings on the weekends and paid off over $100 grand in debt in 3 years.
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The Big Leap
The subtitle says it all: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level. As freelancers, fears often get in the way of success.
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Drive
Daniel Pink explains the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and shows you what makes people tick.
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The Growth Hacking Book
Many solo businesses have tremendous potential to grow, but their owners don’t know exactly how to tap into the opportunities in front of them.
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Start With Why
Start with Why is an A to Z on how leaders inspire people to take action. If you apply this book to your business, it can help you attract loyal customers.
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The Mom Test
Primarily focused on startups that are bringing a new product or service to market, The Mom Test helps you learn how to properly talk to customers and how you can learn more from them.
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The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
This book sets out a series of behaviours that will make you more effective. Covey takes an integrated approach to help entrepreneurs improve their personal and interpersonal development.
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Do you have any other recommendations? Leave a comment here, or at One Person Business, would love to hear them!
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My three top books (that facilitated my whole SaaS career, including the exit) are
Built to Sell (John Warrillow) — probably the most instrumental guide for my journey
The E-Myth (Michael E. Gerber) [mentioned above]
The Mom Test (Rob Fitzpatrick) [mentioned above]-
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Thanks for your recommendation!
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Thanks for sharing the list! One book that I'm currently reading and also really enjoy is "Zero to Sold" by Arvid Kahl.
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Zero to One by Peter Thiel?
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I thought about that one, but that book focus on building new things. Most solo founders are looking to build something that generates some extra revenue, more like a side hustle. Although some might look for grand ideas, most probably want simple things
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Unpopular opinion: start building something first, start reading as "procrastination"
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Good take on it 🧐
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Start small, stay small by @robwalling is another big one
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Appreciate the mention, sir!
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@nafetswirth it's my favorite too, mate.
@robwalling I re-read your book many times, Rob. Thanks for writing it.
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Thank you, sir!
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It's interesting that it's usually missing from these lists, even tho it's such a great resource.
Why do you think that is?
Because it's not new and flashy? 🤔
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I’d guess because it older and also the super detailed approach turns some people off.
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Already enough fluff out there, imo.
Your book is super valuable, but then not everybody actually wants to do what's in books just feel good about themselves for reading it haha.
Lighter lecture for those folks out there for sure
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Great list man.
I love The Minimalist Entrepreneur by Sahil Lavinia as well.
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Great Share! Great list!
I will add to my reading list. 😄 -
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This is awesome, thank you so much Guilherme
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To be honest, I haven't read this book yet, but it's on my reading list. It's called "You Are a Badass at Making Money" by Jen Sincero.
I've seen this book listed in bunch of different must-read lists, seen reddit community talking about it and also heard that it's specially good if you're launching your internet business in the near future!
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Interesting. I'll give it a check, thanks
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This is awesome, thank you so much Guilherme. Saving this for later use 🙌
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And don't forget about "Zero to Sold" by Arvid Kahl!
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Thanks so much for sharing this
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Good list of books, My fav books:
The E-Myth Revisited
The Unfair Advantage: How You Already Have What It Takes to Succeed -
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Great cover
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Thank you so much for sharing this.
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Thanks for sharing the list!
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Thank you for putting this list together!
"The 4-Hour Work Week" has been a game changer for me personally, many valuable lessons! -
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Great Share !
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And after reading 21 (!!!) books you realize that you spent almost half a year reading full-time and not building anything only to read a bunch of books with advice that you by now have forgotten or known beforehand ¯\(ツ)/¯
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That's a good point. I also believe that building is the best way to learn. But sometimes a little balance is also important. You learn a bit, you build a bit.
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This is an amazing list, thanks for sharing. Though more about entrepreneurship, in general, I still love reading Unscripted: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Entrepreneurship (M. J. DeMarco).
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Anything you want by Derek Sivers is an inspiring and fun one to read too.
He founded (bootstrapping) CD Baby and sold it for $22 millions.
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I prefer the classics: Art of War by Sun Zi; Business: the ultimate resource; Your first business plan; The decision book
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thank you for list
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Cool list! Thank you for sharing!
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Currently, reading "The 4-Hour Workweek." Its insights on redefining work and time management are eye-opening. Excited to implement some of these ideas for a more balanced and fulfilling lifestyle!
And added the rest of them to my TBR.
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Thanks for this post, it made me impulsively buy several books:
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This is a comprehensive list, the only books I would consider adding are:
Hooked by Nir Eyal - The principles of product building are mandatory reading
A good sales book - eg. the Way of the Wolf by Jordan Belfort -
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I love The Minimalist Entrepreneur.
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The growth hacking book, is it a good read?
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