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Looking for some empowering reading material. It’s no secret that leaders read. Today’s billionaire investors and entrepreneurs are among the most hungry readers. So what are the favorite books of billionaires every entrepreneur should read?
Note if you struggle to find time to read real books you may love this list of the Top 10 Audiobooks Every Entrepreneur Must Listen To. If you are a book connoisseur, then you’ll want to check out what Guy Kawasaki says about his latest release in this
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The Ultimate Guide To Pitch Decks
If you want to get inside the minds and successes of those on Forbes’ richest lists, then here’s what your favorite billionaires are recommending you read.
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1. The Intelligent Investor
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This is the famous investing book by Benjamin Graham who was Warren Buffett’s mentor. In this book, you’ll learn a lot about investing which you can apply to acquire other startups and even managing your own stock holdings.
2. Zero to One
Zero to One is Peter Thiel’s own book, and the only thing he has ever tweeted about. It’s also highly recommended by many other entrepreneurs and investors in this space. For this reason, the book is at #2 from the list of favorite books of billionaires every entrepreneur should read.
Inside you’ll learn a lot about Peter’s own journey and startups after PayPal, as well as his contrarian approach for successful VC investing.
For a peek at what he is investing in now, check out this case study on Brex and Henrique Dubugras, and how this 22-year-old owner has already built a $1.1B company.
Remember as well that if you are fundraising, storytelling is everything. For a winning deck, take a look at the pitch deck template created by Silicon Valley legend, Peter Thiel (see it here) where the most critical slides are highlighted. Moreover, I also provided a commentary on a pitch deck from an Uber competitor that has raised over $400M (see it here).
If you want a more robust pitch deck template you can use for free the one I created below which has been used already by thousands of entrepreneurs to raise millions.
[emaillocker id=693]ACCESS THE PITCH DECK TEMPLATE[/emaillocker]
3. Business Adventures
This is one of the top favorite books of billionaires every entrepreneur should read since Bill Gates has named this one of his favorite books. He originally borrowed a copy from Warren Buffett. It is a collection of in-depth articles exploring Wall Street and iconic business brands.
4. Sam Walton: Made In America
This classic is Sam Walton’s own story of building the world’s largest retailer – Walmart. A company that continues to grow and thrive in both good and tough economic times, and continues to provide a billionaire’s legacy for his heirs. Peak into his mind and take on the rules of both Wall Street and main street and another one of the favorite books of billionaires every entrepreneur should read
5. Direct From Dell
Michael Dell’s own story from childhood adventures, to overcoming business obstacles and growing one of the longest-lasting and biggest computing brands after starting out with just $1,000.
6. The Virgin Way: If It’s Not Fun, It’s Not Worth Doing
Richard Branson’s life and leadership tips for building extraordinary businesses and having fun while doing it. Probably the most admired entrepreneur of all time, Sir Richard Branson certainly epitomizes bold entrepreneurship and the success lifestyle many new startup founders aspire to.
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Since dropping out of school at 16, he has taken on the biggest corporations and industries on the planet, and beyond, not to mention owning one of the most famous private islands in the Caribbean.
7. The Fountainhead
A book by Ayn Rand which Mark Cuban considers essential reading for every entrepreneur. A great book for pivoting from thinking “who is going to let me?” to “who is going to stop me?”
8. The Effective Executive
A book by the famous Peter Drucker, recommended by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos. Given that Bezos is now considered the richest man on the planet it is without a doubt at the top of the favorite books of billionaires every entrepreneur should read.
In fact, it is one of three books of required reading for senior executives during Bezos’ all day book clubs. Inside you’ll find principles for decision making, group goal setting, time management and productivity.
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Worth noting that Jeff Bezos also has ownership in the Washington Post and Business Insider. Like Michael Bloomberg, has Bloomberg News. When you get to the top, it’s worth thinking about not only how to get and stay in the media, but how to own it too.
9. The Art of Startup Fundraising
Shameless plug… Zappo’s Tony Hsieh is one of many high profile entrepreneurs and professors to leave a raving review about the book The Art of Startup Fundraising. Considered one of the best business books, and perhaps the only truly ultimate guide to fundraising for startups. Complete strategy and tactics for getting from zero to the millions you want to fuel your own rocket ship with.
A fun fact you might not know about Tony is that in spite of having a net worth just shy of a billion dollars, he chooses to live in a Vegas Airstream trailer park for less than $1,000 a month.
10. Think and Grow Rich
Shark Tank’s Daymond John, like many other successful entrepreneurs, considers this classic book by Napoleon Hill to be a real life-changer. If you haven’t read it yet, but it at the top of your to-do list. It can completely change your trajectory in life and what you are capable of achieving.
Summary
Successful entrepreneurs read. Billionaires seem to read even more than anyone else. There has to be a connection there. For those reasons this list of the favorite books of billionaires every entrepreneur should read must be top of mind for any founder that is looking to build and scale a business.
In fact, it may be one of the top keys to success itself. If you don’t already have them, stack these books on your shelf and begin tearing into them right away. You can always scoop up the audio versions if you are that pressed on time.
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