Abhijeet's 2025 Business Book Recommendations
Heyaa, it’s Abhijeet. The Book Blabber.
Here I'm listing my favourite classic business books. Although the business world hasn’t been the same as always, the basics are the same. These books will take you into those to help you build something lasting and successful.
These business book recommendations are among the great business books I found helpful as a content writer and marketer.
Check my other book recommendations here
If you’re looking for books on business, start with the list below. In no particular order.
Let's dive in.
Table of Contents
Alibaba
Alibaba is the story of Jack Ma and his company Alibaba and Taobao. You'll learn about his experiences and how he transformed into the entrepreneur he is today.
Jack has become the face of China. And this book provides a peek into his thought process.
If you're an entrepreneur or a wannabe, you should read this book. You’ll find quite a number of ideas to build your business from scratch. It’s full of ideas.
Additional Read: 19 Entrepreneurial Lessons from Alibaba
The Art of War
The Art of War is a book about military strategy. And its lessons can be replicated and applied to the competitive business environment too.
The strategies mentioned in the book can be valuable lessons for business owners. You’ll find an array of practical tips among the philosophical musings.
The book will also be helpful to marketers and salespeople. It teaches a range of techniques to gain advantage over competitors.
Zero to One
Zero to One provides you with a checklist to help you set up and grow a business. The book is an organised collection of notes about different startups and business theories
It’s a great resource for anyone thinking about building a new startup.
It might become your go-to guide in the maze of innumerable online resources. You'll learn what it takes to make it in business.
The book might turn out to be useful for marketing and business growth consultants as well.
No Shortcuts
No Shortcuts is an exclusive look in the minds of 15 startup founders. They’re among the first to disrupt the Indian business ecosystem.
The book documents the stories of those startups: the trials, the losses, and the wins.
Whether you have an established business, or want to launch one, this book will help you. You’ll get to understand what all it takes to build a successful one.
It’s a compilation of decisions and insights from the founders. You'll get their unique roadmap to success.
Crowdfunded
Crowdfunded, simply, is about successful crowdfunding strategies. It’s about raising money online. And it’s an overview of the features available on crowdfunding platforms.
You'll learn how crowdfunding works, how to raise money, and how to market your project. It includes various ways to spread awareness, increase sign-ups, and get more backers.
Mark has created an in-depth guide for the crowdfunding platforms Indiegogo and Kickstarter. It will be helpful to anyone who is involved with launching a crowdfunded product.
The $100 Startup
The $100 Startup tells the stories of 80+ micro-businesses who levelled past their struggles. It's a must read for anyone who wants to build a startup from their passion.
It provides insights into running a viable business and scale it.
You'll learn how to earn a good living while creating a life of independence and purpose. And you'll learn how to start small, without committing a lot of time or money, and still be successful.
Buy The $100 Startup on Amazon
Delivering Happiness
Delivering Happiness digs into the process of achieving extraordinary success by doing one thing. Think about ways to make your customer happy and your customer service experience memorable. That’s what made Zappos successful.
In this book, Tony shares the business lessons he learned from the varied experiences in life. It’s a book showcasing how a friendly corporate culture made Zappos profitable.
Tony shares his journey to becoming an entrepreneur. The book also has tips about friendship, networking and building rapport with others.
Buy Delivering Happiness on Amazon
The Personal MBA
The Personal MBA is for anyone who’s related to a business in some way. It’s valuable for startup founders and entrepreneurs, and marketers and salespeople as well.
If you’re interested in knowing how the business world works, The Personal MBA is a must-read. It’s a gem even for freelancers.
In this concise business book, you'll find all the core business principles to be successful.
It explains the essentials of business mindsets and user psychologies. The book is a practical guide to sales, marketing, negotiation, strategy, and much more.
Buy The Personal MBA on Amazon
How I Quit Google to Sell Samosas
How I Quit Google to Sell Samosas is a book for all startup founders, entrepreneurs and business owners. Munaf has documented his journey of quitting Google to start his food startup: The Bohri Kitchen . He’s shared the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, struggles, and successes.
The book contains tips and stories that can help you build an amazing company. The author has shared his experiences about learning new things, setting up systems and dealing with the unknowns of entrepreneurship.
Buy How I Quit Google to Sell Samosas on Amazon
Additional Read: Ten Startup Lessons from The Bohri Kitchen
Do Epic Shit
Do Epic Shit is a book for entrepreneurs and content creators who want to learn how to up their game. Ankur has shared valuable insights and examples on taking care of your life overall. With examples and stories, he teaches how to grow.
The book is filled with practical strategies and tools to help you achieve more, better and faster. You can learn how to set goals, create a game plan, build momentum and follow up.
Additional Read: My Favourite 29 Quotes for Creators from Do Epic Shit
Never Split the Difference
Never Split the Difference is a must-read book for anyone dealing with negotiations in their business. The book is about how to understand your counterpart and how to make better decisions. Chris has demonstrated how negotiations can help you earn more than expected.
Whether you’re a startup founder, a freelancer, a salesperson or a business owner, this book will help you negotiate better with clients. It’ll teach you to be confident during negotiations.
Buy Never Split the Difference on Amazon
More from Never Split the Difference:
Never Split the Difference book summary
56 Quotes from Never Split the Difference
Build
Build by Tony Fadell is about entrepreneurship. It provides insights into various aspects of the business, such as product development, marketing, customer service and more. Tony shares stories from his life at Apple, Nest and other startups he had been a part of.
The book shares how to start a business and how to turn that idea into a reality. It contains practical advice you can put into practice and develop a product that stands out in the crowd.
More from Build:
Tony Fadell’s Build book summary
87 Inspirational Startup Quotes from Build
Build, Don’t Talk
Build, Don't Talk is about business and motivation, in the form of stories. It contains instances and experiences from Raj’s life as a social media influencer, content creator and entrepreneur. It’s packed with useful and effective advice to help you win the race.
It’s a recommended read for entrepreneurs and content creators. You’ll get the motivation and a head start to build something.
Check my Build, Don’t Talk book review here
Buy Build, Don't Talk on Amazon
Additional Read: 55 Quotes from Build, Don’t Talk
Get Epic Shit Done
Get Epic Shit Done is for students, first-time founders and anyone who’s trying to find their way with life. Ankur uses examples and other life experiences to answer 36 life questions that people face almost every day.
The book answers common problems about friendship, relationships, habits, work and life in general. And it’s in the form of prolong conversation between a teacher and a student.
Check my Get Epic Shit Done book review here
Buy Get Epic Shit Done on Amazon
Additional Read: 37 Lovely Quotes from Get Epic Shit Done Book
Elon Musk
Elon Musk is a captivating biography of this maniac entrepreneur we know as Elon Musk. Ashlee captures the full spectacle and arc of the genius’s life and work. From his upbringing in South Africa to his dramatic entrepreneurial pursuits, you’ll read all about it.
The book isn’t filled with tech jargon and buzzwords at all. It has managed to provide a glimpse into Elon’s life without going into irrelevant details. The story flows, and really well.
It isn't only about Elon but also other people involved in making Elon who he is. But the focus is still on Elon and his ventures. It's fun and engaging. And it helps you understand why he is the way he is.
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant is a collection of Naval’s wisdom and experience from the last ten years. It’s shared as a curation of his most insightful interviews and reflections. You can say that the book is like a mishmash of his ideas, philosophy and business mindset.
The “Wealth” part consists of his thoughts on business and life balance. It also has a few bits on how to grow your business and wealth. The “Happiness” part is your regular self-help.
It’s an easy to read for the most part. I would recommend it to keep it in your library.
Buy The Almanack of Naval Ravikant from Amazon
Additional Read: 23 Best Quotes for Wealth and Happiness
Shoe Dog
Shoe Dog is a candid memoir of Phil Knight Nike’s founder. In the book, Phil shares the story of the company’s early days as a start-up and its evolution into an iconic brand.
The whole book is a beautiful story, instead of a mere account of important events. Phil details the risks and setbacks, along with his early triumphs. He talks about the formative relationships with his first partners and employees.
It’s not about Nike much, but it’s a good book to read. Not a business book, still a must-read.
Additional Read: 20 Shoe Dog Inspirational Quotes for Startups
Rework
Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson is a refreshing and unconventional guide to business and entrepreneurship. The book challenges traditional notions of starting and running a business, advocating for a more practical and efficient approach. It emphasizes the importance of simplicity, flexibility and prioritizing action over elaborate planning.
It debunks common myths about entrepreneurship, such as working long hours, large teams, and extensive funding. Instead, it promotes the idea that success comes from focusing on what truly matters and eliminating unnecessary complexities.
With its straightforward advice and real-world examples, Rework is a valuable read for anyone looking to build a successful and sustainable business.
More from Rework:
Humanise
Humanise by Plum Benefits (edited by Nisha Ramchandani) is a thought-provoking anthology exploring the human side of the workplace. This compilation of 30+ stories addresses often-overlooked aspects of work life, such as unnoticed gender biases, the impact of social media on careers, and mental health challenges.
The book offers real-world experiences and fresh perspectives aiming to elevate workplace conversations beyond mere productivity metrics. With its journalistic writing style and relatable content, it’s a powerful reminder that employees are more than just resources.
Additional Read: 33 Quotes on Work-Life Balance from Humanise
And with that, I’m wrapping this list up.
Check my other book recommendations here
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