June 13, 2018 By Suzanne Robertson

Harry Truman once declared: “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.”

It’s true! Research any high-profile entrepreneur like Elon Musk, Oprah Winfrey or Bill Gates and you’ll learn that reading is one of the secrets to their success. Busy business owners may not have a lot of bandwidth to read but the following business books are worth blocking out some time on the calendar.

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We’ve researched the ten best books for entrepreneurs to tackle in 2018.

Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss

Tim Ferriss has been listed as one of Fast Company's "Most Innovative Business People," one of Forbes's "Names You Need to Know," and one of Fortune's "40 under 40." This guy knows his stuff.

Personal stories along with excerpts from guests make this big book a worthwhile read. You’ll be inspired, informed and ultimately excited about taking the next step in your entrepreneurial journey.Screen-Shot-2018-06-05-at-5_46_26-PM

 

Principles by Ray Dalio

This #1 New York Times Bestseller and #1 Amazon Business Book of the Year features quotes from Bill Gates and Tony Robbins on the cover so you know this speaks to the heavy hitting entrepreneur. Principles has been described as “both instructive and surprisingly moving.”Screen-Shot-2018-06-05-at-5_47_29-PM

 

10X Rule by Grant Cardone

Cardone shows how to be successful no matter your background or personal connections. He believes that success is earned by working ten times harder than anyone else and displaying a 'domination mentality.'

This reviewer quote sums up 10X Rule perfectly: "Love this book. The 10X Rule is dead on right! It boldly takes on the biggest issue most people skip and then wonder why they didn't reach their goals: WORK!" -Larry Winget, New York Times bestselling author of Your Kids Are Your Own Fault and The Idiot FactorScreen-Shot-2018-06-05-at-5_49_09-PM

 

Hug Your Haters by Jay Baer

Hug Your Haters is described as the first modern book on customer service that can make you money, save you money and completely change the way you look at customers.

80% of companies say they deliver superior customer service but only 8% of their customers agree. This book is based on an extensive study into how, where, and why we complain and includes case studies from businesses of all types and sizes from around the world.

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The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

If you’re not convinced this book is for you, consider that it’s been endorsed by entrepreneurial giants Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page and Peter Thiel.

Horowitz doesn’t believe that there is one formula for success. He does believe that there are valuable lessons to be learned from other’s failures and hardships. Many talk about the joys of starting a business. This author is very honest about the difficulty of pulling it off.https://21458256.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/21458256/Imported_Blog_Media/hard-thing.jpg

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They Ask, You Answer by Marcus Sheridan

"They Ask, You Answer," was named the No. 1 marketing book to read in 2017 by Mashable and its advice applies to 2018 and beyond.

Sheridan shares how his company, River Pools and Spas, used content marketing to avoid bankruptcy during the 2008 economic crisis. He’s now a popular speaker and is recognized as a leader in digital marketing and sales strategies. Regardless of your budget, this straightforward guide can help fix your current marketing strategy for improved ROI.
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Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the New Science of Success by Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness

These authors aren’t world-renowned entrepreneurs, but they use their experience in health, athletic coaching and performance regimens to help readers who might be facing burnout. They offer lots of tips on how to focus on productivity, happiness, and success for the rest of your life through physical and mental exercises. What busy small business owner couldn’t benefit from that strategy?Screen-Shot-2018-06-05-at-5_54_11-PM

 

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap & Others Don't by Jim Collins

Are there companies that defy gravity and convert mediocrity into superiority? What are the universal characteristics that cause a company to go from good to great? Collins second best-selling book explores these questions. Filled with dozens of stories and examples from the great and not so great, the book offers ideas and strategies for business owners to consider.https://21458256.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/21458256/Imported_Blog_Media/good-to-great.jpg

 

Hacking Growth: How Today’s Fastest-Growing Companies Drive Breakout Success by Sean Ellis and Morgan Brown

This book explores how growth hacking helped companies like Facebook, Uber and Pinterest become powerful and profitable. Growth hacking is a strategy that both start-ups and established companies use to grow quickly. The authors teach how to use growth hacking methods to scale your business.https://21458256.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/21458256/Imported_Blog_Media/hacking-growth.png

 

Crushing It! How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence-and How You Can, Too by Gary Vaynerchuk

Described as a lively, practical, and inspiring book, Crushing It! explores experiences of entrepreneurs who said "no" to a corporate path and built thriving businesses. Gary dives deep into every current major social media platform and shows how anyone can elevate their personal brand.https://21458256.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/21458256/Imported_Blog_Media/crushing-it.jpg

 
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