Finally I’m putting together my thoughts to have a better reply when I get asked: “What’s the one book I should read before starting a business?”
The honest answer? There isn’t one. The book you need on Day 1 is useless on Day 1,000, and the book that saves you during a crisis will just scare you to death during the ideation phase.
Building a company isn’t a single event; it’s a lifecycle. You need different tools for different stages.
These are some books that I find myself coming back to again and again, and even recommending to wantrepreneur friends on a regular basis.
If you are a first-time founder (or thinking about taking the leap), here is the logical reading order I recommend—from the spark of an idea to the strategy of scale.
Phase 1: The Spark & The Mindset
Start here to understand the life before you commit to the work.
1. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight Before you worry about “how,” you need to understand the grit required for the journey. This memoir details the messy, chaotic truth of building Nike. It’s the best book on the unpolished reality of entrepreneurship. Get it here
2. The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau Now that you’re inspired, this brings you back to earth. You don’t need venture capital to start; you just need a customer. This is the manual for bootstrapping a micro-business immediately. Get it here
Phase 2: Validation (Don’t Build Yet)
Stop guessing. Prove there is a problem to solve.
3. Disciplined Entrepreneurship by Bill Aulet This is the workbook I wish I had 15 years ago. A rigorous, 24-step framework from MIT that forces you to narrow your focus. It turns your vague idea into a specific plan. Get it here
4. Value Proposition Design by Alex Osterwalder Most products fail because they don’t match what customers actually want. This visual guide helps you achieve “Product-Market Fit” before you waste money building the wrong thing. Get it here
Phase 3: The Build Loop
Now you build, measure, and learn.
5. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries The modern standard. It shifts your goal from “building it right” to “building the right thing” using scientific experimentation. Get it here
6. Scaling Lean by Ash Maurya The tactical companion to Ries. It teaches you which metrics actually matter (traction) versus the “vanity metrics” that just make you feel good. Get it here
Phase 4: Traction & Fuel
You have a product. Now you need users and cash.
7. The Cold Start Problem by Andrew Chen If you are building a platform or marketplace, the hardest part is getting the first users. This explains how to jumpstart your network effects. Get it here
8. Get Backed by Evan Baehr & Evan Loomis When you are ready to raise money, you need a story, not just a slide deck. This is the best practical guide for fundraising I’ve seen. Get it here
Phase 5: Strategy & Scale
The problems change when you succeed.
9. 7 Powers by Hamilton W. Helmer Growth is great, but durability is better. This book teaches you how to build a “moat” around your business so you can maintain margins as you scale. It is the bible of modern business strategy. Get it here
10. Blitzscaling by Reid Hoffman There comes a time when you have to prioritize speed over efficiency to capture the market. This is the playbook for high-speed growth. Get it here
11. The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz The “boss level.” This isn’t about strategy; it’s about psychology. It covers the dark days, the layoffs, and the impossible decisions wartime CEOs have to make. Get it here
Building a business is lonely, but you don’t have to do it alone. If you’re currently navigating one of these stages and feel stuck, or just want to sanity-check your strategy, I’m always happy to talk.
Patrick Weeks 
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