Starting a business or even just dreaming of one can feel like juggling million things at once whether it’d be strategy, people, money, and a whole lot of uncertainty. And while experience teaches you plenty, a good book can often teach you faster. The best ones don’t just hand out advice; they share the experience & lessons and the mind-set behind the hustle.
So, if you’re looking to sharpen your entrepreneurial instincts, here are ten books—some home-grown, some global that will keep your ideas fresh and your motivation alive.
- The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
Let’s start with a classic. The Lean Startup is like the blueprint for modern entrepreneurship. Ries shows you how to test, learn, and adapt quickly without wasting time or money. His “build–measure–learn” loop is a mindset every founder should know before diving headfirst into a big idea. - Zero to One by Peter Thiel
Peter Thiel wants you to stop thinking in copies and start thinking in creations. Zero to One is about doing something truly new, not just better. It’s sharp, bold, and challenges you to build things that move the world forward and not sideways. - Do Epic Shit by Ankur Warikoo
One of India’s most recognizable entrepreneurial voices, Ankur Warikoo brings a refreshing honesty to the table. Do Epic Shit isn’t a “how-to” manual, it’s a peek into his personal lessons, failures, and reflections on building a life with intention. It’s casual, relatable, and packed with real talk for anyone trying to balance ambition and purpose. - The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz
Horowitz’s book is the comfort food of the entrepreneurial world—but with tough love. He writes about managing chaos, leading through failure, and making brutal decisions. It’s not sugar-coated wisdom; it’s raw, funny, and painfully real. - Stay Hungry Stay Foolish by Rashmi Bansal
This Indian bestseller spotlights 25 IIM Ahmedabad graduates who traded corporate comfort for risky dreams. Rashmi Bansal captures what’s uniquely Indian about entrepreneurship—the leap of faith, the family pressure, the uncertain beginnings. You’ll find yourself nodding through every story. - Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
Phil Knight’s memoir of building Nike from scratch reads like an adventure story. From selling shoes out of his car to creating a global brand, it’s an unfiltered look at grit, doubt, and belief. You’ll come away realizing success isn’t linear—it’s a mess of mistakes that somehow start to make sense in the end. - Connect the Dots by Rashmi Bansal
If Stay Hungry Stay Foolish celebrates MBAs chasing dreams, Connect the Dots celebrates those who never had one. These are stories of everyday Indians who turned small ideas into big ventures it’s a proof that you don’t need a degree to think differently. - Atomic Habits by James Clear
At its core, success is most often times built on routine. Atomic Habits shows how small, consistent changes lead to massive results. Entrepreneurs often chase overnight success, but Clear gently reminds you that slow, steady improvement is far more powerful—and far more sustainable. - Dream With Your Eyes Open by Ronnie Screwvala
Ronnie Screwvala’s journey from building UTV to investing in India’s startup scene is full of grounded wisdom. He writes about risk, leadership, and the realities of doing business in India where patience and persistence often matter more than the perfect pitch deck. - The High-Performance Entrepreneur by Subroto Bagchi
Subroto Bagchi, co-founder of Mindtree, writes like a mentor sitting across the table from you. His book walks through every stage of building a business from spotting opportunities to managing growth without any jargon. It’s practical, sharp, and deeply Indian in its sensibility.
Entrepreneurship isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about curiosity, resilience, and the willingness to keep learning even when things fall apart. These ten books don’t promise quick fixes; they give offer you guidance and a new perspective.
Whether it’s Ankur Warikoo’s personal lessons, Rashmi Bansal’s inspiring Indian stories, or Phil Knight’s global grit, each one brings something valuable to the table. Some will push you to think bigger; others will remind you that slow progress is still progress.
So pick one this week. Read it over your morning coffee, during a long commute, or right before bed. Let it challenge how you think and why you do what you do.
Because in the end, great entrepreneurs aren’t just builders, they’re readers who keep reinventing themselves, one page at a time, again and again.
Entrepreneur School of Business, Dimapur.