Founders reveal books that changed their lives
Andrew is still on vacation (till July 5), which gives me a chance to do a post that many Mixergy fans have requested.
Hello my name is Aditya Shukla and I’ve been asking past mixergy guests to recommend books which they have found useful in their entrepreneurial journey and how it has influenced them.
Read through the list and let me know what you think, in the comments.
Guy Kawasaki – If You Want to Write
If You Want to Write by Brenda Ueland
It liberates people from the mental barriers that hold them back. Ostensibly for writers, it’s applicable to anyone who wants to excel in what they are passionate about.
Guy Kawasaki is the co-founder of Alltop.com.
Unity Stoakes – Getting Real & The Dip
Getting Real by 37Signals
Every entrepreneur should read this book because it gives hundreds of practical tips to help you simplify, focus, and get products to market.
The Dip by Seth Godin
This is a must read for every entrepreneur because it will remind you how important it is to carry on through the darkest days and your most challenging times when building your business.
Unity Stoakes is the co-founder and president of OrganizedWisdom.com.
David Heinemeier Hansson – Maverick
Maverick by Ricardo Semler
Gave me the confidence to pursue many organizational ideas outside of the mainstream. Semler runs a industrial giant with thousands of employees and they’re doing some very radical things and thriving.
David Heinemeier Hansson is the creator of Ruby on Rails.
Jeff Pulver – The Firm
The Firm by John Grisham
I read books by John Grisham because I like the way he thinks.
Jeff Pulver is Founder and Chairman of Pulver.com.
Dan Shapiro – How to Win Friends & Bargaining for Advantage
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Have you ever watched an old Hitchcock movie and thought that it feels derivative, then realized that because modern movies actually derive from it? “How to Win Friends” is like that. Every modern business and self-help book has some lineage descended from Dale Carnegie, and his original is still the best. The name may sound sleazy, but there’s no better text on the basic art of being a decent and effective human being.
Bargaining for Advantage: Negotiation Strategies for Reasonable People by G. Richard Shell
When Google came to acquire my company, I literally sat down and re-read this book cover to cover. It was the backbone for my entire negotiation strategy. It’s easy to read, it’s based on solid academic research, it’s thoughtful, it’s ethical, and it works.
Dan Shapiro is the founder and CEO of Sparkbuy Inc.
Vid Luther – Influence & Theory of Moral Sentiments
Influence: The Psychology of persuasion by Robert Cialdini
This book taught me more about how to convince/persuade people, not just things I wanted, but things I thought were needed it’s a great understanding of how and why we do things as a race. It can be used for good or evil.
Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith
This is Smith’s first book, and it talks about how everything we do is done for the greater good, people who only read Wealth of Nations usually don’t understand what Smith was trying to say, so if you’ve read WoN, please read this as well, otherwise I guarantee, that you’ve taken it out of context. This book basically re-inforces my faith in humanity, and Heinlein’s Razor (“don’t attribute to malice, what you can attribute to stupidity”). This is why I don’t focus so much time worrying about my “competition”, as much as I do for building a better product that people will want.
Vid Luther is CEO and Founder of ZippyKid.
David Hauser – The Alchemist
The Alchemist by Paulo Cohelo
The Alchemist is not a typical business book at all but one of my favorite books cause really a great story about life and how the world works with you to do great things.
David Hauser is the co-founder of The Grasshopper Group.
Michael Russo – Where Good Ideas Come From
Where Good Ideas Come From by Steven Johnson
Where Good Ideas Come From provides an incredible framework for exploring ideas, innovation, and creativity.
Michael Russo is the co-founder and Chief Technical Officer of Polar Mobile.
Andrew Miller – The Art of the Start
The Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki
I read this book back when I was contemplating putting significant time and effort into building up Rocket Theme. I greatly respect Guy and marvel at all he has achieved, and this book really gave me the confidence to do the thing I had long dreamed about. Although not everything pertained to how I started my business, there were some really great nuggets of information that definitely proved useful in the years to follow.
Andrew Miller is the CEO and Founder of RocketTheme.
Ty Morse – The Devil is Dead
The Devil is Dead by R.A. Lafferty’s
That book taught me everything I know about business, unreliable narratives, and furtive people.
Ty Morse is the co-founder of Songwhale.
Seth Lieberman Lonely Planet Series
Lonely Planet Series
The more you travel the more you understand about the world, its rich diversity and the opportunities it offers that are need of solutions. Get out of your comfort zone once in a while.
Seth Lieberman is the founder of Pangea Media.
Chris Jankulovski –Ready, Fire, Aim:Zero to $100 million in no time flat
Ready, Fire, Aim:Zero to $100 million in no time flat by Michael Masterson
This is the only book i bring with me everywhere in the world over the last year, a book i have re-read about 4 times now.
Chris Jankulovski is the founder of Remote Staff.
John Warrillow – Small Giants
Small Giants by Bo Burlingham’s
An inspiring book that gives entrepreneurs the permission to build a great company, not just a big one.
John Warrillow is an entrepreneur, author and speaker.
What do YOU think?
Andrew asked me to help him keep past interviewees engaged in the community so you can keep learning from them. This is my first project. What should I do next? As other past guests for their favorite books? Ask another question? Something else? Help us in building the best entrepreneurship learning platform on the web.
