20 books that every startup founder should read:
1. zero to one by @peterthiel presents an optimistic view of anyone's potential to innovate: it starts by relearning how to think for yourself
2. the innovator's dilemma by @claychristensen the textbook on disruption theory. learn why and how startups can beat market leaders who have millions more dollars and resources
3. start with why by @simonsinek makes the case that effective leadership comes from inspiration. and inspiration comes from purpose
4. the hard thing about hard things by @bhorowitz candid and personal stories from the cofounder of @a16z about how to get through the tough times of building something
5. the art of strategy by avinash dixit game theory is something all founders should understand and study. this is the most practical book i've found to teach it
6. the cold start problem by @andrewchen reveals how to harness network effects — the most powerful force in startups
7. shoe dog by phil knight a classic memoir on how nike went from a startup into one of the world's most iconic brands
8. blitzscaling by @reidhoffman speed is a startup's main advantage. this book teaches the playbook many top startups have used to scale as quickly as possible
9. high growth handbook by @eladgil crystal-clear guidance for navigating the most complex challenges that confront leaders and operators in high-growth startups
10. thinking in bets by @dnnieduke a reminder to play the odds, and that sometimes even the right move doesn't work out
11. secrets of sand hill road by @skupor learn what and how vcs actually think through when evaluating startups from a partner at @a16z
12. the mom test by @robfitz a quick, practical guide on how to talk to and learn from your users
13. hooked by @nireyal a how-to guide for building better products that capture widespread attention and avoid flopping
14. fundraising by @theryanking a compelling, modern guide that dispels many common misconceptions about raising from vcs
15. getting acquired by @agazdecki an honest and personal look behind the scenes at the journey to, well, get acquired
16. hacking growth by @SeanEllis a toolkit to grow without having to throw things at the wall and wait to see what sticks
17. measure what matters by @johndoerr OKRs are usually implemented incorrectly — this book shows how to do OKRs right
18. what you do is who you are by @bhorowitz tips for how to do the things you need to become the best kind of leader ― the one others want to follow
19. high output management by andy grove a pragmatic handbook about how to optimize your growth by managing effectively
20. build by @tfadell an unorthodox view into how to build things people actually want from the cofounder of nest
bonus: the almanack of naval ravikant, curated by @EricJorgenson a collection of @naval's wisdom and experience, shared through his most insightful interviews and poignant reflections
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what great startup books did i miss? let me know 👇
