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Business Books Worth Reading
I created this lens to highlight several of my favorite books and periodicals about business. Many of my selections are not the bestselling titles in their respective categories, but you will find in this list several hidden gems that contain a wealth of useful information. No, you won't discover how to make millions flipping properties for $0 down or how to build your MLM downline, but if you want to roll up your sleeves and learn how to start a real business that creates value for customers, read on!
Entrepreneurship
The Origin and Evolution of New Businesses
Based on extensive empirical research, Bhide unveils the recipes behind successful startups. Entrepreneurs don't need unique ideas and venture funding. Rather, they must be able to adapt quickly to changing business conditions. One of the few really useful academic studies of entrepreneurship in print.
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The Four Steps to the Epiphany
This is one of the best resources on bootstrap entrepreneurship available. It describes a systematic, iterative process for finding and cultivating paying customers. Following the Customer Development model will lead you to make smarter choices in the first critical months of your startup. You'll learn how to test and validate your target market while conserving precious seed capital. Most importantly, you'll avoid the "ready, fire, aim" trap that is among the leading causes of new business failures.
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The Entrepreneurial Mindset: Strategies for Continuously Creating Opportunity in an Age of Uncertainty
Primarily oriented towards larger organizations, but has useful sections on product design and opportunity recognition for budding entrepreneurs.
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A Good Hard Kick in the Ass: Basic Training for Entrepreneurs
Despite its technology focus, Rob Adams has penned a no-nonsense approach to starting a business. His book is particularly good at helping entrepreneurs with customer selection.
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Will It Fly? How to Know if Your New Business Idea Has Wings...Before You Take the Leap (Financial Times Prentice Hall Books)
A great checklist to review when analyzing business opportunities.
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Entrepreneurship, Continued
The Illusions of Entrepreneurship: The Costly Myths That Entrepreneurs, Investors, and Policy Makers Live By
This book shows that the reality of entrepreneurship is decidedly different from the myths that have come to surround it. The author draws on the data from extensive research to provide accurate, useful information about who becomes an entrepreneur and why, how businesses are started, which factors lead to success, and which predict a likely failure. The Illusions of Entrepreneurship is an essential resource for everyone who has dreamed of starting a new business, for investors in start-ups, for policy makers attempting to facilitate the formation and survival of new businesses, and for researchers interested in the economic impact of entrepreneurial activity.
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Amazon Price: $17.16 (as of 07/11/2009) 
Strategy
Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant
This is one of my favorite new books on strategy and value innovation. The authors outline a systematic approach to creating highly profitable new business models by questioning the assumptions that industry players have always taken for granted. Highly recommended.
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Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors
A landmark in the field of corporate strategy, Porter's industry framework remains just as relevant today. If you only read one book on the subject, make it this one.
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How to Drive Your Competition Crazy: Creating Disruption for Fun and Profit
Far less cerebral than most titles on business strategy, Kawasaki's wonderful book is full of useful ideas drawn from real companies that can be easily applied or adapted to your own business. A copy should be in every entrepreneur's library!
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Leadership
Management of the Absurd
A quick read full of counter-intuitive wisdom about the complexities and paradoxes of leading people.
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The Great Game of Business
An inspiring story of a turnaround at a troubled manufacturing company. Jack Stack shows how open-book management gets employees to act like owners and gives a company an incredible advantage against its competitors.
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Investing & Personal Finance
More Than You Know: Finding Financial Wisdom in Unconventional Places
A very entertaining read that discusses decision making in the context of investing. Mauboussin draws from the latest in behavior economics and cognitive sciences to give the reader invaluable insights into the concepts of risk and choice.
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Fire Your Stock Analyst: Analyzing Stocks On Your Own (Definitive Guides (Financial Times/Prentice Hall))
For investors, this book provides a solid overview of security analysis from both a growth and value perspective. If you start picking individual stocks, be sure to read this book first!
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The Essays of Warren Buffett : Lessons for Corporate America
The master speaks. A collection of his essays from Berkshire Hathaway annual reports that contain a wealth of information for investors.
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Business Periodicals
The Economist
My favorite source of business news and international affairs. Head and shoulders above the competition.
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Harvard Business Review
No "fluff." Each issue contains thought-provoking articles and case studies that will have an impact on your business.
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![The Wall Street Journal [1-year subscription]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51NYtqlrbWL._SL75_.jpg)
The Wall Street Journal [1-year subscription]
Ignore the political rants on the op-ed page. Still required reading for any serious student of business.
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My Favorite Movies About Business
This part is just for fun...
Glengarry Glen Ross
Hilarious look at the ABCs of selling (always be closing). Great ensemble performance!0 points
Barbarians at the Gate
Peek behind the curtains of high finance to see how multibillion-dollar deals go down. At the end of the day, it's still about ego, greed, and fear.0 points
The Lion in Winter
Not a business movie, but you can learn a LOT about negotiation strategy from this film, not to mention the incredible performances all around.0 points
Essential Business Gear
More fun...Don't forget these important items to look the part!
Leather Portfolio - Meeting Minutes
You need to carry one of these, but your stenographer will do all the note taking.1 point
Montblanc Meisterstuck Black Ballpoint Pen 164
You wouldn't sign a multimillion-dollar deal with a Bic, would you?1 point
Rolex Mens Submariner 16610 Watch
James Bond and Jack Bauer can't be wrong!0 points
Christian Dior French Designer Silk Tie Necktie
Is the "power tie" back in fashion, yet?0 points
More Great Stuff to Explore
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Cost-Volume-Profit ("CVP") Analysis for Entrepreneurs
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As an entrepreneur, your goal in creating a new business is to satisfy a set of customers profitably and to sell enough goods or services to satisfy your ongoing fixed costs as well as recover your initial investment. Cost-Volume-Profit (or "CVP...
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How to Tell a Business Opportunity From an Idea
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I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Contrary to what many aspiring entrepreneurs believe, the key to a successful startup does not rest upon having a unique, one-of-a-kind idea. Don't get me wrong. A good idea is a necessary starting point fo...
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Dispelling Common Misconceptions about Entrepreneurship
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Judging by the huge number of books, magazines, and Web sites on the topic, entrepreneurship is of enormous interest to the public. People from nearly every walk of life dream of one day being their own boss and becoming financially independent, yet...
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How to Grow Your Business by "Firing" Customers
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Are your company's sales growing while profitability remains weak? Do your customers demand steep discounts or expensive concessions to close a deal? Does your strategy consist of hustling for every dollar you can grab hold of? Well, it turns out you...
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The Top 10 Reasons Startups Fail
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New research by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that nearly six in ten businesses shut down within the first four years of operation. While not as calamitous as the 90% failure rate often repeated as fact, the BLS statistics are sobering fo...
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ArtSiren wrote...
Nice lens! I'm still in the middle of building a similar one - with a UK angle, but business is business wherever you are I guess. I'll feature this lens on it! A good collection.
Posted July 14, 2008
MarcNorris wrote...
Definitely a good collection of business books - I'll have to buy some to read when I have a spare moment.
Great lens!
Posted July 04, 2008
stemcells wrote...
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Posted October 17, 2007
by Gimmesome
I'm an MBA and former I-banker, currently involved in entrepreneurship education at a top MBA program.
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