Top Startup books recommended by experts

At MentorCruise, we are all about making the most out of the experience of others. As part of that, we've connected and asked dozens of experts and professionals about their favourite Startup books – and here are the answers.

Table of Contents

Fundamentals of Startup

Understanding the concepts of Startup starts with understanding the fundamentals. On your way to mastery, it's crucial for you to understand how certain concepts were derived, and why things work like they do. Starting with these resources is the best way to do so.

Contagious: How to Build Word of Mouth in the Digital Age

“Contagious: How to Build Word of Mouth in the Digital Age” offers a deep dive into the mechanics of virality. Jonah Berger's STEPPS framework (Social Currency, Triggers, Emotion, Public, Practical Value, Stories) provides a clear roadmap for anyone looking to boost their product or idea's word-of-mouth potential.Sep 25, 2023

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BE 2.0 (Beyond Entrepreneurship 2.0): Turning Your Business into an Enduring Great Company

What's the roadmap to create a company that not only survives its infancy but thrives, changing the world for decades to come?
Nine years before the publication of his epochal bestseller Good to Great, Jim Collins and his mentor, Bill Lazier, answered this question in their bestselling book, Beyond Entrepreneurship.
Beyond Entrepreneurship left a definitive mark on the business community…

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Thinking, Fast and Slow

Thinking, Fast and Slow is a 2011 popular science book by psychologist Daniel Kahneman. The book's main thesis is a differentiation between two modes of thought: "System 1" is fast, instinctive and emotional; "System 2" is slower, more deliberative, and more logical.

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Buy Back Your Time: Get Unstuck, Reclaim Your Freedom, and Build Your Empire

Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell is a productivity and time management guide that helps entrepreneurs maximize their time by focusing on their strengths and delegating tasks. It provides actionable advice on how to achieve more in less time and ultimately lead a more fulfilling life.

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The Hard Thing About Hard Things

"The Hard Thing About Hard Things" by Ben Horowitz is a guide for entrepreneurs and leaders that offers practical advice on managing difficult situations in business, including laying off employees, handling investor relationships, and making tough decisions.

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Start Something That Matters

Start Something That Matters by Blake, the founder of TOMS is the story of how he built a for-profit company where, for every pair of shoes purchase, he gives another one to kids in need. In the book he provides advice in how we all should do something to create social impact in society.

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Additional Startup Reading

These books are not required for you to learn Startup, but they are highly recommended for you to deepen your knowledge.

The $100 Startup

Chris identified 1,500 individuals who have built businesses earning $50,000 or more from a modest investment (in many cases, $100 or less), and focused on the 50 most intriguing case studies. In nearly all cases, people with no special skills discovered aspects of their personal passions that could be monetized, and were able to restructure their lives in ways that gave them greater freedom a…

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The Lean Startup

Rather than wasting time creating elaborate business plans, The Lean Startup offers entrepreneurs—in companies of all sizes—a way to test their vision continuously, to adapt and adjust before it’s too late. Ries provides a scientific approach to creating and managing successful startups in a age when companies need to innovate more than ever.

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Dotcom Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Growing Your Company Online with Sales Funnels

Written by ClickFunnels founder Russell Brunson, Dotcom Secrets delves into the concept of marketing from A to Z and teaches marketers worldwide how to build effective campaigns, grab the user's attention and deliver relevant results for them in the buying process, all through the sales funnel approach.

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Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist

Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist is a must-have resource for any entrepreneur, venture capitalist, or lawyer involved in VC deals as well as students and instructors in related areas of study. “It's a textbook on venture capital deals.

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Who: The A Method for Hiring

The four steps of the WHO method are 1) Scorecard, 2) Source/Search, 3) Interview, and 4) Grade/Select. A hiring scorecard is also called an interview scorecard. By creating a scorecard, the hiring team standardizes the hiring process so that each qualified candidate is given the same treatment.

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Running Lean

Running Lean is about testing a vision by measuring how customers behave. Running Lean is about engaging customers throughout the product development cycle. Running Lean tackles both product and market validation in parallel using short iterations. Running Lean is a disciplined and rigorous process.

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Specializations and Deeper Startup Knowledge

You've got your basics in order – time to move on to some advanced and specialized concepts. Startup is evolving every day, these books can help you master it.

Unlock AI Mastery: Secrets to Accelerate Business Growth and Dominate Competitors with Proven AI Strategies

In today's fast-paced digital landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) is not just a tool—it's a game-changer. Unlock AI Mastery demystifies AI and reveals practical strategies for leveraging its transformative power to revolutionize your business. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this comprehensive guide provides actionable insights into harnessing AI to streamline …

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Mastering the VC Game

Jeffrey Bussgang is one of a very few people who have played on both sides of this high-stakes game. Now he draws on his unique perspective to offer high-level insights, colorful stories, and practical advice gathered from his own experience as well as from interviews with dozens of the most successful entrepreneurs and VCs. He reveals how to get noticed, perfect a pitch, and negotiate a partn…

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Mastering the VC Game: A Venture Capital Insider Reveals How to Get from Start-up to IPO on Your Terms

Jeffrey Bussgang is one of a very few people who have played on both sides of this high-stakes game. Now he draws on his unique perspective to offer high-level insights, colorful stories, and practical advice gathered from his own experience as well as from interviews with dozens of the most successful entrepreneurs and VCs. He reveals how to get noticed, perfect a pitch, and negotiate a partn…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

This list is curated by MentorCruise and can include Amazon affiliate links. Have any other suggestions? Add here.

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I’m a marketing strategist, brand consultant, and Fractional CMO with 10+ years of experience helping startups, entrepreneurs, and growing businesses turn ideas into impact. I work hands-on with founders and small teams to clarify their brand, build high-converting strategies, and create marketing systems that drive real results. Whether you're refining …

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I'm John, an experienced engineering leader passionate about helping others grow in their careers and scale their impact. Over the past decade, I've led teams at companies like Instagram and Patreon, building products from early-stage MVPs to platforms used by millions of people. As a mentor, I offer guidance and …

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Alex is an experienced professional with a track record of international consulting engagements in the UK, Switzerland, Germany and the US and holds a B.Sc. in Business Informatics and M.Sc. in International Business. He is a curious and driven personality with the innate ability to capture and release hidden potentials …

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Software engineer, turned entrepreneur, turned advisor and investor. I've been a serial entrepreneur for 20+ years, currently sharing experience and guidance with driven entrepreneurs and CEO's. My mission is to help entrepreneurs start or growing their business, proving thoughtful feedback and guidance. I manage a startup incubator in Europe, supporting …

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Do you want to speed up your career or successfully transition to FNAAG? Do you need to define the product strategy or expand the operations? Let's work together! My Experience: I have 15 years of experience in Tech including 12 years in Google; a tenured leader with experience in running …

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I'm a self-taught Developer with experience at large B2C companies like Deliveroo and Memrise. I have a track record of helping people get their first jobs in Tech as well as upskilling Developers to get significant pay increases. I'm very proud of the work I've done with my mentees, check …

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