17 Excellent Entrepreneurship Books You Can Read In A Weekend

As a new entrepreneur, you have a lot to learn, and you likely want to do it fast. Short but impactful business books can be the perfect solution for learning how to plan your business, hack your growth and develop other core entrepreneurial skills.

No matter what area you’re focused on, there are many books that cover all the bases. Below, 17 Forbes Coaches Council members share their must-read recommendations for emerging business owners. These picks are all 350 pages or fewer and can be finished in a single weekend—or a single sitting if you read quickly!

Members of Forbes Coaches Council share their recommendations for must-read books for entrepreneurs that can be finished over a weekend. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS.

1. The E-Myth Revisited (Michael E. Gerber)

The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It explains the role you play in your business’ growth, including assumptions you might be making that aren’t true. You’ll also learn about the different phases your business will go through, from infancy to a more mature business, and how to succeed. Finally, you’ll have an understanding of how developing systems and processes are key to sustaining your business. It’s all shared in an easy-to-grasp way. – Rosie Guagliardo, InnerBrilliance Coaching

2. The Difference Maker (John C. Maxwell)

A great book that can be completed in a weekend is The Difference Maker. This book is an easy read that discusses techniques for getting what you want. The book is straightforward and doesn’t sell the fantasy that every problem has a “miracle” quick fix. Yet, it expresses simple techniques that can ease the dilemmas of everyday life, whether it’s a business or personal matter. – Mika Hunter, Female Defender

3. The Outward Mindset (The Arbinger Institute)

This is a captivating book that is paradigm-shifting in both the areas of leadership development and change management. With a focus on looking beyond ourselves, The Outward Mindset: Seeing Beyond Ourselves provides simple yet profound steps for improving our own personal interactions. It clearly demonstrates how focusing on others’ goals has a positive impact on the entire organization. – Jennifer Thompson, Deviant Thinking

4. The War of Art (Steven Pressfield)

Screenwriter and novelist Steven Pressfield gets right to the core of what keeps creative thinkers and entrepreneurial minds “stuck” when they are struggling to finish a project, follow through with an idea or even start a new venture. The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles tells you how to win the battle against the “resistance” that keeps you from taking effective action in your business. – Matt Mills, Matt Mills Coaching

5. Traction (Gino Wickman)

Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business, by Gino Wickman, is a must-have for entrepreneurs. It takes concepts that have been around for 100 years and puts them into six key concepts—vision, people, data, issues, process, and traction—to “get your business in order” so you can soar. I highly recommend this book for any leader wanting more out of their business. – Sandi Mitchell, APEX Leadership Mastery

6. Relationomics (Randy Ross)

Business is about relationships. Dr. Randy Ross, known for his book Remarkable, just released a new book called Relationomics: Business Powered by Relationships. In this book, he examines the value of relationships in business. Many startups fail because they cannot establish the right relationships with both customers and team members. Entrepreneurs must understand the value of relationships in order to succeed in business. – Ken Gosnell, CEO Experience

7. Daring Greatly (Brené Brown)

One must-read book that you can get through in a weekend is Brené Brown’s Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead. In it, Brown discusses how being vulnerable allows us the power and courage to be our best selves. There is a power in vulnerability—the power of authenticity. Being authentic is the best business lesson for any entrepreneur to learn early. – Jon Dwoskin, The Jon Dwoskin Experience

8. Essentialism (Greg McKeown)

Most of us learn to say “Yes!” We try to be all things to all people. It doesn’t work. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, by Greg McKeown, provides a roadmap to the critical few “yeses.” McKeown lays out the importance of learning to focus on those things that are essential to success and stepping back from the rest. As a new entrepreneur, this includes what only you can do. – Brian Gorman, TransformingLives.Coach

9. The 4-Hour Workweek (Timothy Ferriss)

You can never get back time once it’s been spent. This is a quick and entertaining read that will help entrepreneurs value their time. If they haven’t read it yet (millions have in multiple languages) or if they read it a long time ago, Timothy Ferriss’ The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich offers a refreshing viewpoint, and concepts can quickly be implemented to keep entrepreneurs from hating their lives. – Christine Rose, Christine Rose Coaching & Consulting

10. Start With Why (Simon Sinek)

The life of a new entrepreneur can be chaotic, with too many options and opportunities and not enough clarity and direction. In Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, Simon Sinek cuts through the clutter and boils it down to the essential question, “Why do you do what you do?” Once this is clear, you can decide how you can do this best, and then shape what you do. Immediately this brings a sense of calm and focus. – Gabriella Goddard, Brainsparker Leadership Academy

11. Dare (Becky Blalock)

New entrepreneurs need sustainable reservoirs of unstoppable boldness and unshakable confidence. Raising up a business out of nothing requires giant leaps of faith. Women trailblaze a high percentage of startups, so I recommend Dare: Straight Talk on Confidence, Courage, and Career for Women in Charge, by Becky Blalock, former CIO of Southern Co. It’s full of mentoring gold from awesome female CEOs! – Diana Furr, Champions of Destiny

12. The Big Leap (Gay Hendricks)

Hands down the book I recommend for new entrepreneurs is The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level, by Gay Hendricks. It not only speaks to why it’s so important to locate and work in your zone of genius, but it also provides some great insight into land mines and barriers to getting there. It’s a must-read for anyone seeking to make a leap in their career or into entrepreneurship. – Carol Parker Walsh, Carol Parker Walsh Consulting, LLC

13. The Obstacle Is the Way (Ryan Holiday)

In The Obstacle is the Way: The Ancient Art of Turning Adversity to Advantage, Holiday’s storytelling highlights how notable leaders throughout history turned obstacles into opportunities. These greats practiced Stoicism, the ancient Greek philosophy of enduring with perseverance. Halfway through the 184-page read, your mindset starts shifting as you begin to see difficulties as openings for growth. This is a critical mindset to establish early on as an entrepreneur. – Sandy Schwan, Evolving Strategies LLC

14. The 15 Invaluable Laws Of Growth (John C. Maxwell)

Relevant and vital for business and personal growth, in The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth: Live Them and Reach Your Potential Maxwell shares the essential core “laws” of growth that apply to all areas of life. This book is an easy-to-consume read with an excellent balance of storytelling and specifics. With over 50 years of personal business success, Maxwell shares valuable and tangible career growth development advice that has enabled him to achieve his goals. – Erin Urban, UPPSolutions, LLC

15. Platform (Michael Hyatt)

Michael Hyatt has the knack of simplifying the systems needed for entrepreneurs, high achievers, and people who want to become more organized. Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World is a step-by-step guide to increase your influence and build a financially viable career or business. This book can definitely be read in a weekend. It’s concise and digestible with “proven strategies, easy to replicate formulas and practical tips.” – Frances McIntosh, Intentional Coaching LLC

16. Mini Habits (Stephen Guise)

Mini Habits: Smaller Habits, Bigger Results is a great little starter book for developing good, lasting habits. Sometimes the hardest part of being an entrepreneur is getting the ball rolling and keeping up motivation. This book takes you back to the basics and teaches how to start small and work your way up until the habits become second nature. You’ll learn how to get into a rhythm of good habits to make things move. – Andy Bailey, Petra Coach

17. The Lean Startup (Eric Ries)

If the entrepreneur is moving out of a corporate environment, The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses is an important read. Corporate environments train us to do extensive prelaunch testing and research, which takes time and money not afforded to many startups. In today’s climate, entrepreneurs need to embrace the practice of launching when the product is good enough to learn from and optimizing for better results. – Stacey Staaterman, Stacey Staaterman Coaching & Consulting