Seven Books Every Entrepreneur Should Add to Their Library

There’s no single blueprint to success in entrepreneurship, but one thing is clear: those who lead, innovate, and build lasting ventures often do so with the wisdom, insights, and lived experiences of others in their toolkit. Books offer a powerful, accessible way to expand your knowledge, challenge your thinking, and expose you to stories that affirm, stretch, and inspire your own journey.

As Black entrepreneurs, it’s especially valuable to lean into resources that reflect our realities, histories, and brilliance. Stories told through Black lenses provide not just business strategies, but deep cultural context, lessons on resilience, and roadmaps for navigating systems that weren’t always built for us.

Here are seven books you should consider adding to your library as you continue to build, scale, or refine your business:

1. The Black Founder: The Hidden Power of Being an Outsider

   Stacey Spikes

   Stacey Spikes, co-founder of MoviePass, shares his powerful story of navigating the startup world as a Black entrepreneur in an overwhelmingly white tech industry. Part memoir, part business manual, the book offers insights on turning marginalization into momentum, carving out space in saturated markets, and maintaining authenticity in the face of adversity. It’s a bold call to action for underrepresented founders to embrace their uniqueness as a competitive advantage.

2. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't

   Jim Collins

   A business classic, this book explores the qualities that differentiate companies that make the transition from good to truly great. Based on five years of research and rigorous analysis, Collins outlines key concepts like Level 5 Leadership, the Hedgehog Concept, and the Flywheel Effect. This book is essential for entrepreneurs looking to build organizations that can grow beyond their early stages and thrive over the long haul.

3. Black Titan: A.G. Gaston and the Making of a Black American Millionaire

   Carol Jenkins and Elizabeth Gardner Hines

   This biography chronicles the life of Arthur George Gaston, a Black entrepreneur who built a business empire in the Jim Crow South. His story is one of grit, brilliance, and strategic foresight in an era of intense racial discrimination. From funeral homes to insurance to banking, Gaston built enterprises that served and uplifted the Black community. This book provides historical perspective and inspiration for those building for both profit and purpose.

4. The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It

   Michael E. Gerber

   Gerber dispels common myths about entrepreneurship and explains why so many small businesses fail. He introduces the critical distinction between working in your business versus working on it. This book is a game-changer for entrepreneurs who are burning out doing everything themselves and need to design better systems, processes, and scalable structures.

5. Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business

   Gino Wickman

   This book introduces the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), a set of simple, practical tools designed to help business leaders gain clarity, accountability, and control. Whether you're running a small team or leading a growing company, Traction provides a framework to get organized, set priorities, and create a growth-oriented culture.

6. The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table

   Minda Harts

   This book centers the experiences of women of color in the workplace and offers actionable advice for navigating challenges while claiming leadership and agency. Though tailored toward women, The Memo is deeply relevant for any entrepreneur committed to building equitable workspaces and understanding the realities of underrepresented professionals.

7. Company of One: Why Staying Small is the Next Big Thing for Business

   Paul Jarvis

   Jarvis challenges the growth-at-all-costs narrative and presents a compelling case for staying intentionally small, nimble, and values-driven. For entrepreneurs who want to prioritize autonomy, sustainability, and depth over endless scale, this book offers a fresh perspective on what success can look like.

As you consider adding these to your shelf, we know platforms like Amazon or Audible offer convenience and speed. But we also encourage you to go a step further. Explore independent bookstores in your area or consider purchasing through Black-owned bookstores like Mahogany Books, where your dollars go further in supporting community and culture.

Happy reading—and building.