Top 10 Business Books That Will Help You Succeed

People who have a business to run, indeed have a lot to focus on. However, it can get difficult to keep up with the latest developments happening constantly, especially for small business owners. 

When you have an empire to build, it is overwhelming, let alone finding time for other activities such as skillset building or interpersonal interactions.

Yet, as an entrepreneur or business owner, you need to expand your knowledge horizon. And with various business books at hand, you do not have to look around for other ways of knowledge empowerment. 

For ages, books have had the potential to influence people and lives. And every year we see book authors throughout the world inspiring readers with their words. If we reflect on 2022, we can surely say that it was an amazing year for book readers, where the wordsmiths encouraged entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small business owners alike to come up with groundbreaking and innovative ideas for the future.

You can explore more secrets to success by adding the best of these books to your arsenal for 2023. Without further ado, let’s dive into the top business books for a flourishing 2023.

1. Twelve and a Half: Leveraging the Emotional Ingredients Necessary for Business Success - By Gary Vaynerchuk

Social media has been proven as the biggest influence for businesses today, and Gary Vaynerchuk is a living proof of it.

To have a successful business, you need to be mentally and emotionally charged, and this is the lesson Gary showcases in his sixth book. Twelve and a Half covers the 12 emotional skills that Gary credits for his successful journey, where some of the skills are empathy, gratitude, curiosity, and so on.

For some, all skills are required, including some of their own, and for others, some emotional skills can pave the way for success. Every year is a great way to do something different or learn something better, and 'Twelve and a Half: Leveraging the Emotional Ingredients Necessary for Business Success' can inspire or challenge you all together.

2. Nine Lies About Work: A Freethinking Leader’s Guide to the Real World - By Marcus Buckingham and Ashley Goodall

We all feel constant pressure while working. From employees to employers, we all are surrounded by a bubble that is filled with frustration, disagreement, and supervision. Nine Lies About Work challenges the common knowledge related to work that leads individuals to conflict, disengagement, and frustration.

The book uncovers the common misconceptions surrounding a company’s ethos where team strength is secondary to the environment or office culture. The book provides a realistic view of what most companies perceive instead of what they should.

All in all, Nine Lies About Work is enclosed with facts and examples that smartly tackle topics such as employee retention, loyalty, feedback, and the company’s objective settings.

3. A Promised Land - By Barack Obama 

Barack Obama is not only a leader but also an inspiration. His book ‘A Promised Land’ is a well-stated example.

Providing immediate knowledge and perspectives from the 44th president, A Promised Land is a beautifully penned-down description of personal and national history, motivation, and leadership philosophy.

We all know how a good leader can motivate us to achieve the impossible, and Obama is one himself. His book covers the quintessential aspects and concepts that every business person can put into practice for success ahead.

The book unpacks the needed wisdom, which includes the rising responsibilities, overcoming the unnerving hurdles, being optimist throughout the struggle, and other critical yet common aspects.

This book is a motivational footprint on how to lead with ambition while being graceful, educating aspiring stalwarts on how to leave a lasting legacy.

4. Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It - Ethan Kross

Regardless of age or profession, we all are surrounded by negative thoughts. No matter how optimistic you become, some way or the other, you find yourself in a negative thought loop. So, Ethan Kross who is a renowned and award-winning neuroscientist wrote a book about the flood of negative thoughts humans face.

The book unfolds the negative emotions and thoughts that play a major role in impairing our performance when we are under pressure.

In Chatter, Kross suggests adopting "distanced self-talk" to create the confidence the next time you're nervous or apprehensive before a client meeting or a presentation. This entails assuming you're mentoring a friend through a performance while using your own identity.

Studies demonstrate that using one's name instead of "I" helps one feel like a coach rather than a critic, according to Kross. Coach yourself to succeed to stop the negative talk in your thoughts.

5. The Ride of a Lifetime - By Robert Iger

One of the most praised books is The Ride of a Lifetime by a renowned businessperson Robert Iger, where the writer shares his valuable insights garnered during a decade and a half as CEO of Disney, one of the world's most popular, lucrative, and adored corporations.

The Ride of a Lifetime is a journey, an experience with right wisdom and struggle, discussing the values based on fairness, courage, sanguinity, positivity, and conclusiveness.

The author expands on key concepts such as "betting on talent" and "the power of respect" including examples from his own life, the struggles he faced, and how he overcame the apprehensions to back up his claims.

This book promotes ideals and provides a model for legendary leadership.

Related: Top 12 Best Business Blogs for Every Entrepreneur

6. Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All the Facts - Annie Duke

Annie Duke is a professional and keynote speaker, who is also a World Series of Poker Champion, and a decision strategist and cognitive psychologist showcasing her wisdom with her popular edition Thinking in Bets.

She's become an expert at making judgments as a result of her work and education, and she now utilizes that knowledge to assist others in making the best decisions they can, even when they don't have all the data.

Annie Duke employs a behavioral science method in Thinking in Bets to educate how to make confident judgments in the face of uncertainty by taking stock of what you do and don't know. You will be less likely to respond to your emotions, prejudices, and bad habits if you use this method, and you will be more likely to be calm, confident, and successful.

7. Thinking, Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman

‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ compares and contrasts two ways of thinking: emotional, intuitive judgment, and the more comprehensive, deliberate, and logical slow method. Each approach has its own set of applications and is best suited to specific scenarios.

Daniel Kahneman describes each thinking type, diving into important business topics including overconfidence and decision-making.

Thinking, Fast and Slow is a must-read; it teaches CEOs how to find the correct balance between feeling and rationality, allowing them to better control their own mindsets and convert people to their way of thinking.

8. The Hard Thing About Hard Things - Ben Horowitz

"The Hard Thing About Hard Things" by Ben Horowitz is a must-read for entrepreneurs navigating the difficult route of developing a successful firm. Horowitz delivers excellent insights and practical guidance based on his own experiences as a co-founder of venture capital company Andreessen Horowitz and a seasoned entrepreneur himself.

The book dives into the frequently neglected, yet critical, aspects of entrepreneurship—the difficult issues that every creator must confront. Horowitz approaches subjects like leadership, management, financing, and product creation with candor and a no-nonsense attitude. He discusses the real-world obstacles he faced while creating his own businesses and gives practical solutions for overcoming them.

9. Delivering Happiness - Tony Hsieh

Tony Hsieh's ‘Delivering Happiness’ is a riveting and inspiring book that covers the journey of Zappos' renowned CEO and his ambition to develop a business that promotes happiness as a core value. Hsieh's tale takes readers on a passionate journey through his personal experiences, business principles, and Zappos' metamorphosis into a firm known for its extraordinary culture and customer care.

He highlights the necessity of matching organizational principles, recruiting people who represent those values, and cultivating a culture of trust, honesty, and empowerment.

‘Delivering Happiness’ goes beyond corporate techniques to investigate the underlying meaning of happiness and its influence on human fulfillment. The marriage of commercial lessons with personal experiences, as well as Hsieh's sincere dedication to promoting pleasure, distinguishes this book. 

10. Inspired - Marty Cagan

Marty Cagan's ‘Inspired’ is a thorough and important resource for product managers looking to create remarkable products. Cagan highlights the need of developing goods that are not just helpful but also enjoyable to use. He presents a realistic framework that helps product managers to traverse the complexity of product development and produce solutions that actually resonate with people, based on his significant expertise. 

Cagan encourages product managers to prioritize customer demands, facilitate cross-functional cooperation, and adopt an iterative and data-driven approach to product development through enlightening tales and practical recommendations. In 100 smart words, ‘Inspired’ is an invaluable resource for those looking to build amazing solutions that generate consumer happiness and commercial success.

Final Thoughts

You must read if you want to be a leader.

Take it from Warren Buffett, who reads 500 pages per day, or Mark Cuban, who reads three hours every day.

Since there are several books out there, it can be difficult to find the one worth reading. So, you need a book that matches your mindset, and the good news is that you can always find the right one for you. The above-mentioned books are great options to add to your reading list as we venture further into 2023. And for more B2B conversations, we’re always here for you. Just write to us at info@growthnatives.com and we will get back to you.