School’s out for the summer, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop learning.
We’ve got dozens of ENTR courses scheduled for the fall semester, but to tide you over until then, we’ve compiled a list of eight great reads that’ll keep you in the entrepreneurial spirit. Who knows, you may even find inspiration for your next great business idea!
How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big – Scott Adams
Failure is scary, but it’s inevitable and necessary – both in life and in entrepreneurship. In this book, Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert, takes the reader on a journey through his greatest failures. Along the way, he explains how failure can be a positive asset that propels you forward in life.
Smart People Should Build Things – Andrew Yang
In Smart People Should Build Things, Andrew Yang, Founder and CEO of Venture for America, offers a critique of the current economic and social climate. This love letter to entrepreneurs and startup culture features inspiring success stories and advice on how to make entrepreneurship achievable.
How I Built This: The Unexpected Paths to Success from the World’s Most Inspiring Entrepreneurs – Guy Raz
Guy Raz, host of the popular NPR podcast of the same title, has interviewed hundreds of entrepreneurs on his show. In this book, Guy Raz has compiled inspiring stories of real-life entrepreneurs whose ideas resulted in multimillion dollar companies, and offers advice for replicating their success.
The Entrepreneur Mind: 100 Essential Beliefs, Characteristics, and Habits of Elite Entrepreneurs – Kevin D. Johnson
Looking to develop your entrepreneurial mind? Kevin D. Johnson shares one hundred key lessons that every entrepreneur should learn to ensure their most successful and fulfilling future. In this book, he breaks down everything from thinking big to swaying investors, all while using examples from his real life experiences.
A Paperboy’s Fable — Deep Patel
In this lighthearted and unique book, author and entrepreneur Deep Patel offers a comprehensive guide to entrepreneurship through the story of a young paperboy. The story includes Interviews with CEOs and entrepreneurs. Guaranteed to inspire you this summer!
The Mindful Entrepreneur – Joel Gerschman
In perhaps the most comprehensive book on this list, author Joel Gerschman provides a step-by-step guide to launching your own successful business without neglecting your own needs. The Mindful Entrepreneur tells the story of one entrepreneur from start to finish, with tips for everything from developing a solid business plan to staying mindful and focused.
Thinking, Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman
In this critically acclaimed book, Daniel Kahneman, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, exposes two systems of thinking – fast and slow. While fast thinking is more emotional and reactive, slow thinking is more deliberate and logical. This book conveys the benefits of slow thinking and explains how to incorporate this type of thinking into your everyday life.
The $100 Startup – Chris Guillebeau
This book will inspire you to create your own future. In preparation to write The $100 Startup, author Chris Guillebeau studied 50 entrepreneurs who have built successful businesses with an initial investment of $100 or less. Through their stories, Guillebeau offers a step-by-step guide to turning your passions and talents into marketable products.
Did these literary picks inspire you? Check out more entrepreneurial resources at the U-M library here.
Want to take things one step further? Browse our list of ENTR courses to learn from real entrepreneurs this fall semester.