Books are incredible. I owe so much of what I know to the wonderful authors who put their wisdom into writing. The value of self-education is priceless, and after reading 100+ business books, it wasn't easy but I've narrowed down my top 10 for this list. In no particular order, here they are!

Principles

Ray Dalio

This is the best book I have ever read. Whether you're in business or not, this is a fantastic read to help you manage yourself better, be more self aware and embrace learning from failures. Ray Dalio is one of the world's most successful investors and entrepreneurs, sharing his unconventional principles that he developed, refined, and used over the past forty years to create huge results in life and business. His YouTube channel is great too!

The Lean Startup

Eric Ries

If you've ever even thought of doing a startup, do not do anything before you read this book. If I had read this before I did my own startup, I would've saved literally hundreds of thousands of dollars.  Most startups fail - but many of those failures are preventable.  The Lean Startup is a new approach being adopted across the globe, changing the way companies are built and new products are launched.  If you’re into this also check out ‘Nail it Then Scale It’ which is a slightly shorter, simplified version worth a read.

The Art of Creative Thinking

Rod Judkins

I once interviewed Jock Fairweather and I said "what is your favourite business book". He said "I actually don't like business books - but there is this one book that's awesome" and he told me it was The Art of Creative of Thinking. I'm so glad he did, because this is one of the best, most enjoyable books I've read. Each chapter is 2 pages long and you can open it up anywhere. This book will spark your creativity and encourage you to look at things from a different angle. An awesome, easy and fun read.

Losing my Virginity

Richard Branson

Richard Branson is my hero, and his autobiography was a treat. It's big, but it's a lot of fun. In little more than twenty-five years, Branson has launched nearly a hundred successful ventures from airlines to record labels and soda companies, many of which started in the face of intense competition. Time after time he found golden opportunities in markets where customers have been ripped off or underserved to build great businesses. My favourite autobiography of all time.

Think & Grow Rich

Napoleon Hill

Ah - where it all began. The grandaddy of personal improvement books. This book changed my life, not just because of the content, but it sparked the initial curiosity in me that lead be down the road of entrepreneurship to where I am today. Although it can be a little tough to read - it's an absolute classic that anyone should do at least once. I even bought a limited edition, leather-bound, gold-paged version as a symbol of appreciation!

Rich Dad Poor Dad

Robert Kiyosaki

More of a personal finance book than a business book, but a must-read nonetheless. If someone hasn't ready many books, I tell them to start with this one especially younger people. This book breaks down the fundamentals of financial success into a short, easy to ready book told as a story.  Kiyosaki explodes the myth that you need to earn a high income to be rich and explains the difference between working for money and having your money work for you. They don't teach this stuff at school!

Shoe Dog

Phil Knight

Another cracking autobiography that I literally could not put down (I read 230 pages in one day over Christmas!).  Nike founder and CEO Phil Knight shares the inside story of the company’s early days as an intrepid start-up and its evolution into one of the world’s most iconic, game-changing, and profitable brands. All the way from borrowing $50 from his Dad to making $30 billion a year, this is how it all began.

How to Win Friends & Influence People

Dale Carnegie

I remember when I was reading this for the first time I thought "if everyone read this book, the world would be a much better place". Although the title sounds manipulative, it's actually a wonderful read that can help you make meaningful connections, discover new ambitions, increase your influence, become an entertaining conversationalist and get more things done. I think it's time for me to re-read this actually!

The E-Myth Revisited

Michael Gerber

A small business classic. The E-Myth dispels the myths about starting your own business and shows how common assumptions can get in the way of running a company. He walks you through the steps of a business from start to finish as it evolves, and how you can apply the lessons of franchising to any business whether or not it is a franchise. The most important thing you'll learn is the often overlooked distinction between working on your business and working in your business. This is a must-read for entrepreneurs. Also check out "Built to Sell" by John  Warrillow (which almost made my list but it's in the same breath as the E Myth).

Virtual Freedom

Chris Ducker

It was tough to pick #10 on this list... You may not have heard of it, but I added this one because for me personally it was extremely relevant and useful. Entrepreneurs often suffer from the misconception that to be successful, they must do everything themselves. With this book, you can start building your business faster and in a more profitable manner using the power of building teams of virtual employees to help run, support, and grow their businesses. A great read especially for the modern world!

Special Mentions

I couldn't put everything in this list! A few ones that are also must-reads are:
 

• Nail It Then Scale It - Nathan Furr
  

• Zero to One - Peter Thiel
  

• Scaling Up - Verne Harnish
  

• The One Thing - Garry Keller
  

• The #AskGaryVee Book - Gary Vaynerchuk
  

• The Hard Thing About Hard Things - Ben Horowitz
  

• Good to Great - Jim Collins

So there you have it! What did you think of the list? I'd love to know what your top books are so I can check them out too. Leave a comment with your personal favourites, and if you want a longer list you can check out my other article here.

MITCH HILLS
@mitchills