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Ask HN: As a technical founder what is the best business book you've read?
11–20 of 41 posts
Re: Ask HN: As a technical founder what is the best business book you've read?
#12Although not a technical book and sometimes maligned, I found How to Win Friends and Influence People very helpful to my career and to my life.
Re: Ask HN: As a technical founder what is the best business book you've read?
#13All books from Basecamp founders. Especially the first one - Getting Real.
I preordered their latest book 'It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work'.
A lot of their advice is aimed towards small teams. And often contrary to SV wisdom. We've built a few profitable businesses by following their advice without raising any funding.
Re: Ask HN: As a technical founder what is the best business book you've read?
#14Zero to One http://gsl.mit.edu/media/programs/south-africa-summer-2015/m... (Caution: It was written by gasp Peter Thiel.)
Why?
Re: Ask HN: As a technical founder what is the best business book you've read?
#15I'll draw heat for this but I think most business books are boring and/or suffer from survivorship bias.
The most interesting business book I've ever read was Creativity Inc, by Ed Catmull. He talks in depth about managing a business where creativity is the most important aspect.
The Start-up manual is good too, if a little drawn out.
Re: Ask HN: As a technical founder what is the best business book you've read?
#16Creativity Inc., by Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull. A funny and insightful book that should be required reading for any technical leader who works with artists/designers.
Re: Ask HN: As a technical founder what is the best business book you've read?
#17Zero to One http://gsl.mit.edu/media/programs/south-africa-summer-2015/m... (Caution: It was written by gasp Peter Thiel.)
Why?
I've only read one business book, and that was it.
Kidding aside, I think it's a good one because it's a mix of analysis and history. Thiel had a unique vantage point, and he shares it well.
It also challenges you to be ambitious, which is becoming a rare sentiment.
Re: Ask HN: As a technical founder what is the best business book you've read?
#18Although not a technical book and sometimes maligned, I found How to Win Friends and Influence People very helpful to my career and to my life.
I second this. In my opinion, it's the best book ever written on relationships, business, leadership, friendship, politics and more.
That being said, a lot of people read it as a way to manipulate people. It shouldn't be read that way. Rather, if you follow the advice, it has to be genuine.
Re: Ask HN: As a technical founder what is the best business book you've read?
#19All books from Basecamp founders. Especially the first one - Getting Real. I preordered their latest book 'It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work'. A lot of their advice is aimed towards small teams. And often contrary to SV wisdom. We've built a few profitable businesses by following their advice without raising any funding.
I second this. My favorite was Rework.
Re: Ask HN: As a technical founder what is the best business book you've read?
#20The four steps to epiphany was a pretty great book for me.
I'd agree. However, reading it is hard, really skim parts and come back to it over time. It's also where the Lean Startup started.