Should you skip, read, or study these books if you're a young entrepreneur?

21 Aug 2026 · 1 min

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1:24

In this concise monologue, the speaker evaluates a curated list of popular business and self‑development books, assigning each one a recommendation—skip, read, or study—for people just starting their entrepreneurial journey. The speaker argues that titles like Rich Dad Poor Dad and Losing My Virginity are unnecessary for beginners, while The Lean Startup warrants deep study for its customer‑validation framework. The $100 Startup is recommended as a read for inspiration and practical fundamentals. Motivational works such as Shoe Dog are deemed useful only in moments of discouragement. The speaker highlights The Mom Test as a skip despite its strong framing, suggesting better alternatives exist. Classic interpersonal guides like How to Win Friends and Influence People and Never Split the Difference are marked for study due to their impact on relationship building and negotiation. Finally, Influence by Cialdini is recommended for study because of its psychological insights, while Built to Last is skipped as not suitable for first‑time founders.

Chapters

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. Skip. I know. Look, if you're starting off, understanding the difference between an entrepreneur and investor, not critical. You can skip it for now. Losing My Virginity by Richard Branson. Oh, skip. Awesome book. Not needed. If you're starting off, that's not the right book. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries. Study. The idea of pre-validation and working backwards from a customer is how you win in business. The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau. Read. It'll inspire you. Good frameworks, fundamentals. Do it. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight. Needed to succeed as a young entrepreneur? No. Unless you're fucking depressed and you feel like giving up. If you need a shot of motivation, read The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick. Skip. Great book. Awesome frame. I think there's better books to solve that problem. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Study. You are a byproduct of your proximity to other people. You're the byproduct of the energy of people you spend time with. You can accomplish anything in life helping other people get what they want. That is the Bible for that framework. Built to Last by Jim Collins. Skip. It's not the right book for a first-time entrepreneur. Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss. Definitely read. You'll become a lethal negotiator, which honestly, when you start off, that's all you're doing. Influence by Robert Cialdini. Study. It's human psychology. I mean, once you understand how the world works, you see the world differently. It has so many secondary benefits. Study it.