Ask HN: What are the best books on startups?

[hammock]

[pg]

The book I've learned most from is Founders at Work: http://www.amazon.com/Founders-Work-Stories-Startups-Problem....

[Johngibb → pg]

I feel like in the interest of full disclosure, it should be noted that this is pg's wife's book.

I second the recommendation, however ;)

[mindcrime]

Hmm... a few that jump to mind for me would be:

The Art of the Start - Guy Kawasaki http://www.amazon.com/Art-Start-Time-Tested-Battle-Hardened-...

Outside Innovation - Patricia Seybold http://www.amazon.com/Outside-Innovation-Customers-Co-Design...

Unleashing the Killer App - Larry Downes & Chunka Mui http://www.amazon.com/Unleashing-Killer-App-Strategies-Domin...

Wellsprings of Knowledge - Dorothy Leonard Barton http://www.amazon.com/Wellsprings-Knowledge-Building-Sustain...

The Innovators Dilemma - Clayton Christensen http://www.amazon.com/Innovators-Dilemma-Revolutionary-Busin...

Crossing the Chasm - Geoffrey A. Moore http://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Chasm-Geoffrey-Moore/dp/00605...

The Startup Game: Inside the Partnership between Venture Capitalists and Entrepreneurs - William H. Draper http://www.amazon.com/Startup-Game-Partnership-Capitalists-E...

Some of these aren't necessarily about startups, but I think they all have something valuable to offer. YMMV.

[oomkiller]

I don't see this here yet, but I really enjoyed all of the stories in Founders at Work (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1590597141).

Not sure how helpful it will be, but it is definitely a source of inspiration, and also possibly examples of how things can work. Either way, once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down.

[idiotb]

http://steveblank.com/books-for-startups/

[idiotb]

The tipping point http://www.amazon.com/Tipping-Point-Little-Things-Difference...

[joshbert → idiotb]

I respectfully disagree. I find Gladwell's books to be somewhat unsubstantial.

Instead I would recommend that you read Steve Blank's "4 Steps To The Epiphany." Also, I picked up "Do More Faster" recently on recommendation from a previous thread, which I found fascinating. There's some great advice within both books.

[naithemilkman]

A similar question was posted on Quora. See this link: http://www.quora.com/What-books-should-entrepreneurs-read

[psg]

Definitely agree with "Do More Faster." Great book with excellent advice. I also recommend "Startup Lessons Learned"

[jayzee]

The Origin and Evolution of New Businesses - Amar Bhide

[cheae]

Good to great.

Blue ocean strategy