

18 Books That Made Me Millions (Ranked) | Ep. 947
Aug 4, 2025
Dive into a discussion about the most influential business books that shaped entrepreneurial journeys. Discover a tier ranking system that categorizes these reads based on their practical applications. From classics like 'Good to Great' to unexpected gems, each book offers valuable insights and lessons. The emphasis on actionable advice will resonate with aspiring business leaders looking to make an impact. Tune in for a blend of personal anecdotes and practical wisdom to elevate your entrepreneurial game!
11:29
Good to Great Insights
- "Good to Great" introduces the hedgehog principle emphasizing deep expertise over broad knowledge.
- The 'cannon of bullets before cannonballs' concept teaches iterative testing before major commitment.
Avoid Burnout Shift Roles
- Transition from doing the work to running the business carefully to avoid burnout.
- Use Michael Gerber's "E-Myth Revisited" to master this shift effectively.
Zero to One's Niche Audience
- "Zero to One" suits tech entrepreneurs building unique billion-dollar unicorns.
- It is less applicable for typical entrepreneurs focused on steady income and community impact.
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Ranking Influential Business Books: Insights and Applications
00:00 • 5min
Essential Reads for Entrepreneurs: Tiers of Impactful Business Books
05:08 • 6min

#200
• Mentioned in 67 episodes
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant
A Guide to Wealth and Happiness


Naval Ravikant


Eric Jorgenson


Tim Ferriss
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant is a compilation of Naval's thoughts on fundamental principles for happiness, wealth creation, decision-making, and personal growth.
The book distills his insights from the last ten years into practical advice, guiding readers on how to walk their own unique path toward a happier, wealthier life.
It emphasizes the importance of compound interest, leveraging resources, and productizing oneself.
The book also delves into key aspects of life, including relationships, health, and purpose, offering a holistic approach to wealth and happiness.

#228
• Mentioned in 60 episodes
$100 Million Leads


Alex Hormozi

#124
• Mentioned in 97 episodes
The hard thing about hard things
building a business when there are no easy answers


Ben Horowitz
In this book, Ben Horowitz shares his personal and often humbling experiences in the tech industry to offer essential advice and practical wisdom.
He addresses various hard decisions and challenges that business leaders face, such as firing friends, managing company culture, handling layoffs, and making tough strategic decisions.
Horowitz emphasizes the importance of honesty, resilience, and adaptability in leadership, drawing from his experiences with companies like Loudcloud and Andreessen Horowitz.

#34
• Mentioned in 190 episodes
100 Million Offers

Alex Hormosi

#1909
• Mentioned in 13 episodes
The personal MBA
Master the Art of Business


Josh Kaufman
The Personal MBA distills the most valuable business lessons into simple, memorable mental models that can be applied to real-world challenges.
The book covers a wide array of topics including entrepreneurship, marketing, sales, negotiation, operations, productivity, and systems design.
It is designed to provide a self-directed crash course in business, helping readers understand and analyze the fundamental elements that make every successful business function.
The book emphasizes the importance of creating value, effective marketing, and delivering on promises, and it includes a recommended reading list to further enhance business knowledge.

#375
• Mentioned in 45 episodes
Made to Stick
Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die


Chip Heath


Dan Heath
In this book, Chip and Dan Heath explore the anatomy of ideas that stick and provide methods to make ideas more memorable.
They introduce the SUCCESs formula, which stands for Simple, Unexpected, Concrete, Credible, Emotional, and Stories.
The book is filled with examples from urban legends, business stories, and personal anecdotes, demonstrating how these traits can be applied to make any idea stickier.
It is particularly useful for anyone interested in influencing others, whether in business, education, or other fields.

#1405
• Mentioned in 17 episodes
The 4 Disciplines of Execution
Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals


Sean Covey

Chris McChesney

Jim Huling
In 'The 4 Disciplines of Execution', authors Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, and Jim Huling provide a framework for organizations to achieve their most important goals.
The book outlines four disciplines: focusing on the wildly important, acting on the lead measures, keeping a compelling scoreboard, and creating a cadence of accountability.
These disciplines help teams and individuals stay focused and motivated to execute their strategies effectively.

#2746
• Mentioned in 10 episodes
The Great Game of Business

Jack Stack


Bo Burlingham

#68
• Mentioned in 131 episodes
Traction
Get a Grip on Your Business

Gino Wickman
In Traction, Gino Wickman provides a systematic approach to achieving business success through the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS).
The book focuses on six key components: Vision, People, Data, Issues, Process, and Traction.
It helps business leaders clarify their vision, align their leadership team, solve common business problems, and foster healthy communication and discipline within the organization.
The EOS system is designed to help businesses overcome frustrations such as lack of control, people issues, insufficient profit, hitting the ceiling, and feeling stuck.
The book offers practical tools, real-world examples, and actionable strategies to drive sustainable growth and improve business operations.

#24
• Mentioned in 219 episodes
Influence
The Psychology of Persuasion


Robert Cialdini
In this highly acclaimed book, Dr. Robert B. Cialdini explains the psychology behind why people say yes and how to apply these insights ethically.
The book outlines six universal principles of influence: Reciprocation, Commitment and Consistency, Social Proof, Liking, Authority, and Scarcity.
The new and expanded edition includes a seventh principle, Unity, along with new research, insights, and examples.
Cialdini uses memorable stories and relatable examples to make the subject accessible and easy to understand, helping readers become more skilled persuaders and defend themselves against unethical influence attempts.

#655
• Mentioned in 29 episodes
Blue Ocean Strategy


Renee Mauborgne


W. Chan Kim
Blue Ocean Strategy challenges traditional competitive strategies by advocating for the creation of new, uncontested market spaces.
The authors, W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne, argue that companies should focus on innovation to create 'blue oceans' of new demand, rather than competing in 'red oceans' of existing markets.
The book provides a systematic approach and tools for successfully formulating and executing blue ocean strategies, including the strategy canvas and the six principles of blue ocean strategy.
It highlights successful examples such as Cirque du Soleil and low-cost airlines, and offers guidance on overcoming organizational hurdles and aligning value, profit, and people propositions.

#38
• Mentioned in 181 episodes
Zero to One
Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future


Peter Thiel
In 'Zero to One,' Peter Thiel argues that true innovation comes from creating something entirely new, going from 'zero to one,' rather than incrementally improving existing ideas.
He emphasizes the importance of vertical progress through technology and the benefits of monopoly in driving innovation.
Thiel also discusses the need for long-term planning, the importance of finding the right co-founders, and the power law in startup success.
The book challenges conventional wisdom and encourages readers to think critically and aim big to build the future.

#18
• Mentioned in 236 episodes
Good to Great
Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't


Jim Collins
In 'Good to Great,' Jim Collins and his research team investigate why some companies achieve long-term greatness while others do not.
The book identifies key concepts such as Level 5 Leadership, the Hedgehog Concept, a Culture of Discipline, and the Flywheel Effect.
These principles are derived from a comprehensive study comparing companies that made the leap to greatness with those that did not.
The research highlights that greatness is not primarily a function of circumstance but rather a result of conscious choice and discipline.
The book provides practical insights and case studies to help businesses and leaders understand and apply these principles to achieve sustained greatness.

#859
• Mentioned in 24 episodes
Measure What Matters


Laura Patterson
John Doerr's "Measure What Matters" explores the power of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) as a goal-setting system.
The book showcases how OKRs have been used by companies like Google and Intel to achieve ambitious goals.
Doerr emphasizes the importance of setting clear, measurable objectives and tracking progress regularly.
The book also highlights the importance of aligning goals across teams and organizations.
It provides a practical framework for setting and achieving ambitious goals in various contexts, including business and personal life.

#322
• Mentioned in 49 episodes
The Goal


Eliyahu M. Goldratt
The book tells the story of Alex Rogo, a factory manager who is given three months to improve his underperforming plant or face its closure.
With the guidance of his former physics professor, Jonah, Alex learns to apply the Theory of Constraints to identify and manage bottlenecks in the production process.
Through this approach, Alex and his team transform the factory, improving efficiency, reducing inventory, and increasing profitability.
The novel uses the Socratic method to teach fundamental business concepts and emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement and critical thinking in management.

#69
• Mentioned in 130 episodes
The Innovator's Dilemma
When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail


Clayton M. Christensen
In this influential business book, Clayton Christensen shows how even the most outstanding companies can lose market leadership when they fail to adapt to disruptive innovations.
Christensen explains why companies often miss new waves of innovation and provides a set of rules for capitalizing on disruptive technologies.
The book uses examples from various industries, including the disk drive, mechanical excavator, steel, and computer industries, to illustrate trends that lead to success or failure in the face of disruptive technologies.

#172
• Mentioned in 76 episodes
The E-myth revisited
why most small businesses don't work and what to do about it


Michael E. Gerber
The E-Myth Revisited challenges the common assumption that most businesses are started by entrepreneurs.
Instead, Gerber argues that most businesses are started by technicians who understand the technical work but not the business itself.
The book introduces the concept of the E-Myth and explains that successful business owners must balance three roles: the Entrepreneur (the visionary), the Manager (the planner and organizer), and the Technician (the one who performs the technical work).
Gerber emphasizes the distinction between working 'in' your business and working 'on' your business, and he provides strategies for systemizing and scaling businesses, including the concept of the Franchise Prototype.

#1208
• Mentioned in 19 episodes
Dotcom Secrets


Russell Brunson
DotCom Secrets is not just another 'how-to' book on internet marketing.
It focuses on the science of funnel building, helping businesses identify and fix their 'funnel' problems.
Russell Brunson, the CEO and co-founder of ClickFunnels, shares his expertise gained from running tens of thousands of split tests.
The book provides actionable blueprints on how to build sales funnels, increase traffic and conversions, and transform your business into a profitable sales and marketing machine.
It emphasizes the importance of understanding your dream clients, creating a value ladder, and implementing effective follow-up funnels to keep customers engaged.
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