21 Best Entrepreneurial Books To Read In 2025

As we bid farewell to 2024 and welcome the promise of a new year, it's the perfect time for tech entrepreneurs to refuel their minds and prepare for the scaling journey ahead. 

Whether you're looking for the perfect gift for the ambitious founder in your life or curating your own holiday reading list, these 21 books are guaranteed to inspire, educate, and equip you for the challenges and opportunities of 2025.

1. "Scaling Up" by Verne Harnish 

Harnish provides practical tools for mastering the four key decisions: People, Strategy, Execution, and Cash. This book is like a roadmap for your 2025 scaling journey, offering actionable insights for growth-oriented tech founders.

2. "Start With Why" by Simon Sinek 

Sinek's insights will help you refine your startup's 'why', creating a clear vision for the coming year. This clarity will be your North Star, guiding your team and attracting customers who believe in your mission.

3. "Atomic Habits" by James Clear 

Clear's approach to incremental improvements is the secret sauce for sustainable growth in your startup. By implementing these strategies, you'll be amazed at how far your business can progress by next Christmas.

4. "Traction" by Gabriel Weinberg and Justin Mares

This book is like a Swiss Army knife for marketing channels, perfect for those ambitious Q1 growth targets. Weinberg and Mares offer a comprehensive framework for customer acquisition, covering 19 different channels.

5. "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries

Ries's methodology is your ticket to staying agile and customer-focused in the fast-paced world of tech. It's the perfect mindset to adopt as you navigate the uncertainties and opportunities of the new year.

6. "No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention" by Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer

Let Netflix's innovative approach inspire your startup's cultural resolutions for 2025. This book is a treasure trove of ideas for fostering a high-performance culture in the new year.

7. "She-Wolves: The Untold History of Women on Wall Street" by Paulina Bren

Gain valuable historical context and inspiration for breaking barriers in the coming year. This book offers insights to help make 2025 a year of greater diversity and inclusion in tech.

8. "Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction" by Philip Tetlock

Sharpen your predictive skills for the uncertainties of the tech world in 2025. Tetlock's work offers valuable tools for making better strategic decisions in rapidly changing environments.

9. "Measure What Matters" by John Doerr 

Doerr's OKR framework is your secret weapon for turning ambitious 2025 resolutions into measurable, achievable objectives. It's like a fitness tracker for your startup's growth, providing a proven method for aligning teams and driving results.

10. "Atomic Scaling: How Small Teams Create Huge Growth" by Ludovic Bodin 

This book is your startup's growth bible for 2025, packed with practical strategies for exponential growth. It provides a comprehensive framework for achieving remarkable results with small, focused teams.

11. "UP DOWN UP" by Kim Nordstrom 

Nordström offers an unfiltered journey through his experiences as an entrepreneur in the gaming industry. This raw and honest account serves as both inspiration and cautionary tale for tech founders navigating the ups and downs of startup life.

12. "How Google Works" by Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg

Gain insights from the inside story of one of the world's most influential tech companies. Learn how to apply Google's principles to your own startup's growth and innovation strategies.

13. "Creativity, Inc." by Ed Catmull

Discover how to foster a culture of creativity and innovation in your tech startup from Pixar's co-founder. Catmull shares valuable lessons on overcoming barriers to creativity and building a thriving, creative organization.

14. "Traffic Secrets" by Russell Brunson 

Master the art of attracting your dream customers in the digital age with Brunson's proven strategies. This book offers actionable tactics for driving traffic and growing your customer base in 2025.

15. "$100M Offers" by Alex Hormozi

Learn how to craft irresistible offers that can potentially skyrocket your startup's revenue. Hormozi provides a framework for creating high-value propositions that customers can't refuse.

16. "Buy Back Your Time" by Dan Martell

Explore strategies to reclaim your time and focus on high-impact activities that truly move the needle for your startup. Martell offers practical advice on delegation, automation, and prioritization for busy founders.

17. "Smart Tribes" by Christine Comaford 

Discover how to create a high-performance culture that drives innovation and growth in your tech startup. Comaford provides neuroscience-based techniques for building strong, collaborative teams.

18. "Zero to One" by Peter Thiel

Challenge your thinking about innovation and learn how to build a future-defining company from PayPal's co-founder. Thiel offers unique perspectives on creating value in crowded markets and achieving true innovation.

19. "The Hard Thing About Hard Things" by Ben Horowitz

Get real-world advice on navigating the toughest challenges of running a startup from a seasoned entrepreneur and investor. Horowitz shares candid insights on leadership, decision-making, and perseverance in the face of adversity.

20. "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill

Delve into timeless principles of success that can be applied to your entrepreneurial journey in the tech world. Hill's classic work offers powerful strategies for achieving your goals and cultivating a success-oriented mindset.

21. "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" by Robert Kiyosaki

Gain a fresh perspective on money and investing that can inform your approach to building and scaling your tech startup. Kiyosaki's insights challenge conventional wisdom about wealth and financial independence. 

As we head into the new year, I highly recommend adding these to your reading list or gifting them to the ambitious tech entrepreneurs in your life.