The 13 Best Business Books of All Time
As business owners and investors ourselves, we work with a lot of entrepreneurs and business-minded clients. Being avid readers ourselves, we are often asked for suggestions on the most inspiring and best business books. So, we put together our reading list on Fox Marin’s top 13 picks for best business books of all time. If you haven’t read these books, you most definitely should!
1. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
First on our best business books list is a memoir of Phil Knight and his story of building Nike from humble beginnings. Shoe Dog is the inside story on the roller coaster ride of success and failure that ultimately led to one of the world’s most iconic brands. Talk about an inspiring read!
2. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
Rich Dad Poor Dad explains the difference between making money and generating wealth. If you have interest in investing or considering owning real estate, this book is a must-read.
3. Losing My Virginity by Richard Branson
Published in 1998, Losing My Virginity is an autobiography of swashbucking business tycoon and adrenaline junkie, Richard Branson. It’s a true testimony to living and thinking BIG!
4. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
Quite arguably the most classic and most-read business book of all time, Think and Grow Rich has sold over 100 million copies. This book was written in 1937 by Napoleon Hill and focuses on the importance of having the right mindset to achieve your life’s goals. This book literally created the self-help movement and is a staple of any entrepreneur’s library.
5. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
This book is a classic. How to Win Friends and Influence People offers age-old advice on how to deal with people and have them like and respect you back, by listening and taking a genuine interest in others. Warren Buffett (the greatest investor of all time) studied these principles when he was 15 years old. He credits this book to changing his life. In fact, he has a diploma for taking the course, which still hangs in his office today.
6. Unshakeable by Tony Robbins
On the heels of the subprime crisis, Anthony Robbins sought out the greatest investors and money manager out there. In Unshakeable, he seeks the advice of Paul Tudor, Carl Icahn, Ray Dayalo and Warren Buffet, with the intention of distilling their investor strategies and making it simple for the average investor.
7. Principles by Ray Dalio
Ray Dalio is the founder of Bridgewater Associates – one of the largest and most successful hedge funds in the world, managing over 150 billion dollars in assets. In Principles, Ray sets out the principles he learned and used to build his business. He claims that anyone applying his principles can achieve greatness.
8. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead is a classic novel written in 1943, telling the story of architect Howard Roark, and his unwillingness to bend to the establishment. The book started a movement known as objectivism, based on the controversial philosophy that one’s ego is the fountainhead for human progress. In addition, it’s a story of the importance of going on one’s path and questioning societal norms rather than simply just following them.
9. Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance
Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX and the Quest for a Fantastic Future takes you through the life and times of Elon Musk. Possibly the world’s greatest living visionary industrialist, Elon’s personal mission is for the human race to colonize Mars. In his quest, he examines life’s successes and failures, both personally and in business. The book examines Elon’s forays into Tesla, SpaceX and Solarcity. In reading this book, you can only surmise that the best is yet to come.
10. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
Since the time of the initial writing, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has sold over 25 million copies. This book is based on the idea of having your own personal true north principles. And, when properly aligned, these principles will enable you to achieve your life goals while maintaining life balance in pursuit. By following the steps outlined in the book, it will take you from being dependent on outside circumstances to living a life that’s more independent of them.
11. The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder
Take a look into the life and mind of ‘the oracle of Ohama’ – the greatest investor of all time. The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life speaks of Warren Buffett’s legacy and philosophy on long-term value-driven investing. This book is as much about human nature as it is about business.
12. Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk
Crush It! is about going all in, taking your greatest passion and turning that into a business on the internet. The focus of this book is on defining, building and then leveraging your personal brand. It’s a must-read for any business owner or anyone with dreams of starting up their own business.
13. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Alchemist is an instant classic. This book illustrates the importance of following your heart and intuition as you travel down life’s long and winding path. By paying attention to omens along the way, it will lead toward your personal dreams and your own personal legend. This book teaches that some things in life and in business cannot be forced and having faith that it will all work out, in the end, is the way to fulfillment.
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This article is written by Ralph Fox, Broker of Record and Managing Partner here at Fox Marin Associates. Ralph is a Torontonian native who recognized from an early age that the most successful people in life apply long-term thinking to their investments, relationships, and life goals. It’s this philosophy, along with his lifelong entrepreneurial drive and exceptional business instincts that help to establish Ralph as a top agent in the real estate market in downtown Toronto.
