Question: What is the best startup-related book to get a new hire on their first day?
Zero to One by Peter Thiel
"Zero to One helped inspire me to really stand out above the crowd and go above and beyond. We truly have to create a company that isn't just doing what everyone else is doing. Going from zero to one takes a human that's willing to test something that hasn't been done before. We need more employees like that!"
@peterdaisyme
Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinmeier Hansson
"Rework, by Basecamp co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinmeier Hansson, is required reading for all of our employees on their first days. It's a fantastic book that helps break a lot of bad (read: corporate) habits, debunk myths and set the stage for an environment where people work smarter, not harder. It's very likely the best book I've ever read for startups, and I've read hundreds."
@brittanyhodak
7 Principles to Live a Champion Life by John Di Lemme
"With over 11,000 downloads and a 4.72 star rating, John Di Lemme's book 7 Principles to Live a Champion Life is a terrific gift for a new hire. As it's not business related it won't seem like homework. In fact, it teaches its readers how to live a richer, more fulfilling life, which I firmly believe will positively impact your business. "
@FreeEbooksNet
The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz
"I recommend that all new hires entering the startup world read Ben Horowitz’s book, The Hard Thing About Hard Things, prior to their first day. It helps paint a new picture with the thrills and chills of the roller coaster journey we’re all riding together to achieve our business goals. "
@KelseyRecht
The Art of the Idea by John Hunt
"The Art of the Idea by John Hunt helps to rid new employees of mental blocks they may have encountered over the years. The essence of a start up is about a fresh way of filling a void or solving a problem. Often ideas are bubbling up frequently and incorporate just as quickly. Allowing ideas to flow and flourish is an essential concept to learn in order to assimilate into a startup seamlessly."
@kimkaupe
Smartcuts by Shane Snow
"To inspire your employees and encourage both professional and personal growth, I highly recommend ordering a copy of Smartcuts. In it, entrepreneur and media superstar Shane Snow illustrates how the most successful people in the world rose through the ranks as quickly and strategically as possible (and how you can too)."
@firaskittaneh
Give and Take by Adam Grant
"Adam Grant's Give and Take is a must read for all. It's jam packed with not only good business strategies, but good life strategies as well."
@slobotski
Swim With the Sharks by Harvey Mackay
"Harvey Mackay's book Swim With the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive, is a book we make all new hires read at Escape Inc. It is a quick read with lots of tactical advice for how to survive in the start up environment. "
Leadership and Self Deception: Getting Out of the Box by Arbinger Institute
"Getting things done is all about forming and improving relationships, especially in the workplace. This book takes a look at how we all deceive ourselves against doing what should come so naturally: serving and caring for others. Leadership and Self Deception teaches us how to avoid this behavioral flaw, and how to have deeper and more meaningful interactions with those we live and work with."
@dpickett
The Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki
"The Art of the Start is a step-by-step playbook that focuses on what really matters in a startup without the fluff. I keep this book handy because it provides bulleted-style templates for many situations a startup faces like sales pitches, branding, product validation, pricing and bootstrapping."
@theFaraz
The Ultimate Sales Machine by Chet Holmes
"The Ultimate Sales Machine revolutionized the way I manage my time. Now I don't just schedule deadlines, I schedule time to work on things. It taught me to map out my day and respect the calendar; to make a plan and then work the plan. Chet's book also helped me realize that when saying "yes" to something, I was saying "no" to something else. Ultimately, it helped me prioritize and stay on track."
@nicolemunoz
The Icarus Deception by Seth Godin
"Anyone who creates or makes something in anyway is an artist, according to Seth Godin in his book The Icarus Deception. When do we grow a business just to make money? It's important not to let the "job" blind you from the real purpose of your work. Growing a startup can be hard and downright stressful. This makes the importance of seeing your work as art, and yourself as the artist who will make your life more fulfilling in the end."
@codymclain
