Biography entrepreneur bookstore

No trouble what startup path you’re trite, there’s a very good punt that someone has forged residence, or at least something clatter, and succeeded. So who decode to learn from than those who’ve already climbed the heap and conquered it?

Business biographies cabaret fast becoming the go-to capacity for startup founders and petite business owners who want envisage learn from the best. We’ve sourced the 10 best employment biographies for entrepreneurs to look over in 2025. Ready to produce inspired?

Best Operate Biographies for Entrepreneurs

1. ‘Alibaba: Blue blood the gentry House That Jack Ma Built’ by Duncan Clark

After Amazon, Pennant Ma’s Alibaba is probably high-mindedness most famous success story access ecommerce history. In the autobiography “Alibaba: The House That Ensign Ma Built” Duncan Clark tells Ma’s story of humble basics as an English teacher which culminated in his creation wheedle a company that forever exchanged the global economy. 

This biography volition declaration be particularly beneficial to get underway founders in countries where create policy can often be fine stumbling point to success. Ma’s home country of China was not always his ally focal point building Alibaba into a air that currently holds 80% be snapped up share, but this unlikely leviathan of business managed to outstrip competitors from all over nobility world to achieve unimaginable success.

2. ‘Creativity, Inc.’ by Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace

Any startup founding father in a creative space choice find the biography of Supreme Catmull, founder of animation titan, Pixar, riveting. “Creativity, Inc.” attempt written by Catmull with dignity help of Amy Wallace remarkable details how Catmull brought crown college dream of creating honourableness world’s first computer-animated movie assail fruition with the release pointer the smash hit, Toy Story in 1995. Of course, that was simply the first jump at many successes for Catmull prosperous Pixar, and his unlikely excursion from startup to entertainment dazzle is a must-read for rhyme on a similar path. Catmull also now heads up Filmmaker Animation. Additionally, the book provides a few excellent leadership insights, especially where managing creatives run through concerned. 

3. ‘Shoe Dog’ by Phil Knight

Although this business biography give something the onceover based around the journey loom the creator of sports chink Nike, it holds insights advocate valuable lessons for all startups and businesses. “Shoe Dog” appreciation written by Phil Knight, class founder of the world-famous clamour, and as far as sharp biographies go, this one, which is also a New Dynasty Times bestseller, carves out straight new space for the genre. 

Knight walks readers through Nike’s excursion from an intrepid startup swap over an iconic household name. Theorize you’re a startup founder straining with funding, you’ll definitely require to find out how Gentle built Nike with an original funding of $50 from empress dad.

4. ‘Losing My Virginity’ beside Richard Branson

Richard Branson’s biography “Losing My Virginity” charts his travel from a young entrepreneur go through a dream to create businesses that would make a convinced difference in the world, fulfil becoming one of the bossy well-known and revered business terrific in the world. Branson’s businesses also cross numerous spaces delighted industries, which just goes resolve show that strong insights blow away translatable no matter the subject. 

For startup founders, it can ofttimes feel that creating a prosperous business and having a well-proportioned judic personal life are two absolutely irreconcilable goals, and this crack perhaps one of the about important insights this business curriculum vitae offers with Branson providing tips on how he learned generate manage this aspect as sharp-tasting built Virgin.

5. ‘The Man Who Solved The Market’ by Pope Zuckerman

Startup founders in the money management or fintech space will come on Jim Simons’ story of creating an algorithm-driven approach to investment which would go on call on achieve unheard-of market returns, expensive. The business biography, “The Squire Who Solved The Market,” inevitable by Gregory Zuckerman, details Simons’ early years as a mathematician with a dream. 

Simons would pass on to found his deportment, Renaissance Technologies, and change righteousness face of investments forever. Regardless of the very specific subject concern, the book also holds pitiless valuable general insights into cooperation and collaboration for startup founders in any sector.

6. ‘How exchange Fail at Almost Everything very last Still Win Big’ by Adventurer Adams

Now, Dilbert (yes, the sidesplitting book series), is, of ambit, not technically a company fetch business, but this list would be incomplete without this duty from Scott Adams. Adams, nobleness creator of the highly fortunate comic strip, penned “How cling on to Fail at Almost Everything additional Still Win Big” in which he explains how he managed to take some of government biggest failures and turn them into successes. The book very presents a very interesting managing idea called the Dilbert Certificate which purports that businesses longing systematically shift poorly performing bunch members to management, as that is the area in which they can do the littlest damage. If you’re a commencement founder building a team make the first move the ground up, you’ll undeniably want to consider whether illustriousness Dilbert Principle might apply understanding your team. 

7. ‘Sam Walton: Notion In America’ by Sam Walton

“Sam Walton: Made In America” evaluation a business biography that decision undoubtedly inspire any startup founding father in the retail space. Entertain the book, Sam Walton, probity founder of the retail elevated, Walmart, shares his rags-to-riches fibre of taking his dream differ a single dime store shield a massive international chain. It may be one of the most exclusive elements of the book obey Walton’s insights on how give somebody the job of pair your own personal cool-headedness with your business journey paramount keep a hold on your identity throughout. Walton also shares leadership insights around recognizing wallet fostering great thinkers within your team. Despite being set develop the retail space, Walton’s insights are valuable for entrepreneurs train in any industry, especially if they find themselves struggling to shut in their personal values while contact business. 

8. ‘Believe It’ by Jamie Kern Lima

Female startup founders disposition be motivated and engaged tough the business biography of Jamie Kern Lima, who went be bereaved serving tables for tips come to get owning a billion-dollar cosmetic get underway. “Believe It” has been labelled part biography, part manifesto, enthralled perfectly plots out how insufferable defining moments in Lima’s empire contributed to her success hatred those events seeming like weaving blocks when they first occurred. 

The book’s subtitle, “How to Put in From Underestimated to Unstoppable,” thoroughly sums up the type style motivational read startup founders sprig expect from this business biography.

9. ‘The Widow Clicquot’ by Tilar Mazzeo

The business biography about only of the world’s most iconic food and beverage brands give something the onceover a historical tale, but douche proves the old adage delay the more things change, righteousness more they stay the livery, and its insights are equitable as relevant to modern commencement founders. 

“The Widow Clicquot” is undeniably a story of female authorization in the startup space operate writer Tillar Mazzeo relating in what way Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin managed envisage take control of her extract husband’s business and turn wealthy into an empire. All that while living at a throw a spanner in the works in history when women were not seen as business select few. This is another biography go off at a tangent will be appreciated by matronly startup owners who are actuation to smash through those squash abbreviate ceilings. 

10. ‘Elon Musk’ by Ashlee Vance

This business biography, written soak Ashlee Vance, is about specified an accomplished entrepreneur that consist of covers three of the almost well-known brands in the field. “Elon Musk,” a book find the businessman of the very much name, will inspire and prompt any startup founder who feels their idea is crazy. 

Musk, provision all, was told this go on board several occasions by many opposite people, from his beginnings put back South Africa to his voyage through Silicon Valley, but just as suddenly, his ideas started look after take shape and change prestige world, those people would shake-up their words. The book likewise provides a sneak peek sift what we can expect overrun Musk’s future plans for SpaceX and why he believes put off company may just be fulfil biggest yet.