21 Women Entrepreneurs Reveal Their Favorite Business Books

Forbes Woman just published a blog post I compiled, “21 Women Entrepreneurs Reveal Their Favorite Business Books.” Business books are a topic I’ve wanted to blog about for months now, but I was never sure how to create my own list of top business books. Should I limit them to books by women? What about business books for and about women?
Then it dawned on me: I didn’t have to decide. I could just ask other women which business books has been most inspirational in their careers. I quickly learned that entrepreneurs are passionate about the topic of books, and I got passionate responses from women such as Kathy Ireland, SARK and Nell Merlino.
Here’s the list, though if you want comments on the books themselves check out the full article on Forbes.
Best Business Books for Women
Principle Centered Leadership by Stephen Covey via Kathleen Charlton, owner and manager of Olympic Cellars Winery and Working Girl Wines
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell via Liz Gumbinner, group creative director at Deutsch, publisher of CoolMomPicks.com and blogger at Mom-101.com
The 10 Laws of Enduring Success by Maria Bartiromo via Kathy Ireland, CEO of Kathy Ireland Worldwide
Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson via Tory Johnson, founder and CEO of Women For Hire
Leading From the Front by Angie Morgan and Courtney Lynch via Felicia Joy, entrepreneur and host of Ms. CEO
The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss via Kathy Korman Frey, founder of the Hot Mommas Project
A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink via Andrea Learned, co-author of Don’t Think Pink, and consumer behavior expert, and Jennifer Lee, certified coach and founder of Artizen Coaching
The E-Myth by Michael Gerber via Alexis Martin Neely, lawyer and CEO of the Family Wealth and Kimberly Wilson, founder and creative director of Tranquil Space Yoga Studio
Your Million Dollar Dream by Tamara Monosoff’ via Nell Merlino, founder of Take Our Daughters To Work Day and Count Me In
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott via Julie Morgenstern, time management expert and business productivity consultant
On My Own Two Feet by Manisha Thakor and Sharon Kedar via Lindsey Pollak, author of Getting from College to Career and LinkedIn global spokesperson
Games Mother Never Taught You by Betty Lehan Harragan via Carol Sands, managing member of The Angels’ Forum and The Halo Fund
Creating Money by Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer via SARK, author, artist and founder and CEO of Planet SARK
Defy Gravity by Rebel Brown via Dondi Schumachi, speaker and author of Career Moves
How We Lead Matters by Marilyn Carlson Nelson via Judi Sheppard Missett, founder and CEO of Jazzercise
Women Don’t Ask by Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever via Debra Shigley, workplace expert and author of The Go-Getter Girl’s Guide
Wishcraft by Barbara Sher and Annie Gottlieb via Jen Smith of Millionaire Mommy Next Door
Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office by Lois Frankel via Kari Taylor, senior director of global accounts, Office Depot






Hi Kelly, great post! It's wonderful to get all these reading recommendations from women who obviously know a good business book when they read one!
Thanks, Lisa. I agree. Discovering which business books have been most influential to them is like getting a peek inside their entrepreneurial minds … very valuable to someone like me!