Top Books for Entrepreneurs
Since “Entrepreneurship” is one of the 4 E’s of Lifeschooling, I wanted to put together this list of top books for entrepreneurs to help you better teach this subject to your children and teens.
As I’ve often said, not everyone is a natural entrepreneur, and that’s okay! Entrepreneurship may not be the path God has for you or your children. But I still think it’s an important path to explore, since they will be working for somebody someday, or perhaps want to start a little side hustle as a stay-at-home mom.
Understanding the principles of business is an important life skill!
So I’m sharing these top books for entrepreneurs as my personal top choices…not necessarily the top-selling or top-recommended by experts. I think you’ll find them helpful as you create an entrepreneurial unit study or course…or simply a business-positive environment for your kids!
What to Look for in Top Books for Entrepreneurs
1. A Christian Worldview of Entrepreneurship
The very best books on entrepreneurship should address the topic from a Christian worldview. It doesn’t mean necessarily that the book must be written by a Christian, but the viewpoints expressed should line up with Scriptural principles such as sowing and reaping, giving generously, investing, and not worshiping money.
2. Varied Perspectives about Entrepreneurship
Choose books from authors with differing backgrounds and experiences. Someone who grew up poor will have a different perspective than someone who grew up in a wealthy family of entrepreneurs. A person from another country will likewise see things from another viewpoint than someone with your same cultural understanding. Different perspectives can give us new ways of looking at the same problems and opportunities.
3. Different Aspects of Entrepreneurship
There are many different aspects of entrepreneurship, from business planning to customer service, to marketing, and it’s important to get a broad base of knowledge of all these things. In my opinion, money management is at the foundation of everything because if you don’t understand cash flow or know how to handle the finances, it doesn’t matter how much you bring in!
I’m personally not a “numbers girl,” so I’ve had to work hard to learn how to budget and plan better. (And I’m definitely still a work in progress!) Real success depends on being able to manage your money well.
But you can have a perfect business plan, a superior product, and the best customer service and still fail if you don’t know how to market. The “pet rock” of the 70s is the perfect example that good marketing rules the world! The “inventor” of the pet rock was marketer Gary Dahl who decided to prove that he could market anything successfully with the right packaging and message.
As a designer and copywriter myself (shameless plug), I tend to agree! Good marketing can make all the difference.
When to Read Top Books for Entrepreneurs
There is no set time to introduce entrepreneurship and business concepts to your children, but of course, if your child shows a natural propensity towards starting businesses, then it’s a good idea to start. You’ll know when they try to sell all the stuff sitting around in your garage! Ha!
We’ve all known that kid that set up a lemonade stand at the end of the driveway when it was 58 degrees and cloudy. It might be a good idea to read these top books for entrepreneurs so they have a better understanding of why Mom is their only customer!
A caution: Don’t force entrepreneurship on a child who does not enjoy it. I’ve made this mistake! Being very entrepreneurial myself, I encouraged my daughter to start an embroidery business (look how cute she is in this contest video! 😍) and thought that if we just persevered until she was successful, then she would finally realize just how fun business can be.
That brilliant idea backfired.
Because I pushed her to continue way past the point of fun, she still hates entrepreneurship to this day! Follow your child’s lead and pay attention to the gifts God has and has not put in them. Don’t push them to be something they are not!
In short, these books can be read at any age, but the ones at the beginning of this list would be better suited for older kids or teens. However, you can also read them and talk through the concepts on your child’s level. Personally, I have always liked stretching my children with books that are above them, but this has to be done selectively and in moderation. (We don’t want them bored or totally confused.)
That being said, I have also included a few towards the end that are specifically written for younger children.
Top Books for Entrepreneurs
In no particular order, here are my favorite top books for entrepreneurs, as well as some books that come highly recommended by others. (Scroll down to the bottom to see ones specifically geared towards younger kids). I hope you find them helpful in your life schooling!
Giving It All Away…and Getting It All Back Again: The Way of Living Generously by David Green
If you’re like me, you looooove Hobby Lobby! When Jon and I recently went on vacation, I spent an entire afternoon by myself in Hobby Lobby with no one rushing me and it was one of the highlights of the trip! Haha. (To be fair, Jon has health issues and fully enjoyed that afternoon simply resting back at the room, so it may have equally been a highlight for him!)
And you may also realize that the founder of Hobby Lobby, David Green, is a strong Christian. But you may not know his full story. I first heard it in one of the lessons in my son’s Visionary Entrepreneurship course, and it’s truly amazing!
(By the way, I highly recommend Visionary Entrepreneurship as a fantastic introduction to entrepreneurship. I especially LOVE the section with stories of Christian entrepreneurs and how they use(d) their businesses to serve the Kingdom. Use my code LIFE10 for 10% off!)
Giving It All Away. . . And Getting It All Back Again will help your kids see how important it is to put God first in their business and focus on Kingdom principles over just making money. And here’s a fun fact: Did you know that David Green is also the founder of the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC? What a great way to use God’s money!
UnMarketing: Everything Has Changed and Nothing is Different by Scott and Alison Stratten
It’s been a few years since I read this book, but I remember it really got my creative juices flowing and I found it so helpful! This is not a Christian book, however, so I can’t necessary recommend it for your children to read. You’ll want to preview it unless your children are spiritually mature teens. As I said, it’s been a few years!
My biggest takeaway was that marketing shouldn’t feel sleazy or annoying. It should be real and relational. And the book had a heavy dose of humor, making it just downright fun to read! Here is part of the book’s description on Amazon:
“With UnMarketing, you’ll create a relationship with your customers, and make yourself the logical choice for their needs. We know you’ve been told to act like other people, talk like other people, and market like all the people, but it is time for you to unlearn everything and start to UnMarket yourself.”
Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller
This is definitely a book on my “to read” list (and I think it’s on my Amazon wish list)! If you are in the business world, you’ve probably heard of Donald Miller and his StoryBrand philosophy. It’s a powerful copywriting/branding method for truly connecting with potential buyers and clients!
As a copywriter, I was trained in a very similar way, and I used a story framework to come up with much of the Lifeschooling messaging (“Raise a World-Changer,” for example) and branding.
To give you a taste of one of the StoryBrand tools, watch this StoryBrand One-Liner Exercise video. As for the book, here is a brief summary from the Amazon description:
“In Building a StoryBrand, Donald Miller teaches marketers and business owners to use the seven universal elements of powerful stories to dramatically improve how they connect with customers and grow their businesses. His proven process has helped thousands of companies engage with their existing customers, giving them the ultimate competitive advantage.”
Expert Ownership: Launching Faith-Filled Entrepreneurs into Greater Freedom and Success by David and Jason Benham
David and Jason Benham spoke a number of years ago at our Lifeschooling Conference here in Charlotte, and I have always admired their perspective on business and serving the Lord through entrepreneurship. (Incidentally, I used to do pro-life ministry every week with their father, Flip Benham, a well-known evangelist who led Norma McCorvey to the Lord. He’s an amazing hero of the faith!)
Expert Ownership is another book on my “to-read” list (just added to my wish list!), as these brothers have been highly successful in their field of real estate, and have had a huge impact on other entrepreneurs who want to impact God’s Kingdom by using their gifts to serve in business.
Several years ago, I did read one of their other books, Whatever the Cost, which talks about their faith and the story of how their deal for a show on HGTV fell through after pressure from the LGBT community over the Benham’s personal convictions.
I loved their honesty about the struggle of holding fast to their convictions without compromise! They were tempted to rationalize that the influence they could have with a weekly show on the popular network would be worth being silent, but they understood that God’s ways are higher and compromise is not an option for a believer who loves the Lord.
Pretty much any book by these guys will be worth your time and money! You can see a list of their books on Amazon.
Significant Work: Discover the Extraordinary Worth of What You Do Every Day by Paul Rude
This book was written by a missionary and the brother of my childhood best friend, Paul Rude. He does a great job destroying the lie that only missionaries, pastors, evangelists, etc. are doing “God’s work.” I think it’s important for any child interested in entrepreneurship (or any other career, for that matter) to understand that this calling is not any less important to God’s Kingdom.
You can do ministry through serving others in business! Here is a short synopsis from the Amazon description:
“With engaging stories and sound theology, Paul Rude invites you to discover the extraordinary significance of your everyday work. Never again will you doubt the eternal value of your work or of your life. You’ll find peace with your calling. And you’ll know that through your unique, God-given vocation today, God is preparing you for your eternal vocation, your own unique capacity to reflect His glory forever.”
Thou Shall Prosper: Ten Commandments for Making Money by Rabbi Daniel Lapin
Thou Shall Prosper is one of my favorite top books for entrepreneurs, and one that I made sure my oldest son read! (Which reminds me I need to have my youngest read it, too!) Rabbi Daniel Lapin shares biblical wisdom from the Old Testament in a way I’ve never heard before, and it will change your thinking about entrepreneurship.
I think so often we have an unhealthy view of money. We have twisted the verse, “The love of money is the root of all evil” into simply, “Money is the root of all evil.” And even if we don’t truly believe that, we have been greatly influenced by that false concept!
In one of the first chapters, Lapin mentions Genesis 2:12 which states, “And the gold of that land is good” (emphasis mine). We must remember that currency is actually good in itself! It’s how we use it and think of it that matters.
One of the most impactful statements of the book is one I often refer to:
“Take out a dollar bill and look at it. Now pat yourself on your back because you are looking at a certificate of performance.”
When you serve the world with your gifts, you deserve to be thanked for it through compensation! It’s your “certificate of performance.” This book will help change your thinking about entrepreneurship to be more aligned with the Bible.
The Legend of the Monk and the Merchant: Twelve Keys to Successful Living by Terry Felber
I’m sharing this book because even though I have not personally read it, it was recommended by a friend of mine, and the message really resonates with me…so much so that I just used an Audible credit to purchase it for myself! The fact that it is written similar to a fable intrigues me and I’m guessing this is a much more effective way to learn business concepts. Stories are powerful!
Here is a snippet from the Amazon description:
“Be a minister in the marketplace. Terry Felber has written a parable that will transform your life and your business. Many years ago, this ago book helped Dave Ramsey rediscover the marketplace as a mission field–and merchants as ministers. Now let it open your eyes to the opportunities for service and leadership all around you.”
The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness by Morgan Housel
I purchased a copy of this book through Audible last year and enjoyed it so much that I listened to it again with my youngest! I felt the money concepts shared were important and necessary for him to hear, and what I appreciated most was the author’s philosophy that money decisions have to feel comfortable and make sense to the one making them.
There truly is a psychology behind the decisions we make with our money! Acknowledging that fact and learning to work with it rather than against it is crucial to making our money work well for us.
The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy by Thomas J. Stanley Ph.D. and William D. Danko Ph.D
I read this book about five or six years ago and was really impacted by it! Most people would find it shocking to realize that most of the wealthy do not live extravagantly and, in fact, are quite frugal. There is a reason they have kept their money!
This was vividly shown through a story the author shared at the very opening of the book. I won’t spoil it by sharing the entire story (which is also my way of saying I don’t remember it precisely…haha!). But basically, he invited a large group of wealthy Americans to a fancy party, complete with caviar and the best champagne, and was shocked by the people who showed up…people who did not fit the stereotype in his mind.
This book covers the seven common traits of the wealthy, showing that wisdom with finances truly does pay off. It’s a classic and a great book that has over 15,000 positive reviews to prove it!
Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert Kiyosaki
Here’s a great classic book that should be on everyone’s top books for entrepreneurs on the financial aspect of running a business. How you think about and handle money can make all the difference! I’ve heard the praises of this book for years, though I have not personally read it. I did, however, have my youngest son read the teen version, Rich Dad Poor Dad for Teens: The Secrets about Money–That You Don’t Learn in School!
Cashflow Quadrant is another book by the same author that I’ve heard great things about. It goes through the four main “quadrants” of making money and teaches you how to move toward the quadrant that will help you become the most financially free.
The Mills Family of Entrepreneurs: Discovering business and honoring God through it by Patrick Lowndes
Here is another intriguing title I came across that is written in more of a story form. I think this would be a great way to introduce the concept of entrepreneurship to your entire family by reading it aloud together! It could spark some interesting conversations and get the business ideas flowing.
Here are more details from Amazon:
“When the Mills kids come home from a rainy-day trip to the farm, they never expect a pile of colorful corn to spark their first business. But with their dad’s help, Liam, Elsy, Max, and Zoe turn a messy craft table into a Fall Festival booth… and discover what it means to dream, plan, build, and sell. Written by a seasoned entrepreneur and father of five, Patrick Lowndes turned years of startup experience into a story that made business simple for his own kids, and now he wants to share it with your family too.”
The Christian Family Startup Guide: A Step-by-Step Guide to Starting a business with your kids with God at the center by Chris Folayan
Another potentially great read-aloud for the entire family! Any venture that involves the whole family has the potential to really strengthen family ties as you learn to work together and unify around a common goal. The author also seems to have a pretty impressive resume, and I love his focus on biblical principles!
Here is part of the Amazon description:
“This interactive guide blends fun activities with practical lessons, helping your child develop leadership, Biblical principles, financial literacy, and problem-solving skills that will set them apart for life. Your kids will also learn how to pray and trust in God at all times.”
Rich From Day One | A Young Person’s Guide to Starting Rich & Never Entering the Rat Race: 8 Money Secrets From the Bible That Will Make You Wealthier Than Your Parents. by Travis Lee Peters
This is another title I have not personally read, but I’m including it because it is specifically geared towards teens, and unlike Rich Dad Poor Dad for Teens, it is written from an explicitly Christian worldview. Despite the sound of the title, this book is focused on the ultimate goal of building God’s Kingdom, not simply building wealth for wealth’s sake.
I am very leery of the “prosperity gospel,” and I did have a few red flags initially, but this review put my mind at ease:
“It’s easy to criticize the ‘prosperity gospel.’ Truthfully, Travis does a great job highlighting the importance of putting God first in EVERYTHING we do and what the Bible promises us in return. We often get it backwards, pursuing wealth in our own means and trying to bring God along for the ride. This book is all about seeking first the Kingdom. Highly recommend!”
There may still be some things worth discussing with you teen (again, I haven’t read it to be able to say), but isn’t this the age where we need to help them discern and think through different perspective anyway?
What I really appreciate about this book is that it also includes QR codes that link to video clips. This seems like a great way to make the teaching even more memorable and gives another avenue for kids who may not be great readers, or simply have a different learning style.
Young Entrepreneurs: A Guide to Starting Your Own Business for Kids by Ross Johnson
There were many books for young entrepreneurs that looked helpful to include in these top books for entrepreneurs! But this one stood out as a good practical resource with simple steps for kids to follow, along with engaging real-life stories of successful kid entrepreneurs. Here is a portion of the Amazon description:
“Discover how to brainstorm creative ideas, create a simple business plan, manage money, and market your products or services. With step-by-step guidance and real-life examples, ‘Young Entrepreneurs: A Guide to Starting Your Own Business for Kids’ makes it easy and fun to learn the basics of starting and running a successful business.”
Conclusion
I hope you’ve found some helpful books to add to your homeschooling resources! Entrepreneurship can show your kids how God can use their gifts and talents practically in the world, but we have to help train them in the necessary skills so they can succeed.
Do you have any favorite books not included on this list? I would love to hear your top books for entrepreneurs recommendations, as well! Please share with everyone in the comments below!
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