Business books usually fall into two category: how-to or biographical.

In how-to books, the author may or may not be an entrepreneur.

Biographical books most frequently are written by someone (and,

perhaps, their ghostwriter) who has built a successful business and

tells the story of the inception and growth of that undertaking.

Biographical books also may share advice, but often have the added

advantage of being inspirational. After all, hardly anyone writes this

kind of book to tell a story about how they got an idea for a business

and found themselves rolling in success the next day. Personal

narratives may not always involve overcoming enormous obstacles, but

they have the added advantage of being told from personal perspective

and offer the author/entrepreneur’s insights into those events that

shaped the business.

Winner Takes All by Christina Binkley is a well-written account of how

modern Las Vegas was shaped by three very different entrepreneurial

thinkers. Terrific storytelling because the story’s so good.

Business Stripped Bare by Richard Branson shares lessons learned by

this adventurous entrepreneur. You don’t have to build a global empire

to apply what he’s learned to your business.

Small Giants by Bo Burlingham is an exploration of companies that

chose to be great instead of big.

The Perfect Store by Adam Cohen. Even though a lot has happened since

this book was published, it’s an amazing tale of the humble beginnings

of eBay.

Hershey by Michael D’Antonio is the fascinating story of Milton

Hershey of chocolate fame who was also an ahead-of-his-time social

entrepreneur.

In Pursuit of the Common Good by Paul Newman and A.E. Hotchner is a

highly entertaining account of the surprising birth and growth of

Newman’s Own.

Making a Literary Life by Carolyn See not only offers advice on the

nuts and bolts of writing, but also insights into the interior life of

an author.

A Sense of Place with Michael Shapiro is a collection of interviews

with people, including Bill Bryson and Rick Steves, who turned their

love of travel into a writing career.

Make the Impossible Possible by Bill Strickland is a story I can read

again and again. Genuinely inspiring example of how a positive vision

impacts positively. Strickland chornicles his journey from inner city

teen without direction to founder of an enormously successful training

school.

Banker to the Poor by Muhammad Yunus is the wildly inspiring story of

the birth of micro-lending and the lives that were changed by helping

the poor create their own enterprises.