19 underrated books
19 underrated books for founders nobody really talks about
Hello friends, welcome to the 16th edition of TheHustleBook. Today I want to share something close to my heart.
The books that shaped my entrepreneurial journey but somehow never make it to those fancy "must-read" lists.
Everyone talks about the same books. Zero to One. Lean Startup. The Hard Thing About Hard Things (okay, that one actually made my list). But there are gems hiding in plain sight that can change the way you think about building a startup and eventually a successful company.
Below, you will find some books that helped me navigate the complex, unpredictable world of startups
Reading the right books at the right time can save you years of painful mistakes. It's like having mentors you never knew you needed.
I've made my fair share of founder mistakes. The kind that makes you question everything at 2 AM. But some of these books felt like having a wise friend who had been there before, gently pointing out the potholes I was about to step into.
The best startup books aren't always about startups.
Sometimes it's a book about psychology that helps you understand your team. Sometimes it's a story about resilience that keeps you going when everything falls apart.
Building a startup is 20% strategy and 80% psychology. Most books focus on the wrong 20%.
But here are all 19 underrated books that deserve a spot on every first-time founder's shelf:
1. Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh
Everyone focuses on the party culture, but the real lesson is about building systems that scale happiness. Culture isn't a nice-to-have, it's your competitive advantage.
2. Cold Start Problem by Andrew Chen
Network effects sound simple in theory. Andrew shows you why most companies that try to build them fail, and what the winners do differently. You can study Booming Brands to learn about the Indian Founders building successful startup in India.
3. Founders at Work by Jessica Livingston
Real stories from real founders about the early days. No glossy marketing, just honest conversations about what it actually takes.
4. Getting Acquired by Andrew Gazdecki
Most founders dream of an exit but have no clue how it actually works. Andrew shares the process from someone who's been on both sides of the table.
5. Zero to Sold by Arvid Kahl
The Indie founder's playbook. Arvid shows you how to build, grow, and sell a bootstrapped SaaS without venture capital involvement. You will learn some crazy insights about how bootstrapped startups operate.
6. The Messy Middle by Scott Belsky
This book gets the emotional rollercoaster of building something from nothing. Scott doesn't sugarcoat the middle part, the part where you're not sure if you're crazy or onto something big. One of the books on my top 5 list for a reason
7. Build by Tony Fadell
Practical wisdom from someone who built the iPod and Nest. Tony talks about the details that matter, the ones that separate good products from great ones.
8. Mental Model (Vol 1) by Shane Parrish
Startups are decision-making machines. This book gives you the frameworks to make better decisions when you have incomplete information, which is basically every day as a founder.
9. Minimalist Entrepreneur by Sahil Lavingia
Forget the Silicon Valley playbook. Sahil shows you how to build profitable companies without needing the venture capital. If you are a first time founder, you should 100% pick this up.
10. 46 Rules of Genius by Marla Tabaka.
Short, crisp insights about creativity and problem-solving. Perfect for those moments when you're stuck and need a different perspective.
11. Rework by Jason Fried and DHH
Contrarian wisdom that challenges everything you think you know about building companies. Small, profitable, sustainable beats big and risky.
12. Let's Build a Company by Harpreet Grover and Vibhore Goyal
Lets Build a Company is a very raw, real, readable account of CoCubes, a company co-founded by two IIT grads sharing about their journey from concept to selling it. Gosh! I enjoyed reading this book. I infact try to read this book once in a year
13. The Startup Playbook by David Kidder.
Real case studies from founders who built billion-dollar companies. Less theory, more street-smart tactics.
14. Lost and Founder by Rand Fishkin
Brutally honest about the parts of startup life that don't make it into TechCrunch articles. Rand shares the failures, the doubt, the reality behind the success stories.
15. Hard Things About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz
Okay, this one's not exactly underrated, but it's essential. Ben doesn't sugarcoat the CEO job, and every founder needs to read this.
16. The One Thing by Gary Keller
Focus is a superpower for founders. This book helps you cut through the noise and identify what actually moves the needle.
17. The Airbnb Story by Leigh Gallagher
Go behind the scenes of one of the most interesting company stories of our time. The ups, downs, and everything in between. There is a reason why Airbnb is Paul Graham’s one of the favorite startups from YC
18. Make Something Wonderful by Steve Jobs
His lesser-known thoughts on product development and company culture. Raw insights from someone who understood that great companies are built on great products.
19. Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
Building a team isn't about hiring rockstars. It's about creating an environment where people feel safe to do their best work. You can also check the videos by Simon Sinek on YouTube, you will find some incredible insights inside.
What’s so special about these books?
Most "startup books" are written by people who never actually built anything. These books come from operators, people who have been in the trenches and lived to tell about it.
They don't promise easy answers because there aren't any. Instead, they give you frameworks for thinking through hard problems and the mental models to stay sane while doing it.
I love creating mental models from my journey of building my startup.
You can check them all here - click here
I will publish one more edition in the coming week on "Books that changed how I think about people" because building a startup is ultimately about understanding humans.
If you're just starting your founder journey, or if you're stuck somewhere in the messy middle, pick one of these books. Your future self will thank you.
That's it for this edition. I will see you on the next one very soon.
Your friend,
Riten