r/startups · 2023
Most-mentioned books in r/startups during 2023
This page ranks books by exact tracked mentions in r/startups within the published source unit for 2023. Counts come from the reconciled subreddit-by-month matrix; a source unit may be a bounded sample.
#1 The E-Myth Revisited
Michael E. Gerber
Michael Gerber's diagnosis: most small business owners don't own a business — they own a job, and they're the worst boss they've ever had.
#2 The Lean Startup
Eric Ries
Eric Ries tells founders to ship a broken version on purpose, collect data, and repeat until the market stops ignoring them.
#3 The Mom Test
Rob Fitzpatrick
Rob Fitzpatrick explains why your mom will lie to your face about your startup idea, and how to ask questions that stop that from happening.
#4 Company of One
Paul Jarvis
Paul Jarvis's argument that staying small on purpose beats chasing growth, cited on r/startups as the book that reframes what a business is allowed to be.
#5 Hooked
Nir Eyal
Nir Eyal's blueprint for building products that keep users coming back — and a map of exactly how apps have been rewiring your brain.
#6 The Hard Thing About Hard Things
Ben Horowitz
Ben Horowitz on the decisions nobody prepares you for: layoffs, firings, and the WFIO moments every real company survives or doesn't.