case study business books

Case collection: Harvard Business Publishing

About Harvard Business Publishing

Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Harvard Business Publishing (HBP) is the leading provider of teaching materials for management education.

HBP was founded in 1994 as a not-for-profit, wholly-owned subsidiary of Harvard University, reporting into Harvard Business School. HBP's mission is to improve the practice of management in a changing world. This mission influences how they approach what they do and what they believe is important.

With approximately 450 employees, primarily based in Boston, with offices in New York City, India, Singapore, Qatar and the United Kingdom, HBP serves as a bridge between academia and enterprises around the globe through its publications and multiple platforms for content delivery, and its reach into three markets: academic, corporate, and individual managers. HBP has a conventional governance structure comprising a  Board of Directors , an internal  Executive Committee , and Business Unit Directors.

About the collection

The Case Centre distributes a comprehensive range of materials including the complete collection of more than 7,500 Harvard Business School case studies, teaching notes, background notes, case videos, and a selection of software ancillaries.

Also included are:

• Brief Cases that are rigorous and compact with five-eight pages and three-four exhibits
• case studies that are popular for undergraduate-level courses
• executive education cases that provide rich yet efficient learning for managers at every level.

Additional top quality HBP teaching materials available from The Case Centre include:

• articles from the  Harvard Business Review  and other top management journals
• case method books from the Harvard Business School Press
• over 2,000  individual chapters  from popular Harvard Business School Press books
• newsletter articles  from Harvard Management Update, Strategy & Innovation, Negotiation, and Balanced Scorecard Report
• Core Curriculum Readings  that cover the foundational concepts, theories, and frameworks that business students must learn. Authored by faculty at Harvard Business School, each Reading includes a teaching note, related course materials, and exhibit slides. Many include test banks, practice questions, video clips, and Interactive Illustrations to enhance student comprehension of specific topics.

HBP also offer a number of free cases.  Browse here

Collection contact

For any queries related to the Harvard Business Publishing collection, please visit:

Travis Stewart e [email protected]

Browse the full collection Browse prize-winning cases

Available from the case centre.

The HBP collection of over 16,000 cases, and their accompanying instructor materials, software and videos, 7,000 management articles and 2,000 individual book chapters are available from The Case Centre.

See what's available

There are restrictions on the distribution of some items. To see any restrictions login to our site (or register if you've not already done so) and use our online search to find the item you're interested in. Any restrictions will be shown alongside the product.

Materials from Harvard Business Publishing are not available to customers at corporate organisations or at organisations in China.

www.hbsp.harvard.edu/educators

Top ten bestselling cases

Browse the top ten bestselling cases from Harvard Business Publishing in 2023.

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Learning with cases can be a challenging experience.

Our interactive study guide takes students through the process, providing practical tips, tricks and tools.

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Books/eBooks

Selected books with business cases, getting materials not available at bu.

• Open Access Cases
• Case Analysis
• Case Interviews
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• Citing Business Sources

Business cases can be found through a number of books and ebooks in our collection. To locate these items, go to BU Libraries Search and enter terms such as:

"case studies" and leadership "case studies" and project management "case studies" and business ethics "case studies" and diversity

To narrow your search down to Books/eBooks only, use Material Types filter on the right side of the page.

If we don't have what you need, please refer to the Getting Materials Not Available at BU section below. You can also recommend a book for purchase through our Suggest a Purchase page. 

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• Boston Library Consortium (BLC) Card​s . A BLC Card allows you to borrow circulating material from member libraries , just as you would from BU Libraries. Boston University faculty, staff, and students on the Charles River Campus may obtain a Consortium Card by filling out an  application form . Medical Campus affiliates should apply at the Alumni Medical Library. 

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• Last Updated: Jun 7, 2024 12:40 PM
• URL: https://library.bu.edu/business-case-studies

Book series

Springer Business Cases

About this book series, book titles in this series, building trust in startup communication.

Exploring the Interplay of Arguments and Stories in the Case of the Nikola Corporation

• Marius Born
• Open Access
• Copyright: 2024

Available Renditions

Marketing Cases from Emerging Multinational Enterprises (eMNEs)

National Brands Asserting Themselves on the Global Stage

• Zafar U. Ahmed
• Omer F Genc

Sustainable Transformation Strategy

Casebook on Corporate Sustainability in Practice

• Paolo Taticchi
• Melissa Demartini
• Melina Corvaglia-Charrey
• Copyright: 2023

Marketing Case Studies in Emerging Markets

Contemporary Multi-industry Issues and Best-practices

• Dilip S. Mutum
• Soo Yeong Ewe
• Ezlika M. Ghazali
• Racheal Louis Vincent

Impacts of COVID-19 on Supply Chains

Disruptions, Technologies, and Solutions

• Mohammad Moshref-Javadi
• Sridhar Seshadri

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• Business & Money
• Management & Leadership

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The Case Study Handbook, Revised Edition: A Student's Guide Revised Edition

The guide all MBAs and exec ed students need.

If you're enrolled in an MBA or executive education program, you've probably encountered a powerful learning tool: the business case. But if you're like many people, you may find interpreting and writing about cases mystifying and time-consuming. In The Case Study Handbook, Revised Edition , William Ellet presents a potent new approach for efficiently analyzing, discussing, and writing about cases. Early chapters show how to classify cases according to the analytical task they require (making a decision, performing an evaluation, or diagnosing a problem) and quickly establish a base of knowledge about a case. Strategies and templates, in addition to several sample Harvard Business School cases, help you apply the author's framework. Later in the book, Ellet shows how to write persuasive case-analytical essays based on the process laid out earlier. Examples of effective writing further reinforce the methods. The book also includes a chapter on how to talk about cases more effectively in class. Any current or prospective MBA or executive education student needs this guide.

• ISBN-10 9781633696150
• ISBN-13 978-1633696150
• Edition Revised
• Publisher Harvard Business Review Press
• Publication date September 18, 2018
• Language English
• Dimensions 7 x 0.5 x 9 inches
• Print length 272 pages
• See all details

Editorial Reviews

About the author.

Author social media/website info: linkedin.com/in/billellet, brandeis.edu/facultyguide/person.html?emplid=5b54b9bb24c2a65d948871b168578349c0d6b7a8

Product details

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1633696154
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harvard Business Review Press; Revised edition (September 18, 2018)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781633696150
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1633696150
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 0.5 x 9 inches
• #49 in Business Writing Skills (Books)
• #314 in Communication Skills
• #809 in Business Management (Books)

About the author

William ellet.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

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Top 40 Most Popular Case Studies of 2021

Two cases about Hertz claimed top spots in 2021's Top 40 Most Popular Case Studies

Two cases on the uses of debt and equity at Hertz claimed top spots in the CRDT’s (Case Research and Development Team) 2021 top 40 review of cases.

Hertz (A) took the top spot. The case details the financial structure of the rental car company through the end of 2019. Hertz (B), which ranked third in CRDT’s list, describes the company’s struggles during the early part of the COVID pandemic and its eventual need to enter Chapter 11 bankruptcy. 

The success of the Hertz cases was unprecedented for the top 40 list. Usually, cases take a number of years to gain popularity, but the Hertz cases claimed top spots in their first year of release. Hertz (A) also became the first ‘cooked’ case to top the annual review, as all of the other winners had been web-based ‘raw’ cases.

Besides introducing students to the complicated financing required to maintain an enormous fleet of cars, the Hertz cases also expanded the diversity of case protagonists. Kathyrn Marinello was the CEO of Hertz during this period and the CFO, Jamere Jackson is black.

Sandwiched between the two Hertz cases, Coffee 2016, a perennial best seller, finished second. “Glory, Glory, Man United!” a case about an English football team’s IPO made a surprise move to number four.  Cases on search fund boards, the future of malls,  Norway’s Sovereign Wealth fund, Prodigy Finance, the Mayo Clinic, and Cadbury rounded out the top ten.

Other year-end data for 2021 showed:

• Online “raw” case usage remained steady as compared to 2020 with over 35K users from 170 countries and all 50 U.S. states interacting with 196 cases.
• Fifty four percent of raw case users came from outside the U.S..
• The Yale School of Management (SOM) case study directory pages received over 160K page views from 177 countries with approximately a third originating in India followed by the U.S. and the Philippines.
• Twenty-six of the cases in the list are raw cases.
• A third of the cases feature a woman protagonist.
• Orders for Yale SOM case studies increased by almost 50% compared to 2020.
• The top 40 cases were supervised by 19 different Yale SOM faculty members, several supervising multiple cases.

CRDT compiled the Top 40 list by combining data from its case store, Google Analytics, and other measures of interest and adoption.

All of this year’s Top 40 cases are available for purchase from the Yale Management Media store .

And the Top 40 cases studies of 2021 are:

1.   Hertz Global Holdings (A): Uses of Debt and Equity

2.   Coffee 2016

3.   Hertz Global Holdings (B): Uses of Debt and Equity 2020

4.   Glory, Glory Man United!

5.   Search Fund Company Boards: How CEOs Can Build Boards to Help Them Thrive

6.   The Future of Malls: Was Decline Inevitable?

7.   Strategy for Norway's Pension Fund Global

8.   Prodigy Finance

9.   Design at Mayo

10. Cadbury

11. City Hospital Emergency Room

13. Volkswagen

14. Marina Bay Sands

15. Shake Shack IPO

16. Mastercard

17. Netflix

18. Ant Financial

19. AXA: Creating the New CR Metrics

20. IBM Corporate Service Corps

21. Business Leadership in South Africa's 1994 Reforms

22. Alternative Meat Industry

23. Children's Premier

24. Khalil Tawil and Umi (A)

25. Palm Oil 2016

26. Teach For All: Designing a Global Network

27. What's Next? Search Fund Entrepreneurs Reflect on Life After Exit

28. Searching for a Search Fund Structure: A Student Takes a Tour of Various Options

30. Project Sammaan

31. Commonfund ESG

32. Polaroid

33. Connecticut Green Bank 2018: After the Raid

34. FieldFresh Foods

35. The Alibaba Group

36. 360 State Street: Real Options

37. Herman Miller

38. AgBiome

39. Nathan Cummings Foundation

40. Toyota 2010

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Case studies: books.

Search library catalog  for case studies by doing a keyword search for "case studies" (in quotes) with another keyword. To browse by subject heading, construct your subject heading as (subject) -- case studies. Examples of subject headings include strategic planning -- case studies, management -- case studies, entrepreneurship -- case studies, high technology industries -- case studies, internet marketing -- case studies, etc.

There are over 3000 books with case studies in the library catalog. Selected titles include:

International Business Case Studies (selected titles):

Search library catalog  for subject:  International business enterprises -- Case studies

• Leading Culture Change in Global Organizations by Daniel Denison; Robert Hooijberg; Colleen Leif; Nancy Lane; Colleen Lief ISBN: 9781118221242 Publication Date: 2012-06-01 Filled with case studies from firms such as GT Automotive, GE Healthcare China, Vale, Dominos, Swiss Re Americas Division, and Polar Bank, among others, this book (written by Dan Denison and his co-authors) combines twenty years of research and survey results to illustrate a critical set of cultural dynamics that firms need to manage in order to remain competitive. Each chapter uses a case as a means to illustrate an important aspect of culture change focusing on seven common culture-change dilemmas including creating a strategic alignment, keeping strategy simple, and more.

Strategic Management Case Studies (selected titles):

Search library catalog for subject:  Strategic planning -- Case studies .

Management Case Studies (selected titles):

Ivey Case Series titles.

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Hacking the Case Interview

Where can I find MBA Consulting Casebooks?

Below, you will find links to download MBA consulting casebooks from 23 different business schools. These casebooks will provide you with over 700 practice cases that you can use to hone your case interview skills. These cases are a great supplement to the practice cases that consulting firms provide .

The year indicates when the consulting casebook was published. Some consulting clubs publish a new casebook each year while others may use the same casebook for multiple years. Therefore, even the older casebooks can still contain valuable practice cases.

If you’re looking for a step-by-step shortcut to learn case interviews quickly,  enroll in our case interview course . These insider strategies from a former Bain interviewer helped 30,000+ land consulting offers while saving hundreds of hours of prep time.

• Australian Graduate School of Management (2002)
• Booth (2005)
• Columbia (2007)
• Darden (2019)
• ESADE (2011)
• Fuqua (2018)
• Goizueta (2006)
• Haas (2019)
• Harvard Business School (2012)
• Illinois (2015)
• INSEAD (2011)
• Johnson (2003)
• Kellogg (2012)
• London Business School (2013)
• McCombs (2018)
• Notre Dame (2017)
• Queens (2019)
• Ross (2010)
• Sloan (2015)
• Stern (2018)
• Tuck (2009)
• Wharton (2017)
• Yale (2013)

What are Consulting Casebooks?

Consulting casebooks are documents that MBA consulting clubs put together to help their members prepare for consulting case interviews. Consulting casebooks provide some case interview strategies and tips, but they mostly contain case interview practice cases.

While consulting casebooks contain tons of practice cases, there is quite a bit of variety in the sources and formats of these cases.

Some practice cases are taken from actual consulting interviews given by consulting firms. These are the best types of cases to practice with because they closely simulate the length and difficulty of an actual case interview. Other practice cases may be written by the consulting club’s officers. These cases are less realistic, but can still offer great practice.

The formats of the practice cases in consulting casebooks also vary significantly.

Some practice cases are written in a question and answer format. This type of format makes it easy to practice the case by yourself, without a case partner. Other practices cases are written in a dialogue format. These cases are better for practicing with a case interview partner.

How do I use Casebooks to Practice Case Interviews?

How you should use consulting casebooks depends on whether you are practicing cases by yourself or practicing cases with a case partner.

Practicing Cases by Yourself

If you are trying to practice cases by yourself, you will need to find cases that are written in a question and answer format. Only in this format can you read the question, answer it, and then move onto the next question without getting any case spoilers.

To practice cases by yourself, read the case background. Then, summarize the case information out loud, verify the objective to yourself, and then ask clarifying questions out loud.

You likely won’t be able to answer any questions that you have by yourself, but talking to yourself out loud is good practice because it simulates what you would do in a real case interview.

Afterwards, take a few minutes to write out your case interview framework. Treat this like a real case interview, so don’t give yourself unlimited time to think about how you would structure your approach. When you have your framework written out, talk through it like you are explaining it to an interviewer.

Next, move onto the first case question. For each case question, talk through your thinking out loud as if you were in a real interview. If there is math involved, make sure you talk through your calculations out loud.

Once you have finished answering each case question, provide your final recommendation out loud. Make sure to suggest potential next steps.

Now that you have finished the case, you can review your answers and compare them to the sample answers. Try to identify areas of improvement or things that you could have done better.

For a comprehensive guide on how to practice case interviews by yourself, without a case partner, read this article .

Practicing Cases with a Case Partner

If you are practicing with a case partner, decide who is going to be giving the case and who is going to be receiving the case.

If you are giving the case, read the entire case information carefully. It may be helpful to read through everything twice so that you are familiar with all of the information and can answer any question that your partner asks you to clarify.

As the person giving the case, you need to be the case expert.

You should become familiar with the overall direction of the case. In other words, you should know what the major questions of the case are and what the major areas of investigation are. This will help you run the mock case interview more smoothly.  

Depending on whether you want the case interview to be interviewer-led or candidate-led, you will need to decide how much you want to steer the direction of the case.

If your partner gets stuck and is taking a long time, you may need to step in and provide suggestions or hints. If your partner is proceeding down a wrong direction, you will need to direct them towards the right direction.

Caveats to Using MBA Consulting Casebooks

In general, MBA consulting casebooks are great resources because they are free and provide tons of practice cases to hone your case interview skills. However, there are several caveats that you should be aware of.

1. Similarity to Real Case Interviews

Some cases in MBA consulting casebooks are not representative of actual case interviews because they are written by consulting club officers instead of interviewers from consulting firms.

For example, some cases may be too short or too long in length. Some cases could also be too technical or may require you to have specialized knowledge. If you come across a case that is way too complicated or way too simple, keep in mind that the case may not be representative of an actual case interview.

2. Quality of Sample Answers

While consulting casebooks provide sample solutions, these answers are often not the best or highest quality answers. If you use the answers in casebooks as your benchmark for what a great answer looks like, you may not be learning the best way to answer case interview questions.

3. Ease of Use

Consulting casebooks are all written in different formats and by different people. Therefore, it can be challenging to find cases that you can consistently use to practice cases by yourself or with a partner.

Case information may be written in an unorganized way. The main questions of the case may be hidden in the case background information or in the answers. You’ll have to learn the best way to read and digest each case in each casebook.

Recommended Case Interview Prep Resources

Here are the resources we recommend to learn the most robust, effective case interview strategies in the least time-consuming way:

• Comprehensive Case Interview Course (our #1 recommendation): The only resource you need. Whether you have no business background, rusty math skills, or are short on time, this step-by-step course will transform you into a top 1% caser that lands multiple consulting offers.
• Hacking the Case Interview Book   (available on Amazon): Perfect for beginners that are short on time. Transform yourself from a stressed-out case interview newbie to a confident intermediate in under a week. Some readers finish this book in a day and can already tackle tough cases.
• The Ultimate Case Interview Workbook (available on Amazon): Perfect for intermediates struggling with frameworks, case math, or generating business insights. No need to find a case partner – these drills, practice problems, and full-length cases can all be done by yourself.
• Case Interview Coaching : Personalized, one-on-one coaching with former consulting interviewers
• Behavioral & Fit Interview Course : Be prepared for 98% of behavioral and fit questions in just a few hours. We'll teach you exactly how to draft answers that will impress your interviewer
• Resume Review & Editing : Transform your resume into one that will get you multiple interviews

Land Multiple Consulting Offers

Complete, step-by-step case interview course. 30,000+ happy customers.

The Sustainable Business Case Book

(4 reviews)

Ross Gittell, University of New Hampshire

Matt Magnusson, University of New Hampshire

Michael Merenda, Whittemore School of Business

Copyright Year: 2012

ISBN 13: 9781453346778

Publisher: Saylor Foundation

Language: English

Formats Available

Conditions of use.

Learn more about reviews.

Reviewed by Pavlina McGrady, Assistant Professor, Southern Oregon University on 1/15/21

The book includes thirteen chapters. The first six chapters explain concepts related to sustainability (i.e., sustainability frameworks (Chapter 1), the science of sustainability, including sustainability economics, earth’s history, and ecology,... read more

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The book includes thirteen chapters. The first six chapters explain concepts related to sustainability (i.e., sustainability frameworks (Chapter 1), the science of sustainability, including sustainability economics, earth’s history, and ecology, human activity impacts on the ecosystem (Chapter 2), government, public policy, and sustainable business (Chapter 3), accountability for sustainability (Chapter 4), entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable business (Chapter 5), and sustainable business marketing (Chapter 6). The content of those chapters is well-organized and wide-ranging. The second half of the book focuses on case studies on sustainable businesses. Although the topics covered and are very relevant, one aspect that is lacking is focus on the social dimension of sustainability. While the author always refers to the triple bottom, stressing that the case studies followed the triple bottom line sustainability framework (environmental, social, and economic aspects), the actual content on social aspects of sustainability is very limited or practically missing—almost all content links to environmental aspects of sustainability and some points on economic aspects. Each chapter includes learning objectives, key takeaways, exercises, and “side bars.” The theoretical/conceptual chapter includes references to case studies to support the claims. Yet, the same case studies are often referenced – e.g., Steinfeld Yogurt, Walmart, and Timberland, when referring to various topics. It is recommended that companies different from the cases in the case study chapters are referenced to enrich the content.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

The content in the book is mostly accurate (considering it was published in 2012), with minor grammatical errors. A few references are missing when explaining concepts. Additionally, a few of the website and video links are inactive (outdated). Similarly, some of the content is generally outdated – mainly from 2010, 2011. Once again, there is no discussion on social aspects of sustainability when the triple bottom line is referenced, which might cause confusion with the readers/students. Considering that the book was published in 2012, a big chunk of information – e.g., statistical data, laws and regulations, as well as some case studies, need to be updated.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

The book was very relevant in 2012. The content is somewhat out-of-date now (in 2021), particularly the case studies and statistical information. Some of the trends in sustainability have also changed – e.g., consumer interest in sustainability and the number of businesses pursuing change towards sustainability; new eco-labels, not discussed in the book, are also “trending.” However, the first several chapters – e.g., Chapter 1 to 4 are still very relevant as they include the “basis” of business sustainability. Chapters 5 and 6 focusing on innovation and marketing need some updates. The case studies are still relevant, but some of the information in them can be updated, and perhaps new case studies added.

Clarity rating: 5

The text is well-written, with adequate technical terminology used. All jargon/technical terms have been explained. The chapter objectives and key takeaways help guide the reader throughout each section. Some videos/photos links are not active, but that is expected considering that the book was published almost ten years ago.

Consistency rating: 4

The text is internally consistent, keeping the focus on sustainability with relevant terminology. The only “gap” is the constant reference to the triple bottom line framework, while the three dimensions were not addressed equally, the social aspect lens is practically missing from the book. Otherwise, the author stays on point/consistent throughout the textbook.

Modularity rating: 5

The text is easily and readily divisible into smaller reading sections with multiple subsections in each chapter, accompanied by chapter objectives, side bars with key concepts and “small” case studies, as well as key takeaways. It will be easy for an instructor to assign part of a chapter or one or two chapters from the book as a class reading. The topics are well-divided and can be used separately yet follow the same common focus.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The topics in the text are presented in a logical fashion. Each chapter builds on the previous one while also leaving it possible to be used independently. The learning objectives of each section, including the case studies, as well as the key takeaways, keep the organization clear. Yet, a table of contents would have been very helpful, potentially assisting instructors and students find certain chapters, as well as specific sub sections and case studies.

Interface rating: 4

Some interface issues exist, as a few images/charts are cut or unavailable, but that is expected considering the publication date (almost ten years ago).

Grammatical Errors rating: 4

Minor grammatical errors were identified, as well as some missing references.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

The book is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way. Yet, the references in chapters 1-6, as well as the case studies, could have included more culturally diverse examples, perhaps with a more international focus. Additionally, if the content on social aspects of sustainability is added, as suggested above, the book can be enriched greatly, particularly by adding content on equity, diversity, and inclusion; adding sustainability elements as pertaining to human rights, quality of life, health and safety, empowerment, community engagement, gender equality, access to education, children and family wellbeing, and many more.

The book is well-written, and I plan on using it in some of my courses focusing on sustainability, particularly the first four chapters and some of the case studies. I would recommend the book to colleagues as well. Thank you!

Reviewed by Shinyong (Shawn) Jung, Assistant Professor, Metropolitan State University of Denver on 10/23/19

The textbook covers sustainability comprehensively taking into consideration its triple bottom line (Economic, Environmental, and Social perspectives). First six chapters discuss core concepts and disciplines that are directly associated with... read more

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The textbook covers sustainability comprehensively taking into consideration its triple bottom line (Economic, Environmental, and Social perspectives). First six chapters discuss core concepts and disciplines that are directly associated with sustainability, such as science, policy, accountability, entrepreneurship/innovation, and marketing. The case studies also provide readers with comprehensive views in the context of the triple bottom line. There are 7 different case studies and each of them is framed with specific learning objectives based on the core concepts and disciplines discussed in early chapters. It would have been helpful for readers to locate specific chapters if the book contained a table of contents, but the bookmarks function of PDF is well organized if readers will keep the electronic format.

I think most content in the book is accurate and the authors cite definitions and examples. However, some examples such as Toyota Prius (page 38) has become controversial about whether it actually provided environmental benefits as more scientific research results have suggested different implications since this book was published.

Examples are not necessarily up-to-date (e.g., 2006 Mintel Research study cited to explain growth of the green marketplace on page 31) but the text covers significant issues that need to be reviewed to understand what sustainability means in various perspectives. While some content still needs updating as sustainability business continues to evolve, overall content is definitely relevant to the main topic of the book; sustainability and its triple bottom line perspectives.

Clarity rating: 3

Content in each chapter aligns with learning objectives. Specific learning objectives for each sub-chapter help readers to stay focused on key points. Some images are not showing as mentioned. Website links are either not working (e.g., p.375 CSR reports and Voices of Challenge) or not outdated (e.g., p.394 Pax World page not found). These figures/images and links must be updated to provide more clarity on contents.

Consistency rating: 5

The content is consistent throughout the text. While one may consider it somewhat redundant, the focus stays on sustainability with long-term perspective in managing a business. The authors keep bringing the same examples (e.g., Timber company, McDonald’s, and Green Mountain Coffee) to explain different best practices and concepts within sustainability.

The textbook provides learning objectives for each chapter, side bar that explains key terms and concepts, key takeaways that summarize each chapter, and exercises that provide insightful discussion questions. The book will be useful for instructors to use individual chapters or case studies as a class module.

Bookmarks function of the PDF is helpful in locating right content. The book is substantial in content and the book refers to each chapter to supplement a concept that is introduced earlier but covered in details later in the book. The organization/structure of the entire textbook including the case studies is clearly presented with consistent order of Introduction, learning objectives, exercises, sub-chapters, key takeaways, and exercises.

Interface rating: 3

Interface issues are found in several pages. On page 15, Green Mountain Coffee statement is not showing up and the source is cut and listed on next page. As previously mentioned, figures/images, and website links should be fixed or updated.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

There were no grammatical errors I found.

As the authors stated on Preface, the intent of the book is not mean to exhort all business people on the path to sustainability enlightenment but to highlight some of the benefits, opportunities, and challenges, associated with sustainable business practices. In that regards, the textbook does not go overboard at all in terms of cultural issues. However, as sustainability is a global issue, the content will become more culturally relevant if the book provides examples from international companies and address the triple bottom line, especially on social perspective.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this textbook and find useful quotes and case studies that I would like to use for my class. Thank you!

Reviewed by Heidi Sickert, Adjunct Professor, Portland Community College on 1/7/16

This textbook provides interesting and important case studies on sustainable businesses, which highlight the challenges and benefits of following and achieving the triple-bottom-line goals of sustainability. The case studies are effective at... read more

This textbook provides interesting and important case studies on sustainable businesses, which highlight the challenges and benefits of following and achieving the triple-bottom-line goals of sustainability. The case studies are effective at delving into different sustainability considerations encountered by different industries and also provide intriguing looks at the leadership and decision-making involved in running sustainable businesses. Furthermore, the first six chapters of the textbook introduce the diverse and complex dimensions of sustainability and I was particularly pleased to see chapters on Science, Public Policy and Entrepreneurship.

While the textbook includes work from Friedmann, Porter and others, I was surprised to find missing the work of sustainability's leading visionaries and founders, such as Paul Hawken, Amory and Hunter Lovins, Bill McDonough, Michael Braungart, or Janine Benyus as well as an international references from Business for Social Responsibility, and businesses with international operations and customers There are also many books and excellent videos on this topic that are worth referencing and sharing with readers. Overall, any OER textbook needs to stay current and offer recent resources (from the last 5 years).

Content Accuracy rating: 3

The introductory chapters need to provide clear, concise and accurate definitions and examples. I found that Chapter 1 confused Corporate Social Responsibility with the triple-bottom-line of Sustainability, which requires that all three pillars are met. This is a critical distinction, particularly for students who are new to this field. I also found inconsistent definitions and examples, i.e. in Section 1.3 the examples do not include social/equity examples. And I believe that most sustainable businesses (including those profiled in the case studies) would disagree that “profit and internal factors are the most important factors for motivating companies to become sustainable” (section 1.3). Rather, external factors such as making a difference in our community, upholding ethical standards, protecting places we love, empowering our employees and providing innovative products and services are documented as long-term, sustaining motivators in successful sustainable businesses. Section 2.1 could supplement the Tragedy of the Commons with perspectives from Paul Hawken, Rocky Mt. Institute and economists like Joel Magnuson (Latest book: The Approaching Great Transformation). Also, Section 2.3 needs to include human health impacts; Section 3.4 would benefit from inclusion of the Precautionary Principle; and Section 5.3 is missing the amazing innovations in Biomimicry and Green Chemistry.

The content is relatively up-to-date. As previously mentioned, faculty have the impression that OER textbooks are more current and are updated regularly (but is there funding for this?), so I’d like to see links, resources, statistics, etc. kept current (from the last 5 years).

Overall, the text is well-written and interesting to the reader. The “Key Takeaways” sections provide great clarity for students and outline how professors can integrate each section into a course. As previously mentioned, some of the definitions, theories and models could be better defined and explained. Also, I was unable to see the Figures in the online version; I had to download, save and re-open the textbook in order to see the Figures.

After the first chapter, the triple-bottom-line pillars of sustainability were well explained, particularly planet and profit. The case studies were presented consistently with good examples.

The case studies are ideal for inclusion in any class module and I also liked the “Sidebars” which encourage readers to research more about a particular topic or example. I would recommend this textbook to colleagues in departments other than business, because of the case studies.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

The organization and structure of the textbook is clearly presented and easy to follow. I would have liked to see better editing in some sections that includes references to other textbook sections that offer additional explanations and examples. (i.e. Section 1.2 McDonald’s example is weak – could better reference Section 4.5)

As noted, there are interface issues, as I was unable to see any of the Figures in the online version of the textbook.

I didn’t find any errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 3

This text offers business-oriented perspectives and case studies from US-based companies. I would have liked to see more discussion and examples representing the third “E” of “Social Equity” which includes cultural and social diversity, social justice and even cultural literacy, which are critical considerations for businesses that provide products and services to increasingly diverse customers.

Thank you for providing this useful case book!

Reviewed by Juanjuan Wu, Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota on 7/15/14

In my view this text is not meant to be comprehensive but mainly to provide "real world business examples of sustainability in action." However, it does take a systems approach to the understanding of sustainability, which includes a variety of... read more

In my view this text is not meant to be comprehensive but mainly to provide "real world business examples of sustainability in action." However, it does take a systems approach to the understanding of sustainability, which includes a variety of social, political issues, natural resources, the market system and economy, and global operations. This text provides a great framework for conducting sustainable business that applies a triple bottom line (EBL) taking into consideration profit, people and planet. While the cases cover a wide product range none of them are about big box retailers. It is challenging to analyze sustainability in the discount retail industry but it would expand the audience of book if such a case is included. The case of GMCR does provide a taste of sustainability in the specialty retail industry, but again it is focused more on the product than on sustainable retail management. This text does not contain an index or glossary list.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Yes. The content is accurate and appears to be unbiased.

Content is relatively up-to-date. Though the year of publication is not indicated in the text most references were from before the year 2012. Literature and practices of sustainability change very rapidly. Thus, the content does require frequent updating but it should be easy to implement.

Clarity rating: 4

The text is overall well written. In a few cases, the theories or models could be explained more. For example, the authors mentioned Porter's corporate social responsibility (CSR) model and explained its importance and application without fully describing what this model is and its key constructs (see p. 35). / Some of the important sustainability frameworks or models are integrated into the discussion of other topics and could easily be missed by the reader. If they each had a subheading with more substantial descriptions, interpretations, and applications it would be better understood.

The three economic, environmental, and social perspectives were applied throughout the entire text with an emphasis on the first two. The cases generally followed a consistent format in presentation.

This text contains very useful modules, such as Key Takeaways, Sidebar, and Exercises, which could help to better understand the concepts and ideas presented in the text. Other modules could also be developed, such as basic facts about the reviewed business cases, etc.

Organization is clear and logical. Writing could be more succinct. There is sometimes redundancy. For example, the idea that companies need to achieve profitability is repeated several times (see p. 5).

Interface rating: 2

There are some interface issues. For example, some of the images captured from online are not showing up (See p. 10, 11, 26, 278, 285, 290 etc.) in the book although the links could lead you to the original images. An empty space in where the image should be looks like an editorial accident. Formatting could be more consistent. For example, the authors mentioned stakeholder management and corporate citizenship as parallel concepts. But one is in bold the other is not (see p. 29). In some cases space is oddly left and managed (see p. 284).

I found no grammatical errors. Way to go!

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The text is business oriented and not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way. However, it would be interesting if it slightly expands its scope and includes business cases especially from developing countries as they are facing even more urgent environmental challenges.

Overall, a very useful text for studying sustainability. Cases are great!

Table of Contents

• Chapter 1: Introduction to Sustainable Business and Sustainable Business Core Concepts and Frameworks
• Chapter 2: The Science of Sustainability
• Chapter 3: Government, Public Policy, and Sustainable Business
• Chapter 4: Accountability for Sustainability
• Chapter 5: Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Sustainable Business
• Chapter 6: Sustainable Business Marketing
• Chapter 7: Case: Sustainable Business Entrepreneurship: Simply Green Biofuels
• Chapter 8: Case: Marketing Sustainability: Seventh Generation Creating a Green Household Consumer Product
• Chapter 9: Case: Brewing a Better World: Sustainable Supply Chain Management at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc.
• Chapter 10: Case: Oakhurst Dairy: Operations Management and Sustainability
• Chapter 11: Case: Accounting for Sustainability: How Does Timberland Do It and Why?
• Chapter 12: Case: Sustainable Investing: Pax World Helping Investors Change the World
• Chapter 13: Case: Strategic Mission–Driven Sustainable Business: Stonyfield Yogurt

Ancillary Material

About the book.

The issue of sustainability and specifically sustainable business is of increasing interest and importance to students of business and also students in the sciences, government, public policy, planning and other fields. There can be significant benefits from students learning about sustainable business from the rich experiences of business practice.

The Sustainable Business Case Book by Gittell, Magnusson and Merenda is one of the first of its kind. It combines the the theory of sustainability with key concepts, analytical information and contextual information with a collection of cases which provide insights, perspective and practical guidance on how sustainable businesses operate from different business functional area perspectives.

The Sustainable Business Case Book can be used as a stand-alone text or as a supplemental textbook for undergraduate courses that have an interest in sustainable business. While the book's primary focus is on the relationship between business and sustainability, the book can also be used in courses offered in fields other than business, including environmental and earth systems sciences, environmental studies, urban planning, economics and public policy.

The first part of The Sustainable Business Case Book, Chapter 1 through Chapter 3, introduces students to the meaning of sustainability, and the practice of sustainable business. The introductory chapters also describe key concepts, analytical frameworks, and contextual information relevant for the understanding of business sustainability. Chapter 1, defines sustainability and describes how and why businesses choose to engage in sustainable practices and how sustainable business practices relate to corporate profitability and social responsibility. Chapters 2 and 3 provide important background and contextual information affecting sustainable business practice. Chapter 2, The Science of Sustainability, reviews scientific evidence about climate change and the human and business influences on climate change. Chapter 3, Sustainability, Public Policy and Business, describes the significant role of government and public policy in sustainability, including setting the rules, regulations and laws that define the market and market opportunities for sustainable business practice.

After presenting a framework for understanding business engagement in sustainability and helping your students develop a core background of information on sustainable business seven case studies across the business disciplines illustrating business sustainability practices are presented. At the beginning of each case study chapter Learning Objectives are listed with major sustainable business points and principles that the case will illustrate and illuminate. Each case chapter includes listing of Key Takeaways, Key Terms and Exercises for students. In each case chapter, there are four main areas of focus:

• Context and motivating interest in sustainability for company;
• Description of the sustainable business practice and how it was implemented;
• Results in terms of changes in sales/revenues, costs, profits and competitive positioning from the sustainable business practice;
• Challenges and opportunities, and future considerations as a result of the company implementing the sustainable business practice.

About the Contributors

Ross Gittell is the James R. Carter Professor at the University of New Hampshire's Whittemore School of Business and Economics. Professor Gittell’s scholarly focus involves applying economic, organizational and management theory to regional, state, and community economic development issues. His main areas of specialization and research include entrepreneurship, the environment and the economy, and collaborative public and private sector economic development efforts. He is the author of two books and over 70 academic articles. In 2002 Professor Gittell received the University of New Hampshire’s Excellence in Public Service award and in 2004 the University’s Outstanding Associate Professor award. Professor Gittell’s research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Ford Foundation and the Energy Foundation. His applied research activities include work for the states of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, the New Hampshire Business & Industry Association, the State of New Hampshire’s, Department of Environmental Services, the New Hampshire Small Development Center, the Children’s Alliance of New Hampshire and the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy. Professor Gittell is Vice President, forecast manager and on the board of the New England Economic Project. He is also on the board of the Exeter Trust Company, the Endowment for Health, Exeter Health Services and Exeter Hospital. Ross Gittell received his Ph.D. from Harvard University, M.B.A. from University of California at Berkeley, and A.B in Economics from the University of Chicago.

Matt Magnusson is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire’s (UNH) Whittemore School of Business and Economics with a master of business administration. He currently is earning his PhD in natural resources and environmental studies at UNH and is also an adjunct lecturer at UNH, teaching sustainability business models. He has provided analysis on the economic impacts of several different environmental public policy initiatives, including work on the NH Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a carbon cap-and-trade program in the Northeast. Other research includes “New Hampshire’s Green Economy and Industries: Current Employment and Future Opportunities,” “Economic Impact of the Proposed Antrim 30 MW Wind Power Project in Antrim, New Hampshire,” and the economic analysis of policies proposed in “The New Hampshire Climate Action Plan,” performed for the NH Climate Change Task Force.

Dr. Michael Merenda is a Professor of Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship and Chair of the Management Departments in the Whittemore School of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire. His current research interests are in: Case research, The Role of Entrepreneurial Education in Fostering Entrepreneurship; TMT Experience in Venture Creation and The Strategic Use of Information Technology in SME Competitiveness. His research has appeared in: International Journal of E-Business Research, International Journal of Case Method Research & Application, Journal of Excellence in College Teaching, The Case Research Journal, Telecommunication Policy, Journal of Industrial and Corporate Change, Sloan Management Review, Journal of Business & Entrepreneurship, and International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal. Mike is Director of the University’s Annual Holloway Prize, Innovation-To-Market Competition and his students regularly participate in the Annual I2P (Idea to Product) Global Competition. Mike received his B.S. and M.B.A. degrees from Northeastern University and Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts.

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Written by Jesse Sumrak | April 17, 2024

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Want to become a world-class rock climber? Watch Alex Honnold. Looking to become the next President of the United States? Study about Barack Obama. Want to become a successful entrepreneur? Learn from Arianna Huffington and Gary Vaynerchuk.

While you can kick back, relax, and watch YouTube videos and Netflix documentaries about these masters of their trade, you’ve probably had enough screen time while building your business. Instead, whip up a mug of hot cocoa, cozy up next to your space heater and furry friend, and pick up a business startup book.

Sure, an eBook or audiobook will do the trick, too—but there’s something special about paper, ink, and the wisdom in between.

With millions of books out there, where should you start? That’s a good question. We set out to find and read the best business startup books, and while it’s hard to narrow it down, we’re pretty happy with the list we curated.

You don’t need these books on your bookshelf. Nor do you need them at your desk. You need them in your hands. You need their words in your mind.

All that to say, buying the best business startup books won’t do you very much good unless you set aside time to read and apply the principles.

Below, we’ve compiled a list of 10 business startup books that’ll change the way you start and scale your startup. You’ll learn everything from day-to-day management techniques and virality boosting tips to mindset changes and finding your life’s purpose.

Don’t Read Any of These Startup Books—Study Them

Reading is great, but studying is better.

Think about all the things you’ve read today: emails, articles, tweets, texts, guides, and cereal boxes. Do you remember much of the content? Probably not.

That’s because we spend hours every day reading. Today’s generations scan content faster than ever before, but with so much data coming in, it’s harder for our brains to pick and choose what to retain.

That’s where studying comes in.

Studying involves attention, note-taking, commitment, and action. It’s not something you can do at the end of a long day while lying in bed.

If you’re going to take the time to read these business books, get as much out of them as you possibly can. Create a quiet, distraction-free environment for you to study. After reading a chapter, take notes and highlight the takeaways. Write down (don’t just mentally note) what you plan to do with this newfound knowledge.

With seemingly a bazillion books to pick from, why did we settle on 10? Well, you’ve got a business to build. Reading and studying will help, but they’re only supplements to getting your hands dirty and getting to work.

Study, apply, build, repeat. Oh, and don’t forget to have fun, too.

Books are great. We love books. You should read every single one of the books we’ve outlined below—but pace yourself. That means you probably shouldn’t spend every spare moment with your nose stuck in a business book.

Take an evening to binge a Netflix show every now and then. Spend an evening with friends. Go for a walk.

Your business isn’t going anywhere.

You’ve got this, entrepreneur.

1. Born to Shine

Kendra Scott started her self-titled billion-dollar jewelry business out of failure. Her first business failed after 5 years, and she started selling handmade jewelry door-to-door as a side hustle.

Now, Kendra Scott Jewelry is a billion-dollar business with 100 retail locations across the US. But success didn’t come quickly. Through personal struggles, recessions, and rejections, Scott built a fashion business driven by an unforgettable customer experience.

In her entrepreneurial memoir Born to Shine, she shares leadership lessons from her successes and failures.

“Giving those tools of an entrepreneur mindset can be so beneficial,” Scott says. “I think this is a book not just for business owners or entrepreneurs but for people that are going through a transition in their life.”

Scott says that flaws and failures are what make us unique. As an entrepreneur, business leader, and person, embracing the pain gives you power. The “nos” lead to the next “yes.”

“It doesn’t matter what you’ve gone through,” Scott says. “You were put on this earth to do something awesome, whatever that is that brings you joy.”

If you need a bit of inspiration and true stories resonate with you, this book is a must-read.

2. Made to Stick

Made to Stick explores the art of building unforgettable ideas. Brothers Heath, Chip, and Dan explain why you remember Kennedy’s stirring speech about making it to the moon and why everyone from your grandfather to your 3-year-old niece link “Just Do It” and Nike together.

Chip and Dan outline the 6 characteristics necessary to make a message “sticky.” Don’t worry—this isn’t a spoiler:

Storytelling is at the heart of every business, from Apple to IKEA to Patagonia. Unfortunately, some stories die young, but it’s not because the tale or mission is uncompelling—it’s because entrepreneurs didn’t know how to tell it.

Made to Stick transforms the way you communicate. Apply the principles in this book, and everything from your “About Us” page to your Slack conversations will benefit.

3. Thinking, Fast and Slow

Author Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking, Fast and Slow is an entertaining exploration of the way humans think. Understanding the concepts in this book and the psychology of the human brain not only helps you understand your humanity, but they help you learn more about your prospective customers.

Kahneman breaks down all this knowledge and logic into a compelling narrative. Trust us—you won’t feel like you’re reading a business startup book when you read this cover to cover.

If all your copywriting tactics and marketing strategies have failed, this book will tell you why (and what to do about it).

4. The 4-Hour Workweek

While the title might feel clickbaity, the content inside isn’t. The 4-Hour Workweek outlines techniques for how you can work less, make more, and build the life you want instead of living the life you’ve been handed.

Some entrepreneurs want to start their own businesses to get rich. Others do it to gain more everyday freedom. And some people just want to do whatever it takes to live a fulfilling life.

Tim Ferriss shares all the hacks and tools you need to do more with less. This guide shows you:

• How to automate your business to work even when you’re gone.
• How to affordably outsource the minutiae of your business to free up valuable time.
• Methods to eliminate busy work and focus on what really matters.
• How to take “mini-retirements” now instead of waiting until the end of your life to take a break.
• Real-world templates for negotiating, cutting meetings out of your life, and building the work-life balance you’ve always wanted.

Today’s modern work world embraces and celebrates go-getters who trade sleep and social lives for work. “Hustle, hustle, hustle,” they cheer. Ferriss disagrees.

Ferriss gives drowning and aspiring entrepreneurs a reality check by showing you don’t need to work 80-hour weeks to be successful. In fact, you’re probably getting in the way of your business. Take a step by and accomplish more by doing less.

5. Winners Never Cheat

Good guys really can (and should) finish first—and Jon Huntsman proves it in Winners Never Cheat: Even in Difficult Times . Inevitably, you’re going to face business opportunities to lie, steal, cut corners, or cheat your way to success.

You might even be able to get away with it without ever being caught.

Yet, Jon Huntsman advocates for a higher way of living and doing business. Your life as a founder and entrepreneurial leader can be full of courage and integrity—and it should be.

Learn how to make the right ethical decisions, even when it’s hard. Remember why you work and what you’re pushing to achieve. Acquire the tools you need to always do what’s right regardless of the consequences.

If more people read Winners Never Cheat , the world would be a much better place. The insanely rich wouldn’t be the only winners—all their employees, shareholders, customers, and communities would be, too.

6. Before & Laughter

When reading a list of books that any startup business should read, you wouldn’t expect to see a book written by a famous UK comedian.

Before & Laughter , written by Jimmy Carr, is so much more than your average biography. Instead, Carr focuses on the pursuit of happiness, discussing his life story alongside the perspectives and beliefs he has developed along the way.

Such is the popularity of this book, that his appearance on Stephen Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO is one of the most watched and rewatched episodes of all time.

7. DotCom Secrets

Even the best brands can struggle to generate enough traffic to their platform. And for those that do get onto their site, the conversion rates don’t look great either.

DotCom Secrets aims to fix that, allowing you to use Russel Brunson’s insights and information to take your brand to the next level.

For any startups who are setting up an eCommerce brand, this is a must-read. It’s a little old now, first coming out in 2015, but many of the skills and techniques are still relevant.

Our current definition of success is killing us. We want money and power, and we’re willing to sacrifice our health, family relationships, sleep, and well-being to get it—often, without realizing it.

It’s hard to argue that Arianna Huffington hasn’t tasted this version of success. As co-founder of the Huffington Post Media Group, she’s recognized as one of the world’s most influential women—but is money, influence, fame, and never-ending burnout and exhaustion what success is supposed to look like?

Huffington doesn’t think so. She argues that we need a third metric to define success: thrive. Thrive includes our well-being, sense of wonder, and compassion.

Think about where you spend your time, and think about what you want to be remembered for. Do you want to be remembered for powerful PowerPoint presentations, sleepless nights at your desk, and arbitrary promotion titles? Or would you like your eulogy to celebrate your shared memories, fun adventures, small acts of service, and unapologetic lifelong passions?

Before you embark too far on your entrepreneurial journey, take a step back with Thrive to determine your vision of success. When hard decisions come (which they will), and burnout threatens your life and health (and it will), reflect on what you ultimately want. Are you on the path to money and power? If so, do you have the third leg of your stool, thrive, to keep you from toppling over?

9. The Psychology of Wealth

Regarded as “one of the best and most original finance books in years” by The Wall Street Journal, The Psychology of Wealth is an absolute must-read for any entrepreneurs.

When you set out on your own, your potential earnings skyrocket, as does the potential of failure.

The Philosophy of Wealth helps keep your perspective of money in check, helps you secure funds for a rainy day, prevents overspending, and allows you to view profits and revenue in a healthy manner.

For anyone who deems themselves as a “workaholic,” this book should be at the top of your reading list.

10. The Lean Startup

You didn’t think we’d create a list of business startup books and leave out The Lean Startup , did you?

Let’s face it: most startups fail. Yet, yours doesn’t have to.

The Lean Startup teaches you how to leverage human creativity and capital more effectively to build a company made to last. You’ll learn:

• How to rapidly test and validate ideas
• How to adapt and adjust before it’s too late
• Methods for measuring progress instead of vanity metrics
• What your customers actually want
• How to keep your startup nimble and agile

Test your ideas before you invest your 401(k) into them. Ignore what your customers say—instead, watch what they do. Build a minimum viable product (MVP) first before you waste time and money.

These are the valuable, unpopular lessons you’ll learn in The Lean Startup . Author Eric Ries doesn’t want your success to be a bet, chance, or a 1 in 7 billion success story like Mark Zuckerberg. He wants your success to be formulated and data-driven.

Ditch the fantasies and embrace the scientific approach. It’s not the sexiest method for building a startup, but it’s one that flips the odds of success into your favor.

11. Fall in Love With the Problem

As a business owner, chances are you’ve already come up against your fair share of problems.

And if you haven’t, you can rest assured that there are a few lurking for you just around the corner!

But problems don’t have to be feared. In fact, in Fall in Love With the Problem, Not the Solution by Uri Levine, he suggests you should actually fall in love with the problem instead.

Within these pages are insights from the co-founder of two unicorn startups–Waze and Moovit. He’s been a founder, investor, and chairman for more than ten successful startups focusing on solving big problems. In the book, Levine empowers you to build a successful business by identifying your consumers’ biggest problems and disrupting the inefficient markets currently serving them.

12. Two Weeks Notice

When it comes to entrepreneurship, you’ll struggle to have an in-depth conversation without Amy Porterfield cropping up.

Over the past decade, Amy has become one of the leading voices in entrepreneurship, helping people leave their 9-5 jobs and start successful, self-run businesses.

In her book Two Weeks Notice , Amy teaches readers how to find the courage to quit their jobs, make more money, and work where they want.

From this book, you will gain the valuable tips you need to confidently stride into the office and hand in your notice, knowing you have all the tools you need to start your entrepreneurial journey.

Keep Learning:  Amy Porterfield Wants You to Leave Your 9 to 5 Job

Business Startup Books FAQs

Are business startup books worth reading.

The short answer is yes. In a world where consuming information happens as rapidly as a swipe of a finger, taking time to sit and savor an entrepreneur's story is rare. At foundr, we've chatted with the best of the best, and they universally say reading is one of the most effective ways to learn.

Are all business startup books alike?

No. You'll see many business books with catchy headlines and claims if you scan Amazon or your local bookstore. It's never been easier to get a book self-published, which means more ideas and access, but also more selection.

How do you know if a business startup book is worth reading?

Use the 50-page rule. The rest of the book isn't worth it if you get through the first 50 pages and have yet to learn something new. We also suggest listening to startup podcasts, like the Foundr Podcast, where entrepreneurs promote their books. A podcast episode can provide a snapshot of whether the entrepreneur's book is worth investing time in.

Put Your New-Found Knowledge Into Action

Business startup books can teach you new things and get you hyped about building your business, but then it’s time to put the book down and get to work. Let us help.

Check out our catalog of courses, community, and tools to learn everything you need to know to kick-off and grow your startup. Whether you want to grow your Instagram following or launch an ecommerce store, we have the resources to help you make it happen.

This article was updated with support from Graeme Whiles .

About Jesse Sumrak

Jesse Sumrak is a writing zealot focused on creating killer content. He’s spent almost a decade writing about startup, marketing, and entrepreneurship topics, having built and sold his own post-apocalyptic fitness bootstrapped business. A writer by day and a peak bagger by night (and early early morning), you can usually find Jesse preparing for the apocalypse on a precipitous peak somewhere in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

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Judge in Trump hush money trial flags Facebook post claiming juror spoke about case

A jury found Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records.

The judge who oversaw former President Donald Trump’s hush money criminal trial in New York made the parties aware Friday of a post to the court system’s Facebook page.

In the post, a user said, "My cousin is a juror and says Trump is getting convicted Thank you folks for all your hard work!!!!”

Judge Juan Merchan said the comment, now labeled as one week old, responded to a routine court system notice, posted on May 29, 2024, regarding oral arguments in the Fourth Department of the Appellate Division unrelated to this proceeding.

The notification by the judge did not ask the parties to do anything but seemed intended to merely flag them.

MORE: Trump asks judge to lift limited gag order in his hush money case

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