Reading them twice will help you elevate your thinking, hone your strategies, and sort out your entire system.
Every time I re-read a book, I always unearth wisdom I hadn’t noticed before. This gradual accumulation allows me to see the path ahead more clearly, take more confident steps, and find ways to lead my business to where I want it to be more quickly.
These books are especially suited for us solo entrepreneurs. The advice they offer is far superior to those MBA-style textbooks that always push you to scale up, hire employees, and expand your company to the heavens.
We’re different. We value time freedom and have no desire to waste time or money on hiring, training, and managing staff. For us, it’s always about being a “one-person army.”
Without further ado, let’s dive in.
1. Paul Coelho’s The Alchemist 🧭 #
This book tells the story of a man’s journey. He possesses nothing but a dream and a vision. It will help you discover your intuition in a way no other book can. I’m not sure how it works, but every time I finish reading it, the progress on my current projects inexplicably accelerates.
The book is thin, and I don’t mind picking it up for a re-read every month. It gives you the impetus to break free from procrastination and simply start taking action. All these lessons are cleverly woven into a captivating story. Don’t miss this classic, whether you’re reading it for the first time or revisiting it.
“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
Here are three points from the book that profoundly impacted me:
1. Your dream is your “Personal Legend”—follow it no matter what. #
Santiago’s journey allows us to rediscover our mission. When you commit yourself wholeheartedly, the universe responds.
2. Obstacles aren’t a sign to quit—they’re just part of the road. #
The resilience Santiago displays is precisely what we should embody. Never give up on your dreams because of current obstacles.
3. Listen to your heart—even if it’s afraid. #
Because your heart knows the way. You might feel lost or scared, but your heart will urge you to overcome these feelings and keep moving forward.
Why It’s Worth Re-reading: Each chapter feels like a deep conversation with a wiser version of yourself. It helps you re-align with your purpose when you feel lost and struggling.
2. M.J. DeMarco’s The Millionaire Fastlane 🚀 #
This book delivers a powerful jolt, a complete wake-up call. It was written by a genuine, successful, and ongoing independent entrepreneur. He thoroughly explains all the ins and outs, from creating value to scaling, from testing the market to building a robust profit system.
Don’t underestimate him; he used to be a taxi driver. In between fares, he self-taught programming and web design and later founded Limos.com—a highly popular online luxury car booking service back in the day.
“Change isn’t forged through intention, but through action.” — MJ DeMarco
Here are three points from the book that profoundly impacted me:
1. You can’t get rich by trading time for money! #
The traditional “Slowlane” (job → save money → retire at 65) is a financial trap. This model ties income to time, but time is finite. True wealth is only achieved when you uncouple your time from your income.
How do you uncouple it? Through scalable systems, businesses, and value creation.
2. Wealth is created by value, not luck. #
You just need to solve real problems on a massive scale. Create products, platforms, or services that help a large number of people. Scale plus value is the secret to the Fastlane to wealth.
3. To be on the Fastlane, you must have control. #
You can’t expect to get rich working within someone else’s system (e.g., a job). You need to build something of your own so you can control your business model, pricing, and brand.
Why It’s Worth Re-reading: When you’re overwhelmed by work and feel like you’re being drained, this book can help you escape the struggle of merely surviving, teaching you how to fight for freedom.
3. Felix Dennis’s How to Get Rich 💸 #
No, he doesn’t tell you exactly how to get rich, but he tells you how he got rich. What will you learn? How to spot seemingly ordinary opportunities that hold hidden potential. What it takes to run a sizable business from scratch. The price you, as an entrepreneur, must be willing to pay. And the darker side of success, along with how to overcome it. The book is packed with the author’s wisdom and perfectly placed scathing sarcasm, making it a truly enjoyable read.
“Only those prepared to put riches before almost everything else in life, at least for a while, will succeed.”
Here are three points from the book that profoundly impacted me:
1. You must be all in—business isn’t for the faint of heart. #
Dennis makes it clear: wealthy creators aren’t just thinking about success—they are driven by an intense, relentless urge to achieve their goals. This means years of relentless work, no leisure, and no wasted time.
2. Execution always beats ideas. #
Good ideas are a dime a dozen and utterly worthless. Dennis proves, time and again, that only execution creates wealth.
3. Control equity, control outcomes. #
Dennis repeatedly emphasizes a crucial point: ownership is the true key to wealth.
When you’re a solo CEO, every percentage point of ownership is vital. Don’t give it up easily for a bit of short-term cash—create real value.
Why It’s Worth Re-reading: For its honesty, its courage, its clarity. For independent entrepreneurs looking to move beyond initial startup passion and truly grow their business, this book is a powerful jolt of reality.
As a bonus, here are two more recommendations. I haven’t had a chance to read these yet, but they’re already on my must-read list, and I have the books in hand. I’ll be devouring them soon.
4. Paul Jarvis’s Company of One 🌱 #
“What if the real secret to a richer, more fulfilling business is simply staying small?”
The core of this book is to tell you that your success doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s. It will help you focus on “enough is enough” rather than “more is more.”
5. Cal Newport’s Deep Work 🧠 #
“While the ability to do deep work is becoming increasingly rare, it is also becoming increasingly valuable.”
If you, like me, are constantly distracted by various things—scrolling short videos, children’s noise, calls from friends and family, and of course, your “me time” consuming your entire day—then this book might offer some answers.
Having been an independent entrepreneur for five years, I deeply understand this: you can’t learn business solely from books; you have to get in the arena, roll up your sleeves, and learn through trial and error in practice.
But books are like crutches that can assist us on the path to financial freedom through entrepreneurship. They can strengthen your inner resolve, so you’re not easily crushed under pressure. The stories within these books are true accounts of people who are already living the lives we dream of. That alone is reason enough for us to pick up these books and read them over and over again.