Candid startup stories (45 books)

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Am tired of over-the-top heroics of entrepreneurs in business books. This list brings business books that bring a candid account of how companies started off, mistakes made by entrepreneurs both big and small, their biggest worries, and how they learnt from it all to grow their business.

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1	The Art of Startup Fundraising by Alejandro Cremades (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 818 ratings score: 2,100, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	17 Reasons Why Businesses Fail :Unscrew Yourself From Business Failure by Pooja Agnihotri (Goodreads Author) 4.37 avg rating — 84 ratings score: 1,900, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	The Merchant of Stories: A Creative Entrepreneur's Journey by Dipa Sanatani (Goodreads Author) 4.52 avg rating — 137 ratings score: 1,300, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	Explosive Growth: A Few Things I Learned While Growing To 100 Million Users - And Losing $78 Million by Cliff Lerner (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 943 ratings score: 1,094, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Venture: The Rogue Expeditions Story by Sean Meehan (Goodreads Author) 4.56 avg rating — 32 ratings score: 500, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Never Go With Your Gut: How Pioneering Leaders Make the Best Decisions and Avoid Business Disasters by Gleb Tsipursky (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 259 ratings score: 300, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Founders at Work: Stories of Startups' Early Days by Jessica Livingston 4.03 avg rating — 38,608 ratings score: 297, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose by Tony Hsieh 4.04 avg rating — 76,833 ratings score: 293, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Secret to Startup Failure: Fail Fast. Fail Cheap. Fail Happy. by Sonia Lin (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 124 ratings score: 200, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Nail It Then Scale It by Nathan Furr 4.12 avg rating — 943 ratings score: 200, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	The Rugged Entrepreneur: What Every Disruptive Business Leader Should Know by Scott Andrew 3.82 avg rating — 22 ratings score: 200, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Wildflower: A Memoir by Aurora James (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 1,112 ratings score: 200, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Steve Jobs: The Unauthorized Autobiography by J.T. Owens (Goodreads Author) 3.74 avg rating — 1,034 ratings score: 198, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	I'm Feeling Lucky: The Confessions of Google Employee Number 59 by Douglas Edwards (Goodreads Author) 3.85 avg rating — 5,445 ratings score: 197, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Anything You Want by Derek Sivers (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 24,365 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Ancient Secrets Of Lead Generation: Your Primitive Business Guide To Better Leads With Less Effort (PrimitiveBusiness.com #1) by Daryl Urbanski (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 33 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Start A Home Cleaning Business: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Building a Lucrative Home Cleaning Business by Amber Richards (Goodreads Author) 4.06 avg rating — 18 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	101 Things I Learned in Advertising School by Tracy Arrington 3.70 avg rating — 148 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Blow It Up: 21 Ways Your Startup Can Shake Up An Industry And Change The World by David Lowe really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Cross Winds: Adventure and Entrepreneurship in the Russian Far East by Steven Myers (Goodreads Author) 4.34 avg rating — 50 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Conceal Reveal: The Space between Entrepreneurs and the Defense Industry by Julie Willis 4.57 avg rating — 14 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Zero to Million: Building Our First Growth Engine by Venkatesh Rao (Goodreads Author) 4.06 avg rating — 16 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Think it. Pitch it. Sell it.: Choose to sell your own vision. by Pierre Coombes (Goodreads Author) 4.36 avg rating — 11 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Scale for Success: Expert Insights into Growing Your Business by Jan Cavelle (Goodreads Author) 3.38 avg rating — 24 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	The Unfair Advantage: How You Already Have What It Takes to Succeed by Ash Ali really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3,717 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Rocky Mountain High: A Tale of Boom and Bust in the New Wild West by Finn Murphy 3.67 avg rating — 485 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Billion or Bust!: Growing a Tech Company in Texas by Lanham Napier (Goodreads Author) 4.36 avg rating — 36 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Small Business Growth Strategies, Self-Made Millionaire Journey by Nafeez Imtiaz really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	CEO-Stories: Children Employed by Owners by Michael Eastwood 4.68 avg rating — 65 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Time Management PRIVATE WORKSHOP Designed as a Book I Bit by Bit Guide I The Proven System for Maximum Productivity by N. Sakr (Goodreads Author) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 8 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	The Power of Ownership: How To Build a Career and a Business by John J. Bailey 4.74 avg rating — 27 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	Can We Do That?!: Outrageous PR Stunts That Work -- And Why Your Company Needs Them by Peter Shankman 3.89 avg rating — 90 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	Business Success Secrets, Principles, Formulas & Ethos: Your Primitive Business Guide To Giving Your Business The Greatest Chance Of Success (PrimitiveBusiness.com #2) by Daryl Urbanski (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 25 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	The Introvert's Startup Playbook - Predicting and Shaping Your Startup Future by Nafeez Imtiaz really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 4 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	Primitive Business Tools For Success: Checklists, Cheatsheets & How To Use Them (PrimitiveBusiness.com #3) by Daryl Urbanski (Goodreads Author) 4.48 avg rating — 21 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	The Magnetic Wealth Code: Attract Abundance by Aligning Your Inner Vibrations by Nafeez Imtiaz 4.67 avg rating — 3 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Unlocking Your Wealth Gate: The Power of Belief in Manifesting Prosperity by Nafeez Imtiaz it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	The Mind as a Money Magnet: Transforming Your Thoughts into Financial Reality by Nafeez Imtiaz 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	Feeling Into Fortune: How Emotions Ignite the Law of Attraction for Wealth by Nafeez Imtiaz 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Maintaining a Minimalist Digital Life: Decluttering Your Creative Vision: Integrating Technology into Your Creative Life Without Overwhelm. by Nafeez Imtiaz it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Startup Business Strategies: Business Planning For Beginners by Nafeez Imtiaz really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Business Management for Startups: Business Expansion Strategies by Nafeez Imtiaz 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Financial Independence Journey: Starting a Business from Scratch by Nafeez Imtiaz 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	The Ultimate Entrepreneur's Utopia: Startup Growth Hacking Techniques by Nafeez Imtiaz 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Startup Funding Hacks – Navigating Every Funding Stage: A Founder's Guide to Securing Startup Capital by Nafeez Imtiaz 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars