5 Must-Read Books For Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Reading is fundamental and knowledge begets skill, so If your plan is to launch the next Facebook or Snapchat, then you should start reading these 5 books immediately.

At Walletally, we have spent quite a bit of time comparing books read by some of the world’s most successful businessmen. These 5 books seem to show up on most of their reading lists. We thought we would share them with you.

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1. “The 7 Day Startup” by Dan Norris

From generating ideas to gaining your first paying customers, The 7 Day Startup is the bootstrapper's bible for launching your next product.In it, you will learn:1. Why validation isn't the answer 2. How to evaluate your business idea 3. How to choose a business name, fast 4. How to build a website in 1 day for under $1005. 10 proven ways to market a business quickly And much, much more.

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2. "Influence" by Robert B. Cialdini

Influence, the classic book on persuasion, explains the psychology of why people say "yes"—and how to apply these understandings. Dr. Robert Cialdini is the seminal expert in the rapidly expanding field of influence and persuasion. His thirty-five years of rigorous, evidence-based research along with a three-year program of study on what moves people to change behavior has resulted in this highly acclaimed book.

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3. "Scaling Up" by Verne Harnish

"Scaling Up addresses the second half of the venture ball game, something often lost in all the hoopla about incubating disruptive innovation during the first half. Half-time scores don't matter - it's all about how you finish the game. So get yourself into Verne's locker room for a great half-time pep talk, and then get yourself out on the field to play a great second half." -- Geoffrey Moore, Author of Crossing the Chasm

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4. "Out of the Crisis (MIT Press)" by W. Edwards Deming

According to W. Edwards Deming, American companies require nothing less than a transformation of management style and of governmental relations with industry. In Out of the Crisis, originally published in 1982, Deming offers a theory of management based on his famous 14 Points for Management. Management's failure to plan for the future, he claims, brings about loss of market, which brings about loss of jobs.

Management must be judged not only by the quarterly dividend, but by innovative plans to stay in business, protect investment, ensure future dividends, and provide more jobs through improved product and service. In simple, direct language, he explains the principles of management transformation and how to apply them.

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5. "Barbarians at the Gate: The Fall of RJR Nabisco" by Bryan Burrough and John Helyar

A #1 New York Times bestseller and arguably the best business narrative ever written, Barbarians at the Gateis the classic account of the fall of RJR Nabisco. An enduring masterpiece of investigative journalism by Bryan Burrough and John Helyar, it includes a new afterword by the authors that brings this remarkable story of greed and double-dealings up to date twenty years after the famed deal. The Los Angeles Times calls Barbarians at the Gate, “Superlative.” The Chicago Tribune raves, “It’s hard to imagine a better story...and it’s hard to imagine a better account.” And in an era of spectacular business crashes and federal bailouts, it still stands as a valuable cautionary tale that must be heeded.