I believe there are several books every teen entrepreneur should read. These books are packed with advice, knowledge, and skills that most of us didn’t learn until adulthood. Imagine if we had read these books and implemented what we learned sooner rather than later?
What if my teen doesn’t want to be an entrepreneur?
Even if your teen doesn’t want to be an entrepreneur, the books we’re suggesting are still great reads for personal development. By reading these books, your teen will learn ways to communicate better, be better stewards of their resources, and have knowledge to put on the shelf for later.
And if your teen does want to be an entrepreneur... then you’ll be setting them up to build a profitable and lucrative business!
1. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
This book was a huge eye opener for me and the primary reason why it’s number one on my list. My husband would probably choose another book as his number one, but we both agree that Robert has a way of explaining things. At the very least, this book does exactly what its subtitle suggests — it teaches the principles that the rich teach their kids about money that the poor and middle class do not. If you want your teen to have a completely different relationship with money, start here.
2. As a Man Thinketh by James Allen
If you’re a believer in The Most High (Yahweh), then you probably know that the power of thoughts is a biblically-rooted concept. There are many Scriptures that shed light on the mind, thoughts, and how those can determine a person’s outcomes in life. I particularly enjoy James Allen’s biblically-based take on describing how a person is the creator and shaper of their destiny by the thoughts they think. This is a short read but an incredibly powerful one.
3. Leadership 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know by John Maxwell
John Maxwell’s leadership principles help with following a vision, producing a lasting legacy, growing loyalty with followers, increasing the ability to influence others, empowering others through mentoring, and so much more. Whether or not your teen plans to run a business, leadership skills are life skills.
4. The Maxwell Daily Reader by John Maxwell
This is a book your teen will read on a daily basis — snippets taken from a variety of John Maxwell books. Each excerpt is thought-provoking and will give your teen something to think deeply about. It will also help them see areas of their life that need growth and development. It’s actually a great daily reader to do as a family too.
5. Atomic Habits by James Clear
If you want your teen to understand the power of habits, this is the book for them (and you, too!). James Clear does an amazing job using everyday examples to show the power of creating habits and building success in life. Disclaimer: This book does make mention of a few adult subjects, so it is recommended for mature teens.
6. The Entrepreneur Roller Coaster by Darren Hardy
This one is a must for any teen who is serious about entrepreneurship. Darren Hardy doesn’t sugarcoat it — he tells the truth about how wild the entrepreneurial ride can be, while giving your teen the tools to not just survive it, but thrive in it. From building resilience to mastering sales and recruiting great people, this book prepares young entrepreneurs for the realities of building a business before they ever hit their first major challenge. Think of it as the handbook they’ll be glad they had before they needed it.
The Tuttle Twins and their Spectacular Show Business Bonus book suggestion for your child 7yrs-12yrs. Join the twins as they dive into the ins and outs of becoming business owners while solving the many problems that pop up along the way!
If you’re dealing with a reluctant reader, no worries! Here are a few quick and practical suggestions: read the books together, start a book club, make it fun, and reward them for reading. Even committing to one chapter at a time can build a powerful reading habit over time.
Setting your teen up for ultimate success goes far beyond what they learn in their academic journey. Whether you are homeschooling or not, you can help your child get a jumpstart on learning critical skills by having them read the books mentioned above. Keep in mind that your child doesn’t have to be pursuing entrepreneurship to read these — they are great books for personal and professional development altogether!
What books do you recommend for entrepreneurial teens? Drop them in the comments below!
There’s proven research behind increased retention through notetaking. As an adult — and even when I was a child — I love to take notes and keep journals while reading. Those notes serve as a resource I can return to time and time again whenever I need a refresher.
Help your teen retain what they read from personal and professional development books with the FREE Notebooking Templates Pack! It features 8 different templates to make notetaking more fun and creative.
The Homeschool Teens Summit & Curriculum Fair are HERE!
Finally — a summit built around YOU!
Free expert sessions + a free Curriculum Fair full of deals for homeschool teen families.
English