--- title: 10 Essential Startup Books for SaaS Founders​ & CEOs description: Discover books that answer the hardest SaaS questions, with advice from serial founders, renowned professors and successful investors. image: http://www.cobloom.com/hubfs/Images/blog/Startup%20Books%20for%20SaaS%20Founders%20%26%20CEOs.jpg --- [![Cobloom logo](https://www.cobloom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo/white_small-548326-edited.png?width=139&name=white_small-548326-edited.png "Cobloom logo")](https://www.cobloom.com) - [Grow Your SaaS](https://www.cobloom.com/how-to-grow-your-saas) - [How We Help](https://www.cobloom.com/how-we-help-saas-businesses) - [SaaS Pricing Services](https://www.cobloom.com/how-we-help-saas-businesses/pricing) - [Growth Marketing](https://www.cobloom.com/how-we-help-saas-businesses/growth-marketing) - [Marketing Software](https://www.cobloom.com/blog/marketing-automation-software-tools) - [About Us](https://www.cobloom.com/about-us) - Content - [SaaS Growth Blog](https://www.cobloom.com/blog) - [SaaS Careers Blog](https://www.cobloom.com/careers-blog) - [Cobloom Insider](https://www.cobloom.com/insider) - [Growth Resources](https://www.cobloom.com/saas-resources) - [SaaS Jobs Board](https://www.thesaasjobs.com) - [![Request Consultation](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/312370/549a4a39-d4bf-4092-93c7-17f595736031.png)](http://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/312370/549a4a39-d4bf-4092-93c7-17f595736031) # 10 Essential Startup Books for SaaS Founders​ & CEOs By Ryan Law on Mon, Jul 8, 2019 When faced with a challenge, it's so easy to consult the wisdom of [Q&A's](https://www.cobloom.com/blog/saas-growth-q-and-a-january-2017) and [startup blogs](https://www.cobloom.com/blog/saas-blogs-to-accelerate-your-startups-growth), that we're often guilty of neglecting the humble book. But many of the defining principles of the startup and software-as-a-service business model come from old fashioned paper and ink books, like Eric Reis' *Lean Startup* and Geoffrey Moore's *Crossing the Chasm. * So today, I'm collecting together the best SaaS-specific advice ever to grace the pages of a startup book, and showcasing advice and insight from serial founders, successful investors and renowned professors alike. ## The Hard Thing About Hard Things **By ****[Ben Horowitz](https://twitter.com/bhorowitz)** ![Startup Books - The Hard Thing About Hard Things.jpg](https://www.cobloom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/blog/Startup%20Books%20-%20The%20Hard%20Thing%20About%20Hard%20Things.jpg?width=250&name=Startup%20Books%20-%20The%20Hard%20Thing%20About%20Hard%20Things.jpg) As one of the driving forces behind Netscape (a company that helped shape the internet as we recognise it today), Loudcloud (one of the first organisations to adopt the software-as-a-service model) and Andreessen Horowitz (one of the most successful VC firms in existence), Ben Horowitz is uniquely qualified to speak to the challenges of growing a startup. *The Hard Thing About Hard Things *applies Ben's trademark humour and straight-talk to a diverse array of topics - including software development, management, investment and selling a business. Filled with tons of actionable takeaways and overt Hip Hop references, it's an invaluable and deeply engaging read for any SaaS founder. ## The Lean Startup **By [Eric Ries](https://twitter.com/ericries)** ![Startup Books - The Lean Startup.jpg](https://www.cobloom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/blog/Startup%20Books%20-%20The%20Lean%20Startup.jpg?width=250&name=Startup%20Books%20-%20The%20Lean%20Startup.jpg) It's easy to forget that there was a time before the concept of a "lean" startup had even entered into our lexicon - but it was Eric Ries' ground-breaking book that laid out its core tenets. Taking inspiration from lean manufacturing processes developed by Toyota, *The Lean Startup *outlines a framework for rapid, iterative business development, relying on validated learning and constant experimentation to test and improve ideas. Though [MVPs](https://www.cobloom.com/blog/how-to-build-a-minimum-viable-product), feedback loops and [unit economics](https://www.cobloom.com/blog/saas-metrics) are a staple of most modern SaaS startups' practices, it's well worth revisiting Ries' clear, example-driven explanation of lean development. ## Lean Analytics **By [Alistair Croll](https://twitter.com/acroll) and [Benjamin Yoskovitz](https://twitter.com/byosko)** ![Startup Books - Lean Analytics.jpg](https://www.cobloom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/blog/Startup%20Books%20-%20Lean%20Analytics.jpg?width=250&name=Startup%20Books%20-%20Lean%20Analytics.jpg) Part of the *Lean *series of books and edited by Eric Ries, *Lean Analytics *is the actionable, hands-on counterpart to the legendary *Lean Startup. *At the core of the book is the simple concept of prioritisation: choose a single, vital performance metric, and run experiments until it's sufficiently improved to move on to the next area of focus. For a startup founder trying to improve everything at once, the clear, simple guidance contained in *Lean Analytics* (and its 30+ case studies) are invaluable for working out which areas need your attention first. ## Crossing the Chasm **By [Geoffrey Moore](https://twitter.com/geoffreyamoore)  ** ![Startup Books - Crossing the Chasm.jpg](https://www.cobloom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/blog/Startup%20Books%20-%20Crossing%20the%20Chasm.jpg?width=250&name=Startup%20Books%20-%20Crossing%20the%20Chasm.jpg) Few ideas can withstand the startup world's rapid pace of change, but despite *Crossing the Chasm *nearing 26 years of age, its central argument is more relevant today than ever before. In the book, Geoffrey Moore explores the [adoption of novel and disruptive technology](https://www.cobloom.com/blog/the-biggest-problem-with-the-saas-product-adoption-life-cycle), and the massive hurdle that faces every innovative startup founder - making the leap from the small early market of [technology enthusiasts](https://www.cobloom.com/blog/how-to-sell-your-saas-product-to-technology-enthusiasts) and [visionaries](https://www.cobloom.com/blog/how-to-sell-your-saas-product-to-visionaries), to the huge late market of [pragmatists](https://www.cobloom.com/blog/how-to-sell-your-saas-product-to-pragmatists), [conservatives](https://www.cobloom.com/blog/how-to-sell-your-saas-product-to-conservatives) and outright [skeptics](https://www.cobloom.com/blog/do-you-need-to-sell-your-saas-product-to-skeptics). ## The Innovator's Dilemma **By [Clayton Christensen](https://twitter.com/claychristensen)** ![Startup Books - The Innovator's Dilemma.jpg](https://www.cobloom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/blog/Startup%20Books%20-%20The%20Innovator's%20Dilemma.jpg?width=250&name=Startup%20Books%20-%20The%20Innovator's%20Dilemma.jpg) Disruption is at the heart of the startup ethos, but why do huge companies leave themselves so open to being disrupted? And what happens when your own startup succeeds? How can you avoid the same fate? Is his seminal book, Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen explores the need for startups to continually innovate, and the inertia that stops most big businesses from challenging the status quo. Packed full of examples from dozens of different industries, *The Innovator's Dilemma *is both an actionable handbook and a prescient warning for any SaaS founder keen to disrupt incumbent giants. ## How to Castrate a Bull **By [Dave Hitz](https://twitter.com/DaveHitz)** [![Startup Books - How to Castrate a Bull.jpg](https://www.cobloom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/blog/Startup%20Books%20-%20How%20to%20Castrate%20a%20Bull.jpg?width=250&name=Startup%20Books%20-%20How%20to%20Castrate%20a%20Bull.jpg)](https://twitter.com/DaveHitz) From high-school dropout to billionaire Silicon Valley stalwart, *How to Castrate a Bull *charts the incredible trajectory of data storage giant NetApp, and its former-cowboy co-founder Dave Hitz. Despite being one of the lesser-known entries on this list, the book is packed-full of actionable insights from one of the valley's most resilient companies - documenting their highs ($4 billion in ARR, reaching IPO) and lows (surviving the DotCom crash) through Dave's engaging, personal narrative.  And thankfully, to quote an Amazon reviewer: *"...the details on actual bull castration are pretty sparse."* ## From Impossible to Inevitable **By [Aaron Ross](https://twitter.com/motoceo) and [Jason Lemkin](https://twitter.com/jasonlk)** ![Startup Books - From Impossible to Inevitable.jpg](https://www.cobloom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/blog/Startup%20Books%20-%20From%20Impossible%20to%20Inevitable.jpg?width=250&name=Startup%20Books%20-%20From%20Impossible%20to%20Inevitable.jpg) *From Impossible to Inevitable* sets out to prove a simple hypothesis: the growth of the world's most successful SaaS companies can be traced back to an unchanging formula that you can replicate in your own business. With examples and anecdotes from the likes of Zenefits, Salesforce and co-author Jason Lemkin's very own EchoSign, the book offers a clear, no-nonsense exploration of the phenomenon of hyper-growth. *From Impossible to Inevitable *also collates together Jason Lemkin's best long-form blog content, making it worth the sticker price for his advice alone. ## Four Steps to the Epiphany **By [Steve Blank](https://twitter.com/sgblank)** ![Startup Books - Four Steps to the Epiphany.jpg](https://www.cobloom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/blog/Startup%20Books%20-%20Four%20Steps%20to%20the%20Epiphany.jpg?width=250&name=Startup%20Books%20-%20Four%20Steps%20to%20the%20Epiphany.jpg) *Four Steps to the Epiphany *is something of a paradox: an ugly, unwieldy book that was responsible for planting the seed of the entire "lean startup" movement that followed (including Eric Ries' book of the same name). Written by Harvard Business School lecturer Steve Blank, the book puts forward the concept of Customer Development as the pivotal focus of any new startup - a radical departure from the then-product focused world of new business. It's a fundamental must-read for any SaaS founder, but be warned. [To quote Steve himself](https://steveblank.com/2010/02/18/not-all-those-who-wander-are-lost/): *"I never imagined more than a few hundred copies would be sold to my students. 15,000 copies later, the horrifically bad proofreading, design and layout is now a badge of honor. You most definitely read the book for the content."* ## The Science of Selling **By [David Hoffeld](https://twitter.com/DavidHoffeld)** ![Startup Books - The Science of Selling.jpg](https://www.cobloom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/blog/Startup%20Books%20-%20The%20Science%20of%20Selling.jpg?width=250&name=Startup%20Books%20-%20The%20Science%20of%20Selling.jpg) I had the pleasure of seeing *The Science of Selling *author David Hoffeld speak at HubSpot's INBOUND conference, and his talk was everything my data-driven brain had lusted after: a scientific, research-driven account of proven selling strategies. His book cuts through the mystique and disinformation of traditional sales, and offers straightforward strategies for applying neuroscience, behavioural economics and social psychology to the sales process - helping you sell to people *the way you'd like to be sold to yourself.*  ## Zero to One **By [Peter Thiel](https://twitter.com/peterthiel)** ![Startup Books - Zero to One.jpg](https://www.cobloom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/blog/Startup%20Books%20-%20Zero%20to%20One.jpg?width=250&name=Startup%20Books%20-%20Zero%20to%20One.jpg) The central premise of Thiel's book is deceptively simple: it's easier to copy an existing business model than it is to create something completely new, taking the world from 1 to *n. *But true innovation, the kind that builds billion dollar companies, is the act of creating a new paradigm - going from 0 to 1. As a co-founder of PayPal, early investor in Facebook, partner in Y Combinator and the founder/president/investor of a half-dozen other ventures, Peter Thiel knows a lot about innovation. *From Zero to One *is his treatise on creativity, and it offers a succing summary of his experience and advice for any founder looking to truly innovate in their space. ## Still Hungry? If these great startup books haven't sated your thirst for knowledge, fear not - we'll be updating the list on a regular basis, as we work through our bookshelves of great SaaS-specific content. In the meantime, there are a few other great resources you can turn to to continue your SaaS development: - Check out our list of [21 SaaS-specific blogs](https://www.cobloom.com/blog/saas-blogs-to-accelerate-your-startups-growth). - Read our in-depth guides to: [SaaS Metrics ](https://www.cobloom.com/blog/saas-metrics)[Startup Funding ](https://www.cobloom.com/blog/startup-funding)[Customer Success](https://www.cobloom.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-customer-success) [SaaS Content Marketing](https://www.cobloom.com/blog/saas-content-marketing) - Download our free eGuide: [How to Generate More SaaS Leads](https://www.cobloom.com/free-eguide/how-to-generate-more-saas-leads) toggle navigation [![free eGuide: how to generate more saas leads](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/312370/f9047697-0fc5-4e6d-9bd7-3ac2831a1ebe.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/312370/f9047697-0fc5-4e6d-9bd7-3ac2831a1ebe) ![Startup Books for SaaS Founders & CEOs.jpg](http://www.cobloom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/blog/Startup%20Books%20for%20SaaS%20Founders%20%26%20CEOs.jpg?width=960&name=Startup%20Books%20for%20SaaS%20Founders%20%26%20CEOs.jpg "Startup Books for SaaS Founders & CEOs.jpg") ![greyscale](https://www.cobloom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/logo/greyscale.png?width=163&name=greyscale.png "greyscale") © 2023 Cobloom Limited, All Rights Reserved. Cobloom Limited, a company Registered in England & Wales: 08272586.  Cobloom.com is reader supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn affiliate commission. [Privacy & Cookie Policy](https://www.cobloom.com/privacy) Company [Free Resources](https://www.cobloom.com/saas-resources) Follow Us [![social-1_square-facebook.svg](https://www.cobloom.com/hubfs/Images/icons/social-media/new/social-1_square-facebook.svg "social-1_square-facebook.svg")](http://www.facebook.com/cobloom)[![social-1_square-linkedin.svg](https://www.cobloom.com/hubfs/Images/icons/social-media/new/social-1_square-linkedin.svg "social-1_square-linkedin.svg")](https://www.linkedin.com/company/cobloom)[![social-1_square-twitter.svg](https://www.cobloom.com/hubfs/Images/icons/social-media/new/social-1_square-twitter.svg "social-1_square-twitter.svg")](https://www.twitter.com/cobloomHQ) ![](https://www.cobloom.com/hubfs/Images/icons/pdf.png) Wait! Get a PDF copy of this article so you can read or use it later We'll email it to you straight away