Ready for some books that are small but mighty, kinda like me? Books you’ll finish before you finally change the battery in that one smoke detector, fold and put away that ever-growing pile of laundry or hit send on that email that’s been sitting in your drafts.

Yup, no more getting halfway through a book and then putting it back on your shelf to get back to later or pretending you’ve read it in conversations with your entrepreneur friends… lol, I see you! Every single one of these is super actionable and can be finished in one afternoon or even quicker if you’re an audiobook kind of person. 

Intrigued? Let’s get to it! Watch the video or keep reading below…

1. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

First up, clocking in at 190 pages, just under our 200-page limit, is Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art. I recommend this one for anyone who thinks for a living, meaning you. This book teaches you a truth that you’d otherwise be blind to: we are at war, a war that many of us are losing, the war against resistance.

Resistance is the evil force that holds every creative endeavor back from reaching its full potential. It’s the silent enemy that prevents you from creating the timeless masterpieces you were put on this earth to create. It’s what makes you afraid and anxious and causes you to sabotage your best work.

Many entrepreneurs think resistance is nothing more than laziness, but this book shows that resistance is something far more personal and vindictive. So if you want to win this battle, overcoming resistance with a capital R, you need to acknowledge the battle and your part in it. And this book can help.

2. Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson

Next, let’s talk about cute mice. Yep, just like this one. Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson is a tiny book at 98 pages with a deceptively simple story that’s a powerhouse of insights on change, adaptability and the pursuit of success in our ever-evolving business landscape.

The story features two mice, Sniff and Scurry, and two little people, Hem and Haw, living in a maze. They all love cheese, and when the cheese disappears, their reactions vary wildly. The mice quickly move on to search for new cheese, but Hem and Haw learn their lessons in very human-like ways.

On our entrepreneurial journey, the cheese represents what we want to achieve, like success, fulfillment and innovation. The maze is the environment we navigate — market, technology, customer behavior — which is constantly shifting around us. Change is inevitable. Like the cheese, your market can shift, your products might need to evolve or new competition can emerge overnight.

So, be like Sniff and Scurry, keep your eyes peeled for signs of change in your industry, and be ready to act swiftly rather than being caught off guard.

3. Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon

Quick fun fact: Austin Kleon and I both live in Austin, Texas. His 160-page book, Steal Like an Artist, is critical if you feel like you’re not good enough or have no new ideas. Here’s the thing: nothing is truly original. You need to embrace influence.

Instead of trying to create something out of thin air, Kleon encourages us to collect ideas, mix them with our personal experiences and create something new. It’s about seeing the value in everything and finding your voice through the synthesis of those influences.

Look around, be curious, and find inspiration in the everyday. As Gustave Flaubert said, “Be regular and orderly in your life so that you may be violent and original in your work.” 

Use Steal Like an Artist as your permission slip to stop waiting for inspiration to strike and start finding it everywhere you look.

4. Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur by Derek Sivers

This one’s a lean, mean read at just 96 pages. Derek Sivers reflects on his journey building CD Baby, the largest online distributor of independent music, and shares 40 incredible lessons that redefine what it means to be an entrepreneur.

This isn’t your typical business book; it’s a manifesto for doing business your way. It focuses on happiness and the real reasons we’ve chosen entrepreneurship. Success comes from adaptability, not sticking rigidly to a plan. It’s about making constant adjustments based on real-world feedback.

5. The Dip by Seth Godin

The Dip isn’t just a phase to endure; it’s a test to pass. It separates the hobbyists from the professionals, the dabblers from the committed. Understanding that the dip is inevitable is crucial because it means you’re not failing, you’re just in the thick of it. And that’s exactly where you need to be to push through to greatness.

One of The Dip‘s most powerful lessons is learning to identify which dips are worth pushing through and which dead ends are worth quitting. Not all dips lead to success, and Godin provides a framework to help us decide when to hold on and when to let go.

6. Girlboss by Sophia Amoruso

At 256 pages, I’m cheating a bit, but it’s too good not to include. Girlboss is a coming-of-age narrative that tells the story of Sophia Amoruso going from broke and homeless to frugally hustling her way to build Nasty Gal, an e-commerce darling that eventually went bankrupt. But she didn’t let that stop her; she built an empire helping other entrepreneurs fulfill their dreams.

Girlboss is about starting where you are with what you have and scaling with intention. It shows that your unconventional traits aren’t liabilities but assets.

Which One Will You Read First?

There you have it — six business game changers under 200 pages and one that’s just a hair longer:

1. The War of Art
2. Who Moved My Cheese
3. Steal Like an Artist
4. Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur
5. The Dip
6. Girlboss

Drop me a comment below with the one that you’re reading first and share a small yet mighty recommendation of your own!

Now, go out there and Live Your Message!

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