This is not your typical entrepreneur book recommendation list. You will not find these in the business section of your local bookstore. But they have profoundly and positively affected me as both a copywriter and a business owner. Because sometimes you need to see from a different perspective – one that is not typical business advice that you’ve heard a million times before at this point. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by this unusual list of the best books for online entrepreneurs to read.
There is a book for when you need to:
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- just sit down and write,
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- write but you don’t have time,
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- Be reminded of the Big Picture importance of copywriting from a neuropsychology perspective
- Develop the most important copywriting skill in a fun and relaxed way
I’ve thoughtfully curated the five best books for online entrepreneurs to read this summer. So add them to your GoodReads, request them from your local library, or treat yourself to time at your favorite bookstore to pick up these books. You won’t regret it! I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.
Bird By Bird, Anne Lamott
Anne Lamott’s “Bird by Bird” is a beloved guide on writing and life, filled with practical advice, humor, and so much wisdom. Lamott shares her insights on the writing process, emphasizing the importance of taking it step by step. The book’s title comes from her father’s advice to her brother when overwhelmed by a school project: “Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.” Similar to how you “eat the frog” – one bite at a time.
The book gets so real into the emotional and psychological challenges writers face. She offers encouragement and empathy through personal anecdotes and candid reflections. Lamott inspires writers to embrace their unique voices and persist through the inevitable difficulties of the creative journey. It is profound, hilarious, wise, and self-deprecating all at once.
How Do You Actually Write?
When asked “but how do you actually do it?” She gives practical advice like “You sit down…You try to sit down at approximately the same time every day. This is how you train your unconscious to kick in for you creatively.” Because anyone who has written a book or even a batch of emails, you know that keeping your butt in the chair to write is often the hardest part. Somehow, during the time you’ve blocked off for writing, that’s when laundry becomes most urgent and every speck in your house needs to be cleaned. Even in the face of all the distractions vying for your attention, “you clear a space for the writing voice, hacking away at the others with machetes, and you begin to compose sentences.”
We’re often “immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead.” As business owners, you want to batch all of your emails for the month, your social media captions, you really should update your welcome sequence too while you’re at it…
First Drafts Are Supposed To Be Messy
But as you wrestle your thoughts onto the page, you see “that big sloppy imperfect messes have value.” It never comes out perfectly right the first try. This is normal. It is part of the process.
I could do a whole episode on what I’ve learned about writing from Anne Lamott and how I’ve applied it to copywriting as a business owner…This book is one of the best books for online entrepreneurs because it makes you think like a writer. And there is always so much copywriting to be done to keep the lights on in business! Even though Anne Lamott is famous for writing books, the skills and disciplines for productivity are totally transferable and highly helpful as you do your copywriting.
Buy Anne Lamott’s book, Bird By Bird, by clicking here.
Create Anyway, Ashlee Gadd
Ashlee Gadd’s “Create Anyway” is an inspiring book that encourages creatives to pursue their passions despite the chaos of everyday life. Ashlee is a mom of three, podcast host, author of two books, and founder of Coffee And Crumbs – a community that has been making mothers feel safe, known, encouraged and loved since 2014. She wrote this very literally in the margins of motherhood during Covid while home with her three children. I mean, most of us just tried to survive during Covid. Ashlee mothered three kids, did her job, and wrote an entire book. So I’d say she is up there as one of the most qualified to speak on this subject.
In her book, she shares her own experiences of balancing motherhood with creative work, offering practical advice and heartfelt encouragement. The book is filled with personal stories, reflections, and actionable tips to help readers prioritize their creative endeavors. Whether that is viewing writing emails to your list as creative work (which, by the way, is a lot more fulfilling than trying to have AI do it for you) or if you need a creative hobby to stop thinking about business, this book will motivate you to find joy and fulfillment in your creative pursuits, regardless of your circumstances.
Mom entrepreneurs who are only working during naptime hours and or minimal childcare, this one is definitely for you. (And everyone else: what are you even doing with all your free time? Just kidding. But also kind of serious.)
A Perspective Shift On Our Creative Work
I love this perspective shift Ashlee offers us. “What if we stopped viewing creativity as something that takes away from our families and viewed it as something that breathes life into our families instead…What if instead of deeming creativity as trivial or selfish, we viewed our personal creativity as a gift, an offering, a contribution capable of blessing everyone around us?”
It is with that perspective that you need to write your emails, and your sales pages, and all the other copy on your to-do list. The process of writing it is what is truly fulfilling – not the money, or the validation, or anything else.
Because, as Ashlee writes, “When we believe creativity is worthy of taking up space, we’ll find a way.”
Buy Ashlee Gadd’s book, Create Anyway, by clicking here.
Digital Minimalism, Cal Newport
Cal Newport’s “Digital Minimalism” is one of the best books for online entrepreneurs because we have to be aware of how we consume and contribute to the “attention economy.”
The author advocates for a more intentional approach to technology use, encouraging readers to focus on what truly matters. He presents a philosophy that prioritizes meaningful and value-driven digital interactions over mindless consumption. He provides practical strategies for decluttering digital lives, such as taking a 30-day digital detox and reintroducing only the most essential tools and habits. Through case studies and research, Newport demonstrates how digital minimalism can enhance productivity, personal well-being, and overall life satisfaction.
Stewarding The “Attention Economy”
In the final chapter, Newport describes the “attention economy” as “the business sector that makes money gathering consumers’ attention and then repackaging and selling it to advertisers. This idea is not new.” But it has become “one of the most powerful forces in our economy” with the onset of the iPhone (and other smartphones). Because now a smartphone can deliver advertisements to users at all points during their day, as well as to help services gather data from those users to target those advertisements with unprecedented precision.”
We look at our smartphones a lot. Have you checked your screentime recently on your iPhone? Swipe over to “screentime” right now and be appalled at how much time you spend (waste?) looking at that thing. This is why companies like Google and Meta are significantly more lucrative than extracting oil. Google’s market cap is $2.2 trillion at the time of publishing, Meta is right behind at $1.3 trillion, while Exxon is $497 billion. Which is still a lot, yes, but not even in the same ballpark.
This is why integrity in our marketing matters so much. Not just because it’s the right thing to do (though that in itself is a good enough reason…), copywriting is ultimately stewarding people’s attention. And, I would argue that our greatest asset is not money, and it’s not even our time. Our greatest asset is our attention. Because what has our attention, likely also has our time and our money and most importantly, our heart.
Buy Cal Newport’s book, Digital Minimalism, by clicking here.
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, John Mark Comer
John Mark Comer’s “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” is a transformative guide that addresses the pervasive issue of busyness in modern life. Comer draws from his personal experiences and spiritual insights to advocate for a slower, more intentional way of living. He explores the detrimental effects of constant hurry on mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being, offering practical advice to cultivate a life of rest and presence. Through actionable steps, Comer encourages readers to adopt practices such as simplicity, solitude, and Sabbath to counteract the relentless pace of contemporary life.
The radical belief shift I had from this book is that the solution to being overbusy isn’t more time. If you catch yourself saying “if only I had more hours in the day” or “if only I had more childcare”…the logic there is flawed.
Because if you could alter the structure of the universe to get ten more hours a day…what would you do with them? You’d do the same thing most normal people would do: fill those hours with more things. Even if you’re filling them up with good and noble pursuits, like picking up painting again, going out in nature more, spending more time with your kids…you would end up even more exhausted than you are now.
The Solution To An Overbusy Life
John Mark writes that “the solution to an overbusy life is not more time. It’s to slow down and simplify our lives around what really matters.”
So what really matters to you? What is essential to your life? What is essential to your business? How do you want to show up for your potential clients? Is copywriting fulfilling for you? Is it doing something for you? Is it changing you and your heart and your heart towards your business?
Or would you rather spend your limited and precious time doing what you do best in your zone of genius? Does it make more sense for you to outsource the copywriting right now so that you can either do more of what you love…or spending that time getting actual, real high quality rest and leisure and joy back into your life?
There are so many options. There’s not a blanket statement, one-size-fits-all right choice for you. But I know that as I’m talking about this, something is pulling at your heart right now. Do you need to fill up your tank? And maybe hiring a copywriter will allow you to do that better? Or maybe you’re in a state of being excited to be writing and that’s part of the way you think. Maybe DIY copywriting is really right for you right now. So whatever it is for you, own that decision so that you can move forward with it with full satisfaction and confidence.
Buy John Mark Comer’s book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, by clicking here.
The Last Thing He Told Me, Laura Dave
Yes, this is a fiction book, and I read it in 48 hours. I did not want to put it down. This book is one of the best books for online entrepreneurs not because of the content – though it is a gripping thriller and the plot is so good. But this book makes my list of best books for online entrepreneurs to read this summer because reading fiction books actually influences empathy. And empathy is the greatest skill that a copywriter can have.
Big Think shares it in a way that is easier to digest. They said that “Modern research suggests that reading fiction helps you neurologically relate to other people’s experiences. It also correlates with improved social interactions and the ability to read the room.” Here is the actual scholarly article from NCBI.
So when you’re reading your next fiction book at the beach, by the lake, or in the pool this summer, remember that research suggests that reading literary fiction improves one’s theory of mind and emotional intelligence.
Read Fiction To Improve The Most Important Skill in Copywriting: Empathy
My recommendation for you is Laura Dave’s “The Last Thing He Told Me.” This book is a gripping thriller about Hannah Hall, whose husband, Owen, disappears. He leaves behind a cryptic note saying “Protect her.” As she struggles to uncover the truth behind her husband’s disappearance, she forms an unexpected bond with her stepdaughter, Bailey. She holds the key to unraveling his mysterious past. The novel explores themes of trust, love, and resilience, keeping readers on edge with its twists and revelations. It is a masterful blend of suspense with emotional depth. The novel is a compelling narrative about the lengths one will go to protect their loved ones.
This is one of the few books I can say I read so quickly. And I love almost any fiction book from Reese’s Book Club. That is my cup of tea when it comes to books. I also really loved Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah. That is another great fiction book that I devoured within 48 hours.
This blog was so fun to put together, grabbing my favorite books, sharing my underlines with you, and remembering how they have shaped me as a writer, a copywriter, a business owner, and a human.
Which of These 5 Best Books For Online Entrepreneurs Have You Read?
Have you read any of these titles? Or have other books you’d add to this unconventional list of best books for online entrepreneurs? Get on my email list and let’s have a mini book club session – I’d love to chat about it!
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