
17. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
Unlike the rest of the books on this list, Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand is actually a novel, rather than non-fiction. The reason why it deserves a place on this list is that many people have read this story and walked away feeling more inspired to run their business than any other self-help book out there. Ayn Rand examines the American Dream, and she presents her own philosophy called “objectivism”. She talks a lot about freedom, desire, hard work, materialism, and so much more. During an interview, Rand said, “highest moral purpose is the achievement of his own happiness, and that he must not force other people, nor accept their right to force him, that each man must live as an end in himself and follow his own rational self-interest.”
Keep in mind that Atlas Shrugged is an incredibly long 1,200 page book. If you do not have the patience to get through it, you should consider listening to the audiobook, or watch the series on Amazon Prime.