Looking for books about business is pretty easy. An astonishing number of successful entrepreneurs go on to share their opinions and often secure HUGE book deals in the process. However, these works are usually non-fiction and ignore the insights of more creative works. Here’s an amazing list of fiction books that every entrepreneur should read.

Fiction Books Every Entrepreneur Should Read

Anyone can write a “How To Business” book. Writing an engaging story that sheds light on modern business and enterprise? That’s much harder. Fortunately, the authors listed below managed to accomplish the rare combination of entertainment and entrepreneurship.

The Lemonade War

At Lemonade Day, we HAD to start with this excellent children’s novel from 2007. Written by Jacqueline Davies, “The Lemonade War” details the trials and success two competing siblings as they open their own lemonade stands. While the events get comically out of hand, the book also contains interesting information on marketing and other aspects of running a successful business.

Jurassic Park

One of the best books written on corporate responsibility, Jurassic Park is an entertaining read that cautions ambitious entrepreneurs. If you decide to push too hard or go beyond accepted morality, you might just get eaten by a velociraptor.

The Fountainhead

The first major success by writer Ayn Rand, “The Fountainhead” tells the story of an architect struggling for recognition while refusing to compromise his principles. Most lists of great business fiction would have included “Atlas Shrugged”. However, the ideals listed in “The Fountainhead” have served businesses for over 50 years. Dedication to set principles will ultimately be rewarded far more than compromising one’s integrity.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintainence

While this might seem like a strange selection for business fiction books, “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” could be included for a variety of reasons. Ultimately, this book was chosen because of its in depth exploration of philosophy relating to business. Characters in the book ruminate on the definition of quality, the importance of practical knowledge, and a whole lot more. More importantly, “Zen” gives entrepreneurs a framework to think and discuss big, abstract ideas.

Oh The Places You’ll Go!

“Oh the Places You’ll Go!” is a classic from Theodore Geissel, better known as Dr. Seuss, and a common gift to recent high school or college graduates. Dr. Seuss knew the work would be his last when and was "his swan song". Released just a year before his death in 1991, "Oh the Places You'll Go!" quickly became known for its message about perseverance, patience, and success. Today, it is one of Dr. Seuss’s most celebrated works.

Alternative: The Lorax (for corporate responsibility and environmental stewardship)

The Five Temptations of a CEO: A Leadership Fable

Patrick Lencioni is an American writer of, mostly, non-fiction business books. Realizing that true stories failed to articulate the full range of advice necessary to run a business, Lencioni wrote “The Five Temptations of a CEO: A Leadership Fable” to cover all angles in an entertaining way. Lencioni describes the “Five Temptations” and then uses a fictional executive to demonstrate their faults and why people succumb to them in the first place.

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage

The most literary entry on this list, “Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage” is a story about pain, redemption, and healing. Though little of the book takes place in the business world, the application for entrepreneurs should be pretty obvious to fans of the work. The book’s lesson? To achieve great things, one must resolve and move beyond the past.

NOTE: This is NOT a book for children. Not just because it’s a little more difficult to read but its subject matter is probably not appropriate for anyone under 13 years old.

The Greatest Salesman in the World

Something of a “how to guide” for sales, “The Greatest Salesman in the World” lays out a detailed philosophy for success in business by telling the story of Hafid, a camel boy that becomes successful. Originally published in 1968, the book helps reinforce its message through exercises and a suggested reading time. For example, the first chapter, “The Power of Good Habits” is recommended to be read once a day, everyday for 30 days. The author says it should take 10 months to read the book following his suggestions.

King Rat

Based on author James Clavell’s own experience during World War Two, “King Rat” details the efforts of British, Australian, and American soldiers in a Japanese prisoner of war camp. Though pushed to their limits in order to survive, the book manages to show the importance of teamwork in extreme environments. Any manager that’s watched their team bicker over what to order from lunch would be wise to read about the amazing characters in this compelling drama.

Einstein’s Dreams

To understand another person, sometimes you need a different perspective. To understand one of the most brilliant men in history, you might just need some well crafted prose. Written by physicist Alan Lightman, “Einstein’s Dreams” make the attempt to describe Albert Einstein’s views on science, energy, and the very nature of the universe. While more of a philosophical work, “Einstein’s Dreams” is powerful and demonstrates the ability of people to connect and understand even the most complicated subjects.