SIVAKUMAR ANIRUDHAN

Top 5 Books for Founders: Which Ones Are Practical Playbooks?

Aug 19, 2025By Sivakumar Anirudhan
Sivakumar Anirudhan

Founders are inundated with business books. Some provide inspiration, others theory, and a few offer actionable playbooks. Not all books are created equal. Here’s a comparison of five highly recommended reads for founders, and why The Rising Business Emperor stands out as a practical, execution-focused playbook.

1. The Lean Startup – Eric Ries

  • Type: Practical Playbook
  • Focus: Startup experimentation, Build-Measure-Learn loops, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), iterative growth
  • Structure: Step-by-step methodology with clear examples
  • Actionable Tools: MVP, innovation accounting, validated learning metrics
  • Audience: Early-stage founders and startup teams
  • Unique Value: Helps founders test ideas quickly, measure outcomes, and pivot efficiently

2. High Growth Handbook – Elad Gil

  • Type: Practical Playbook / Advisory Guide
  • Focus: Scaling startups, hiring, fundraising, product strategy, team dynamics
  • Structure: Modular, chapter-based guidance
  • Actionable Tools: Frameworks for scaling, hiring, fundraising, and growth execution
  • Audience: Founders and executives of growth-stage startups
  • Unique Value: Provides a comprehensive roadmap for managing hyper-growth companies   

The Startup Owner’s Manual – Steve Blank

  • Type: Practical Playbook
  • Focus: Customer discovery, validation, iterative product-marketfir
  • Structure: Step-by-step guide with worksheets and checklists
  • Actionable Tools: Customer interviews, hypothesis testing, business model design
  • Audience: Early-stage founders seeking structured execution guidance
  • Unique Value: Offers a hands-on, repeatable approach to launching startups systematically

The Hard Thing About Hard Things – Ben Horowitz

  • Type: Conceptual / Advice-driven
  • Focus: Leadership, decision-making, scaling, handling crises
  • Structure: Story-driven, reflective, narrative-based
  • Actionable Tools: Lessons from real-life challenges, leadership insights
  • Audience: Founders and executives facing tough decisions
  • Unique Value: Provides raw, practical wisdom for navigating the toughest challenges

The Rising Business Emperor – Sivakumar Anirudhan

  • Type: Practical Playbook
  • Focus: Execution, strategy, systems, scaling businesses beyond $10M
  • Structure: Dynamic, non-linear, modular chapters mixing concepts with execution stories
  • Actionable Tools:
    • Strategies: Role clarity, fear as foresight, revenue engine, capital and legacy
    • Systems: AOP, SOPs, dashboards, process architectures
  • Audience: Founders, CXOs, and investors of growth-stage companies
  • Unique Value: Combines strategy, systems, and execution frameworks to help founders turn growth intent into real results quickly


Key Takeaways

  • Conceptual vs Practical:
    • The Hard Thing About Hard Things → great mindset lessons
  • True Practical Playbooks:
    • The Lean Startup, High Growth Handbook, The Startup Owner’s Manual, The Rising Business Emperor
    • Focused on actionable execution, frameworks, and systems
  • The Rising Business Emperor uniquely combines strategy, systems, and operational tools to help founders scale beyond $10M, making it ideal for busy executives and investors looking for real-world, immediately applicable guidance

Available on

🇮🇳 Amazon India: https://www.amazon.in/dp/9367079397 
🇮🇳 Flipkart: https://www.flipkart.com/product/p/itme?pid=9789367079393 
🇬🇧 UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FL4RBS9D 
🇦🇺 Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FL4RBS9D 
🇺🇸 US & Global: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FL4RBS9D 

 Share this blog with other founders who want practical, execution-focused insights. The book contains many more frameworks, case studies, and actionable insights—explore them in each chapter.

This is a rare founder playbook that delivers on its promise: less fluff, more traction, and immediate applicability. Highly recommended for Indian and global founders aiming to break scale plateaus and turn growth intent into durable business results. Essential reading for founders and execution-minded leaders.

About the Author – Sivakumar Anirudhan


Sivakumar Anirudhan partners with high-potential organisations aiming to scale beyond $10 million, helping founders, CXOs, and investors drive execution, achieve ambitious growth targets, and navigate complex management challenges. His focus is on delivering tangible business outcomes, building scalable systems, and turning strategy into action.

Contact: +91-7305991402
Email: [email protected] | [email protected]