6 Books That Changed How I Build Startups

These aren’t hype books. These are the ones I re-read every year.

Build systems, not goals — the foundation of everything you do.

Validate before you build. Saved me years of wasted effort.

Peter Thiel on building monopolies, not competing in crowded markets.

The ability to focus deeply is the new IQ in a distracted world.

Ben Horowitz on the ugly reality of running a company. No fluff.

OKRs done right. How Google sets goals and actually hits them.