Best Private Equity Books of 2025

Profit First by Mike Michalowicz is a must-read for small business owners who struggle with cash management. Michalowicz presents a behavioral approach to accounting that flips the traditional formula, emphasizing the importance of taking profit first and apportioning only what remains for expenses. With practical advice, case studies, and a sense of humor, the author guides readers through four simple principles to simplify accounting and help entrepreneurs achieve profitability. This book is unique in its focus on the human element of business and its ability to help small businesses achieve sustainable growth.

12 Months to $1 Million by Ryan Daniel Moran is a must-read for any aspiring entrepreneur who wants to build a profitable business in a year or less. The book provides a clear and proven roadmap that helps even brand-new entrepreneurs make decisions quickly, get their product up for sale, and launch it to a crowd that is ready and waiting to buy. The book is divided into three stages: The Grind, The Growth, and The Gold, each with a step-by-step plan that guides readers towards their first $1 million. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for anyone looking to build a sustainable and scalable online business.

What It Takes: Lessons in the Pursuit of Excellence by Stephen A. Schwarzman is a must-read for anyone looking to build, transform, and lead thriving organizations. Schwarzman shares impactful episodes from his life and career to offer valuable lessons on how to achieve excellence, make an impact, and live a life of consequence. The book covers Schwarzman's journey from folding handkerchiefs in his father's linen shop to co-founding Blackstone, the leading global financial institution it is today. The author's simple mantra of "don't lose money" has helped Blackstone become a leading private equity and real estate investor, and manager of alternative assets for institutional investors globally. This book is a great resource for students, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, executives, or anyone looking to maximize their potential.

The Disciplined Trader: Developing Winning Attitudes by Mark Douglas is a classic in the industry that addresses the psychological nature of how successful traders think. Douglas examines the reasons why most traders are unable to raise and maintain their equity consistently and provides practical solutions to change their limiting mindset. Through a step-by-step process, the author helps traders understand that their thoughts may be limiting their ability to accumulate wealth. This book is an excellent resource for traders looking to develop a winning attitude and improve their mental skills necessary for success.

This book, titled "Lessons from the Titans: What Companies in the New Economy Can Learn from the Great Industrial Giants to Drive Sustainable Success," offers insights into the enduring lessons in sustainable success from the great industrial titans. The book provides a multitude of insights that will help readers weather market upheavals, adapt to disruptions, and optimize their resources to their best advantage. The book is filled with illuminating case studies and brilliant in-depth analysis that will help readers learn hard-won lessons in innovation, growth, resilience, and operational excellence. In conclusion, this book is a must-read for anyone looking to drive sustainable success in today's ever-changing world.

Bullshit Jobs: A Theory by David Graeber is a thought-provoking examination of our working lives that challenges the rise of meaningless jobs and their consequences. Graeber explores the concept of "bullshit jobs," where people work in jobs that are useless and unfulfilling, and how it affects individuals, corporations, and society as a whole. He calls for a shift in values that places creative and caring work at the center of our culture. This book is a must-read for everyone who wants to turn their vocation back into an avocation and offers a fresh perspective on the current state of labor and industrial economic relations.

This book, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gretchen Morgenson and financial policy analyst Joshua Rosner, delves into the world of private equity and its negative impact on the American economy. They expose how a small group of financiers use excessive debt and dubious practices to undermine the nation's economy for their own gain. The authors investigate some of the biggest names in private equity, revealing how they buy companies, load them with debt, and then bleed them of assets and profits. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the dark side of American capitalism.

Mastering Private Equity: Transformation via Venture Capital, Minority Investments and Buyouts is a comprehensive guide written for investors, finance professionals, students, and business owners who want to engage with private equity firms or invest in private equity funds. The book systematically delves into the core concepts of private equity, covering everything from deal sourcing to exit, LBOs to responsible investing, and operational value creation to risk management. With insights from leading academics and practitioners, this book is a valuable reference for industry experts and a step-by-step guide for those new to the industry. The guest comments by senior PE professionals make the book unique and insightful.

The book "King of Capital: The Remarkable Rise, Fall, and Rise Again of Steve Schwarzman and Blackstone" by David Carey and John Morris offers an insightful and hard-hitting look into the transformation of Blackstone and other private equity firms from gamblers and hostile-takeover artists to disciplined and risk-conscious investors. The book provides never-before-revealed details about the workings of the secretive Blackstone Group and how it has emerged as a major force on Wall Street, challenging the likes of Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley for dominance. Overall, "King of Capital" is a must-read for anyone interested in the world of finance and private equity.

The Lifestyle Investor by Justin Donald is a best-selling book that provides a simple and proven system for creating cash flow and generating real wealth with little risk or complexity. The author's 10 Commandments of Lifestyle Investing© can help readers replace their job with passive cash flow streams that multiply their wealth, so they can live life on their terms. Justin's own experience of multiplying his net worth to over eight figures in less than two years is an inspiration, and his advice can be valuable to entrepreneurs and executives looking to invest wisely. Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone looking to create financial freedom through low-risk cash flow investing.