Ask HN: What's the best first business book for a programmer?

the first book I would recommend would be the classic "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.

this one is a great start to learn how to interact with people when you're trying to sell them on "something".

I have that one already and it's top-notch.

Founders at Work

"Founders At Work" by Jessica Livingston

I would add "Influence" by Cialdini under this category .

I would go for 4 steps to the epiphany

this book still nails it!

I'd recommend "Crossing the Chasm" by Geoffrey A. Moore.

recommend "4 Hour work week" by Tim Ferris, BUT - you have to take that book with a big grain of salt.

The E-Myth Revisited kinda starts where the above one ends

Absolutely yes. Really makes a huge difference to think about things in the Entrepreneur/Technician/Manager frame

A thousand times yes. I make everyone I'm going to work with read it before working with them. It really gets to the heart of what businesses do right and wrong

'How to Get Rich' by Felix Dennis yet? It is an absolute must!

I second "Made to Stick" as a great study on what makes things popular, and how they become popular.

Made to Stick

Next you need to find some good books on negotiation (Getting To Yes).

I still consider it one of the most important business books I've ever read.

Growing a Business by Paul Hawken