10 Books every Freelancer should Read

10 Books every Freelancer should Read

The world of freelancers is huge and incredibly competitive; it is a place where you get to learn many things, and if you maintain a positive approach, you can do great things for yourself. It is a world where talent matters the most, and once you have sharpened your skills, your success is eventual. All you need is patience and a little bit of inspiration.

Inspiration is best sought from books. When you go to a library, make sure you visit the non-fiction section where you will most likely find a number of books on freelancing. If you do not, ask the librarian because it is impossible there be none. Get a book on freelancing and study it properly—people have written wonderful and knowledgeable things on this subject.

We are sure that you will be flooded with many suggestions, making you think over and over as to which book to buy. To help you with that, we have written this article to convey you our thoughts on some of the best books on freelancing.

These books cater quite comprehensibly and qualitatively to the subject matter and have become inspirations for many freelancers out there.

Here is a list of ten books every freelancer should read:

1. The Freelancer’s Bible by Sara Horowitz

The book is aptly titled, as it offers a great insight into the complexities which affect the freelance industry. Written by the founder of Freelancers Union, Sara Horowitz, the book is a go-to book for those who need guidance on the ways to handle the industry more smartly.

It offers many tips to tweak major changes in a freelancer’s methods and allow them to become more flexible and open to ideas.

It is a must-read for fresh freelancers but is equally helpful to those who have their feet well settled in the industry.

If this is not enough, you should know the book is among the best books according to Forbes.

2. Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson

Charting on number two is the New York Bestseller, Rework which is an excellent production by Fried and Hansson. It has been there for quite some time but is an all-time favorite for freelancers.

The book is a recommendation for anyone who wants to streamline his freelance business and earn greater profits out of it.

The book will completely change the way you handle your freelance business—it will make you smart enough to assess tasks that earn and do not earn profits, handle clients cleverly, and save yourself from unwarranted headaches.

Get a copy for yourself and experience the change we are talking about!

3. The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss

Tim Ferris is quite popular for this book and when you read the book, you will know why. The book, The 4-Hour Work Week, will tell you the ways to fight out the harsh competition, experience good results and realize those dreams which seem expensive.

The book is well-suited for mobile office types and offers tips on how to eradicate email and outsource to ensure a better, managed professional lifestyle.

The book is straightforward and does not keep the reader in a world of illusions. It expresses categorically what is and is not possible, and that is why it might not suit a class of readers. It is, nevertheless, a very good read!

4. My Creative (Side) Business by Monika Kanokova

Monika Kanokova is a famous writer who has written brilliant stuff on freelancers. Her book, My Creative (Side) Business, is as exceptional as her other creations and deserves attention from all freelancers out there.

The Book is a guidebook for creative freelancers, especially women. It narrates great stories from some of the most successful women freelancers in the creative industries—these women turned their freelance businesses into huge, money minting entrepreneurial projects.

Since Monika is a freelancer herself, her work is quite relatable and with authority. You will able to understand what she is trying to convey and able to assess various problems she raises in her book.

5. Stop Thinking Like A Freelancer by Liam Veitch

The name of the book might baffle you, but it tells you the truth in the bluntest way possible.

Liam is a no-nonsense man, and this is evident when you through his book. The author writes down about a systematic approach one must take towards freelancing and his own early failures confirm his advice.

The book is quite bold when it comes to freelancing and tells the reader that when you are freelancing, you are running a business and you need to start acting like a businessman. If you wish to survive the harsh realities of the freelance industries, you must develop your approach.

Liam’s candid approach on this matter makes him one of the most relatable authors on freelancing of all time!

6. My So-called Freelance Life by Michelle Goodman

Coming from the writer of The Anti 9 to 5 Guide, Michelle Goodman makes sure that she answers all questions which usually come up in the minds of freelancers. The book is relevant for women freelancers, especially those who are fresh in the industry to handle their professional lives like a boss.

In this book, the author is open about the plight women suffer in this unpredictable world and offers all necessary advice on portfolio making, proposal drafting, follow-ups and whatnot.

7. Everything I Know by Paul Jarvis

Paul Jarvis is known for online courses, but more than that, he is known for his book Everything I Know. His book talks reality and does this in a straightforward and simplistic manner so that everyone could appreciate the importance of the subject.

The book is a guide which embodies amazing tips based on the author’s own two-decade long experience in the freelance industry. He motivates readers to test the limits of the freelancing world and take risks.

Paul produces amazing things, and with such reputation across the globe, you should not have second thoughts about getting this book.

8. The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau

The $100 Startup is one such book that has encouraged many people, causing them to change their lives through smart business management. In this book, the author, Chris Guillebeau, expresses in simple terms the ways to lead a meaningful life and make a good living out of it.

The book identifies 20 interesting cases of persons who have developed businesses profiting $50,000 or more from smart investments.

If you are thinking of setting up a business of your own but need some motivation, this book is perfect for you.

9. The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer

It is not that easy to choose the freelancing career—it needs determination and courage to face failures but never give up. This is exactly what this book talks about.

The Untethered Soul is a wake-up call for anyone who is struggling to decide his future and seeks a certain degree of valuable guidance from experts. This book is a step-by-step guide for people to let them understand the virtues of being content with decisions and not regretting them later.

It is one of the best books out there, and you should definitely give it a read.

10. The Freedom Figure by Adam Fletcher

The Freedom Figure is a book targeted at freelancers living in Germany. It is a hilarious book that tells you how to accept Germanic values and win as a freelancer in the country. The author also points out several ways to leverage marketing strategies to your advantage, transform your personality into one who knows what to do and when to do things, and what not.

If you are living abroad, especially in Germany, you must give this book a read—it will definitely help you in clearing away your confusion and apprehensions.

More resources:

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