Reading is one of the top activities of successful people all over the world. Reading is however a habit and dont be fooled into thinking the best and brightest only read biographies and how to books. Theres space in there for reading fictional works too. You can learn from anything, anyone, anywhere. Here are 10 fictional books that have great lessons for entrepreneurs.

The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho

Through the fictional tale of a poor shepherd boy the story of the Alchemist takes the boy through the desert of North Africa on a journey that ultimately turns out be of self discovery. This book is a really good teacher on issues of attitudes, paradigms and the existence of destiny. This book has been described by many as life changing.

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

Tremendous in its scope, this novel presents an astounding panorama of human life — from the productive genius who becomes a worthless playboy — to the great steel industrialist who does not know that he is working for his own destruction — to the philosopher who becomes a pirate — to the composer who gives up his career on the night of his triumph — to the woman who runs a transcontinental railroad — to the lowest track worker in her Terminal tunnels. Be prepared to question some of your beliefs and assumptions when reading this one.

The Martian by Andy Weir

The Martian tells the story of an astronaut who is stranded alone on Mars After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive. The astronaut uses ingenuity to overcome one obstacle after the other in his quest to survive. This is surely the entrepreneurial tale.

Richest man in Babylon by George Clason

The Richest Man in Babylon tells the story of building wealth, keeping it and growing it in a series of parabolic stories. The stories are simple and easy to follow but the concepts discussed are some of the highest level concepts in business and personal finance.

The circle by Dave Eggers

When Mae Holland is hired to work for the Circle, the world’s most powerful internet company, she feels she’s been given the opportunity of a lifetime. The Circle, run out of a sprawling California campus, links users’ personal emails, social media, banking, and purchasing with their universal operating system, resulting in one online identity and a new age of civility and transparency. As Mae tours the open-plan office spaces, the towering glass dining facilities, the cozy dorms for those who spend nights at work, she is thrilled with the company’s modernity and activity. What begins as the captivating story of one woman’s ambition and idealism soon becomes a heart-racing novel of suspense, raising questions about memory, history, privacy, democracy, and the limits of human knowledge.

Quarter share by Nathan Lowell

Quarter share is set in the future, 2351 to be precise and tells the story of a young man whose mother dies, as she is only parent he is quickly thrust into adulthood and must look for a means to earn a living. He joins a ship crew in order to do so and goes on an interesting adventure.

The 5 temptations of CEO by Patrick Lencioni

Lencioni delivers a provocative message. CEOs mainly have themselves to blame when things go wrong. If you’re a CEO (or a manager for that matter), do you have the courage to face it? Doing so could change your future — for the better.

The greatest salesman in the world by Og Mandino

Written as letters to be read by those who wish to become great sales people the book uses simple stories to explain the settings of the lessons contained in the letters. The lessons are both powerful and relevant. This book is not just about sales as it goes into issues of success character as well.

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

This modern classic is the story of intransigent young architect Howard Roark, whose integrity was as unyielding as granite…of Dominique Francon, the exquisitely beautiful woman who loved Roark passionately, but married his worst enemy…and of the fanatic denunciation unleashed by an enraged society against a great creator. As fresh today as it was then, Rand’s provocative novel presents one of the most challenging ideas in all of fiction—that man’s ego is the fountainhead of human progress.

The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies

“The Lemonade War” details the trials and success two competing siblings as they open their own lemonade stands. While the events get comically out of hand, the book also contains interesting information on marketing and other aspects of running a successful business.