Read by Tim Ferriss, Chip Wilson, Gary Vaynerchuk and 3 others
What books does Gary Vaynerchuk recommend?
Gary Vaynerchuk built businesses on underpriced attention, and his book recommendations carry the same instinct for spotting what matters early. The Chairman of VaynerX and CEO of VaynerMedia, who grew his family's wine business from $3 million to $60 million before pivoting into digital marketing and early investing, has never pretended to be a heavy reader; he is candid that he reads few books cover to cover. That makes this list of 10 unusually deliberate, sourced from a Reddit AMA, his blog, his podcast, and forewords he has written. The subjects run through business and strategy, leadership and management, and technology. His anchor recommendation is Michael Gerber's The E-Myth Revisited, which he suggests "for people who have started something," while his blog post "The Only 3 Books I've Ever Read" names John Battelle's The Search, Jeffrey Toobin's The Nine, and Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs among the rare titles he finished.
Last updated February 2026 · Every recommendation cited to its original source.
The E-Myth Revisited
Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It
byMichael E. Gerber
1995288 Pages“For me I recommend the E-Myth, altho it is catered to people who have started something.”
— Gary Vaynerchuk
Source: GaryVee Official Reddit AMA
Read by Gary Vaynerchuk
The Search
How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed Our Culture
byJohn Battelle
2006336 Pages“The Search by John Battelle is a book about Google... This is one of the very few books I’ve read from cover to cover.”
— Gary Vaynerchuk
Source: GaryVee Blog: 'The Only 3 Books I've Ever Read'
Read by Gary Vaynerchuk
byJeffrey Toobin
2007480 Pages“The Nine by Jeffrey Toobin... I actually read it. It's a great book about the history of the Supreme Court.”
— Gary Vaynerchuk
Source: GaryVee Blog: 'The Only 3 Books I've Ever Read'
Read by Ray Dalio, Brian Chesky, Gary Vaynerchuk and 2 others
byWalter Isaacson
2011656 Pages“Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. I've actually read it. I'm fascinated by his legacy and his impact on the world.”
— Gary Vaynerchuk
Source: GaryVee Blog: 'The Only 3 Books I've Ever Read'
Read by Gary Vaynerchuk
Fantasy Life
The Outrageous, Uplifting, and Heartbreaking World of Fantasy Sports from the Guy Who's Lived It
byMatthew Berry
2013352 Pages“I wrote the foreword for this book. Matthew is the king of fantasy sports and this book is a must for any fan.”
— Gary Vaynerchuk
Source: Foreword written by Gary Vaynerchuk
Read by Arianna Huffington, Marc Benioff, Michael Bloomberg and 6 others
byRay Dalio
2017592 Pages“My all-time episode with billionaire investor, Ray Dalio. I discuss the formula for success... regarding the principles and ideas which define our work and life.”
— Gary Vaynerchuk
Source: The GaryVee Audio Experience
The Power of Broke
How Empty Pockets, a Tight Budget, and a Hunger for Success Can Become Your Greatest Competitive Advantage
byDaymond John, Daniel Paisner
2016288 Pages“Daymond John is the real deal. I wrote the foreword for this book because I believe in the power of starting with nothing.”
— Gary Vaynerchuk
Source: Foreword written by Gary Vaynerchuk
Read by Gary Vaynerchuk
Think Like Zuck: The Five Business Secrets of Facebook's Improbably Brilliant CEO Mark Zuckerberg
The Five Business Secrets of Facebook's Improbably Brilliant CEO Mark Zuckerberg
byEkaterina Walter
2013224 PagesSource: GaryVee Official 2013 Summer Reading List
Youtility: Why Smart Marketing Is about Help Not Hype
Why Smart Marketing Is about Help Not Hype
byJay Baer
2013240 PagesSource: GaryVee Official 2013 Summer Reading List
Read by Gary Vaynerchuk
Ctrl Alt Delete
Reboot Your Business. Reboot Your Life. Your Future Depends on It.
byMitch Joel
2013288 PagesSource: GaryVee Official 2013 Summer Reading List
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Frequently asked questions
What books does Gary Vaynerchuk recommend?
His 10 recommendations include The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber, The Search by John Battelle, Jeffrey Toobin's The Nine, Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs, and Ray Dalio's Principles, drawn from his blog, podcast, and reading lists.
What is Gary Vaynerchuk's most recommended book?
He most directly endorses The E-Myth Revisited, noting "I recommend the E-Myth, altho it is catered to people who have started something." It is his top pick for entrepreneurs already building a business.
Where do Gary Vaynerchuk's book recommendations come from?
They come from his official Reddit AMA, his blog post "The Only 3 Books I've Ever Read," The GaryVee Audio Experience, his 2013 summer reading list, and forewords he wrote for titles like Matthew Berry's Fantasy Life and Daymond John's The Power of Broke.
Has Gary Vaynerchuk written any books?
Yes. He has authored six, including Crushing It!, The Thank You Economy, Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook, Crush It!, #AskGaryVee, and Twelve and a Half, most focused on marketing, entrepreneurship, and building influence.
What genres does Gary Vaynerchuk read most?
His recommendations cluster around business and strategy, leadership and management, and technology, with occasional detours into society and politics, as with his interest in Toobin's history of the Supreme Court.
All 10 Books Gary Vaynerchuk Has Recommended
- The E-Myth Revisited · Michael E. Gerber
- The Search · John Battelle
- The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court · Jeffrey Toobin
- Steve Jobs · Walter Isaacson
- Fantasy Life · Matthew Berry
- Principles: Life and Work · Ray Dalio
- The Power of Broke · Daymond John
- Think Like Zuck: The Five Business Secrets of Facebook's Improbably Brilliant CEO Mark Zuckerberg · Ekaterina Walter
- Youtility: Why Smart Marketing Is about Help Not Hype · Jay Baer
- Ctrl Alt Delete · Mitch Joel