The 48 Laws of Power

By Robert Greene (1998, Penguin), this is a widely read (and widely debated) compendium of strategies for gaining and keeping influence, drawn from historical figures ranging from political leaders to con artists. It's often read by founders and executives as a guide to organizational politics.

Same as Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes

Morgan Housel distills timeless human behaviors like greed, fear, and storytelling for founders to navigate uncertainty in strategy pivots and decision-making. Core lessons on risk unseen and narrative power over data; enduring psychology vs Porter's changeable industry structures.

Introduction to Strategy (Core Curriculum Reading in Strategy)

A Harvard Business School Core Curriculum Reading that provides a comprehensive overview of the strategy discipline, covering the building blocks of strategy, business landscape analysis, and structural forces shaping competition—core concepts startup founders need for deciding where and how to compete.

Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works

Lafley and Martin's strategy choice cascade (winning aspiration, where to play, how to win) guides founders through pivotal choices for competitive edge in startups. Frameworks proven at P&G for market pivots; practical decision tree vs Porter's broader forces model.

Quit

Annie Duke's insightful book on the strategic importance of knowing when to quit, offering valuable lessons for startup founders on decision-making and risk management.

Superforecasting

Book on probabilistic thinking and prediction that teaches how to make better forecasts and decisions under uncertainty—highly valuable for startup founders making strategic bets with incomplete information.