Freelancing is by its very nature highly challenging. You have to keep track of everything, from networking and keeping your clients happy, to creating and improving your work, to learning how to market yourself well. Understanding how to do all of this effectively takes time, experience, and a little guidance. This is where our list of the 8 best books for freelancers in 2023 comes in!
The 8 best books for freelancers in 2023 are:
- The 4 Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
- The Multi-Hyphen Method by Emma Gannon
- The Freelancer’s Bible by Sara Horowitz and Toni Sciarra Poynter
- Stop Thinking Like a Freelancer by Liam Veitch
- Getting Things Done: The art of stress-free productivity by David Allen
- The Dip by Seth Godin
- The Freelancing Blueprint by Tyler Ford
- Falling Off The Ladder by Helen Hill
These books allow you to absorb a considerable amount of valuable information and improve your skills in a relatively short amount of time. We’ve picked a diverse list of books to cover many different aspects of freelancing. Some of them are specifically about freelancing, while others are not. However, all of them offer useful insights that apply to freelancing.
Note that our list of the best books for freelancers is in no particular order. We’ll also keep updating this list as we come across more useful resources for freelancers. But for now, let’s get into it!
The 8 Best Books for Freelancers in 2023
1. The 4 Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
In The 4 Hour Workweek, Tim Ferriss gives you some solid insight into how you can get more done while working fewer hours. He goes into some often-overlooked topics like scalability, outsourcing, automation of tasks, and more that can help you feel less overburdened as a freelancer. While the book takes a more general approach to working less and earning more, it’s still very useful for freelancers, and deserves a spot on our list of the best books for freelancers in 2023!
He shares how he went from making $40,000 per year while working 80 hours per week to making $40,000 per month while only working 4 hours per week. His book also offers some practical tips, case studies from readers who’ve implemented his techniques, various useful templates, and a bunch of other helpful tools and tricks.
If you’re interested in finding a way to be more productive while still feeling laid-back, this easy-going yet informative book is the right choice for you. It may not have you working 4 hours per week, but it will definitely open your eyes to what you’re capable of!
You’ll benefit from this book if – You’re a beginner freelancer who sometimes struggles with a lack of productivity and excessive laziness.
PROS:
- Inspirational
- Easy to read
- Offers practical advice
CONS:
- Not every tip applies to all freelancers
2. The Multi-Hyphen Method by Emma Gannon
In The Multi-Hyphen Method, Emma Gannon explains how you can make different projects and interests work together at the same time, without having to choose just one. She completely deconstructs the idea that we all need a 9-5 job, and she describes how your work can be flexible and explains how your income can come from different sources.
The Multi-Hyphen Method offers practical advice and exercises based on research, real-life examples, and her personal experience that you can reflect on and adapt to your freelancing situation.
The book introduces the term “multi-hyphenate”. This essentially means you are capable of designing a career that combines and reflects your various interests and talents in a cohesive way that gives you flexibility, happiness, and career longevity. So, if you have a passion for many different things and would like to find a career path in which you can use them all without having to spread yourself thin, this book is perfect for you!
You’ll benefit from this book if – You’re at the start of your freelancing journey and are unsure of the first steps you need to take to become successful.
You can check out our full review of The Multi-Hyphen Method.
PROS:
- Motivational and reassuring
- Practical guide with useful tips
- Easy to read
CONS:
- Might not be as helpful for established freelancers
3. The Freelancer’s Bible by Sara Horowitz and Toni Sciarra Poynter
Sara Horowitz, the founder of the Freelancer’s Union, along with Toni Sciarra Poynter, wrote The Freelancer’s Bible with the intention of covering everything a freelancer needs to know about the career path. Creating contracts, negotiating with clients, and building networks are just a few of the important things she delves into in the book.
The book is divided into five sections:
- Getting started
- Getting work
- Growing your business
- Managing your business
- Your business and your community
It’s filled with high-quality and reliable advice, and it should be kept close to your place of work, for whenever you need some quick tips on how to be a better freelancer.
You’ll benefit from this book if – You’re a beginner freelancer looking to learn about everything that goes into the trade, or if you want to take your freelancing career to the next level.
PROS:
- Easy to read
- Interactive elements (like quizzes and checklists)
- Well-researched, reliable information
- One of the most comprehensive books for freelancers out there
CONS:
- Too much information to absorb in one read
- Contains a lot of plugs for the Freelancer’s Union
4. Stop Thinking Like a Freelancer by Liam Veitch
Stop Thinking Like a Freelancer is a hard reality check on freelancing and everything it entails. In it, Liam Veitch gives you an honest insight into real problems freelancers face, while still providing handy, practical tips to overcome them. Veitch wants you to be aware of the darker corners of this career, while still giving you the tools to survive and thrive.
The author explores what he calls the five phases of running and growing your business. These are:
- Becoming ready for evolution
- Attracting dream clients
- Building your platform
- Creating predictability
- Working less while earning more
If you’re ready to turn a hobby into a successful business, then this book is for you!
You’ll benefit from this book if – You’re a freelancer (of any level/type) or even a business owner who wants to pick up new tips and tricks that will help you improve your career.
PROS:
- Quick and easy to read
- A book to refer back to from time to time
- Inspirational and motivational
CONS:
- Contains a lot of plugs and links related to the author
5. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen
Getting Things Done offers its readers a new approach to improving performance, capacity, and innovation when it comes to dealing with the demands of your work and personal life. In the book, David Allen discusses the art of getting things done, providing practical steps to increase your productivity. He also explains the principles of collection habit, next-action decision, and outcome focusing.
Allen presents you with an honest approach about his personal experiences over the years and how they can be helpful for readers who require a change of pace. He believes that everyone can be efficient in whatever they do, as long as they learn how to get things done.
This book might be just what you need if you:
- Have trouble catching up with your emails
- Watch your to-do lists grow instead of shrink
- Feel like there are never enough hours in the day
You’ll benefit from this book if – You feel disorganised, unproductive and want to learn a new approach to better manage your freelancing life, regardless of what you do.
PROS:
- Good combo of freelancing productivity and organisation tips
- “No BS” approach
CONS:
- Not all innovative stuff, mostly common sense
6. The Dip by Seth Godin
Whenever you’re venturing into something new in your life, you’re likely to hit a setback or a “dip” here and there. The Dip by Seth Godin will help you recognise when it’s time to quit something and when it’s time to persevere and keep pushing forward. It’s designed to empower freelancers to grind against the dips and understand when it’s time to walk away.
In some cases, persevering can lead to excellent returns or new opportunities. But in other situations, it might just be a complete waste of time and energy. With this book, you’ll learn how to tell those situations apart and understand what the best course of action looks like.
This book is perfect for anyone who might be considering trying something different in their lives, as it will help you consider all the possibilities ahead of time and establish which are the right outcomes that will justify quitting or moving forward.
You’ll benefit from this book if – You’re a beginner freelancer, are about to start a new business, or are simply looking to go down a new path in your life.
PROS:
- Quick and easy to read
- Thought-provoking
- Effectively teaches you when to quit
CONS:
- Not an overly deep analysis of the topic
7. The Freelancing Blueprint by Tyler Ford
The Freelancing Blueprint covers the ins and outs of freelancing. For beginners, the author lays down some steps that’ll help anyone become a top-earning freelancer in 90 days. For more experienced freelancers, he goes further on topics like how to improve monetisation.
The Freelancing Blueprint breaks things down into small, specific, and practical steps, followed by many top-earning freelancers, that can you can easily implement in your own freelancing career. If you’re looking for a quick guide that will help you set up your freelancing career and let you in on some of the industry’s secrets, then this book is for you.
You’ll benefit from this book if – You want to begin freelancing and need a quick introduction to the most important aspects of the business.
PROS:
- A quick read
- Numbered tips
- Useful website and book suggestions throughout
- Step-by-step guide
CONS:
- Might not be as useful for established freelancers
8. Falling Off The Ladder by Helen Hill
The last entry on our list of the best books for freelancers is Falling Off The Ladder. This is a book all about thriving in self-employment. Helen Hill uses this book to illustrate the importance of having the right mindset and mentality for succeeding on your own terms.
The book takes its name from the idea of falling off the traditional career ladder and into self-employment for various reasons. This concept will ring true for many freelancers, who perhaps moved into the style of work from a more traditional stint of employment, maybe even seemingly by accident. However, regardless of how you found yourself venturing into the world of freelancing, this book has plenty of value to offer.
Through various interactive activities, Helen Hill encourages you to reflect on your own position as a self-employed person. You’ll find yourself affirming your reasons and motivations for becoming and remaining a freelancer. This can help build your confidence and reassure you that you’re working towards the right goals.
Falling Off The Ladder is a great read for both beginner and advanced freelancers alike in 2023. You can also check out our full review of Falling Off The Ladder.
You’ll benefit from this book if – You’re considering making the move to freelancing, or if you already are a freelancer and need some motivation and reassurance that you’ve made the right choice.
PROS:
- Useful for all levels of freelancers
- Interactive nature of the book is very enjoyable
- Highly relevant for the modern world of freelancing
CONS:
- You’ll wish you’d read it before you started freelancing!
That does it for our list of the 8 best books for freelancers in 2023! Feel free to bookmark this post as a reference, and check back from time to time to see what’s new!
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