The Illusions of Entrepreneurship: The Costly Myths That Entrepreneurs, Investors, and Policy Makers

A challenge to the myths we hold about entrepreneurs in America—who they are, what they do, and how they succeed

There are far more entrepreneurs than most people realize. But the failure rate of new businesses is disappointingly high, and the economic impact of most of them disappointingly low, suggesting that enthusiastic would-be entrepreneurs and their investors all too often operate under a false set of assumptions. This book shows that the reality of entrepreneurship is decidedly different from the myths that have come to surround it. Scott Shane, a leading expert in entrepreneurial activity in the United States and other countries, draws on the data from extensive research to provide accurate, useful information about who becomes an entrepreneur and why, how businesses are started, which factors lead to success, and which predict a likely failure. The Illusions of Entrepreneurship is an essential resource for everyone who has dreamed of starting a new business, for investors in start-ups, for policy makers attempting to facilitate the formation and survival of new businesses, and for researchers interested in the economic impact of entrepreneurial activity. 

• Quirky: The Remarkable Story of the Traits, Foibles, and Genius of Breakthrough Innovators Who Changed the World
• The Entrepreneur Equation: Evaluating the Realities, Risks, and Rewards of Having Your Own Business
• No Excuse Leadership: Lessons from the U.S. Army's Elite Rangers
• Predictably Irrational, Revised and Expanded Edition: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions
• Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers
• Art of the Start 2.0: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything
• The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It
• The Social Entrepreneur's Handbook: How to Start, Build, and Run a Business That Improves the World
• StandOut 2.0: Assess Your Strengths, Find Your Edge, Win at Work
• Mindset: The New Psychology of Success