So you want to become a successful farmer, and everyone keeps telling you to read books.
The problem is, most farmers do not have the time for that.
Over the past two years, I have gone through hundreds of books.
More than 40 of them were focused on farming.
Some were practical.
Others were too focused on specific farms.
A few were very general.
Some were investigative.
Others were memoirs.
These are the ones I liked most.
In this post, I will break down 7 of those books into the core lessons you can actually use on your farm.
Now, I am still in the building and learning phase of my farming journey (as of 2026).
Most of my time has gone into studying, observing, and learning from successful farmers across Africa and the world.
That is how I have been preparing to do this the right way.
If you apply the lessons in this post, you will have a clearer direction and stronger principles for your farm.
1. You Can Farm by Joel Salatin
This is the first farming book I ever read.
Joel Salatin is one of the most well-known farmers in the world.
Search his name and you will quickly see his strong views on farming and even politics.
He has written over 14 books and co-authored others.
And yes, he is a farmer.
So much for the idea that farmers are not thinkers.
Here’s What You’ll Learn..
How to develop a vision for your farm.
Many farmers ignore this at the beginning.
Later, they are forced to figure it out the hard way.
The 10 commandments for succeeding in farming.
These focus on discipline and commitment.
One key idea he emphasizes is being resourceful, which is something I strongly agree with as I say in my DR.STARR Framework.
How to start and grow your farm
You do not have to stay small or repeat the same thing for years.
2. Your Successful Farm Business by Joel Salatin
One of the best pieces of advice I ever heard is this: read authors, not just books.
That is why I picked another book by Joel.
Compared to You Can Farm, this one focuses on running the farm as a business.
Here’s What You’re Going To Learn…
Principles for running a farm business.
Can you imagine, these include living frugally.
Many farmers make money, then spend it badly and struggle the next season.
Direct marketing
Selling directly to customers is one of the best ways to increase profit.
Using a team well
A team is not a problem.
Think of it like adding a turbo to your farm when managed properly.
New opportunities in farming
These include agritourism, edutainment, and farm schools.
3. Start Your Farm by Forrest Pritchard and Ellen Polishuk
If you have common questions about farming, this book answers them.
Ellen and Forrest go deep into beginner concerns.
This Is What You’ll Learn..
How to learn farming
You do not always need formal agricultural school.
Do you need land to start?
The answer is not always what people expect.
The importance of the market
This is one of the strongest parts of the book.
It is given a lot of attention for a reason.
I have talked about this many times.
The market is often more important than capital.
Many farmers ignore this, get into production, and struggle later.
I almost made the same mistake myself.
4. Mini Farming by Brett L Markham
If you are concerned about the food you buy and want to produce your own, this book is for you.
Many people think lack of land is the main problem.
That is not always true.
What You’ll Learn In This Book..
You do not need large land.
Not 10 acres.
Not 5.
Not even 1 acre.
You can farm on 1/4 acre
That small space can support crops, poultry, and livestock.
How to become self-sufficient
You can produce most of your food at home.
How to preserve and sell surplus
Extra production should never go to waste.
5. Glorious Beef by Pat La Frieda
Think about this for a moment.
What if your farm supplied top restaurants and supermarkets in your country?
That is the level this book shows.
It is a story of how a small family business grew into a multimillion-dollar company.
Here’s what You’ll Learn..
Farming is business
Decisions matter just as much as production.
How to grow a serious operation
You see what it takes to build something big.
Working with other farmers
Collaboration can help you scale.
Understanding product quality
Knowing what makes the best product (beef, meat, eggs or whatever) is part of the business.
After reading this, I started thinking differently about the quality of food that I eat,especially beef.
6. Invisible Giant by Brewster Kneen
Have you ever heard of Cargill?
It is one of the largest private companies in the world.
At one point, it had over 150,000 employees and massive revenue.
This book shows what it takes to build something like that.
Here’s What You’ll Get From It..
Understand scale.
Big companies grow through systems and time.
Applying the lessons on a small farm
You can still use these ideas even at a small level.
Think big
Growth starts with mindset.
You may not build something that large.
Still, the thinking can push you ahead of many farmers.
7. 40 Chances by Howard G Buffet,with Howard W Buffet, forwarded by Warren E Buffet
Yes, this is from the Buffett family.
Three generations connected to business and impact.
This book focuses on purpose.
What You’ll Learn..
You only have a limited number of seasons
Farming time is not endless.
About 40 to be exact. Hence the name 40 Chances.
Purpose matters
Farming is not just about money or status.
You need direction
Vision, mission, and values keep you going when things get hard.
Farming affects the world
Food production connects to hunger and global challenges.
This book helps you see farming in a bigger way.
These are the 7 books I wanted to share with you.
As you can see, farming is not just about farming.
There is business.
There is self-sufficiency.
There is purpose.
I will keep updating this list as I continue learning.
You only need one idea from a book to change your farm.
And you never know which book that is.
Before You Go
I am currently writing a book for farmers whose main theme is ‘Before You Start Your Farm’
If you’re reading this after the book is out, make sure you rt yourself a copy.
For now, I have created two simple guides:
If you want to start a profitable layer poultry farm, get this Free Guide.
If your chicks keep dying in the first month, get the free brooding guide.
Both are practical and easy to apply.
See you next Friday!