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The 25 books startups and founders bought most in the first half of 2026, according to Brex spend data
Summary by The El Paso Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Stacker , KVIA ABC-7
· July 24, 2026
· 6 min read
If founder mode says the pure people manager is finished, that means the founder has to build the thing and negotiate the deal, close the skeptical buyer, deliver the feedback nobody wants to give, and more. That’s a lot to learn. So, how are founders doing it? They’re hitting the bookstore. In t...
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Summary created by The El Paso Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Stacker, KVIA ABC-7 Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 24, 2026 Indexed here Jul 24, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway In the first half of 2026, a biography of Alex Karp, the cofounder and CEO of Palantir, tops the list, followed by a wave of books about the work founders won’t hand off.
Why this matters in The El Paso
In El Paso, where entrepreneurs and small business owners are vital to the local economy, the reading habits of founders and startup leaders can offer valuable insights. The fact that biographies of successful founders, such as Alex Karp, are topping the list of most-purchased books suggests that El Paso's own startup community may be looking for guidance on how to build and lead their own companies. As the city continues to grow and develop its business landscape, it's likely that local founders will be drawn to these same books, seeking to learn from the experiences of others who have successfully navigated the challenges of entrepreneurship. This trend could also have implications for local libraries and bookstores, which may see increased demand for these types of books, and for organizations that support startups and small businesses, which may want to incorporate these titles into their own programming and resources.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: library ·
Published: July 24, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 6 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? If founder mode says the pure people manager is finished, that means the founder has to build the thing and negotiate the deal, close the skeptical buyer, deliver the feedback nobody wants to give, and more. That’s a lot to learn. So, how are founders doing it? They’re hitting the bookstore. In t...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 24, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Stacker at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more library coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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