My favorite books for short-term rental owners by a former Airbnb employee

Why am I passionate about this?

Hi! I’m Danny Rusteen, and I live and breathe STRs. I’ve been hosting, co-hosting, and managing property since 2013. In 2017, I started living full-time in Airbnbs, that’s more than just a fun fact, it gives me a unique perspective that no other expert has. Maybe it’s why my calendar is full all year round. I see Airbnb as a tool for peace. I'm going to get philosophical for a moment. Airbnb creates connections that never otherwise would have existed. Instead of letting the TV tell you what country X thinks of country Y, it's better to find out from real people: hosts and the locals you interact with.


I wrote...

Profitable Properties: Airbnb Insider Secrets to Find, Optimize, Price, & Book Direct any Short-Term Rental Investment for Year-Round Occupancy

By Daniel Rusteen,

Book cover of Profitable Properties: Airbnb Insider Secrets to Find, Optimize, Price, & Book Direct any Short-Term Rental Investment for Year-Round Occupancy

What is my book about?

Written by a prior Airbnb employee, Superhost, guest of 2,000+ nights on Airbnb, and author of the best-seller Optimize YOUR Bnb, this is an all-in-one guide for new and existing short-term rental owners and real estate investors.

Other books talk about basics, but not ProPro. I am intimately familiar with Airbnb and teach you the details you need to optimize every aspect of your rental business to win in your market, year after year.

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The books I picked & why

Book cover of Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties

Daniel Rusteen Why did I love this book?

I finished it in just a few days as it’s a light read and only about 150-pages long. It is a great book to briefly introduce readers at a high level to locating markets, finding real estate agents, managing the listing remotely, and getting set up on Airbnb by creating a listing.

By Avery Carl,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From analyzing potential properties to effectively managing your listings, this book is your one-stop resource for making a profit with short-term rentals!

Airbnb, Vrbo, and other listing services have become massively popular in recent years―why not tap into the gold mine? Whether you’re new to real estate investing or you want to add a new strategy to your growing portfolio, vacation rentals can be an extremely lucrative way to add an extra income stream―but only if you acquire and manage your properties correctly.

Traditional rental properties are a great way to create wealth, but short-term rentals can bring in five…


Book cover of The Book Direct Playbook

Daniel Rusteen Why did I love this book?

This is a really well done book, I especially liked the section about attracting your ideal guest. The author seems genuinely interested in helping you succeed, being open to questions on his Instagram, which is incredible.

This book is a very good read if you want to do direct bookings.

By Mark Simpson,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Book Direct Playbook as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Get direct bookings for your Short Term Rental properties using powerful insights from one of the Top 20 Most Influential People in the Vacation Rental Industry - Keep reading!


Are you a rental property owner who can seem to get direct booking without relying on big-name platforms?

Are you tired of giving up a hefty percentage of your earnings to these said platforms?

Are you looking for a way to boost your direct bookings and get the full-sum profits you deserve?

You're not alone.


When Mark Simpson - renowned author, award-winning mentor, and proud Boostly founder - was tasked to…


Book cover of 30-Day Stay: A Real Estate Investor's Guide to Mastering the Medium-Term Rental

Daniel Rusteen Why did I love this book?

I found this book pretty straightforward and easy to digest.

This book is written by two authors that do a very good job of shaking your mind a bit and maybe push you into trying new strategies which you have to do and be comfortable at it in this ever-changing industry

By Zeona McIntyre, Sarah Weaver,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked 30-Day Stay as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Learn the medium-term rental strategy—all the benefits of investing in Airbnbs without the hassle of turnover or the risk of changing city regulations!

30-Day Stay is a thorough guide to finding and operating a medium-term rental (MTR). The concept is simple and profitable: Instead of fighting short-term rental regulations or sacrificing cash flow to long-term rentals, the host requires a month-long minimum stay in a furnished property and reaps massive profits.

With nearly thirty properties and decades of real estate investing experience between them, authors Zeona McIntyre and Sarah Weaver introduce a powerful yet flexible real estate asset class with…


Book cover of The Definitive Step-by-Step Guide to Making Money on Airbnb: Learn the Secrets for Getting Found More Often, Selling Your Space and Making More Money

Daniel Rusteen Why did I love this book?

There are some really juicy tips and recommendations hidden in this book. Like the recommendation above, this one is an easy read and the author seems to know a lot about Airbnb (unlike some of the most famous, so-called “experts”, out there).

If you are starting out, this is a very good first stop.

By Evian Gutman,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Definitive Step-by-Step Guide to Making Money on Airbnb as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Most Airbnb hosts possess a general understanding of the concept behind Airbnb: Making money by opening up their home to travelers looking for short-term rental accommodation.

But Airbnb hosts, both new and old, frequently need to overcome a number of common challenges and frustrations.

New hosts are often not clear on what they need to do, finding Airbnb harder than it was made out to be, or eager to get setup for success from the get-go.

Existing hosts are often not making as much money as they would like to, not getting found often enough, or having difficulty converting listing…


Book cover of The First-Time Manager

Daniel Rusteen Why did I love this book?

While this one is not about short term rentals or Airbnb, it does teach you a lot about managing, which you WILL have to, whether you like it or not.

This is a manual on how to be effective in your first management position and navigate the corporate environment, including politics.

By Jim McCormick,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The First-Time Manager as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

MORE THAN 500,000 COPIES SOLD!

The trusted management classic and go-to guide for anyone facing new responsibilities as a first-time manager.

Learn to conquer every challenge like a seasoned pro with the clear, candid advice in The First-Time Manager. For nearly four decades, this expert guide has brought newcomers up to speed on the realities of managing people.

The updated seventh edition delivers new information that helps you manage across generations, use online performance appraisal tools, persuade with stories, oversee remote employees, build a team dynamic, match a boss's style, and more.

The jump from star employee to new manager…


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By Joy Loverde,

Book cover of Who Will Take Care of Me When I'm Old?: Plan Now to Safeguard Your Health and Happiness in Old Age

Joy Loverde

New book alert!

What is my book about?

Everything you need to know to plan for your own safe, financially secure, healthy, and happy old age.

For those who have no support system in place, the thought of aging without help can be a frightening, isolating prospect. Whether you have friends and family ready and able to help you or not, growing old does not have to be an inevitable decline into helplessness. It is possible to maintain a good quality of life in your later years, but having a plan is essential. Who Will Take Care of Me When I'm Old? Equips readers with everything they need to prepare on their own:

Advice on the tough medical, financial, and housing decisions to come Real solutions to create a support network Questions about aging solo readers don't know to ask Customizable worksheets and checklists that help keep plans on course Guidance on new products, services, technology, and resources

Who Will Take Care of Me When I'm Old?: Plan Now to Safeguard Your Health and Happiness in Old Age

By Joy Loverde,

What is this book about?

For those who have no support system in place, the thought of aging without help can be a frightening, isolating prospect. Whether you have friends and family ready and able to help you or not, growing old does not have to be an inevitable decline into helplessness. It is possible to maintain a good quality of life in your later years, but having a plan is essential. WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF ME WHEN I'M OLD? equips readers with everything they need to prepare on their own:

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