Are you looking for the best leadership books?
The more knowledge you have, the more likely you can shine as a leader. That’s why it’s crucial to read the relevant books and expand your knowledge.
In this article, let’s see the 35 best books on leadership. From timeless classics to groundbreaking new releases, these books will keep you informed and inspired as a leader.
The 35 Best Leadership Books
Here are some of the best books on leadership that you can read.
These books are available on Amazon. So, if you want to get them, their respective links are given below each description. Alright?
So, let’s get started!
(Note: I earn a small commission when you make a purchase using these links at no extra cost to you.)
#1. Leading With Emotional Courage: How to Have Hard Conversations, Create Accountability, And Inspire Action On Your Most Important Work
By: Peter Bregman
Who’s it For: Leaders of all levels
Leading With Emotional Courage is a business book that gives practical advice on how to have difficult conversations, create accountability and inspire action in your team. Here you’ll learn the techniques on how to stay in control of your emotions and be more effective with communication. Once you read this book, you’ll have the courage to confront any kind of problem head-on and be a better leader.
#2. Rewired: The McKinsey Guide to Outcompeting in the Age of Digital and AI
By: Eric Lamarre, Kate Smaje, and Rodney Zemmel
Who’s it For: Leaders navigating the digital and AI age
Rewired is one of the latest leadership books that can help you succeed in this digital and AI age. It examines the changes that are taking place in the business world and how leaders can create a winning strategy to stay ahead of their competition. So, you will gain insight into the new technologies and principles that you can use to outcompete the rivals in your industry.
#3. Immunity to Change: How to Overcome It and Unlock the Potential in Yourself and Your Organization
By: Robert Kegan and Lisa Laskow Lahey
Who’s it For: Leaders of all levels
This book is all about understanding the unconscious patterns and habits that prevent us from making lasting changes. It provides a pathway for creating successful transformation by first recognizing our own vulnerability and then taking actionable steps to break down those barriers. This is one of the best leadership books that will help you get to the root of any problem and develop an approach that works for your organization.
#4. Radical Candor: Fully Revised & Updated Edition: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity
By: Kim Scott
Who’s it For: Leaders and aspiring managers
Radical Candor looks at how leaders can communicate with their teams in an open, honest way while still maintaining a level of respect. It provides you with advice on how to give tough feedback in a way that helps build relationships and not distance yourself from your employees. Also, this book will give you the tools to create a motivating and engaging workplace.
#5. Leadership Styles: How To Discover And Leverage Yours
By: Mark Murphy
Who’s it For: Leaders who want to leverage their style
This book by Mark Murphy provides a comprehensive overview of the diverse range of leadership styles in today’s workplace. With this guide, you can assess your leadership style and develop strategies to leverage it for maximum impact. This is one of the helpful books for leaders who are trying to maximize their effectiveness in the workplace.
#6. The Boss Club: 7 Winning Leadership Techniques Every Female Needs in Business and the Workplace. Conquer Gender Bias, Build Confidence, and Get the Respect You Deserve
By: Dahlia Callum
Who’s it For: Female Leaders
This is one of the best books on leadership that is designed specifically for women. The author Dahlia Callum provides you with the tools needed to thrive in a male-dominated business world and develop an impactful professional presence. Through various “winning” techniques discussed, you will learn how to be more effective, confident, and capable of inspiring others.
#7. The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations (J-B Leadership Challenge: Kouzes/Posner) 6th Edition
By: James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner
Who’s it For: Leaders of all levels looking to improve engagement, motivation, and productivity
This bestselling book gives actionable ideas for becoming an effective leader. It encourages readers to develop their leadership style and use it to create an environment in which people feel confident, energized, and willing to take initiative. With the tools provided in this book, leaders can make extraordinary things happen in their organizations.
#8. Seven Pillars of Servant Leadership: Practicing the Wisdom of Leading by Serving; Revised & Expanded Edition
By: James W. Sipe and Don M. Frick
Who’s it For: Those who want to be a servant leader
In this book, James W. Sipe and Don M. Frick discuss the seven pillars of servant leadership that are necessary for leading with purpose. They also explain how to practice these principles in real-life situations so that you can become a successful leader. By reading this book, you’ll learn how you can practice the wisdom of leading by serving.
#9. 7 Principles of Transformational Leadership: Create a Mindset of Passion, Innovation, and Growth (The Transformational Coach)
By: Hugh Blane
Who’s it For: Coaches, Executives, and Leaders
This book explores the power of transformational leadership. It provides seven core principles for achieving effective and lasting change such as creating a passion-driven mindset, fostering innovation, and inspiring growth. With this book, you can develop your skills as a leader and help others unlock their potential.
#10. Welcome to Management: How to Grow From Top Performer to Excellent Leader
By: Ryan Hawk
Who’s it For: New leaders and managers who want to learn how to lead effectively
Welcome to Management is the perfect resource for those looking to transition from an individual contributor role to a management role. This book contains invaluable advice from experienced managers and entrepreneurs, as well as practical exercises to help new leaders take the reins of their teams. With this book in hand, you will gain the confidence and skills to become an effective leader.
#11. Strengths Based Leadership: Great Leaders, Teams, and Why People Follow
By: Tom Rath and Barry Conchie
Who’s it For: Leaders interested in developing team strengths
This is one of the best leadership books that focuses on the power of using individual strengths to create high-performing teams. Here the authors provide actionable ideas to make the most out of your team’s potential. Through vivid examples and clear advice, this book helps leaders develop a strengths-based approach.
#12. Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ
By: Daniel Goleman
Who’s it For: Leaders of all skill levels
This book looks at the importance of emotional intelligence and how it impacts your leadership skills. It provides you with the tools to understand yourself and how your emotions affect others. By reading this book, you will learn how to create a working environment where feelings are valued and not scorned.
#13. The Twin Thieves: How Great Leaders Build Great Teams
By: Lucas Jadin and Steve Jones
Who’s it For: Leaders looking to create strong teams
The Twin Thieves is one of the best books for leaders looking to build amazing teams. Through compelling stories and data, the authors detail how great leaders bring out the best in their team members. Here you will learn how to foster trust, encourage collaboration, and develop positive working relationships with your team members.
#14. Servant Leadership in Action: How You Can Achieve Great Relationships and Results
By: Ken Blanchard and Renee Broadwell
Who’s it For: Managers, CEOs, and Leaders wanting to foster meaningful relationships with their team members
This book outlines the core principles of servant leadership such as empathy, stewardship, and commitment to growth. It offers you practical advice for developing an effective leadership style and provides strategies for creating a culture of trust, respect, and collaboration. It also includes inspiring stories of successful servant leaders who have achieved the greatest results by putting others first.
#15. The Emotionally Strong Leader: An Inside-Out Journey to Transformational Leadership
By: Carolyn Stern
Who’s it For: Leaders wanting to improve self-awareness and emotional intelligence
This is one of the best books for leaders wanting to develop their emotional intelligence. It outlines the importance of developing self-awareness, understanding how emotions drive behavior, and managing those emotions to become an effective leader. It also gives the necessary tools to help you recognize your own triggers and gain insight into how your emotions affect others.
#16. The World’s Most Powerful Leadership Principle: How to Become a Servant Leader
By: James C. Hunter
Who’s it For: Leaders wanting to adopt a servant leadership approach
This is one of the top leadership books for people who want to be a servant leader. Here James C. Hunter outlines the essential principles of servant leadership and offers practical advice for applying them in the workplace. This book gives an insightful look at how you can create a better workplace and foster stronger relationships with your team.
#17. Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.
By: Brené Brown
Who’s it For: Leaders who want to lead with courage
Dare to Lead by Brené Brown is an empowering guidebook that helps you break through barriers of fear and self-doubt. Here the author provides practical strategies for leaders on how to cultivate braver, more daring leadership. Through this book, you’ll learn how to be a responsible leader and create an environment that not only fosters growth but encourages others to take risks as well.
#18. Lead From The Heart: Transformational Leadership For The 21st Century
By: Mark C. Crowley
Who’s it For: Leaders wanting to lead with vision and purpose
This is an amazing guide to leadership excellence for the 21st century. It helps leaders develop a vision, find purpose, and create meaningful relationships with their team members. Here the author unpacks the principles of transformational leadership and provides practical advice on how to use them in any organizational setting. So, you will gain key insights into leading with authenticity and integrity.
#19. Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
By: Simon Sinek
Who’s it For: Leaders looking to inspire and motivate their teams
Start With Why is an inspiring guide to the power of purpose-driven leadership. Through captivating stories, the author outlines a revolutionary approach for leading with why, rather than what or how. He illustrates that when people are inspired and challenged to think differently, remarkable things happen. So, if you’re looking to build an engaged and enthusiastic team, this book is for you.
#20. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You
By: John C. Maxwell
Who’s it For: Leaders who want to increase their influence
This leadership book is a must-read for anyone looking to maximize their impact in the workplace. Here the author Maxwell outlines 21 timeless laws of leadership that can be applied to any organization or sector. Through practical advice and examples, you will learn how to cultivate an atmosphere of trust and respect within your team.
#21. Trust and Inspire: How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others
By: Stephen M.R. Covey, David Kasperson, McKinlee Covey, and Gary T. Judd
Who’s it For: Leaders who want to create an effective and trusting team
This book by Stephen M.R. Covey and his co-authors is a must-have for leaders looking to build trust in their teams. It offers actionable advice on how to create a positive team environment and inspire those around you. With some practical tips, you’ll learn how to be an exemplary leader who truly motivates team members to reach their highest potential.
#22. Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know
By: Adam Grant
Who’s it For: Leaders looking to confront their blind spots and think differently
Think Again by Adam Grant is one of the best leadership books out there. Here the author highlights the power of challenging your own beliefs rather than just accepting them and encourages leaders to experiment with new ideas. Through this book, you’ll gain a fresh perspective on how to make better decisions and become a more creative problem solver.
#23. The Dichotomy of Leadership: Balancing the Challenges of Extreme Ownership to Lead and Win
By: Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
Who’s it For: Leaders interested in developing an effective strategy
In this book, Jocko Willink and Leif Babin explore the duality of leadership. They discuss the importance of “Extreme Ownership” – the idea that a leader must be accountable for everything while staying focused on the mission. With this book, you will get powerful insights into how to balance the challenges of leadership and achieve success.
#24. Row the Boat: A Never-Give-Up Approach to Lead with Enthusiasm and Optimism and Improve Your Team and Culture
By: Jon Gordon and P.J. Fleck
Who’s it For: Leaders looking to cultivate an optimistic culture
This is essential reading for any leader who wants to drive their organization forward in the future! Here the authors explore the idea of “rowing the boat” – a never-give-up approach to leading with enthusiasm and optimism. Through this leadership book, you will learn how to create a culture that is based on collaboration, resilience, and positivity.
#25. Leadership: Theory and Practice
By: Peter Northouse
Who’s it For: Leaders seeking comprehensive leadership development
In this book, Peter Northouse outlines the fundamentals of leadership in a comprehensive yet accessible way. He also gives you an overview of the different theories and models of leadership with a special focus on how to apply them in real-world settings. This book will help you develop the knowledge and skills to become a successful leader.
#26. The Gift of Influence: Creating Life-Changing and Lasting Impact in Your Everyday Interactions
By: Tommy Spaulding
Who’s it For: Leaders who want to maximize their impact
In this book, the author Tommy Spaulding illustrates how the spirit of giving can bring people together in powerful ways. Also, he provides tips on how to build strong relationships with others by developing mutual respect and understanding. This is one of the best leadership books that will help you maximize your impact and create a lasting legacy.
#27. Unleash the Power of Storytelling: Win Hearts, Change Minds, Get Results
By: Rob Biesenbach
Who’s it For: Leaders looking to communicate effectively and influence people
Rob Biesenbach’s book focuses on the power of storytelling and how it can be used as an effective tool for communication. He provides tips on how to craft compelling stories that move people, win them over, and change their minds. Through this book, you will learn how to engage others with your stories, motivate them to take action, and truly make an impact.
#28. 12 Lessons in Business Leadership: Insights From the Championship Career of Tom Brady
By: Kevin Daum and Anne Mary Ciminelli
Who’s it For: Anyone looking to develop their leadership strategies
Using Tom Brady’s successful football career as a reference point, the authors provide valuable lessons in business leadership. Through 12 key takeaways from Brady’s journey, you will learn how to effectively execute strategies, cultivate team chemistry, and motivate your teams to reach their full potential. The book also provides techniques on how to overcome failure and develop resilience through difficult times.
#29. The 5 Roles of Leadership: Tools & best practices for personable and effective leaders
By: Wladislaw Jachtchenko
Who’s it For: Aspiring and experienced leaders who want to develop their skills
This book examines the five roles of leadership and provides a comprehensive toolkit for leaders to become more effective. Wladislaw Jachtchenko outlines the importance of each role and how they must be balanced to achieve success. Additionally, this book shares the best practices for leading teams and creating an environment of trust and respect.
#30. Leadership & Culture: Why Managers Fail and Leaders Prevail: The 5 Essential Leadership Skills for Creating a Culture of Belonging that Drives Performance and Loyalty Within Your Organization
By: John & Katie McCann
Who’s it For: Business leaders and managers seeking to create a culture of belonging
If you are in search of some new leadership books, then this one is a must-read! Here the authors provide an in-depth analysis of the essential leadership skills required to create a culture of belonging within an organization. With their practical advice, you will be able to build trust and loyalty among your teams as well as increase workplace productivity.
#31. Everyday People, Extraordinary Leadership: How to Make a Difference Regardless of Your Title, Role, or Authority
By: James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner
Who’s it For: Any leader who wants to exceed expectations
This book can help you use your unique skills and strengths to make a difference in your organization regardless of your title or authority. Through inspiring stories from ordinary people who made extraordinary contributions, you can learn how to take initiative and lead by example. The book also provides actionable advice for developing strong relationships and promoting collaboration among team members.
#32. Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t
By: Simon Sinek
Who’s it For: Leaders and managers of all levels
This is one of the best leadership books to develop a culture of trust and collaboration in your workplace. Through his examples, the author shows how this approach can transform your team and organization in powerful ways. So, you’ll learn how to create an atmosphere of trust, loyalty, and respect by making sure everyone feels valued and appreciated.
#33. Primal Leadership, With a New Preface by the Authors: Unleashing the Power of Emotional Intelligence
By: Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee
Who’s it For: Leaders at all levels
This book is all about the importance of understanding and using emotional intelligence to lead effectively. It provides a framework for fostering an environment where leaders can successfully reach out, motivate and inspire their people. Here you will learn how to build strong relationships with your team and create an atmosphere of trust, respect, and collaboration.
#34. The Power of Positive Leadership: How and Why Positive Leaders Transform Teams and Organizations and Change the World
By: Jon Gordon
Who’s it For: Leaders of all levels
This book gives a roadmap for leading with positivity. It shows how to create an environment where teams can work together by focusing on the strengths and talents of individuals and using them to their best advantage. Here you will learn how to be a champion for others, use constructive feedback to build trust, and practice positive reinforcement to inspire excellence within your team.
#35. ReWork: (Vermilion Life Essentials)
By: David Heinemeier Hansson and Jason Fried
Who’s it For: Leaders of startups and small businesses
This book shares an unconventional approach to productivity and management. It examines how traditional methods of working are outdated and how we can get more done by changing the way we think about work. Through this book, you can gain insight into how to create an environment of innovation and productivity.
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Final Words
Whether you’re a newly appointed leader or an experienced one looking to sharpen your skills, the above leadership books can give you valuable insights. Therefore, you’ll have all the information and guidance necessary to become an effective leader. Happy reading!
FAQ: Leadership Books
You might have these questions in mind.
What are the best leadership books for new leaders?
If you are a new leader, you can read Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Welcome to Management by Ryan Hawk. These books help you understand the basics of leadership and offer guidance on how to be a successful leader.
What are the best books for women leaders?
For women leaders, we recommend The Boss Club by Dahlia Callum and Dare to Lead by Brené Brown. These books provide invaluable insights into the challenges faced by female leaders and help them overcome these obstacles.
Are there any books on leadership styles?
Yes! You can start with Leadership Styles by Mark Murphy for the basics.
If you want to be a transformational leader, you can read Lead From The Heart by Mark C. Crowley.
Likewise, if you want to be a servant leader, you can read The World’s Most Powerful Leadership Principle by James C. Hunter.