21 of the best leadership books you’ll ever read
Georgina Guthrie
September 17, 2025
Raise your hand if you’ve ever had a — shall we say — less than perfect manager. Perhaps you worked with someone who was too friendly, too cold, a poor listener, overly critical, and so on. They come in many forms, but most bad managers have something in common: they are (bafflingly) the most confident in their abilities. If you’ve ever wondered what separates the worst from the best, reading some of the best leadership books is a good place to start.
Here’s the good news: if you’ve ever found yourself questioning your own abilities as a leader, you’re probably one of the good ones. The best leaders are not only skilled at their job, but they’re also aware of their limitations and committed to bettering themselves for the benefit of their team. So how do you become a manager par excellence? It’s simple: learn.
John F. Kennedy once said, “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” Whether you’re taking your first step into a management role or you’re a seasoned CEO, here are some books to help you be the best leader you can be.
1. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey
When The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People came out back in 1989, it wasn’t marketed as a miracle cure for your career — but that’s more or less how a lot of people have treated it since. Stephen Covey talks about working and living in a way that’s grounded in integrity and purpose, and he’s pretty clear that those two things make it a lot easier to cope with change and see problems from a fresh angle. His “habits” aren’t complicated: get better at running your own life, learn to work well with other people, and keep improving bit by bit. It’s the kind of advice that’s managed to stick, which probably explains why more than 25 million copies have ended up in people’s hands.
Best for: people who want to get more done.
2. Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
If you’ve ever had team members clash, or you’re responsible for assembling a new team from scratch, this is the book for you. In Team of Rivals, Doris Goodwin describes how Abe Lincoln – considered one of the greatest leaders of all time – united his cabinet and the country to abolish slavery during a war. How? By being unafraid of conflict, and by surrounding himself with the very best people, despite them having wildly differing personalities. Being able to unite people is one of the most important skills you can have as a leader. If you can learn that, it’ll serve you – and your team – well.
Best for: people who want to be better at managing diverse individuals.
3. Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
If you ever feel stale at work or in your routine, then this New York Times bestseller is the book for you. Shonda Rhimes, the creator of Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, talks about how saying ‘YES’ for a year changed her life. A natural introvert, she used to hire publicists to avoid public appearances and had panic attacks before media interviews.
With three TV shows and three children at home, she often claimed to be too busy – but despite this being true, the real reason she didn’t attend events was that she was afraid. After being told by her sister that she never agrees to anything, Shonda stepped up to the challenge. The book chronicles her life after her year of saying ‘yes’ had begun. According to the Los Angeles Times, it’s “As fun to read as Rhimes’s TV series are to watch.”
Best for: those stuck in a rut.
4. Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman
Somewhere in the not-so-distant past, snappy thinking and confident (some might say overconfident) decisions became the gold standard for getting things done. Meanwhile, slower, more considered thinking got left behind. Thankfully, Nobel Prize-winner Daniel Kahneman stepped up to the stage with his book Thinking, Fast and Slow.
In it, he examines the two systems that affect how we think: System 1 (fast, emotional, intuitive) and System 2 (slow, logical, deliberate). He talks about how these two systems interact and delineates the cognitive biases that affect both modes. More than just a New York Times bestseller, this work went on to win numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Best for: people who want to fine-tune their thinking and embrace diversity.
5. What I Know For Sure, by Oprah Winfrey
Legendary talk show host, self-made billionaire, TV network owner, Harvard degree-holder, Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, Oscar-winning actress – phew. If there’s anyone who has anything worthwhile to say about success, it’s this lady.
In What I Know For Sure, Oprah compiles all the life lessons she’s shared in O, The Oprah Magazine’s popular column of the same name. It’s an inspirational, inspiring read packed with insight into how to be resilient and act with responsibility, clarity, and power. Perfect for when you need some guidance on how to be your very best self.
Best for: inspiring life and work advice.
6. Right Kind of Wrong by Amy Edmondsom
Best for: leaders who want to turn mistakes into momentum.
In Right Kind of Wrong, Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson cuts through the empty slogans about “embracing failure” to show what that really means — and when it’s a terrible idea. She makes the case that while some mistakes are simply careless and costly, others are a necessary part of discovery and innovation.
Drawing on examples from hospitals, laboratories, boardrooms, and factory floors, she explains how to recognise “intelligent failures” that expand knowledge, and how to build a culture where people feel safe to admit and examine them. The book’s real power lies in its practicality: Edmondson gives leaders a way to talk about failure without shame, to separate the avoidable from the valuable, and to turn setbacks into a source of progress.
7. In the Company of Women by Grace Bonney
Best for: people who need some inspiration.
Geared towards entrepreneurs and creatives, this New York Times bestseller is full of inspiring advice and tips for success from over 100 exceptionally influential women – including comedians, artists, media moguls, tattoo artists, and architects. The book is stuffed with practical tips, with everything from overcoming adversity to finding your creative groove.
“I want to rip out every page of this glorious book and hang them on my wall so that I can be surrounded by these incredible women all day long.” – Emma Straub, New York Times bestselling author of The Vacationers and Modern Lovers.
8. Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
Best for: managers who want to be more personable.
You’ve probably heard of emotional intelligence (EI) by now. For those unacquainted, people who have high EI tend to be empathetic, charismatic, and highly personable. As a manager, you can probably see why these skills are worth cultivating – and this is the groundbreaking book that started it all.
Daniel Goleman was the first to explain how a high IQ is by no means a guarantee of success, nor an indication of good leadership ability – which is, in fact, down to emotional intelligence. Goleman’s research combines research into psychology and neuroscience to offer insight into what he calls our ‘two minds’ – that’s the rational mind and the emotional – and how these interact to shape our professional, personal and physical wellbeing.
9. Thrive, by Arianna Huffington
Best for: people who struggle with their work/life balance.
Arianna Huffington, co-founder of the Huffington Post, was once getting by on a meagre four hours’ sleep a night. That ended abruptly: she collapsed from exhaustion, hitting her head hard enough to break her jaw. Thrive grew out of that moment — her realisation that the version of success she’d been chasing was unsustainable. In the book, she takes aim at the culture that prizes constant hustle and treats rest as a weakness.
She also speaks honestly about her own struggle to switch off. Rather than focus solely on career milestones, she writes about the value of compassion, wellbeing, and the small moments that make a life feel whole. Drawing on diverse research from psychology to sports science and sleep studies, she makes a strong case for slowing down before burnout unceremoniously (and catastrophically) does it for you.
10. Good to Great by Jim Collins
Best for: people who want to pull ahead of the competition.
The result of a five-year project, Collins research includes findings from a 21-person research team and over 2,000 pages of transcripts examining how some companies make the leap from good to great, and why others fail to make the cut.
Inside, he identifies the key characteristics of ‘elite’ companies, with a range of findings ranging from The Hedgehog Concept to The Flywheel and the Doom Loop. “Some of the key concepts discerned in the study,” comments Jim Collins, “fly in the face of our modern business culture and will, quite frankly, upset some people.” Intrigued? You should be.
11. Daring Greatly, by Brené Brown
Best for: people who are afraid to show vulnerability.
There’s a common misconception that leaders should be outwardly strong and all-knowing at all times. If that’s something you find daunting, then here’s a book for you.
Drawing from 12 years of research, professor, founder and CEO of The Daring Way, Brené Brown dispels “the cultural myth that vulnerability is weakness and argues that it is, in truth, our most accurate measure of courage.” Brown blends a mixture of academia with personal stories as she uncovers how empathy and creativity are all vital leadership attributes that both stem from vulnerability.
12. The Light We Carry, by Michelle Obama
Best for: leaders who want to stay steady during times of change.
In The Light We Carry, a follow-up to the wildly popular Becomming, Michelle Obama draws on moments both ordinary and extraordinary — from quietly eavesdropping on her daughter Sasha’s first White House playdate to navigating the relentless public scrutiny that came with being the first African American First Lady.
The book gathers lessons she’s learned about friendship, managing fear, silencing self-doubt, and holding steady when circumstances shift beneath you — alongside grappling with the constant need to defuse stereotypes without losing her voice. While it’s not a leadership manual, it offers a candid, often personal reflection on how to carry yourself through uncertainty, and how to keep your footing when the climb is steep and the expectations uneven.
13. The Promises of Giants, by John Amaechi OBE
Organisational psychologist and former NBA player John Amaechi calls on leaders to recognise the weight of their influence and use it well. His “giants” are the people whose presence and choices shape the culture around them — for better or worse.
The book blends personal reflection with sharp observations about how leadership really works, sometimes in unexpected ways. It’s a thoughtful, often candid look at what it means to lead with integrity when your decisions carry real consequences.
Best for: leaders looking to use their power responsibly.
14. Unleashed, by Frances Frei and Anne Morriss
Best for: leaders who want to empower, not micromanage.
Some leadership books tell you to dig deeper, double down, and polish your own strengths until you shine. Frances Frei and Anne Morriss aren’t buying it. Their view is simpler, but also harder: stop making leadership about you. In Unleashed, they argue that real influence comes from the ability to help other people thrive — and to create conditions where that success lasts, even when you’re not in the room.
They pull examples from ancient Rome, from tech start-ups, and from their own work with companies like Uber and Riot Games, mixing sharp advice with the kind of stories that stick. The focus is on trust, belonging, and the kind of steady encouragement that makes people want to do their best work. It’s a call to shift the spotlight, and a reminder that the real measure of a leader isn’t what you accomplish yourself, but what happens around you.
15. The Making of a Manager, by Julie Zhuo
Best for: new or newly promoted managers who want clear, modern advice.
Julie Zhuo, who rose to become Facebook’s VP of Product Design, remembers what it felt like to be handed her first management role — and all the uncertainty that came with it.
This book distills what she learned, from finding your footing with a new team to offering useful feedback and setting direction without micromanaging. She’s open about the mistakes she made and what she’d do differently, making this as much a companion for new managers as it is a guide.
16. Radical Candor, by Kim Scott
Balancing honesty with kindness is one of the trickiest parts of managing people, and it’s the problem Kim Scott tackles head-on. Drawing on her leadership experience at Google and Apple, she introduces a way of working that combines direct, clear feedback with genuine care for the people you work with.
Rather than relying on corporate platitudes, which irk employees and customers alike, she illustrates her approach with real stories from the front line. The book speaks to today’s workplace culture, where creating safety and speaking plainly are both critical — and where avoiding difficult conversations can do more harm than good.
Best for: leaders who want to give better feedback without losing empathy.
17. We Should All Be Millionaires, by Rachel Rodgers
Best for: leaders (especially women and marginalised people) ready to claim their worth.
Rachel Rodgers — entrepreneur, lawyer, and advocate for financial independence — wrote this book to challenge the idea that wealth is reserved for a select few. Speaking directly to women and people of colour, she mixes sharp humour with practical steps for building both income and confidence.
It’s part pep talk, part blueprint, filled with personal stories and strategies to sidestep the outdated rules that keep too many people underpaid and undervalued. Rodgers is clear: leading yourself well financially is just as important as leading others, and the two often go hand in hand.
18. Lead From the Outside, by Stacey Abrams
Best for: emerging leaders who’ve had to carve their own path.
Stacey Abrams has spent her career working from positions that outsiders aren’t supposed to reach — in politics, in law, and in advocacy. In this part-memoir, part-handbook, she shares how to navigate power structures that weren’t built with you in mind.
Abrams blends her own experiences with practical advice on shaping your leadership style, telling your story, and building influence without giving up your principles. It’s a grounded, motivating read for anyone who has ever been underestimated or overlooked, and who wants to turn that into a source of strength.
19. The AI Con, by Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna
Best for: leaders navigating tech hype and seeking ethical clarity
The influence of artificial intelligence isn’t just creeping into leadership — it’s shaping the environment in which leaders make decisions. In The AI Con, linguist Emily M. Bender and sociologist Alex Hanna, both known for their outspoken work on AI ethics, dismantle the myths tech companies use to justify extracting vast amounts of data and concentrating power in a few hands.
This is less about the algorithms themselves and more about the culture and business models driving them — and why leaders in every field should care. The authors make the case that ethical leadership today means asking hard questions about the systems we buy into, whether we work in technology or not. It’s a sharp, sometimes uncomfortable read, but it leaves you better equipped to tell the difference between genuine innovation and hype.
20. Blindspot, by Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald
Best for: leaders who want to lead fairly — and understand their own thinking better
What if you’re not as objective or open-minded as you think you are? What if you have the kinds of unconscious biases that influence your decisions without you realising? Buckle up, because it’s in us all. Psychologists Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald explore how these biases are formed, why they persist, and how they show up in day-to-day life, from hiring decisions to snap judgements in the street.
Drawing on decades of research, they explain how our “hidden mind” can undermine our conscious values, and why ignoring it can cause real harm. While grounded in science, the book’s tone is inviting rather than accusatory, encouraging readers to notice their own patterns and take steps to counteract them. For leaders, it’s a reminder that fairness is a practice that calls for ongoing attention.
21. Learning from Neurodivergent Leaders, by Dr. Nancy Doyle
Best for: neurodivergent leaders, or those who want to learn from the neurodivergent mind.
Not all leadership styles are built from the same mold, and Dr. Nancy Doyle makes the case that this is a strength. Drawing on the real-world experiences of neurodivergent (ND) professionals — including those with ADHD, autism, and dyslexia — she highlights ways of thinking and problem-solving that can bring fresh insight to teams and organisations.
Doyle challenges the idea that leadership needs to follow a fixed formula, instead showing how innate ND traits like intense focus, pattern-spotting, and unconventional approaches can actually be a huge boon. The book is as much about changing how we see leadership potential as it is about celebrating difference, with practical suggestions for leaders and workplaces ready to move beyond token inclusion.
Putting great ideas to work
The best leadership books can spark new ideas and give you the confidence to lead in ways that truly make a difference. But ideas alone won’t transform your team. You need the right tools to put them into practice. That’s where Nulab’s collaboration software comes in. From keeping projects on track to making teamwork feel effortless, it’s built to help you turn those big leadership insights into everyday wins. Check out Backlog for task management and bug tracking, or Cacoo for whiteboarding and more!
This post was originally published on June 17, 2020, and updated most recently on September 17, 2025.
