10 Best Books About Leadership

Each book listed below has stood the test of time, been highly recommended by experts, and is available for further exploration whenever you seek inspiration in your leadership journey - or if you're simply curious about how things work on that side of business!

1. Start with Why — Simon Sinek

Explores how great leaders inspire action by leading with purpose. His “Golden Circle” framework helps organisations clarify why they do what they do, shaping culture from the inside out.

2. Radical Candor — Kim Scott

A practical guide for giving and receiving feedback that balances empathy with directness, essential for modern managers.

3. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team  — Patrick Lencioni

A narrative-based model that details common pitfalls in team dynamics—and how leaders can cure them. Even used by NFL coaching staffs for team building.

4. The Leadership Challenge — Kouzes & Posner

Based on decades of research and surveys, it outlines five practices of exemplary leadership and remains a foundational textbook for leadership education programmes.

5. Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter — Liz Wiseman

Describes the difference between leaders who amplify talent and those who unintentionally diminish it, with practical behaviours for amplifying impact.

6. Good to Great — Jim Collins

Collins examines what separates enduring, exceptional companies from good ones, introducing models like the “hedgehog concept” and the “flywheel effect.”

7. Dare to Lead — Brené Brown

A deep dive into leading with courage, vulnerability, and empathy—critical for creating psychologically safe organisations.

8.  Leaders Eat Last — Simon Sinek

Explores how true leadership prioritises the needs of the team and builds cultures rooted in trust and loyalty.

9. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership — John C. Maxwell

Offers proven principles, from the “Law of Influence” to the “Law of Legacy,” that leaders at any level can implement.

10.  High Output Management — Andy Grove

Former Intel CEO Grove shares his wartime-proven management models for decision-making, performance evaluation, and operational leadership.

A leader’s journey begins with self-education, and reading acts as a great catalyst. Whether your focus is on strategy, empathy, execution, or developing culture, these books provide various perspectives on leadership. Begin with one book and let your curiosity—and the challenges that come with it—lead you to the next.