Books Recommended by Coaches

The books most recommended by coaches, drawn from their real public recommendations.

Lane KiffinMel RobbinsTony RobbinsSteve KerrJohn CalipariBuzz WilliamsEric Musselman
38 experts · 24 most-recommended books · Updated on June 6, 2026
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Books coaches recommend most

  1. The Competitive Buddha: How to Up Your Game in Sports, Leadership and Life (Book on Buddhism, Sports Book, Guide for Self-Improvement)
    The Competitive Buddha: How to Up Your Game in Sports, Leadership and Life (Book on Buddhism, Sports Book, Guide for Self-Improvement)
    Dr. Jerry Lynch, Steve Kerr
    Recommended by Steve Kerr, Phil Jackson +1 more
  2. The Singularity Is Nearer: When We Merge with AI
    The Singularity Is Nearer: When We Merge with AI
    Ray Kurzweil
    Recommended by Tony Robbins, Dan Sullivan
  3. Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose
    Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose
    Tony Hsieh
    Recommended by Marshall Goldsmith, Stuart Mcmillan
  4. Imagine It Forward: Courage, Creativity, and the Power of Change
    Imagine It Forward: Courage, Creativity, and the Power of Change
    Beth Comstock, Tahl Raz
    Recommended by Ali Brown, Sree Sreenivasan
  5. The Sales Development Playbook: Build Repeatable Pipeline and Accelerate Growth with Inside Sales
    The Sales Development Playbook: Build Repeatable Pipeline and Accelerate Growth with Inside Sales
    Trish Bertuzzi
    Recommended by Lori Richardson, Alice Kemper
  6. Hesselbein on Leadership
    Hesselbein on Leadership
    Frances Hesselbein, Jim Collins
    Recommended by Marshall Goldsmith, Lolly Daskal
  7. The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations (J-B Leadership Challenge: Kouzes/Posner)
    The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations (J-B Leadership Challenge: Kouzes/Posner)
    James M. Kouzes, Barry Z. Posner
    Recommended by Marshall Goldsmith, John C. Maxwell
  8. AS A MAN THINKETH (GPS Guides to Life)
    AS A MAN THINKETH (GPS Guides to Life)
    Allen
    Recommended by Tony Robbins, John C. Maxwell
  9. Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think (Exponential Technology Series)
    Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think (Exponential Technology Series)
    Peter H. Diamandis, Steven Kotler
    Recommended by Tony Robbins, Dan Sullivan
  10. Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable (Tim Grover Winning Series)
    Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable (Tim Grover Winning Series)
    Tim S. Grover, Shari Wenk
    Recommended by Pat Riley, Mike Krzyzewski
  11. The Book of Mistakes: 9 Secrets to Creating a Successful Future
    The Book of Mistakes: 9 Secrets to Creating a Successful Future
    Skip Prichard
    Recommended by Marshall Goldsmith, Irene Becker
  12. Think and Grow Rich
    Think and Grow Rich
    Napoleon Hill
    Recommended by Tony Robbins, John C. Maxwell
  13. Never Go With Your Gut: How Pioneering Leaders Make the Best Decisions and Avoid Business Disasters (Avoid Terrible Advice, Cognitive Biases, and Poor Decisions)
    Never Go With Your Gut: How Pioneering Leaders Make the Best Decisions and Avoid Business Disasters (Avoid Terrible Advice, Cognitive Biases, and Poor Decisions)
    Gleb Tsipursky PhD, Howard J. Ross
    Recommended by Marshall Goldsmith, Gordon Tredgold
  14. The Strategy Legacy: How to Future-Proof a Business and Leave Your Mark
    The Strategy Legacy: How to Future-Proof a Business and Leave Your Mark
    Alex Brueckmann
    Recommended by Marshall Goldsmith, Sanyin Siang
  15. Man's Search for Meaning
    Man's Search for Meaning
    Viktor E. Frankl, William J. Winslade, Harold S. Kushner
    Recommended by Tony Robbins, Lolly Daskal
  16. Promotions Are So Yesterday: Redefine Career Development. Help Employees Thrive.
    Promotions Are So Yesterday: Redefine Career Development. Help Employees Thrive.
    Julie Winkle Giulioni
    Recommended by Marshall Goldsmith, Michael Bungay Stanier
  17. Radical Confidence: 10 No-BS Lessons on Becoming the Hero of Your Own Life
    Radical Confidence: 10 No-BS Lessons on Becoming the Hero of Your Own Life
    Lisa Bilyeu
    Recommended by Mel Robbins, Martha Beck
  18. Be Extraordinary: The Greatness Guide Book Two: 101 More Insights to Get You to World Class: Bk. 2
    Be Extraordinary: The Greatness Guide Book Two: 101 More Insights to Get You to World Class: Bk. 2
    Robin Sharma
    Recommended by Felicia Mabuzasuttle
  19. A Class Act: Life as a working-class man in a middle-class world
    A Class Act: Life as a working-class man in a middle-class world
    Rob Beckett
    Recommended by Michael Beale
  20. The Egoscue Method of Health Through Motion: A Revolutionary Program That Lets You Rediscover the Body's Power To Protect and Rejuvenate Itself
    The Egoscue Method of Health Through Motion: A Revolutionary Program That Lets You Rediscover the Body's Power To Protect and Rejuvenate Itself
    Pete Egoscue, Roger Gittines
    Recommended by Tony Robbins
  21. Leaders: Strategies for Taking Charge
    Leaders: Strategies for Taking Charge
    Warren G. Bennis
    Recommended by John C. Maxwell
  22. Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth
    Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth
    Richard J. Foster
    Recommended by John C. Maxwell
  23. The Screwtape Letters (The C.S. Lewis Signature Classics)
    The Screwtape Letters (The C.S. Lewis Signature Classics)
    C. S. Lewis
    Recommended by John C. Maxwell
  24. Ideas: A History of Thought and Invention, from Fire to Freud
    Ideas: A History of Thought and Invention, from Fire to Freud
    Peter Watson
    Recommended by Dan Sullivan

The coaches

Lane Kiffin
Lane Kiffin
Head Football Coach at LSU
3 book recommendations
Dear William: A Father's Memoir of Addiction, Recovery, Love, and LossThe Change Agent: How a Former College QB Sentenced to Life in Prison Transformed His WorldThe Coffee Bean for Kids: A Simple Lesson to Create Positive Change (Jon Gordon)
Mel Robbins
Mel Robbins
Author and Host of The Mel Robbins Podcast
7 book recommendations
It's About Damn Time: How to Turn Being Underestimated into Your Greatest AdvantageRadical Confidence: 10 No-BS Lessons on Becoming the Hero of Your Own LifeThe Greatness Mindset: Unlock the Power of Your Mind and Live Your Best Life Today
Tony Robbins
Tony Robbins
Life Coach, Author, and Motivational Speaker
46 book recommendations
Eat to Beat Your Diet: Burn Fat, Heal Your Metabolism, and Live LongerRecovery: Freedom from Our AddictionsBe Your Future Self Now: The Science of Intentional Transformation
Steve Kerr
Steve Kerr
Head Coach of the Golden State Warriors
3 book recommendations
Begin Again: James Baldwin's America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our OwnHow Democracies DieThe Competitive Buddha: How to Up Your Game in Sports, Leadership and Life (Book on Buddhism, Sports Book, Guide for Self-Improvement)
John Calipari
John Calipari
Official Twitter account of Kentucky head men's basketball coach John Calipari.
2 book recommendations
Playing Defense Against the Inner Man: My Future Will Not Be Controlled By the Wrong Things, I'm Taking Back Control of MeThe 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth: Live Them and Reach Your Potential
PR
Pat Riley
Former Kentucky Wildcat, Five-Time NBA Champion Head Coach, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, and Current Team President of the Miami Heat
4 book recommendations
Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable (Tim Grover Winning Series)When the Game Was OursSuccess Is the Only Option: The Art of Coaching Extreme Talent
PJ
Phil Jackson
Head Coach of NBA Championship Bulls and Lakers
3 book recommendations
The Competitive Buddha: How to Up Your Game in Sports, Leadership and Life (Book on Buddhism, Sports Book, Guide for Self-Improvement)The Mamba Mentality: How I PlayRed Holzman: The Life and Legacy of a Hall of Fame Basketball Coach
Buzz Williams
Buzz Williams
Tweets by @AggieMBK Head Coach (& floor sweeper) Buzz Williams & my wife Corey (^CW) FB/Instagram: TeamCoachBuzz
2 book recommendations
Discipline Is Destiny: The Power of Self-Control (The Stoic Virtues Series)Never Settle: Sports, Family, and the American Soul
Eric Musselman
Eric Musselman
Head Coach, University of Nevada Men's Basketball
3 book recommendations
Win In The Dark: Some think you shine under the bright lights, the bright lights only reveal your work in the darkLoose Balls: Short, Wild Life of the American Basketball AssociationGridiron Genius: A Master Class in Winning Championships and Building Dynasties in the NFL
MK
Mike Krzyzewski
Men's Basketball Head Coach, Duke University
4 book recommendations
Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable (Tim Grover Winning Series)Coach K: The Rise and Reign of Mike KrzyzewskiI Came As a Shadow: An Autobiography
BS
Bob Stoops
Head Football Coach, University of Oklahoma
2 book recommendations
Slobberknocker: My Life in WrestlingThe Perfect Pass: American Genius and the Reinvention of Football
Stan Van Gundy
Stan Van Gundy
Head Coach of the New Orleans Pelicans
2 book recommendations
Tuff Juice: My Journey from the Streets to the NBAPrinciples: Life and Work

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