Best Leadership Books Recommended by Leaders

The most-recommended leadership books, ranked by how many experts endorse each one — plus the people behind the picks.

Rick RossGreg SankeyMarshall GoldsmithKen BlanchardMark HertlingDan RockwellTodd Nesloney
30 experts · 24 most-recommended books · Updated on June 6, 2026
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Most-recommended leadership books

  1. 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 Jon Gordon, Marshall Goldsmith +2 more
  2. 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 Amy Edmondson, Marshall Goldsmith +1 more
  3. How Women Rise
    How Women Rise
    Sally Helgesen
    Recommended by Frances Hesselbein, Sanyin Siang +1 more
  4. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
    Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
    David Allen, James Fallows
    Recommended by Marshall Goldsmith, Frances Hesselbein
  5. The Happiness Equation: Want Nothing + Do Anything = Have Everything
    The Happiness Equation: Want Nothing + Do Anything = Have Everything
    Neil Pasricha
    Recommended by Marshall Goldsmith, Ken Blanchard
  6. The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever
    The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever
    Michael Bungay Stanier
    Recommended by Dan Rockwell, Susan Mazza
  7. Hesselbein on Leadership
    Hesselbein on Leadership
    Frances Hesselbein, Jim Collins
    Recommended by Marshall Goldsmith, Lolly Daskal
  8. 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, Ken Blanchard
  9. Primal Leadership, With a New Preface by the Authors: Unleashing the Power of Emotional Intelligence
    Primal Leadership, With a New Preface by the Authors: Unleashing the Power of Emotional Intelligence
    Daniel Goleman, Richard E. Boyatzis, Annie McKee
    Recommended by David Gergen, Martin Seligman
  10. Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done
    Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done
    Jon Acuff
    Recommended by Ken Blanchard, Brad Lomenick
  11. Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products
    Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products
    Nir Eyal, Ryan Hoover
    Recommended by Mark Hertling, Ian Cassel
  12. 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
  13. Marathon War: Leadership in Combat in Afghanistan
    Marathon War: Leadership in Combat in Afghanistan
    Jeffrey Schloesser Major General US Army Retired
    Recommended by John Campbell, Stanley McChrystal
  14. The Latte Factor: Why You Don't Have to Be Rich to Live Rich
    The Latte Factor: Why You Don't Have to Be Rich to Live Rich
    David Bach, John David Mann
    Recommended by Jon Gordon, Ken Blanchard
  15. Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence
    Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence
    Daniel Goleman
    Recommended by Dan Rockwell
  16. Great by Choice: Uncertainty, Chaos, and Luck--Why Some Thrive Despite Them All (Good to Great, 5)
    Great by Choice: Uncertainty, Chaos, and Luck--Why Some Thrive Despite Them All (Good to Great, 5)
    Jim Collins, Morten T. Hansen
    Recommended by Dan Rockwell
  17. The Success Principles(TM) - 10th Anniversary Edition: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
    The Success Principles(TM) - 10th Anniversary Edition: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
    Jack Canfield, Janet Switzer
    Recommended by Ken Blanchard
  18. The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done
    The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done
    Peter F. Drucker, Zachary First, Jim Collins
    Recommended by Lolly Daskal
  19. Multipliers, Revised and Updated: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter
    Multipliers, Revised and Updated: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter
    Liz Wiseman
    Recommended by Tanveer Naseer
  20. The Great Halifax Explosion: A World War I Story of Treachery, Tragedy, and Extraordinary Heroism
    The Great Halifax Explosion: A World War I Story of Treachery, Tragedy, and Extraordinary Heroism
    John U. Bacon
    Recommended by John Baldoni
  21. New Kid: A Newbery Award Winner
    New Kid: A Newbery Award Winner
    Jerry Craft
    Recommended by Todd Nesloney
  22. The Cool Bean (The Food Group)
    The Cool Bean (The Food Group)
    Jory John, Pete Oswald
    Recommended by Todd Nesloney
  23. Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine
    Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine
    David Petraeus, Andrew Roberts
    Recommended by Admiral William McRaven
  24. Pitch Anything: An Innovative Method for Presenting, Persuading, and Winning the Deal
    Pitch Anything: An Innovative Method for Presenting, Persuading, and Winning the Deal
    KLAFF
    Recommended by Alice Kemper

Leadership experts

Rick Ross
Rick Ross
CEO, People-centric Innovation, Technology, Digital-Age Leadership, Design
2 book recommendations
The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful GroupsThe Family Office: A Comprehensive Guide for Advisers, Practitioners, and Students (Heilbrunn Center for Graham & Dodd Investing Series)
DG
David Gergen
Professor of Public Service and Director, Center for Public Leadership, John F. Kennedy School, Harvard University
3 book recommendations
Speak with Impact: How to Command the Room and Influence OthersPrimal Leadership, With a New Preface by the Authors: Unleashing the Power of Emotional IntelligenceNegotiating the Nonnegotiable: How to Resolve Your Most Emotionally Charged Conflicts
MS
Martin Seligman
Fox Leadership Professor of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania
3 book recommendations
Primal Leadership, With a New Preface by the Authors: Unleashing the Power of Emotional IntelligenceWhy Buddhism is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and EnlightenmentLearned Hopefulness: The Power of Positivity to Overcome Depression
Greg Sankey
Greg Sankey
Husband. Dad of two daughters. Commissioner of the Southeastern Conference.
3 book recommendations
Never Settle: Sports, Family, and the American SoulThe Life You've Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People (Expanded and Adapted for Small Groups)Shackleton's Way: Leadership Lessons from the Great Antarctic Explorer
LL
Lawrence Lessig
Roy L. Furman Professor of Law and Leadership, Harvard University
2 book recommendations
Chokepoint Capitalism: How Big Tech and Big Content Captured Creative Labor Markets and How We'll Win Them BackA History of Intellectual Property in 50 Objects
JC
John Campbell
General, US Army, (Retired), Former Army Vice Chief of Staff and Former Commander US and NATO Forces in Afghanistan
2 book recommendations
Complete Casting Handbook: Metal Casting Processes, Metallurgy, Techniques and DesignMarathon War: Leadership in Combat in Afghanistan
AE
Amy Edmondson
Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management, Harvard Business School; author, The Fearless Organization
7 book recommendations
Never Search Alone: The Job Seeker's PlaybookNever Go With Your Gut: How Pioneering Leaders Make the Best Decisions and Avoid Business Disasters (Avoid Terrible Advice, Cognitive Biases, and Poor Decisions)Remote Works: Managing for Freedom, Flexibility, and Focus
JG
Jon Gordon
Bestselling author of The Power of Positive Leadership
3 book recommendations
The Latte Factor: Why You Don't Have to Be Rich to Live RichRapture: Fifteen Teams, Four Countries, One NBA Championship, and How to Find a Way to Win -- Damn Near AnywhereThe Book of Mistakes: 9 Secrets to Creating a Successful Future
MY
Muhammad Yunus
2006 Nobel Peace Laureate, Chair, Yunus Centre
3 book recommendations
Social Startup Success: How the Best Nonprofits Launch, Scale Up, and Make a DifferenceIntroduction to Social EntrepreneurshipSocial Entrepreneurship: Building Impact Step by Step
AW
Admiral William McRaven
US Navy (Ret.); Former Commander of US Special Operations Command and the Counter-Terrorist Task Force that brought Osama bin Laden to justice; Author of the best sellers Make Your Bed, Sea Stories, and The Hero Code
2 book recommendations
The Daughters of Kobani: A Story of Rebellion, Courage, and JusticeConflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine
Marshall Goldsmith
Marshall Goldsmith
Executive Coach and Author
24 book recommendations
Sales Leadership: The Essential Leadership Framework to Coach Sales Champions, Inspire Excellence, and Exceed Your Business GoalsNever Go With Your Gut: How Pioneering Leaders Make the Best Decisions and Avoid Business Disasters (Avoid Terrible Advice, Cognitive Biases, and Poor Decisions)Leading From Anywhere: The Essential Guide to Managing Remote Teams
Ken Blanchard
Ken Blanchard
Co-Founder & Chief Spiritual Officer of The Ken Blanchard Companies
16 book recommendations
Monday Morning Leadership: 8 Mentoring Sessions You Can't Afford to MissRoger Dawson's Secrets Of Power NegotiatingThe Sales Manager's Guide to Greatness: Ten Essential Strategies for Leading Your Team to the Top

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