My Favorite 110 Book Recommendations As Of February 2025

My Top 110 Book Recommendations for Leaders

Running a business is hard work. Finding books that actually help shouldn’t be. I pulled together this list to save you time and point you to book titles with real, practical value—books you can read on a plane, mark up, and put to work on Monday.

What’s inside (plain and simple)

• Leadership & Execution: how to set clear expectations, drive accountability, and raise the bar without burning people out.

• Strategy & Decision-Making: tools to make sharper calls, price and position better, and stay one step ahead.

• Habits, Focus & Productivity: ways to protect your time, keep the main thing the main thing, and get more done with less noise.

• People, Culture & Communication: hiring, coaching, tough conversations, and building a place where good people want to stay.

• Broader Thinking: psychology, philosophy, and big-idea books that sharpen judgment and widen your lens.

A few authors you’ll see here

Peter Drucker, Jim Collins, Stephen R. Covey, Patrick Lencioni, Daniel Kahneman, Annie Duke, Adam Grant, Carol Dweck, Angela Duckworth, Atul Gawande, Cal Newport, Ray Dalio, Amy Edmondson, Greg McKeown, Chip & Dan Heath, Daniel Pink, Brené Brown, Michael Watkins, Nassim Taleb, Morgan Housel, and Roger Martin.

Why I built this list

Owners and senior leaders don’t need another bloated “best books” article. You need a trustworthy shortlist. Everything here earned its spot because it’s clear, useful, and repeatable. If a book can’t help you make a better decision, lead a better meeting, or run a tighter operation, it’s not on this list.

How to use this guide (my recommended approach)

1. Start with your biggest constraint. Are you struggling with execution, people, or strategy? Go straight to that section.

2. Read for application, not completion. One idea implemented beats five books on a shelf.

3. Run a 30-day experiment. After each book, share your top five takeaways with your team and test one change.

4. Review and repeat. What worked? What didn’t? Adjust and keep going. Momentum compounds.

Quick starting points

• Growing fast, standards slipping? Hit Leadership & Execution to reset roles, rhythms, and accountability.

• Market shifting or margins tight? Go to Strategy & Decision-Making to sharpen positioning and pricing.

• Swamped and reactive? Read Habits & Productivity to reclaim time and protect deep work.

• Culture is “nice” but fuzzy? Try People & Communication to turn good intentions into clear agreements.

Three simple reading plans

• Fast Start (2 weeks): One leadership book + one execution book. Share 5 takeaways; assign 1 action per takeaway.

• Quarterly Deep Dive (12 weeks): One book from each category. Monthly one-page brief to your team.

• Team Track: Buy 5 copies of one title, run a 60-minute discussion, and pilot a single change for 30 days.

Make it a habit (so it actually sticks)

• Block 20 minutes a day on your calendar for reading—protect it.

• Keep a running “Try Next” list of quick experiments inspired by what you read.

• Every 30 days, ask: What will we start, stop, and sustain? Then commit.

What makes these books different

• Action over theory. You can use the ideas this week.

• Clarity over jargon. Plain language, real examples, and step-by-step tools.

• Breadth with focus. Proven classics plus newer titles that match today’s realities.

For your team

• Hand a manager one book that targets their next step.

• Schedule a short “book huddle” once a month—15 minutes, one key idea, one action.

• Celebrate small wins when ideas turn into better results.

FAQ

• Do I need to read all 110? No. Start with one book that solves today’s biggest problem.
• Print or digital? Whatever you’ll finish. Consistency beats format.
• Is this only for CEOs? It’s for owners, executives, and up-and-coming leaders who want to level up fast.

Call to Action

• Browse the full list by category: Leadership & Execution, Strategy & Decision-Making, Habits & Productivity, People & Communication, Broader Thinking.

• Download the PDF for offline reading and easy sharing with your team.