Books About Leadership

Looking to round out a syllabus for a government or business class? Need inspiration and advice on how to lead with integrity, empathy, and bravery? Read on to discover analyses and discussion topics on titles focusing on leadership, self-help, and management.

Publication year 1542

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: War, Society: Nation, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags History: World, Latin American Literature, Christian literature, Creative Nonfiction, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Race / Racism, Renaissance

The Chronicle of the Narváez Expedition by Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca was originally written in 1542, with a reprint in 1555. The chronicle follows Cabeza de Vaca’s memories of his survival after the expedition (led by Pánfilo de Narváez) failed and broke apart, and his subsequent peregrinations through the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. His chronicle stands as an important primary document of the age of the conquistadores. Of particular importance are Cabeza... Read Chronicle of the Narvaez Expedition Summary


Publication year 1997

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management, Science / Nature


Publication year 2002

Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Language, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Teams

Tags Self Help, Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management, Relationships, Psychology, Psychology

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When the Stakes Are High (2002) was written by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Al Switzler, and Ron McMillan. It has become a cornerstone of the field of interpersonal communication and self-improvement, offering insights into the dynamics that govern our most vital conversations. Both Kerry Patterson and Joseph Grenny are leading authorities on organizational change and have advised some of the world’s largest organizations. Al Switzler is a renowned speaker and... Read Crucial Conversations Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Language

Tags Psychology, Religion / Spirituality, Crime / Legal, Sociology, History: World, Psychology


Publication year 2018

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Relationships: Teams

Tags Self Help, Leadership/Organization/Management, Business / Economics, Psychology, Education, Education, Psychology


Publication year 2013

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags Psychology, Science / Nature, Business / Economics, Sociology, History: World, Psychology, Self Help

Malcolm Gladwell’s 2013 book David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants is an investigation of the relationship—often distorted, in Gladwell’s view—between underdogs and giants. Taken from the Biblical account of David and Goliath, underdogs are cast as those battling (and overcoming) seemingly overwhelming odds, and giants are their adversaries. David and Goliath was a bestseller, but some critics and scholars found Gladwell’s conclusions unsatisfying and the stories he draws from unsubstantiated... Read David And Goliath Summary


Publication year 1999

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Language, Self Discovery

Tags Business / Economics, Self Help, Psychology, Relationships, Philosophy, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology


Publication year 2009

Genre Book, Fiction

Themes Society: Economics, Society: Community, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Psychology, Self Help, Business / Economics


Publication year 2023

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Business / Economics, Science / Nature, Leadership/Organization/Management, History: World, Biography


Publication year 2015

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: The Future, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Science / Nature, Business / Economics, Biography


Publication year 2017

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality

Tags Politics / Government, Self Help, Gender / Feminism, Philosophy, Leadership/Organization/Management, Social Justice, Philosophy, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 1995

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Education

Tags Self Help, Psychology, Leadership/Organization/Management, Science / Nature, Business / Economics, Relationships, Psychology

In Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, Daniel Goleman discusses how The Components of Emotional Intelligence, like self-awareness, empathy, and social skills, shape an individual’s life. He explores key themes, such as The Impact of Emotional Intelligence on Personal and Professional Success, The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Traditional IQ, and Emotional Intelligence Affecting Mental Health and Interpersonal Relationships. This guide refers to the 1995 Bantam Books hardcover edition. Content Warning: The... Read Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ Summary


Publication year 1959

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Tags Action / Adventure, History: World, Science / Nature, Travel Literature, Biography

Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage is a 1959 work of historical nonfiction by journalist and writer Alfred Lansing. The book describes explorer Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 overland expedition across Antarctica; the mission failed when his ship, the Endurance, became trapped in ice, but Shackleton and all of his crew were able to survive and escape against long odds. Lansing researched the book extensively, drawing on diaries kept by crewmembers as well as interviews with survivors. The work... Read Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage Summary


Publication year 2011

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Self Discovery

Tags Business / Economics, Self Help, Psychology, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy


Publication year 2015

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Military / War, Business / Economics, Self Help, War On Terrorism / Iraq War, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology, Psychology

In the 2015 military and business book Extreme Ownership: How US Navy SEALs Lead and Win, two of the most highly decorated US Navy SEALs of the Iraq War describe the lessons of leadership learned during combat and how those lessons apply to companies and organizations. Authors Jocko Willink and Leif Babin explain that the single most important element of a team is its leader and that the team succeeds in its mission only if... Read Extreme Ownership Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Emotions/Behavior: Joy

Tags Self Help, Philosophy, Psychology, Leadership/Organization/Management, Business / Economics, Psychology, Philosophy


Publication year 2022

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Self Discovery, Life/Time: Aging

Tags Self Help, Psychology, Health / Medicine, Philosophy, Leadership/Organization/Management, Business / Economics, Psychology, Philosophy


Publication year 1990

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: New Age

Tags Psychology, Self Help, Health / Medicine, Religion / Spirituality, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Mental Illness


Publication year 2008

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Social Science, Business / Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Psychology, Biography

Gang Leader for a Day is Sudhir Venkatesh’s account of the six years he spent doing research in Chicago’s housing projects as a Sociology graduate student. Early in his time at the University of Chicago, Venkatesh stumbles across the Black Kings, a powerful gang heavily involved in Chicago’s crack trade. While he is interested in studying urban poverty, Venkatesh cannot pass up the opportunity to learn more about how gangs operate and what role they... Read Gang Leader For a Day Summary


Publication year 2001

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Tags Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management, Self Help, Psychology, Psychology