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.

Getting to Yes

by Roger Fisher, William Ury

Publication year 1981

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Economics, Wins & Losses, Power & Greed, Language

Tags Business & Economics, Psychology, Self-Improvement, Leadership, Relationships, Politics & Government, Psychology

Getting to YES: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In (1981) is a business and self-help book by Roger Fisher and William Ury. It teaches a principled method of settling disputes so that both sides win. Revised in 1991 and 2011, the book has sold 15 million copies in 35 languages, spent several years on the BusinessWeek bestseller list, and is one of the most commonly cited works on lists of the best negotiation books.Authors Fisher and... Read Getting to Yes Summary

Give and Take

by Adam Grant

Publication year 2013

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Teamwork, Power & Greed, Self Discovery

Tags Self-Improvement, Business & Economics, Psychology, Leadership, Psychology

Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success, by Adam Grant, explores the concept of reciprocity in the workplace and how it can lead to personal and professional success. First published in 2013, the book bridges the genres of business psychology and self-help, providing readers with actionable strategies to enhance their careers and professional relationships. Grant, an organizational psychologist and professor, draws on his extensive research and real-world examples to demonstrate the power of... Read Give and Take Summary

Giving Voice To Values

by Mary C. Gentile

Publication year 2010

Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Teamwork, Community, Education, Justice, Power & Greed, Language

Tags Self-Improvement, Psychology, Education, Education, Leadership, Business & Economics, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy

... Read Giving Voice To Values Summary

G-Man

by Beverly Gage

Publication year 2022

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Tags US History, Politics & Government, Crime & Law, Mystery & Crime Fiction, World History, Biography

... Read G-Man Summary

Good to Great

by Jim Collins

Publication year 2001

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Economics, Truth & Lies, Teamwork

Tags Business & Economics, Leadership, Self-Improvement

Good to Great, published in 2001, serves as both a follow-up and thematic prequel to author Jim Collins’s 1994 best seller, Built to Last. Comprehensive in the scope of its research, Good to Great is an examination of the defining qualities of greatness in companies that have made a pivotal transition from “good” (performing relatively consistently) to “great” (performing exceptionally). In making his arguments, Collins brings his expertise as a faculty member at the Stanford... Read Good to Great Summary

Grit

by Angela Duckworth

Publication year 2016

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags Chinese Literature, Asian Literature, Leadership, Science & Nature, Business & Economics, Parenting, Psychology, Psychology, Self-Improvement

Angela Duckworth’s best-selling 2016 book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance describes how persistent practice, and not mere talent, is the key to success among students and professionals. Duckworth’s extensive research demonstrates that young people do best in activities that hold their interest and give them a sense of purpose. This encourages them to practice hard and overcome obstacles until they achieve mastery and success in school and, later, in their professional lives. The... Read Grit Summary

Hidden Potential

by Adam Grant

Publication year 2023

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Perseverance, Self Discovery, Education, Equality

Tags Psychology, Self-Improvement, Business & Economics, Leadership, Education, Education, Science & Nature, Psychology

... Read Hidden Potential Summary

Hooked

by Emily McIntire

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Revenge, Family, Gender Identity, Self Discovery, Good & Evil

Tags Fairy Tale & Folklore, Romance, Horror & Suspense

... Read Hooked Summary

How to Win Friends and Influence People

by Dale Carnegie

Publication year 1998

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Friendship, Teamwork, Power & Greed, Language

Tags Business & Economics, Relationships, Psychology, Psychology, Self-Improvement, Classic Fiction

First published in 1936, Dale Carnegie’s book How to Win Friends and Influence People launched the American self-help industry, sold over 30 million copies, and became a template for the thousands of self-improvement books that followed. It asserts that success with others depends on listening, showing appreciation, and empathizing with them. The book was revised in 1981; the 2020 eBook re-issue of that edition is the basis for this study guide.The book is divided into... Read How to Win Friends and Influence People Summary

Influence

by Robert B. Cialdini

Publication year 1984

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Community, Trust & Doubt, Politics & Government, Language

Tags Business & Economics, Psychology, Self-Improvement, Information Age, Leadership, Science & Nature, Psychology

... Read Influence Summary

Lamb

by Christopher Moore

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Friendship, Coming of Age, Community

Tags Historical Fiction, Humor, Fantasy, Absurdism, Religion & Spirituality, World History

... Read Lamb Summary

Leaders Eat Last

by Simon Sinek

Publication year 2013

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Teamwork, Economics, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger

Tags Psychology, Inspirational, Business & Economics, Self-Improvement, Postmodernism, Leadership, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy

Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t (2014) is inspirational speaker Simon Sinek’s second book, a follow-up to Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action (2009). The book’s title is derived from a practice in which Marine Corps Officers eat last, sacrificing their own needs for those in their care. Sacrifice is key. Sinek explores the ways in which successful individuals and companies develop cultures built on... Read Leaders Eat Last Summary

Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun

by Wess Roberts

Publication year 1987

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Wins & Losses, Perseverance, Teamwork, Nation, War, Politics & Government

Tags Business & Economics, World History, Leadership, Creative Nonfiction, Self-Improvement, Military & War, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Politics & Government

Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun is a self-improvement and business leadership book by Wess Roberts, who was a human resources manager at Fireman’s Fund Insurance when he published the book in 1989. Using the historical figure of Attila the Hun as his mouthpiece, Roberts outlines his management style and approach to business. This guide refers to Attila’s “persona” when quoting words that Roberts imagines Attila might have said. In the introduction, Roberts discusses Attila... Read Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun Summary