Top 10 Leadership Books For 2021

The first step to becoming a great leader? Picking up a book.

There are countless leadership books available today, each with its own advice and case studies. Reading leadership books is one of the best ways to be a super-perpetual learner and to keep expanding your skillset with new ideas and perspectives.

But where do you start in the sea of leadership books? I’ve narrowed it down to the top 10 leadership books for 2021:

Trillion Dollar Coach by Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Rosenberg, and Alan Eagle

This book uses interviews and case studies to reveal the playbook of Bill Campbell, a legendary executive and business coach who helped entrepreneurs create more than a trillion dollars in market value. Trillion Dollar Coach shares the skills and mindsets that are vital to future leaders and is an essential guide for all leaders and entrepreneurs.

Winning Now, Winning Later By David Cote

Leaders and entrepreneurs often wonder where they should prioritize their time and investments—in short-term successes or long-term gains? In Winning Now, Winning Later, David Cote shares how it’s possible to focus on both the now and later and see great success.

Unapologetically Ambitious by Shellye Archambeau

Shellye Archambeau overcame countless challenges to become one of the first Black female CEOs in Silicon Valley. Ambition alone isn’t enough to bring success, and Shellye shares practical tips for leaders to break barriers and create success on their own terms.

Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl

This classic book is still as poignant today as it was when it was written in 1946. The book chronicles Viktor Frankl’s experience as a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp. Even when faced with unimaginable hardships, Viktor survived by finding a purpose to feel positive about and then immersively imagining the outcome.

Think Again by Adam Grant

In our world of constant noise and opinions, one of the greatest skills a leader can have is the ability to rethink and unlearn and be comfortable listening to new ideas and having doubts. Adam Grant is an organizational psychologist who teaches how to embrace being wrong and create organizations of lifelong learners.

Hot Seat: What I Learned Leading a Great American Company by Jeff Immelt 

As the former CEO of one of America’s Greatest Companies, Jeff’s tenure was heavily criticized and scrutinized. Jeff goes behind the scenes to explain what happened while he was CEO, what it was like to work with and then take over for Jack Welch, and the mistakes he made and the lessons learned from those mistakes. Jeff is very candid and has plenty of stories to make this a colorful read. For aspiring and current leaders, there’s a lot to learn from Jeff, both in terms of what to do and also what not to do. Make sure to also check out my video interview with Jeff Immelt.

The Road to Character by David Brooks

Successful leaders don’t just drive wealth and revenue, they also have strong character and people skills. This book combines psychology, politics, and spirituality to force us to rethink our priorities and strive to build rich inner lives.

You’re Doing Great by Tom Papa

After the difficulties of 2020, you likely feel beaten down and defeated. But as Tom Papa shares in his book, you’re doing great! This book is a strong reminder to push aside the stress and overwhelm we all feel to instead focus on the positives around us.

The Customer Of The Future by Blake Morgan

Future leaders must have a strong understanding of customers, their needs, and how to best serve them. My wife, Blake Morgan, is a leading expert on customer experience and shares 10 guiding principles to connect with future customers and lead forward-focused businesses.

The Future Leader by Jacob Morgan

Of course, I had to include my book on the list. There are many books on leadership, but none on how to become a future-ready leader—until I wrote one. For this book, I interviewed more than 140 top CEOs around the world about what it will take to succeed as a leader over the next decade and beyond. From their insights and a survey of more than 14,000 global employees, I created the four mindsets and five skills all leaders need to develop now to lead the future of work.