Top Leadership books recommended by experts

At MentorCruise, we are all about making the most out of the experience of others. As part of that, we've connected and asked dozens of experts and professionals about their favourite Leadership books – and here are the answers.

Table of Contents

Fundamentals of Leadership

Understanding the concepts of Leadership starts with understanding the fundamentals. On your way to mastery, it's crucial for you to understand how certain concepts were derived, and why things work like they do. Starting with these resources is the best way to do so.

The Lean Startup

In his book, Eric Ries applies science to entrepreneurship. He tells businesses, and especially startups, how to start small and simple, then grow through learning, testing, measuring, and rapidly innovating.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win

Sent to the most violent battlefield in Iraq, Jocko Willink and Leif Babin’s SEAL task unit faced a seemingly impossible mission: help U.S. forces secure Ramadi, a city deemed “all but lost.” In gripping firsthand accounts of heroism, tragic loss, and hard-won victories in SEAL Team Three’s Task Unit Bruiser, they learned that leadership―at every level―is the most important factor in whether a…

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Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

“Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action” by Simon Sinek offers a fresh perspective on leadership and organizational success. By understanding the power of starting with “why,” leaders can inspire action, build trust, and foster meaningful connections with their teams and customers.

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The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: 30th Anniversary Edition (The Covey Habits Series)

This beloved classic presents a principle-centered approach for solving both personal and professional problems. With penetrating insights and practical anecdotes, Stephen R. Covey reveals a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, honesty, and human dignity—principles that give us the security to adapt to change and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities …

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Primal Leadership

"Primal Leadership" by Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis, and Annie McKee explores how effective leaders use emotional intelligence to motivate others and build strong relationships. It offers insights and strategies for developing these skills and creating a positive work environment.

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Influencer: The New Science of Leading Change, Second Edition

An INFLUENCER replaces bad behaviors with powerful new skills. An INFLUENCER makes things happen. This is what it takes to be an INFLUENCER. Whether you're a CEO, a parent, or merely a person who wants to make a difference, you probably wish you had more influence with the people in your life.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Additional Leadership Reading

These books are not required for you to learn Leadership, but they are highly recommended for you to deepen your knowledge.

Wooden on Leadership: How to Create a Winning Organization

John Wooden’s goal in 41 years of coaching never changed; namely, to get maximum effort and peak performance from each of his players in the manner that best served the team. Wooden on Leadership explains step-by-step how he pursued and accomplished this goal. Focusing on Wooden’s 12 Lessons in Leadership and his acclaimed Pyramid of Success, it outlines the mental, emotional, and physical qua…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations

This book highlights the differences between good and great, and shows you how to bridge the chasm between getting things done and making things happen. Business is evolving at an increasingly rapid rate, and leaders must keep pace with the changes or risk stagnation.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

The Art of Possibility

The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander is a transformative book that teaches us to shift our perspective in life from scarcity to abundance, resulting in an increased sense of possibility with practical tools and inspiring stories.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead

The book challenges us to change the conversation from what women can't do to what we can do, and serves as a rallying cry for us to work together to create a more equal world. Sheryl speaks to why she wrote the book, how she hopes it will encourage women, and her vision of a world where all our voices are heard.

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How to win friends and influence people. How to stop worrying and start living

This carefully crafted "How To Stop Worrying And Start Living & How To Make Friends And Influence People (Unabridged)" is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents. How to Stop Worrying and Start Living – The book's goal is to lead the reader to a more enjoyable and fulfilling life, helping them to become more aware of, not only themselves, but others around t…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

The 360 Degree Leader: Developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the Organization

In The 360 Degree Leader, you will learn how to: overcome the challenges facing the vast majority of professionals; understand the pressures and pain points that come from being caught in the middle; and gain the confidence and competence to step into their roles as significant influencers.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

This list is curated by MentorCruise and can include Amazon affiliate links. Have any other suggestions? Add here.

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