12 Must-Read Books for Leaders in 2024
I vividly recall a conversation with a colleague from a group project during my Harvard studies, where she casually mentioned reading around 20 books a month. Despite juggling two PhDs, managing a family with kids and grandchildren, and running a successful real estate business, she had a secret to her reading habits. While I'll save that story for another day, many of us aspire to read more. Beyond time management, the key lies in discovering captivating books.
As we near the end of the first month of my Year of Excellence, I've curated a list of 12 books that I recommend for your reading pleasure throughout the year. Engaging in discussions and reflections on these books post-reading is something I truly enjoy. Having initiated two Book Clubs in America and one in Poland (with more possibly on the horizon), I'd love to hear your thoughts once you've read them. Let's have a good conversation.
“Anatomy of a Breakthrough” by Adam Alter.
Adam Alter has spent the past two decades studying how people become stuck and how they free themselves to thrive. In this book he reveals the formula he and other researchers have uncovered. It’s a very interesting guide to breaking free from the thoughts, habits, jobs, relationships, and even business models that prevent us from achieving our full potential.
My favorite tip from the book is: try writing a six-word memoir – it forces you to focus on the essential components of what it means to be you.
“The Amen Effect” by Sharon Brous.
This book isn’t about religion - it’s about how we don’t need to be like-minded to be like-hearted. This rabbi has a rare gift for bringing people together, and her words are a welcome reminder of our common humanity. This is exactly what every leader needs - a good read and inspiration on empathy (such a fresh topic on my mind as you can tell by the latest Newsletter issue from this past Friday).
“Life After Power” by Jared Cohen (to be published in February).
A captivating look at how we find purpose and forge identity in the wake of major transitions. A thought leader explores who American presidents become after leaving office. It’s brimming with insights for anyone who’s ever wondered, “What’s next?”
“Leader As Healer. A New Paradigm For 21st Century Leadership” by Nicholas Janni.
To understand that to face the scope and threats of 21st-century challenges, today’s leaders must possess potent powers for logic, reason, discernment and strategic forecasting. Yet, they must also be empathic and therefore embodied; grounded and therefore intuitive. They must be skilled in mindfulness and deep listening; present and receptive to higher levels of insight and innovation; able to inspire authentic engagement and collaboration; and possess a clear and wholehearted sense of service, mission and purpose. That’s what this book is about.
“Getting There: A Book of Mentors” by Gillian Zoe Segal.
The path to success is rarely easy or direct, and good mentors are hard to find. In an honest, direct, and engaging way, role models like (to name just a few) Warren Buffett, Kathy Ireland, Frank Gehry, David Boies, Ian Schrager, Anderson Cooper, Sara Blakely, Gary Hirshberg, Hans Zimmer, Jim Koch, and Michael Bloomberg describe the obstacles they faced, the setbacks they endured, and the vital lessons they learned. Enjoy not only essential and practical career advice, but also priceless wisdom applicable to life in general. The 30 leaders in diverse fields share their secrets to navigating the rocky road to the top in an inspiring way.
“Hidden Potential” by Adam Grant.
The book shows how to achieve potential, and explores setbacks, grasping opportunities, improving motivation, perfectionism and procrastination. It has fascinating discoveries about educators, such as the correlation between experienced kindergarten teachers and students' future success, as well as timely research on psychological safety. “There’s evidence that just being looked at by the leader is enough to encourage people who lack status to speak up.” – Adam Grant
“Head & Heart” by Kirstin Ferguson.
“You leave a legacy as a leader in every action you take, every decision you make and every behaviour you demonstrate” - says Ferguson. Her mission is to coach others to lead with “empathy so good people don’t quit their jobs.” With a PhD in leadership, Dr Ferguson has written in her book about what she knows best. She’s been a company director, was forming acting chair and deputy chair of the ABC, and a CEO of a consulting firm.
Before you read the book, a great tip from “Head & Heart”: Complete Kirstin’s free Head & Heart Leader Scale to self-assess how you currently lead.
“The Song of Significance” by Seth Godin.
Seth Godin is one of those successful leaders and deep thinkers on the matter of leadership who reads a lot and writes bestsellers himself. In this book he is proving that businesses can create value, cause change, and make a difference by “leading with humans instead of treating them as cogs in a soulless machine.”
My favorite quote from this book: “Show me your agenda for today, and I’ll show you what you value.”
“American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer” by Kai Bird and Martin J Sherwin.
This book delves into the character of J. Robert Oppenheimer, a brilliant mind who brought together other intellectual giants of his era—Einstein, Born, Bohr, Fermi, DeBroglie, Teller, and more—to collaborate on the design and construction of the atomic bomb. For leaders aspiring to greatness, it offers an inspiring yet grounded depiction of the highs and lows involved in pursuing monumental goals with the brightest minds.
“How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth” by The Moth, Meg Bowles, Catherine Burns, Jenifer Hixson, Sarah Austin Jenness, Kate Tellers, Chenjerai Kumanyika, Padma Lakshmi.
I think every single one of us should read (and reread) this book, because it’s the definitive guide to telling an unforgettable story in any setting, drawing on twenty-five years of experience from the storytelling experts at The Moth. As the CNN once said: “From toasts to eulogies, from job interviews to social events, this book will help you with ideas, structure, delivery and more.”
“The Friction Project” by Bob Sutton and Huggy Rao.
The ultimate resource for diagnosing and fixing the problems in your organization. If every leader took the advice from these management specialists seriously, the world would be a less miserable, more productive place.
“Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't” by Jim C. Collins.
“I’m a Level 5 leader” is what I often hear from senior executives from CEOs. As soon as I hear it I know I am talking to someone who's read this book. This book is regarded as one of the best business books of all time. Collins describes how he and his team of researchers examined the simple question “Can a good company become a great company, and, if so, how?” In order to arrive at an answer, Collins and his team spent five years sifting though the results and activities of 1,435 top-performing companies to identify which ones could be considered 'great' and how they managed it.
My favorite quote from this book: “Great vision without great people is irrelevant”.
