Throughout the course of human civilization, many of our greatest leaders have imparted their wisdom through written works. Whether it’s a military strategist born 2,500 years ago like Sun Tzu, or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company like Bill Gates, powerful and influential people share their experiences to benefit the leaders of tomorrow.
Whether you’re an aspiring leader, just landed your first role with managerial responsibilities, or you’re an industry veteran, there is so much to gain by reading these books. You can generate new plans, develop your business faster, master your interpersonal skills, discover problem-solving techniques, and learn how to think two steps ahead.
Pick up a How-To guide from some of the most important leaders ever to sit in the big chair. Here are six of the best books on leadership.
1. The Art of War by Sun Tzu
Having lived during the Eastern Zhou period of ancient China, you might think Sun Tzu has nothing relevant to offer. While your daily experiences may be worlds apart, Sun Tzu’s tactical mind transcends the ages and continues to influence modern readers.
You can remove his war-based context and apply his lessons to business. For example, when he talks about commanding terrain, you think about market share. With some simple reimagining, The Art of War provides timeless wisdom on the value of preparedness, integrity, judging your competition, collaboration, confidence, delegating, and so much more.
2. Business @ The Speed of Thought by Bill Gates
In 1999, before the term “data science” was familiar to the leaders of every single organization in every single sector of the economy, Bill Gates was singing the praises of data-backed decision making. Business @ The Speed of Thought encourages leaders to view the ongoing shift to technology-based work as a strategic asset.
Gates writes, “The most meaningful way to differentiate your company from your competition, the best way to put distance between you and the crowd, is to do an outstanding job with information.” The year of this book’s release, Gates set the record for market capitalization when Microsoft was valued at nearly $619 billion.
3. Lead from the Outside by Stacey Abrams
One of the most prominent black female politicians in the United States, Stacey Abrams has written a necessary guide for people traditionally seen as outsiders to embrace their identity and harness that strength. This book is for women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, millennials ready to make a difference, and others who exist beyond the structure of traditional white male power.
Lead from the Outside is a handbook on how ambition, fear, money, and failure function in leadership. Stacey draws on her own personal story and hard-won insights to offer practical strategies for changing the world one step at a time. She argues that being in the minority actually provides unique and vital strength you can employ to launch a company, run a successful political campaign, or fight for what’s right.
4. Decide & Conquer by David Siegel
Meetup CEO David Siegel believes the right frame of mind can help you overcome the fear of failure. Using his own experience navigating a major company through tumultuous times, David demonstrates how core values like transparency and kindness can remove potential roadblocks before they become a problem.
This book is a guiding light for leaders faced with bad options, deep anxiety about the future, and the burden of responsibility. You can learn how to adapt David’s decision framework when Decide & Conquer is released on March 8, 2022.
5. Wooden on Leadership by John Wooden and Steve Jamison
Business isn’t the only realm where effective leadership is a necessity. John Wooden is the legendary coach of the UCLA men’s basketball team who led his squad to ten national championships in a twelve-year period, including seven in a row!
Any plugged-in sports fan will tell you coaching is just as important as the players’ talent. Wooden on Leadership focuses on the essential people skills that make your team trust you, respect you, and work hard for you. If you’re interested in the mental and emotional aspects of great leadership, this book belongs on your shelf. You’ll be winning in no time.
6. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, Daniel Kahneman is also a cognitive psychologist with a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. Reason number one to read this book is that Kahneman’s a pretty smart guy.
Reason number two is that Thinking, Fast and Slow takes you on a tour of your own mind, with the goal of helping you better understand your judgments: why you make them, and how to improve them. Kahneman explores two systems that affect the way people think. In a nutshell, System 1 is fast and emotional thinking, while System 2 is logical and deliberate. His insights can help you combine your System 1 and System 2 thought processes into a well-oiled judgment machine.
Start reading and leading today
You don’t have to wait for that next promotion to apply the lessons from these books. The interest in book clubs on Meetup is sky high, with over 2.2 million readers across more than 4,600 groups! If you’re looking for inspiration, check out:
- Read for Fun Book Club – Seattle
- Existentialism, Philosophy, and Literature in Houston
- The Upper West Side Book Club in New York
- the london philosophy club
- The Metro Philadelphia Book Club
You can easily create your own Meetup book club, kick off your reading list with the five books above, and be on your way to achieving well-informed leadership greatness. In addition to all the wisdom you’ll gain from the books, your club can also be a great source of networking, people skills practice, and shared growth.
Mary Garcia (she/her) is Meetup’s Content Manager and editor of the Community Matters blog. When she’s not writing, Mary organizes a swamp fiction book club on Meetup. Find her on LinkedIn.
Last modified on March 8, 2022
