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The most impactful leaders know that growth never stops, and the right leadership books can be the game-changer for both personal and organizational success. At BookPal, our book experts talk to organizations daily who are blending timeless classics with fresh new releases that redefine what it means to lead. We have the pulse on the best leadership books to read in 2025. These books on leadership go beyond theory, offering practical strategies for inspiring teams, shaping company culture, and navigating different leadership styles with confidence.

The impact of reading in leadership is proven. A survey by the Harvard Business Review found that 88% of high-performing leaders dedicate at least 30 minutes a day to professional reading. Studies also show that organizations with strong leadership development programs are 2.4 times more likely to hit their performance targets. That means adding the right books to your development toolkit can directly influence bottom-line results.

Whether you’re a new manager, a seasoned executive, or someone simply looking to define leadership for yourself, these books are packed with insights to support your professional development journey. From mastering team leadership to fostering innovation and building stronger relationships, these reads are essential for any organization striving to lead with purpose and impact!

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1. The AI-Driven Leader: Harnessing AI to Make Faster, Smarter Decisions by Geoff Woods

Show leaders how to use AI as a strategic partner to cut decision-making time, boost productivity, and maximize employee impact. This new release helps organizations stay competitive in fast-changing markets. 

2. Blindspotting: How To See What's Holding You Back as a Leader by Martin Dubin

Get ready to equip leaders to identify and overcome hidden performance blockers, fostering self-awareness and unlocking higher team performance across the entire organization.

3. More Human: How the Power of AI Can Transform the Way You Lead by Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter

More Human reveals how AI can enhance, not replace, human-centered leadership, enabling organizations to pair technology with empathy, wisdom, and purpose for a stronger culture and real results.

4. Strengths Based Leadership: Great Leaders, Teams, and Why People Follow by Gallup

One of our bestsellers from Gallup, this guide helps leaders identify and leverage their unique strengths, build balanced teams, and meet the core needs of their teams. This book creates a foundation of trust that has been proven to drive organizational success.

5. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: 30th Anniversary Edition (Anniversary) by Stephen R Covey

One of the most inspiring and impactful books ever written, this book provides a proven, principle-based framework for personal and professional effectiveness. It empowers leaders to adapt to change, strengthen relationships, and achieve lasting results. 

6. Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect by Will Guidara

An OWL Award winner in 2022, this book demonstrates how going above and beyond in service, both for customers and employees, can transform company culture, inspire loyalty, and turn everyday interactions into unforgettable experiences. 

7. Inner Excellence: Train Your Mind for Extraordinary Performance and the Best Possible Life by Jim Murphy

With strategies that train leaders and teams to master their mindset, manage pressure effectively, and remove mental barriers, this new release has been popular this year. Unlock peak performance with this book!

8. Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek

Both inspiring and purpose-driven, this bestseller challenges leaders to uncover and clearly communicate their “why”, sparking loyalty and long-term success among teams.

9. Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity (Revised, Updated) by Kim Scott

Packed with practical management wisdom, Kim Scott shows how clear, compassionate feedback can strengthen trust, deepen relationships, and improve team collaboration.

10. Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't by Simon Sinek

Through powerful stories and research, Leaders Eat Last reveals how putting your team first builds trust, unity, and a culture where people feel safe to perform at their best. 

11. The Go-Giver, Expanded Edition: A Little Story about a Powerful Business Idea by Bob Burg and John David Mann

Uplifting and transformative, this guide proves that generosity and adding value to others’ lives can fuel stronger relationships, sustainable success, and greater impact in any organization.

12. Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things by Adam Grant

Blending research with real-world examples, Hidden Potential shows leaders how to nurture growth, unlock overlooked talent, and inspire teams to achieve more than they thought possible. 

13. Conquering Crisis: Ten Lessons to Learn Before You Need Them by William H. McRaven

Drawing from decades of military service, William H. McRaven delivers ten actionable lessons to help leaders stay composed, make smart decisions, and guide their organizations through any challenge. 

14. Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

Former Navy SEALs Jocko Willink and Leif Babin share battle-tested leadership principles that empower teams to improve performance and win in high-stakes environments.

15. Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders by L. David Marquet

Through the remarkable story of transforming a failing submarine crew, this bestselling book teaches leaders how to empower others and make decisions that foster accountability, trust, and create lasting success.

Great leaders never stop learning, and these leadership books are powerful tools to help you inspire, adapt, and grow in 2025 and beyond. If you’re ready to bring any of these titles into your organization’s leadership toolkit, you can request a quote, and our team will help you get started. Because when leaders grow, your whole organization wins.