30 Books To Make You A Better Business Leader

Every day it seems there’s new advice for how to better manage and grow your business. But who’s got time to filter through all the nonsense and actually digest the worthy information?

When you’re leading a business, even considering putting “reading” on your to-do list can be a challenge. No, I’m not talking about penciling in time for your favorite fiction novel. While it may seem hard to believe, the simple act of reading can provide you with an opportunity to expand your leadership and business knowledge. The end result: a positive transform for you and the business you lead.

Building your business library involves some research and a few recommendations. Don’t sweat it -- I’ve put together a list of 30 books that are sure to inspire you to become a better business leader and also impact the bottom line of your business...today and for the future.

Here are my recommendations to add to your reading list:

1. How To Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie

2. Rework by Jason Fried & David H. Hansson

3. The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss

4. The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries

5. Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink

6. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't by Jim Collins

7. The Three Big Questions for a Frantic Family: A Leadership Fable About Restoring Sanity To The Most Important Organization In Your Life by Patrick Lencioni

8. Permission Marketing: Turning Strangers Into Friends And Friends Into Customers by Seth Godin

9. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

10. Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting out of the Box by Arbinger Institute

11. True North: Discover Authentic Leadership by Bill George

12. Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip and Dan Heath

13. The Innovator's Dilemma: The Revolutionary Book That Will Change the Way You Do Business by Clayton M. Christensen

14. Quiet Leadership: Six Steps to Transforming Performance at Work by David Rock

15. The Twelve Absolutes of Leadership by Gary Burnison

16. The Rare Find: Spotting Exceptional Talent Before Everyone Else by George Anders

17. Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You by John Warrilow

18. Leading Change by John Kotter

19. The 5 Levels of Leadership: Proven Steps to Maximize Your Potential by John C. Maxwell

20. Wooden on Leadership: How to Create a Winning Organization by John Wooden

21. Strategic Leadership: The General’s Art by Mark Grandstaff and Georgia Sorenson

22. First, Break All the Rules by Marcus Buckingham

23. The Emperor's Handbook by Marcus Aurelius

24. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell

25. The E-Myth: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It by Michael Gerber

26. Liar's Poker by Michael Lewis

27. The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World by Niall Ferguson

28. What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard Bolles

29. Giants of Enterprise by Richard Tedlow

30. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini

What book has helped you become a better business leader?

About Ilya Pozin:

Founder of Ciplex. Columnist for Inc, Forbes & LinkedIn. Gadget lover, investor, mentor, husband, father, and '30 Under 30' entrepreneur. Follow Ilya below to stay up-to-date with his articles and updates!