Best Business Beach Books to Read on Your Vacation

A young professional recently asked me, "What are the most useful leadership books you've read in your career?" He was headed to a beach vacation and wanted to learn what he perceived would be a "baseline" of leadership strategies. It was a tough question. Which classics would be on your list?

I gave him these fourteen leadership strategy books, listed below in no particular order, with my opinions on their content. I'm guessing most experienced leaders have read the majority. Many books on the list are well over ten years old and have stood the test of time. A few are relatively new to the market but have already been added to my "go to" list of recommendations.

Take a look. How many have you read? If you missed reading a few during your career, grab a Mai Tai, thrown your towel down, and enjoy. And if even holding your Kindle is too much work at the beach, pop on the headphones and listen on Audible!

Good to Great by Jim Collins. This book looks at company characteristics and explains how individual leaders led the transformation. As the title suggests, the main point is that “good enough” is the enemy of great. If you apply that mindset to your own work habits, you’ll find your career advancing at a quick pace. 

Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatsis, and Annie McKee. If you haven’t heard of emotional intelligence, then you're probably younger than 30 years old. Daniel Goleman is the original researcher who began the emotional intelligence push. In this book, he explains why it’s so important for leaders to exhibit empathy, self-awareness, collaboration and other “soft” skills in order to be effective. 

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. I do not know any experienced leader who hasn’t read this book at some time in their life. These simple habits are easy to understand and easy to implement if you are focused on elevating your leadership. They’ll help you be a more effective leader while managing your overall life and well-being.

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni. This is a short book told parable-style. Lencioni presents a fictional team of colleagues and uses their process to explain the behaviors and habits that derail group productivity. Unless your job is a completely solo effort this book will help you lead teams and keep them on track. 

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell. I consider this a primer for basic leadership qualities. I always read it again when I feel a bit stuck as a leader and need a refresher. John Maxwell is one of the most popular leadership authors, and I think you can find something valuable in any of his books that you read. 

 Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When the Stakes are High by Kerry Patterson and Joseph Grenny or Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most by Douglas Stone and Bruce Patton. I’ve included both titles because Crucial Conversations is considered to be the gold standard on this topic, but I actually found Difficult Conversations to be more practical. Either one will help you greatly. Even the most experienced leaders have difficulty giving bad news, or making statements they know will generate anger or dissent. Both of these books provide strategies regarding how to structure the conversation. Use the tools to practice with your spouse or teenager, and you’ll be a pro in no time. 

Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges by Amy Cuddy. Of all the books I’ve listed, this one verges on the edge of self-improvement the most. But I felt it should be included because so many aspiring leaders fail to exude the confidence they need. The reason Cuddy’s advice is so valuable is that it’s easily achieved by anyone. The strategies she gives to connect better and exhibit more confidence boil down to “power posing” which she explains in detail, along with the research behind it. After reading this book, you’ll be telling yourself and your kids to “Starfish up!” before any high-stakes situation. 

The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by Chip Heath and Dan Heath. This book is by the authors of the better-known book Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard. I love this more recent book because the authors apply the science behind what we remember most to two very important groups: customers and employees. Filled with practical suggestions you can do today, you’ll learn from businesses who create memorable experiences that generate staunch loyalty among customers and employees. This book will change the way you think about the customer experience, and it will make you a better leader to those who work for you. 

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. This is probably the most famous book regarding how to influence others. In it, Carnegie gives proven strategies that will help you lead others. You’ll learn how to get people to do what you want without them feeling manipulated.

When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel Pink. I could actually recommend any book written by Daniel Pink, but I found this one particularly useful. It’s the newest book on my recommendation list. Read it to gain practical strategies regarding the importance of paying attention to timing. When you start a project, when you interview, when you give bad news—science has all the answers regarding when you’ll get the best outcome. 

The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene. This is the only book I strongly recommend that you just read the summary version. With my apologies to Mr. Green, the full-length version is a bit long and tedious with plenty of references to Greek politicians and successful war leaders (which makes it difficult to listen in audiobook format as well). The best parts are the laws themselves. They give you great tips for getting ahead without being seen as arrogant or threatening to others. Much of the advice is Machiavellian, explaining how to detail with your enemies. Some “laws” might be seen as unethical. Nevertheless, you’ll learn a lot about managing and controlling office politics.

The New One-Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson. An updated version of the hugely popular original, the book uses a parable to explain the three of the most important leadership characteristics. It’s a short, easy-to-understand book that has influenced thousands of business leaders.

Smarter Faster Better: The Transformative Power of Real Productivity by Charles Duhigg. You’ll feel more productive after learning the eight strategies in this book. It’s incredibly well-researched and thus filled with scientific findings. Duhigg keeps it interesting, though, by telling real-life stories of highly successful—and of course productive—individuals and groups. 

Getting Things Done by David Allen. This book is all about you creating a system to execute on your myriad tasks, projects and responsibilities. In plain language, he guides you through a process to ensure nothing ever gets missed and you’ll meet all of those important deadlines. 

Dr. Staci McIntosh is a human resources executive, career coach, and author of the One Hour Handbook Series, providing job search and career advice to busy professionals. The series includes Wheels Up: Mastering the Job Interview to Launch Your Career and Ready for Take-Off: Preparing for Interview Questions on Your Job Search Journey. Her new book will be available this summer and is titled: The Anti-Entrepreneur: How to Choose the Right Job to Retire Wealthy Without Starting Your Own Business.