11 Books Every Leader Should Read

Now that Stanford is on break and my classes are over, I have been taking a little time for reflection.  I was looking through the books on Amazon to find something that struck my fancy, and instead, I started thinking about the books that have taught me much about people, teams, and organizations -- while at the same time -- provide useful guidance (if sometimes only indirectly) about what it takes to lead well versus badly.  The 11 books below are the result. 

Most are research based, and none are a quick read (except for Orbiting the Giant Hairball). I guess this reflects my bias.  I like books that have real substance beneath them.  This runs counter the belief in the business book world at the moment that all books have to be both short and simple.  So, if your kind of business book is The One Minute Manager (which frankly, I like too... but you can read the whole thing in 20 or 30 minutes), then you probably won't like most of these books at all.

1. The Progress Principle by Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer.  A masterpiece of evidence-based management -- the strongest argument I know that "the big things are the little things." 

2. Influence by Robert Cialdini the now classic book about how to persuade people to do things, how to defend against persuasion attempts, and the underlying evidence.  I have been using this in class at Stanford for over 20 years, and I have had dozens of students say to me years later "I don't remember much else about the class, but I still use and think about that Cialdini book."

3.Made to Stick Chip and Dan Heath.  A modern masterpiece,  the definition of an instant classic.  How to design ideas that people will remember and act on.   I still look at it a couple times a month and I buy two or three copies at a time because people are always borrowing it from me.  I often tell them to keep it because they rarely give it back anyway. 

4. Thinking, Fast and Slow Daniel Kahneman.  Even though the guy won the Nobel Prize, this book is surprisingly readable.  A book about how we humans really think, and although it isn't designed to do this, Kahneman also shows how much of the stuff you read in the business press is crap.

5. Collaboration by Morten Hansen.  He has that hot bestseller now with Jim Collins called Great By Choice, which I need to read. This is a book I have read three times and is -- by far -- the best book ever written about what it takes to build an organization where people share information, cooperate, and help each other succeed.

6. Orbiting the Giant Hairball by Gordon MacKenzie.  It is hard to explain, sort of like trying to tell a stranger about rock and roll as the old song goes.  But it is the best creativity book ever written, possibly the business book related to business ever written.  Gordon's voice and love creativity and self-expression -- and how to make it happen despite the obstacles that unwittingly heartless organizations put in the way -- make this book a joy.

7. The Pixar Touch by David Price.  After reading this book, my main conclusion was that it seems impossible that Pixar exists. Read how Ed Catmull along with other amazing characters-- after amazing setbacks, weird moments, and one strange twist after another -- realized Ed's dream after working on it for decades.  Ed is working on his own book right now, I can hardly wait to see that.  When I think of Ed and so many others I have met at Pixar like Brad Bird, I know it is possible to be a creative person without being an asshole.  In fact, at least if the gossip I keep hearing from Pixar people is true, Jobs was rarely rude or obnoxious in his dealings with people at Pixar because he knew they knew more than him -- and even he was infected by Pixar's norm of civility.

8. Men and Women of the Corporation Rosabeth Moss Kanter.  The classic book about the gender dynamics in organizations.  I also think this is the book that brought us the phrase "Homosocial Reproduction," the tendency of groups to bring in people who look and act just like them.  I have always loved how it sounds so scientific and dirty at the same time.  This book is so great because it gets beyond gender to show the way actually corporations work -- albeit in a not very flattering but instructive light.

9. Leading Teams by J. Richard Hackman.  When it comes to the topic of groups or teams, there is Hackman and there is everyone else.   If you want a light feel good romp that isn't very evidence-based, read The Wisdom of Teams.  If want to know how teams really work and what it really takes to build, sustain, and lead them from a man who has been immersed in the problem as a researcher, coach, consultant, and designer for over 40 years, this is the book for you.

10. Who Says that Elephants Can't Dance? By Louis Gerstner.   Sure, organizational change is hard, especially in a huge and old company.  This book shows it isn't impossible and how one leadership team did it in one of the most iconic companies. Sure, Apple is impressive.  But let's see if it is around in 25 years, let alone celebrating it's 100th birthday as IBM did this year!

11. The Path Between the Seas by historian David McCullough. On building the Panama Canal.  This is a great story of how creativity happens at a really big scale. It is messy. Things go wrong. People get hurt. But they also triumph and do astounding things.  I also like this book because it is the antidote to those who believe that great innovations all come from start-ups and little companies (although there are some wild examples of entrepreneurship in the story -- especially the French guy who designs Panama's revolution -- including a new flag and declaration of independence as I recall -- from his suite in the Waldorf Astoria in New York, and successfully sells the idea to Teddy Roosevelt ).  As my Stanford colleague Jim Adams points out, the Panama Canal, the Pyramids, and putting a man on moon are just a few examples of great human innovations that were led by governments.  

As I look at the list, I realize I better go back and read Path Between the Seas for that scaling book we are working on. I have not read it in years.

Let us know of your favorites -- and if want a systematic approach to this question, don't forget The 100 Best Business Books of All Time.

P.S. Also, for self-defense, I recommend that we all read Isaacson's Steve Jobs -- I keep going places -- cocktail parties, family gatherings, talks I give and attend, and even the grocery store where people start talking about it and especially arguing about it.  I have come to believe that whatever Jobs was in life, in death he has become a Rorschach test -- we all just project our beliefs and values on him.

Comments

[Joseph Kellard]

I would recommend the Isaacson bio on Steve Jobs. Here is my review: http://www.theamericanindividualist.blogspot.com/2012/01/book-review-steve-jobs-by-walter.html

[Bob Sutton]

George, I hope it isn't unclear, I meant it as dig at the The Wisdom of Teams, which I didn't like. I said: "If you want a light feel good romp that isn't very evidence-based, read The Wisdom of Teams."

Thanks! Bob

[George Lehman]

Bob, did you really wish to call Hackman's book a "light feel good quick romp" or is there perhaps a typo?

[- mike]

I've found that all of these excellent choices have roots in Peter Drucker's writings. Was he always right? Nope. Do I always agree? Nope.

But most of what he said and wrote is the basis of what came after.

[Satindra21]

Thank you, Bob. The good news is it's a great list the bad news is I've a lot of catching up to do.
- Satindra.

[Toddsattersten]

Bob,

This is a great list and thanks for the shout-out to The 100 Best.

Merry Christmas,

Todd

[Dan Winters]

Thanks for the list. My "To be Read" stacks will be growing again. Another book by David McCullough that has tons of lessons for innovation, leadership, and learning is "The Great Bridge". Aso just started reading "Columbus" by Lawrence Bergren. Columbus reminds me a lot of Steve Jobs - so far most lessons are of the what not to do variety.

[John Spence]

I just posted a video blog challenging folks to read 12 business books in 2012 -- which would actually put you in the top 1% in the world for self learning/self-improvement reading!!! here is a link to the blog –

http://blog.johnspence.com/2011/12/12-2012-challenge/

And if you'd like my list of the top 100 or so business books I've ever read just sent me a note and I will be happy to send it to you. john@johnspence.com

[Beverly Peterson]

Great list! Thanks for a really thoughtful compilation. Glad to learn about Pixar's civility code. I've heard that animation houses are a nightmare.

[Bob Sutton]

Wally,

There YOU go again,challenging me.I will read Great By Choice. I have known Morten Hansen for a good 15 years or more, and he is very talented guy. I was frankly quite put of by the excessive claims in Good to Great, although I liked the ideas and writing style. I am hoping that by having a real scholar like Morten in the mix -- rather than a fake one like Collins, if he were a doctor, he would be quack -- has repaired things. As for Team of Rivals, great book, that one is worth turning it up to 12.

[Wally Bock]

There you go again, Bob, challenging me to evaluate my reading list. I read Progress Principle this year and immediately began recommending it to those who asked for an alternative to Dan Pink's speechwriter's approach to motivation. It's one of the best books I've read in years.

Alas, the Kahneman book has been on my "must-read" list for a couple of years now. I'll have to move it up and apply some discipline to get started reading it. Thanks for pointers to two books I wasn't really aware of before reading this list, The Pixar Touch and Collaboration. BTW, I think you should get to Great by Choice. I think the Collins/Hansen partnership is a very good one.

I find that most of my "boss" readers don't read a lot of political history. Because of that, I'd replace your Panama Canal book with Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. It's great history with great lessons for any boss who works with teams, with is all of them.

I suspect you're too modest to mention your own work, but two of your books are in my must read list. There's Good Boss, Bad Boss for one. I'd supplement it with Linda Hill and Kent Lineback's Being the Boss. And I love your book with Jeffrey Pfeffer, Hard Facts, Dangerous Half-Truths and Total Nonsense.

Another suggestion from among fairly recent books is David Maister's wonderful Strategy and the Fat Smoker.

OK, that's it. Now I'm waiting for the Amazon gift cards that will enable me to buy some of these. Thanks for kick-starting my thinking about what to read.

[Bob Sutton]

I just remembered that I did a list kind of like this one about 15 months ago. It overlaps some with this one, but it has more differences than similarities.

http://www.fastcompany.com/1684469/my-favorite-books-for-bosses

I guess I get the urge to think about this once a year or so!

[Tom H]

I think any list of "best" management books is incomplete without Scholtes' "Leader's Handbook."

[Daniel]

Here is another top ten list to consider:
http://smallbiztrends.com/2011/10/best-management-books-small-business.html/print/

[Jenileedeal]

@work_matters Would you recommend Made to Stick over Switch?

[LollyDaskal]

There are many business books that are written each year. But nothing compares to "Managing With A Conscience"(2nd ed) by Frank Sonnenberg which was released last month.

Frank's book "Managing With A Conscience" is a not only a business book but it’s a leadership book that transcends theory and philosophy and gets right down to the tools and tactics that every organization needs.

What makes this book stand out from the rest is that "Managing with a Conscience" has heart. It is practical, pragmatic, and passionate.

Frank Sonnenberg doesn't disappoint. This book is a brilliant read.

I highly recommend this great read!

Lolly Daskal
Lead From Within

[Keith Rozario]

For motivation:
Drive by Daniel Pink &
Start with Why by Simon Sinek

For obliterated the Talent myth:
Mindset by Carol Dweck,
Talent is Overrated by Geoff Colvin,

For Story-telling:
Resunate by Nancy Duarte &
The story factor by Annette Simmons

For understanding failure:
Being Wrong by Kathryn Schulz
Mistakes were made(but not by me) by Carol Tavris and Elliot Arronson

For understanding small change:
Adapt by Tim Harford
Progress Principle by Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer

For understanding Happiness:
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin &
Authentic Happiness by Martin Seligmann
&
Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt

[Elena Bonnet]

Do you always keep it this real? I loved my visit to your Blog and I am looking forward to come back again. Honest and clever, what a rare combination! ~ Elena

[Jared Cosulich]

You've just put a wrecking ball through my current reading list. Luckily I'm about 3/4 of the way through The Progress Principle, so at least I have a bit of a head start.

And I already agree with The Progress Principle being placed at #1 on this list. Easily one of the most important business books I've ever read.

[ed]

Sorry to see that, "Purpose" by Nikos Mourkogiannis didn't make your list.