The Top Ten: Books (Leadership)

Having served as a leader in various organizations and roles over the years, I've come to appreciate just how difficult it is.  (I reflect on the reality of leadership here).  One invaluable resource for leaders is other leaders, as many good ones have shared their experiences in books.

image from here

The below selections are my favorite books concerning leadership.

1. The Path Between the Seas (David McCullough)

I tried not to repeat any titles in my 'top ten' lists this month, but this book is just too good to ignore (it appeared on my history list, too).  The myriad leaders involved in this project is an excellent case study; I look at them at a high level here.

2. Conviction to Lead (Albert Mohler)

Mohler gives 25 principles (or characteristics) of leaders.  Very helpful and informative.

3. The Essential Drucker (Peter Drucker)

Drucker wrote for over 60 years about leadership; this book is a collection of texts summarizing his insights.  He was amazingly prescient in several respects.

4. Storied Leadership (Keith Martel)

Martel looks at leadership as a relationship that emerges in a narrative context.  Very well done.

5. TED Talks (Chris Anderson)

Leaders must know how to speak (I summarize public speaking here).  Anderson's book is an excellent overview on the topic, as he shares insights from the world-renowned TED speakers.

6. The Dilbert Principle (Scott Adams)

A brutally honest, hilarious, and valuable look at leadership.  We're all idiots- even leaders.

7. Good to Great (Jim Collins)

Collins and his team studied 1000 companies, then focused on 15 that went from mediocre to amazing and identified common characteristics.  Very interesting stuff.

8. Patton on Leadership (Alan Axelrod)

Axelrod takes 183 sayings from Patton in this choppy, yet valuable, resource.

9. Monday Morning Leadership (David Cottrell)

Written as a series of eight (fictional) counseling sessions between mentor and mentee, Cottrell's book is a good and quick read.

10. The Tipping Point (Malcolm Gladwell)

Gladwell looks at little things that make a big difference, discussing his three rules in this vein.  Quite interesting.

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My main leadership page has more books, organized topically, for those interested.