What the Top 1% of Leaders Are Reading in 2025

Hey Leader,

Let’s be real.

Leadership isn’t about being loud, flashy, or the smartest person in the room.
It’s about taking ownership of your evolution, mastering your mind, and showing up every day with clarity, conviction, and consistency.

If you're on this list, I already know you think differently.
You’re not just chasing influence. You’re building legacy.
And part of that journey means feeding your mind with the right tools and teachings.

One of the fastest ways to level up is by reading books that challenge the way you think, shift your perspective, and stretch your leadership capacity.
Books are quiet mentors.
They give you direct access to decades of wisdom from people who’ve been in the fire, built empires, and led others through chaos.

So I’ve put together a list of 20 books that are shaping the minds of real leaders in 2025.
Whether you’re leading a team, running a brand, or becoming the best version of yourself, this list will sharpen your edge and keep your mindset solid.

📚 TOP 20 LEADERSHIP BOOKS TO READ IN 2025

Read them. Study them. Apply them. And watch how you operate on a new level.

1. The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin

This isn’t your traditional leadership book. It’s a meditation on the creative process and how to lead from a place of presence, purpose, and clarity. Rubin reminds you to create from within and lead without noise.
👉 Read it here

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

A modern-day deep dive into unlocking what lies beneath the surface. Grant doesn’t just talk about success. He gives you the science and strategy to unlock greatness—even when you feel like you're behind.
👉 Grab it here

3. Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility by Patty McCord

Written by the former Chief Talent Officer at Netflix, this book flips traditional HR and leadership culture on its head. It’s about building high-performance teams that move with purpose and no fluff.
👉 Buy here

4. The 5 Levels of Leadership by John C. Maxwell

This one is a classic—and for good reason. Maxwell breaks down leadership into 5 levels that help you understand where you are, where you need to grow, and how to earn influence the right way.
👉 Read it here

5. The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

Not for the faint of heart. Greene delivers brutal truth about power, manipulation, strategy, and psychological warfare. Read this with wisdom and maturity.
👉 Study it here

6. Leadership Strategy and Tactics by Jocko Willink

This is battlefield-tested leadership. No fluff. Just hard-earned lessons from war zones to boardrooms. Jocko teaches how to lead through pressure, keep your emotions in check, and win under fire.
👉 Get it here

7. Dare to Lead by Brené Brown

Brown gets real about courage, vulnerability, and leading with empathy. If you’re looking to connect deeper with others while still being effective, this one is a must.
👉 Buy here

8. Atomic Habits by James Clear

You’ve heard the hype—and it lives up to it. This book is about systems over motivation and how tiny decisions shape massive results. Every leader needs this discipline.
👉 Read it here

9. The High 5 Habit by Mel Robbins

Leadership starts with self-trust. Robbins offers simple tools to rewire how you talk to yourself and how you show up for your vision.
👉 Grab your copy

10. Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek

This book explores the biology of leadership and why real leaders prioritize the wellbeing of their people. It’s not about ego—it’s about service and legacy.
👉 Start reading

11. Master of Change by Brad Stulberg

Change is uncomfortable, but inevitable. This book gives you the frameworks to adapt and lead through chaos instead of crumbling under pressure.
👉 Buy here

12. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

If you're feeling stretched thin, this is your reset button. Learn how to say no, simplify your life, and focus only on what truly matters.
👉 Read it here

13. The Earned Life by Marshall Goldsmith

Leadership isn’t given. It’s earned. This book helps you reflect on how to live and lead with intention so you don’t just achieve more—but feel more fulfilled too.
👉 Get it here

14. The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday

Turn trials into triumph. Inspired by stoic philosophy, this book is about using adversity as your advantage. Required reading for every leader who’s in the fire.
👉 Buy it

15. Discipline Is Destiny by Ryan Holiday

The follow-up to “The Obstacle Is the Way,” this one focuses on the most important trait of any real leader—discipline. It’s your edge in a distracted world.
👉 Read here

16. Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara

If you’re building a brand or business, this book will change how you treat people. It’s about going beyond what’s expected—and creating experiences that make you unforgettable.
👉 Grab it here

17. Start With Why by Simon Sinek

Leaders don’t just tell people what to do. They inspire through why. This book helps you clarify your purpose and communicate it in a way that makes others move.
👉 Buy here

18. The Way of the Wolf by Jordan Belfort

Sales is leadership. Whether you like Belfort or not, his Straight Line System teaches confidence, persuasion, and clear communication—vital skills for leaders in any space.
👉 Read it here

19. Winning by Tim S. Grover

Grover doesn’t sugarcoat anything. This book breaks down what it really takes to win—mentally, physically, emotionally. It’s intense. But so is leadership.
👉 Buy here

20. Built Not Born: A Self-Made Leader’s Playbook by Tom Golisano

You already know we live by this motto. Golisano walks through lessons in leadership, decision-making, and business from the lens of someone who built his empire from scratch.
👉 Get it now

Leadership is earned in the dark. In the reps no one sees.
In the books you read. In the moves you make when it’s not convenient.

So don’t just skim this list—pick one book and go all in. Highlight. Journal. Apply.

Tag us @leadersonlyco with the book you're reading and we’ll shout you out on the page.

Let’s get sharper. Let’s get louder. Let’s lead from the front.

— Team Leaders Only