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The 10 Best Leadership Books of All Time
Whether you lead a team of three or a company of thousands, these leadership and management books are the ones managers still read and pass on. They cover trust, ownership, team culture and the everyday skills of running people well. Each one is still selling today, long after it was first published.
Extreme Ownership#1Extreme Ownership
by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin · first published 2015
Why it is on the list: Navy SEAL officers' No. 1 bestseller, a long-running NYT audio bestseller and top-five Apple business audiobook.
Two former Navy SEAL officers turn lessons from training and combat leadership into principles for business and life. The central idea is that leaders own every outcome, good or bad, rather than blaming others. Each chapter pairs a military story with an example from the corporate world.
Evidence and sources
- No. 13 on the NYT monthly Audio Nonfiction list with 84 weeks on the list (library reproduction of current list) (source)
- No. 8 on the NYT monthly Business Books list (library reproduction; list includes autumn 2024 releases) (source)
- No. 4 on iTunes Top 100 Business audiobooks (PopVortex, viewed 24 Oct 2026) (source)
- New edition hardcover ISBN 9781250183866 (21 Nov 2017); author bios call it a '#1 New York Times bestseller' (source)
Dare to Lead#2Dare to Lead
by Brené Brown · first published 2018
Why it is on the list: A No. 1 New York Times bestseller still on the NYT Business list and Apple's business audiobook chart.
Brené Brown applies her research on courage and vulnerability to the workplace, arguing that daring leaders are made, not born. She covers difficult conversations, trust, values and giving feedback, with tools teams can practise. It is aimed at anyone who leads people, not only executives.
Evidence and sources
- No. 7 on the NYT monthly Business Books list (library reproduction; list includes autumn 2024 releases) (source)
- No. 30 on iTunes Top 100 Business audiobooks (PopVortex, viewed 24 Oct 2026) (source)
- No. 3 in Forbes' 'The 25 Top Self-Help Books For Personal Growth' (source)
- Hardcover ISBN 9780399592522 (9 Oct 2018): '#1 New York Times bestseller'; one of Bloomberg's best books of the year (source)
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team#3The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
by Patrick Lencioni · first published 2002
Why it is on the list: Two million copies sold, and still a top-20 iTunes business audiobook more than 20 years later.
Through a business fable, Lencioni shows how absent trust, fear of conflict, weak commitment, avoided accountability and inattention to results undermine teams. It suits team leaders who want a simple model for diagnosing team problems.
Evidence and sources
- No. 20 on iTunes Top 100 Business audiobooks (PopVortex, viewed 24 Oct 2026) (source)
- Has sold over two million copies (training partner product page) (source)
- First published 2002; appeared on NYT, BusinessWeek, WSJ and USA Today bestseller lists (source)
- 20th Anniversary Edition hardcover ISBN 9780787960759 (source)
The Speed of Trust#4The Speed of Trust
by Stephen M. R. Covey · first published 2006
Why it is on the list: Over two million copies sold, and still a top iTunes business audiobook.
Covey argues that trust is a practical skill that changes how fast and how cheaply work gets done. He breaks trust into character and competence, then lays out behaviours that build it with colleagues, customers and partners. The book mixes research, business cases and personal stories.
Evidence and sources
Start with Why#5Start with Why
by Simon Sinek · first published 2009
Why it is on the list: Sinek's three-million-copy bestseller got a 15th anniversary edition in 2025 and is still popular on TikTok.
Sinek argues that leaders and organisations inspire loyalty when they communicate their purpose first, then how and what they do. It suits founders, managers and marketers who want to clarify and communicate a compelling reason for their work.
Evidence and sources
- Publisher page: 15th Anniversary Edition published 13 May 2025; book 'captivating millions on TikTok'; TED talk 56 million+ views (source)
- Publisher (Penguin UK): 'has sold more than three million copies' (source)
- Published 2009 by Portfolio; its 2010 TED talk is one of the most-viewed TED talks (source)
- Ranked bestselling leadership book (mid-2016 to mid-2017 print sales) (source)
- US paperback ISBN 9781591846444 (source)
Turn the Ship Around!#6Turn the Ship Around!
by L. David Marquet · first published 2013
Why it is on the list: Named one of the 12 best business books of all time, and still on Apple's business ebook chart.
A submarine captain describes how he took over one of the US Navy's worst-performing subs and made it one of the best by giving his crew control instead of issuing orders. He turns the experience into a leader-leader model any team can use. The story is gripping and the lessons are concrete.
Evidence and sources
High Output Management#7High Output Management
by Andrew S. Grove · first published 1983
Why it is on the list: Intel's former CEO wrote a Silicon Valley management bible that still charts on Apple's business lists.
Intel's former CEO explains management as a production process: a manager's output is the output of their team. Grove covers meetings, decisions, planning, one-on-ones and performance reviews, and introduced ideas behind the OKR goal-setting method. It is practical and still widely recommended to new managers.
Evidence and sources
- Ranked about No. 24 in Apple Books' Top Business & Finance ebooks and No. 48 in iTunes business audiobooks (PopVortex, viewed 24 Oct 2026) (source)
- Written 1983; Ben Horowitz says it has 'almost legendary status'; praised by Mark Zuckerberg and Brian Chesky (source)
- Vintage paperback ISBN 9780679762881 (source)
The Dichotomy of Leadership#8The Dichotomy of Leadership
by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin · first published 2018
Why it is on the list: The follow-up to Extreme Ownership is a No. 1 national bestseller that is still in Apple's business top 15.
The authors of Extreme Ownership tackle the balancing acts every leader faces: being confident but not arrogant, disciplined but flexible, close to the team but not too close. Combat stories from Iraq illustrate each principle, followed by business examples. It works best read after the first book.
Evidence and sources
Team of Teams#9Team of Teams
by General Stanley McChrystal et al. · first published 2015
Why it is on the list: A US general's New York Times bestseller on leading in fast-changing times, still on Apple's business chart.
General Stanley McChrystal describes how the US task force fighting al-Qaeda in Iraq had to abandon rigid command structures to keep up with a fast, networked enemy. The book explains how sharing information widely and trusting small teams can make big organisations more adaptable. Business and military examples run side by side.
Evidence and sources
The Making of a Manager#10The Making of a Manager
by Julie Zhuo · first published 2019
Why it is on the list: An instant Wall Street Journal bestseller for first-time managers, still on Apple's business ebook chart.
A former Facebook design executive who became a manager at 25 writes the guide she wished she had. Zhuo covers running meetings, giving feedback, hiring and building trust with a team, using her own mistakes as examples. It is friendly and practical, aimed squarely at new managers.
Evidence and sources
Frequently asked questions
What is the best leadership book of all time?
On our list it is Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. Navy SEAL officers' No. 1 bestseller, a long-running NYT audio bestseller and top-five Apple business audiobook.
Which leadership book should I read first?
Start with the top three: Extreme Ownership, Dare to Lead and The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. They are the most popular books in this genre right now, and each one is a good way into the rest of the list.
Are these books still popular today?
Yes. Every book here has evidence of strong sales or readership from the last few years, which you can see under “Evidence and sources” on each book. That is the main difference between this list and lists that only look back at history.
How often is this list updated?
We review it about once a month against current bestseller charts and change a book only when the evidence clearly changes.
Apart from this list, see the books we love most, hand-picked by QuickOnlineTips.
How we chose these books
1. Still selling and read today
Every book shows current demand from roughly the last three years: Audible best-seller charts (Audible is owned by Amazon), US independent bookstore bestseller lists from the American Booksellers Association, Publishers Weekly and Circana BookScan sales figures, and similar charts. Old books that nobody buys any more do not make the cut.
2. A proven track record
Every book has a strong record behind it: very large sales, a major award (such as the Pulitzer, Booker, Newbery or Hugo), a place on a respected list (such as the Modern Library 100, TIME 100 or the BBC Big Read), or a big recent hit with a film or TV version. A book does not have to be old: new bestsellers can join as soon as the evidence is there.
3. Written for adult readers
This is a list for grown-up readers, so some books include mature or steamy scenes, and some deal with hard themes such as war, crime, abuse or loss. For younger readers, see the Children's and Young Adult pages.
Within each genre, books are ranked with current popularity weighted most, then lasting reputation. We review the list about once a month and swap a book only when the evidence clearly changes.
Book covers: Open Library. Links to each book go to Amazon. Last reviewed: October 2026.
More of the best books of all time
See the full 200 best books of all time list, or explore more nonfiction genres: Self-Help Books, Productivity Books, Psychology Books, Communication and Relationship Books, Business Books, Personal Finance Books, Investing Books, Biographies and Memoirs, History and Big Ideas Books.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, QuickOnlineTips earns from qualifying purchases.
