10 Must-Read Books for Current & Aspiring CEOs

Because great leaders never stop learning.

Being a CEO—or working your way there—is about more than calling the shots. It’s about vision, adaptability, emotional intelligence, and continuous growth. One of the easiest and most effective ways to stay sharp as a leader is through reading. Whether you’re running a small business, scaling a startup, or dreaming of your corner office, the right book can inspire, challenge, and transform your leadership mindset.

Here are 10 essential reads that belong on every CEO’s bookshelf (or nightstand):

📚 1. Start with Why by Simon Sinek

A modern classic that dives into the power of purpose. Sinek’s concept of “The Golden Circle” will help you clarify why you do what you do—before you focus on how or what.

📚 2. Good to Great by Jim Collins

Why do some companies soar while others stumble? This research-driven book identifies the leadership traits and strategies that take businesses from average to exceptional.

📚 3. The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

Being a CEO isn’t all vision boards and mission statements. Horowitz offers raw, real-world advice about what it’s actually like to lead a business through the trenches.

📚 4. Dare to Lead by Brené Brown

Courage, vulnerability, and authentic leadership are the focus of this powerful book. It’s a must-read for anyone building teams and culture in today’s workplace.

📚 5. Atomic Habits by James Clear

Small actions lead to massive outcomes. Learn how to build better habits, break bad ones, and create a system of daily improvement that can transform both your life and business.

📚 6. Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek

Yes, Sinek made the list twice—but for good reason. This book explores how truly successful leaders put their people first and create trust-driven organizations.

📚 7. The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

Every CEO needs to understand team dynamics. Lencioni’s storytelling approach makes complex issues around trust, accountability, and conflict management easy to absorb—and act on.

📚 8. Measure What Matters by John Doerr

If you’re not measuring, you’re guessing. This book introduces the OKR (Objectives and Key Results) system used by Google and countless other high-performing companies.

📚 9. Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim & Renée Mauborgne

Instead of battling for market share in a “red ocean,” learn how to create uncontested space for your business with this game-changing approach to strategy and innovation.

📚 10. Who Not How by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy

A reminder that CEOs don’t have to do it all alone. Learn how to focus on who can help you achieve your goals instead of always figuring out how to do it yourself.

Final Thought:

You don’t have to read all 10 this month (though if you do, we salute you!). Start with the one that speaks to your current challenge or growth area. Being a great leader isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about never stopping the pursuit of better ones.

What’s on your leadership reading list right now? Drop your recommendations in the comments or let us know which of these made the biggest impact on you!