Recommended Readings

Today I am starting a list of recommended readings.  As I move forward and read a good book, I will be sure to put it here.  Blogs have a spot on a readings list and if I find a good one, you will be able to find a link to it here.  There are hundreds of books on leadership and many more blogs so this will be far from an exhaustive list, but I will try to find some of the best resources and list them here.  Each title is linked to an applicable page where this resource can be purchased.  

21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell

This book is raved about all over my blog, but this is where my leadership journey started and as such, it will sit atop any list of leadership materials that I write about.  There is so much that can be learned from this book about leadership and is a good introduction to the writing style of John Maxwell.  If you like this book, there are numerous other books by Mr. Maxwell, some of which will be listed here later on.

Proverbs, The Bible

This book is loaded with life lessons and there are chapters about leadership included in the book.  If King Solomon, often considered the wisest man ever, is attributed to this work then it probably can be helpful in your life.  31 chapters makes for an easy monthly read and these verses really can pay dividends in your life.

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

This was one of the first self help books and still is widely regarded today.  A book that stands the test of time like this book has is a testament to the timelessness of this material.  While this is not necessarily, a leadership book like other works I will list, if you cannot get along with people you will not be an effective leader or even a leader at all.  Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this timeless classic.

7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

This book by Steven Covey focuses on personal qualities like honesty and integrity, but these are some of the foundations for effective leadership.  A leader without the seven habits found in this piece cannot be an effective leader.  Make sure your foundation is secure and give Mr. Covey’s book a read.

Developing the Leader Within You by John Maxwell

I might be biased toward Mr. Maxwell based on my experience with his teaching and his writing, but I truly believe that his work is worthy of inclusion on this list.  This book both reassures a young leader that yes they have innate leadership ability, and also gives them the tools to increase their leadership ability.  This book also includes the five levels of leadership model, which provides a great view of the pathway to being a person of great influence and leadership.  There is a nice video on YouTube of Mr. Maxwell explaining his model, which can be found by searching for “John Maxwell The 5 Levels of Leadership.”  This is a nearly 30 minute video, but it would be well worth your time investment to watch.

Leadership: Promises for Every Day by John Maxwell

This book is a daily devotional, and as such contains a bible verse on every page.  While that might keep this from being a book for everyone, this book is full of bite-sized leadership teachings.  Each small packet of information includes what book the idea or passage came from giving you the ability to follow up on apiece that particularly struck you.  Pair this book with a daily chapter from proverbs and your day can start or end with a 5-minute leadership lesson.

What it takes to be Number 1 by Vince Lombardi and Vince Lombardi Jr.

This is a very short book full of quotes and passages attributed to the famous coach of the Green Bay Packers.  Any football or sports fan in general will love this book, and most people know what a great leader of men Vince Lombardi was. 

Coaching Wisdom by Mike Harrity

This book is specifically written for coaches, but coaching is part of what we are about here.  Many of the topics covered in this book are relevant to a manager in any situation.  Building a caring environment and motivating and inspiring your team are just two of the chapters included in this book.  With profiles on some of the most successful coaches on all time, there is a lot of wisdom that can be garnered from these great coaches. 

The 101 Collection by John Maxwell

This collection is a composition of 4 individual books that all are worth reading.   With Lessons on Relationships, Equipping, Attitude, and Leadership this book can be a quick manual for a new leader, as the name 101 collection suggests.  Each book is around 100 pages making it easy to read one of the four books in the collection in an afternoon.  This book along with the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership makes for a great foundation for any leader to build on. 

Sometimes you Win Sometimes you Learn by John Maxwell

This book centers on what to do when the sun is not shining and how to get back to good times again.  This book is great for a coach and a leader because it focuses on how to learn from your mistakes so you can lead the change that results in fewer failures.  Speaking of failure, this book emphasizes that a good leader is not scared of failure or bad experiences, but uses these as learning tools to make them and their team better in the future.

As far as blogs are concerned, I will obviously recommend John Maxwell’s blog, which is linked here.  With nice weekly posts in short easy to read packages, this is a great blog to follow. 

Another blog to check out is Jon Gordon's blog.  The author of books such as The Energy Bus is a great resource on leadership.  While he does not provide the most frequent updates, his archive is full of great information on leadership. 

A great blog for leaders is Skip Prichard's blog which is linked here.  Skip Prichard post more frequently than the previous two blog authors and his posts contain some great information on leadership.  Also available right now is a free e-book on servant leadership through his blog.

I will be adding more blogs in the near futures as well as a book or two that I am reading right now. 

If you feel I have left off any book, please leave me a comment or drop me a line. 

web counter