100 books like The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership Workbook

By John C. Maxwell,

Here are 100 books that The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership Workbook fans have personally recommended if you like The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership Workbook. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

Mindy Vail Author Of The MindShift Effect: Where Change Management is Redefined and Leadership is Refined

From my list on being authentic and empowered.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m Mindy Vail, and with over 25 years in education and change management, I’ve spent my career as a leadership consultant and keynote speaker. My passion for the book list I’ve put together comes from my work in guiding individuals and organizations through transformation and my dedication to helping others find their joy. Each book reflects my commitment to embracing change, nurturing leadership, and unlocking potential. My insights come from hands-on experience and a deep understanding of psychology, leadership, and personal growth, and I believe we are all ever-evolving in our journeys.

Mindy's book list on being authentic and empowered

Mindy Vail Why did Mindy love this book?

This one resonates with me because James Clear’s insights on the power of small, consistent changes align seamlessly with my approach to personal and professional growth. The book’s emphasis on how tiny adjustments can lead to significant, lasting transformation struck a powerful chord.

Clear’s focus on habit formation and mindset shifts reinforced my belief that incremental progress and intentional practices are essential for achieving meaningful change. Reading Atomic Habits inspires me to fully embrace the idea that even minor adjustments in behavior and thinking can have a profound impact on overall success and personal development. This has helped me in almost every aspect of my life.


By James Clear,

Why should I read it?

28 authors picked Atomic Habits as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The #1 New York Times bestseller. Over 4 million copies sold!

Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results

No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving--every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.

If you're having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn't you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don't want to change, but because you have the…


Book cover of The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results

Anna Dearmon Kornick Author Of Time Management Essentials: The Tools You Need to Maximize Your Attention, Energy, and Productivity

From my list on how to live your best life.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a time management coach, author, keynote speaker, host of the top 1% ranked time management podcast It’s About Time, and founder of the It’s About Time Academy (a community of people who want to make time for what matters most). I help busy professionals and business owners struggling with overwhelm manage their time with my signature HEART Method. I’ve been devouring time management books for over a decade now—so I hope you enjoy these time management reads as much as I did!

Anna's book list on how to live your best life

Anna Dearmon Kornick Why did Anna love this book?

This book was amazing for helping me when I felt stuck and wanted to make a change in my life. This book is all about the power of focus (and not just about avoiding distractions when you’re working). It gave me a focus for my life, and it gave me the tools, examples, and inspiration to break that big-picture focus into smaller pieces… so everything suddenly felt doable.

I loved using the book’s Focusing Question to identify the ONE thing that would make everything in my life easier.

By Gary Keller, Jay Papasan,

Why should I read it?

10 authors picked The ONE Thing as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

YOU WANT LESS. You want fewer distractions and less on your plate. The daily barrage of e-mails, texts, tweets, messages, and meetings distract you and stress you out. The simultaneous demands of work and family are taking a toll. And what's the cost? Second-rate work, missed deadlines, smaller paychecks, fewer promotions-and lots of stress. AND YOU WANT MORE. You want more productivity from your work. More income for a better lifestyle. You want more satisfaction from life, and more time for yourself, your family, and your friends. NOW YOU CAN HAVE BOTH-LESS AND MORE. In The ONE Thing, you'll learn…


Book cover of The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader's Day: Revitalize Your Spirit and Empower Your Leadership

Roger Patterson Author Of Leading from the Second Chair: Serving Your Church, Fulfilling Your Role, and Realizing Your Dreams

From my list on how to become the leader you want to be.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a leader. I see things through leadership lenses. Everything rises and falls on leaders, so if we want to prosper, we must raise strong leaders. Having led for 30 years and taught leadership for 20, I know that if we want to improve our education systems, have great choices in politics, grow healthy organizations, and build strong families, we must have strong leaders. So, I wake up every day to be a better leader and help the leaders on my team grow in their leadership. For some it is easier than others, but everyone can grow their influence and their leadership capacity.

Roger's book list on how to become the leader you want to be

Roger Patterson Why did Roger love this book?

This is the companion book to The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Here is where the pastor in Dr. Maxwell emerges because he shows his readers the depth of leadership lessons and stories in the Bible.

Consider doing what I did…Make a flash card with the name of the leadership law on one side and the biblical character and the sentence that accompanies that leadership law on the other. Further, these daily readings will help you grow spiritually as you navigate your leadership journey.

By John C. Maxwell,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader's Day as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Leadership can be a heavy load, wearing you down over time. In The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader's Day, you will learn the daily habit that can transform your leadership and organization from the world's #1 leadership expert.

John Maxwell, the #1 New York Times bestselling author, coach, and speaker, gives the roadmap to becoming a more principled and effective leader. Each chapter offers simple to read and understand laws of leadership, inspired by Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, the bestselling leadership book of all time. These pages are filled with practical insights and memorable tips…


Book cover of Be the Unicorn: 12 Data-Driven Habits that Separate the Best Leaders from the Rest

Roger Patterson Author Of Leading from the Second Chair: Serving Your Church, Fulfilling Your Role, and Realizing Your Dreams

From my list on how to become the leader you want to be.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a leader. I see things through leadership lenses. Everything rises and falls on leaders, so if we want to prosper, we must raise strong leaders. Having led for 30 years and taught leadership for 20, I know that if we want to improve our education systems, have great choices in politics, grow healthy organizations, and build strong families, we must have strong leaders. So, I wake up every day to be a better leader and help the leaders on my team grow in their leadership. For some it is easier than others, but everyone can grow their influence and their leadership capacity.

Roger's book list on how to become the leader you want to be

Roger Patterson Why did Roger love this book?

He’s the only author on this list that I know personally. And here is what I want you to know: William Vanderbloemen is the real deal. He values data. He values principles. He values you. Having watched him build his business from the ground up and provide a service to not-for-profit leaders across the United States, I can’t help but let you know that you have to pay attention to William’s message in this book.

He is the unicorn, and his book gives leaders key habits that will help separate them from everyone else around them. William does a great job making these habits accessible and achievable. Do you need to be faster, more authentic, more curious, or purpose-driven? If so, grab this resource and grow.

By William Vanderbloemen,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Be the Unicorn as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"This book is one of the most worthwhile and immediately usable reads I have come across in a long time." -Kiplinger

Want to stand out from the crowd? We have studied 30,000 top leaders and have discovered the 12 habits they share that make them as rare as a unicorn. Learn these habits, and you'll be one of the best at whatever you do!

How do I stand out? How do I become irreplaceable? With a crowded workforce, an unstable job landscape, and the rise of AI, these questions are the ones that everyone either is or should be asking.…


Book cover of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You

Paul Gavoni Author Of Quick Wins! Using Behavior Science to Accelerate and Sustain School Improvement

From my list on improve organizational performance in any industry.

Why am I passionate about this?

Navigating through schools with profound behavioral challenges firsthand, I've felt the pressing need for a shift. An undeniable call. Enter Organizational Behavior Management (OBM), leadership, and systems thinking. Remember that school everyone had given up on? With the precision of OBM, and the right dose of leadership, I've seen it transform from chaos to cohesion. My role? Think of me as a coach, steering schools towards structured strategies, turning behavioral disruptions into harmonious learning ecosystems. In the intricate dance between behavioral science and leadership, I stand firm, unwavering in my commitment to reshape schools, ensuring they rise from their challenges to become paragons of growth and transformation.

Paul's book list on improve organizational performance in any industry

Paul Gavoni Why did Paul love this book?

In diving into this book, I couldn't help but draw parallels between Maxwell's teachings and our foundational principles of Organizational Behavior Management (OBM). Although Maxwell isn't exactly a card-carrying behavior scientist, his wisdom on topics like vision, influence, and commitment resonates deeply with OBM practices I've come to advocate for.

He's revamped the book with modern examples, making it all the more relevant in today's business world. Yet, the core truths—those unshakeable leadership tenets—remain. Through my lens, blending Maxwell's insights with OBM's evidence-based strategies can empower anyone navigating the complex world of leadership.

This isn't just another leadership book; it's a bridge between traditional leadership wisdom and the pragmatic, results-driven approach of OBM. Highly recommended for those with a passion for melding theory with real-world solutions.

By John C. Maxwell,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

What would happen if a leadership expert were willing to distill everything he's learned in his 30+ years of experience into a handful of life-changing principles just for you? It would change your life.

Internationally-recognized leadership expert and bestselling author John C. Maxwell wrote his million-seller The 21 Laws of Leadership over ten years ago. Now, this expanded and updated edition of one of the most trusted and referenced leadership books features revised content that is fundamental to any leader.

Maxwell provides new learnings that makes his original bestseller bigger and better including:

Sharpening and updating every Law of Leadership…


Book cover of The Transformation Factor: Leading Your Company for Good, for God, and for Growth

Gary Harpst Author Of Built to Beat Chaos: Biblical Wisdom for Leading Yourself and Others

From my list on applying Christian principles to business and leadership.

Why am I passionate about this?

Following several years of working for the Ohio State University and Marathon Oil, I co-founded and became CEO of Solomon Software, originally named TLB, Inc. (The Lord’s Business) headquartered in Findlay, Ohio. We grew to more than 400 employees and $60 million in revenue, servicing over 40,000 clients worldwide, and then sold our company to Great Plains Software and that combined business was sold to Microsoft six months later. I later established Solomon Cloud Solutions, a technology consulting service firm for Microsoft Independent Software Vendors and Microsoft Business Solutions Channel Partners. Now, I assist businesses and organizations with implementing leadership development systems that will help them grow with a company called LeadFirst.ai.

Gary's book list on applying Christian principles to business and leadership

Gary Harpst Why did Gary love this book?

This book shows us an example of a generational change of leadership and details a spiritual epiphany which leads to the transformation of an organization, now employing over 17,000 people.

And it all started with a young CEO who sensed that he did not have the same kind of attention and accountability to his purpose in Jesus Christ as he did to his stockholders from a return-on-investment point of view. 

I love how this story illustrates the power we have to impact the lives of people around us when we lead our businesses in a way that aligns with God’s purposes.

By J Frank Harrison III,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Transformation Factor as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Culture Is Everything. A good leader builds and establishes a company culture people want to be a part of. A transformational leader elevates that, cultivating a culture in which everyone-from the top down-is empowered to use their talents to live and work at their best. As the chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Consolidated, the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States, J. Frank Harrison III knows firsthand the importance of not only prioritizing culture but also living out and modeling the values that drive it. He believes every person in an organization matters and how they are led matters just…


Book cover of Leading with Noble Purpose: How to Create a Tribe of True Believers

Roberta Chinsky Matuson Author Of Can We Talk?: Seven Principles for Managing Difficult Conversations at Work

From my list on maximizing your talent.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m one of the world’s leading experts on the maximization of talent, who is the author of six books on leadership and talent. I’m also a LinkedIn Top Voice in Leadership and Workplace, and one of the few people who was a guest on The O’Reilly Factor, with Bill O’Reilly, who left the show unscathed.

Roberta's book list on maximizing your talent

Roberta Chinsky Matuson Why did Roberta love this book?

All too often, managers try to motivate their employees with money and outrageous perks. If that stuff worked, these companies would have a fully engaged workforce. Leadership expert Lisa Earle McLeod tackles the employee engagement crisis by showing leaders how to put workplace meaning front and center. Lisa’s book includes plenty of examples of how to put her words into action. It’s an easy read, with a very important message.

By Lisa Earle McLeod,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Leading with Noble Purpose as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Profit doesn't drive purpose. Purpose drives profit. We made some incorrect assumptions about work and those assumptions are killing us. We allowed a narrative that is solely about earnings to replace what we know to be true about human motivation. Human beings are hardwired to seek purpose, but according to data, most people don't feel a sense of purpose in their work. Work has become a grind, an endless series of tasks that lack meaning. Building upon her bestseller Selling with Noble Purpose, leadership expert Lisa Earle McLeod tackles the employee engagement crisis by showing leaders how to put workplace…


Book cover of H3 Leadership: Be Humble. Stay Hungry. Always Hustle.

Ron Kitchens Author Of Uniquely You: Transform Your Organization by Becoming the Leader Only You Can Be

From my list on leadership books about leading with heart and soul.

Why am I passionate about this?

Growing up as a dyslexic kid with teenage parents and losing my dad at four, I spent my life searching for role models who turned their unique stories into something impactful. I’ve had the privilege of meeting all these incredible authors, learning about their journeys, and even calling a few of them friends. What sets them apart is their unwavering commitment to being real and transparent in their leadership. They don’t just lead—they use their experiences to make life better for the people they serve and to create positive change in the world around them. Their stories are proof that true leadership comes from authenticity and purpose.

Ron's book list on leadership books about leading with heart and soul

Ron Kitchens Why did Ron love this book?

This is a game-changing book for leaders looking to stay relevant, adaptable, and authentic in today’s fast-paced world. Lomenick distills leadership into three essential traits: Humble, Hungry, and Hustle. Through a combination of practical insights and personal stories, he provides actionable habits that leaders can adopt to improve themselves and their teams.

Lomenick encourages leaders to embrace humility, never lose their hunger for learning and growth, and maintain a relentless drive to get things done. This book offers a roadmap for becoming a leader who not only achieves results but also inspires and empowers others, making it a must-read for anyone serious about long-term leadership success.

H3—Humble, Hungary, and Hustle exemplifies Brad Lomenick’s life and commitment to lifting up everyone around him. After reading this book, you will understand why Brad is referred to as the most connected Christian leader in America. 

By Brad Lomenick,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked H3 Leadership as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The patterns we cultivate shape the person we each become.

Be Humble. Stay Hungry. Always Hustle. These powerful words describe the leader who is willing to work hard, get it done, and make sure it's not about him or her; the leader who knows that influence is about developing the right habits for success.

Brad Lomenick, former president of Catalyst, shares his hard-earned insights from more than two decades of work alongside thought-leaders such as Jim Collins and Malcom Gladwell, Fortune 500 CEOs and start-up entrepreneurs.

Operating within the framework of three core character qualities - humble, hungry, hustle -…


Book cover of The High Potential's Advantage: Get Noticed, Impress Your Bosses, and Become a Top Leader

Angela Champ Author Of The Squiggly Line Career: How Changing Professions Can Advance a Career in Unexpected Ways

From my list on accelerating your career.

Why am I passionate about this?

Although I’ve worked in many professions and industries, a common theme in all my jobs is that I love helping people succeed in their careers. I’ve started or sponsored employee networks that focused on professional development, I’m a certified coach that focuses on propelling a client’s career, and I am a conference keynote speaker on the topics of careers and leadership. Everyone deserves to have a great career that makes them want to jump out of bed on Monday morning and that provides a good living and lifestyle. I love to make that happen!

Angela's book list on accelerating your career

Angela Champ Why did Angela love this book?

If you’re early- or mid-career and seeking to climb the ladder, this book offers great advice on how to advance and how to position yourself as high potential within your organization. 

The authors look at five key differentiators, which they call the “X factors,” that set people apart from average performers.

I’ve worked in large and small companies throughout my career and can attest that these “X factors” really are what we look for when we are deciding who is a key player within our organization.

By Jay Conger, Allan Church,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The High Potential's Advantage as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Do You Know What It Takes to Be a High Potential in Your Organization?

Being seen as a high-potential leader is essential to getting promoted and reaching your organization's upper echelons, but most companies keep their top-talent list a closely guarded secret. And the assessment process they use to decide who is and isn't a future leader is an even greater mystery.

The High Potential's Advantage takes you behind the scenes and shows how you can get on, and stay on, your company's fast track. Leadership development experts Jay Conger and Allan Church draw upon decades of research and experience--designing…


Book cover of The Visibility Mindset: How Asian American Leaders Create Opportunities and Push Past Barriers

Sheena Yap Chan Author Of The Tao of Self-Confidence: A Guide to Moving Beyond Trauma and Awakening the Leader Within

From my list on dismantling negative stereotypes of Asian and Pacific Island women.

Why am I passionate about this?

This is a topic that is very passionate for me since growing up in Toronto, and I never had any role models that look like me to look up to. I wanted to showcase powerful Asian women authors to show others what is possible and that we can also dismantle the negative stereotypes we still face. I want to be able to create better representation for Asian women in the media, and highlighting these amazing authors is a great way to showcase that.

Sheena's book list on dismantling negative stereotypes of Asian and Pacific Island women

Sheena Yap Chan Why did Sheena love this book?

This is a great guide for any Asian professional who wants to create more visibility in the workplace.  There are great interviews from leaders and tips that you can use in your own journey. 

It’s such a timely book for anyone who wants to advance in their career and be seen as a leader in their industry.

By Bernice M. Chao, Jessalin Lam,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Visibility Mindset as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Explore the challenges faced by Asian professionals and how to overcome them.

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"A must-read if you're ready to unlock your full potential!"
-Tiffany Pham, Founder and CEO, Mogul

Find your voice, own your story, and elevate your professional life. In The Visibility Mindset: How Asian American Leaders Create Opportunities and Push Past Barriers, Chao and Lam deliver an engaging and enlightening treatment of how Asian American professional leaders have powered through the obstacles in their way. Exploring a variety of myths,…


Book cover of Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
Book cover of The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results
Book cover of The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader's Day: Revitalize Your Spirit and Empower Your Leadership

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