1. Developing the Leader Within You – John C. Maxwell

You don’t develop as a leader accidentally. You develop intentionally. Developing the Leader Within You is John Maxwell’s first leadership book and, in my opinion, one of his best. Don’t miss it.

2. The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations – Barry Z. Posner, James M. Kouzes

Motivational leaders push you to do more, but inspirational leaders pull your best out of you.

If you want your organization to thrive, you have a very specific role to fill. This book will help you pull extraordinary results and growth out of your team.

3. Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended on It – Chris Voss

As a leader, train yourself never to gripe about what you allow. Never complain about something you tolerate. You are the leader—lead to the desired result.

On top of being the most entertaining book on this list, Never Split the Difference teaches you how to tactfully approach every leadership conversation.

4. Predictable Success: Getting Your Organization on the Growth Track—and Keeping It There – Les McKeown

Unlock the blueprint for achieving sustained business growth. This book guides you through the stages of organizational development, teaching you how to lead your team to long-term, predictable success.

5. The 4 Disciplines of Execution: Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals – Sean Covey, Chris McChesney, Jim Huling, Scott Thele, Beverly Walker

Small disciplines done consistently lead to big results over time.

This book helps you lead your team into a rhythm of disciplined accountability. When you get in this rhythm, you’ll be surprised by how much you’re able to get done.

6. The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It – Michael Gerber

If you want to build something big, don’t be afraid to start small.

This book can help you overcome the challenges that take most small organizations out—while growing larger than you ever expected. A modern-day classic.

7. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference – Malcolm Gladwell

When it comes to getting your product or ideas out there, the goal isn’t just to get it into more hands. It’s to get it into the right hands at the right time.

The Tipping Point will help you do that.

8. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You – John C. Maxwell

According to John, “Times change. Technology marches forward. Cultures vary from place to place. But the true principles of leadership are constant.”

Follow these 21 laws, and people will follow your leadership.

9. First, Break All the Rules: What the World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently – Marcus Buckingham, Curt Coffman

What sets great leaders apart? Gallup’s research on 80,000 managers shows what they have in common: non-traditional mindsets that make them great.

10. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...and Others Don’t – Jim Collins

How do you transform an organization on an “okay” trajectory to achieve lasting success? Jim Collins’ classic Good to Great will show you how.

So many team members at Life.Church say this was the book that changed how they work. A must-read.

1. Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results – James Clear

Learn how small, consistent actions can create life-changing outcomes, making this book a must-read for both personal and professional development. Uncover effective techniques to form positive habits and break free from negative ones.

2. Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work – Chip Heath & Dan Heath

This book offers practical strategies to overcome common decision-making pitfalls, helping you make more confident and effective choices in both personal and professional settings. Learn to navigate tough decisions with clarity and insight.

3. Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us – Daniel H. Pink

Explore the science behind motivation and discover what truly drives us to succeed. This book provides valuable insights into harnessing intrinsic motivation for greater performance and satisfaction in work and life.

4. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity – David Allen

Learn effective methods to boost your productivity while reducing stress. This book offers practical tools to organize your tasks and clear your mind, helping you achieve more with ease.

5. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance – Angela Duckworth

Discover how passion and perseverance are key to achieving long-term success. This book delves into the power of grit and how developing it can help you overcome challenges and reach your goals.

6. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success – Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D.

Uncover the power of a growth mindset and how it can unlock your potential for success. This book explains how shifting your thinking can transform challenges into opportunities for growth in all areas of life.

7. Principles: Life and Work – Ray Dalio

Gain valuable insights from one of the world’s most successful investors as he shares the principles that shaped his life and career. This book offers timeless advice on decision-making, leadership, and achieving personal and professional success.

8. Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money – Robert T. Kiyosaki

Learn the key differences in mindset and financial strategies between the wealthy and the poor. This book provides practical lessons on money management, investing, and building wealth for a secure future.

9. The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich – Timothy Ferriss

Discover how to break free from the traditional workweek and design a lifestyle that offers more freedom and fulfillment. This book provides innovative strategies for automating income and maximizing your time.

10. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change – Stephen Covey

Learn the timeless habits that can transform your personal and professional life. This book offers a principle-centered approach to solving problems and achieving lasting effectiveness.

11. The Compound Effect: Jumpstart Your Income, Your Life, Your Success – Darren Hardy

Discover how small, consistent actions can create significant results over time. This book reveals how to harness the power of daily disciplines to transform your life and achieve lasting success.

12. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business – Charles Duhigg

Our daily habits may seem insignificant, but they are the key to achieving the results we desire. This book dives deep into the science of habits, offering insights on how to change them and build a more fulfilling life.

13. Think Like a Freak: The Authors of Freakonomics Offer to Retrain Your Brain – Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner

Challenge your conventional thinking and break free from limiting assumptions. This book provides fresh perspectives to help you rethink your decisions, actions, and leadership strategies for greater success.

1. How to Win Friends & Influence People – Dale Carnegie

The pioneering classic that set the foundation for modern leadership and personal development. Despite being published in 1936, its timeless insights on communication and influence are just as relevant today. If you haven’t read it yet, now’s the time.

2. Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win – Jocko Willink, Leif Babin

True leadership starts with taking full responsibility before placing blame. Embracing Extreme Ownership builds credibility and fosters high-performance processes within your team, organization, and even your family.

3. Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well – Sheila Heen, Douglas Stone

A leader’s ability to seek and receive feedback can profoundly impact an organization. This book offers strategies to embrace feedback, turning it into a powerful tool for personal and professional growth.

4. Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life – Dr. Henry Cloud, Dr. John Townsend

Establishing healthy, intentional boundaries is key to building relationships that bring joy and fulfillment. This book provides the tools to take control of your life by knowing when to say yes and how to say no.

5. The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact – Chip Heath, Dan Heath

Learn how to create meaningful, memorable moments that can transform experiences in both personal and professional settings. This book explores the elements that make certain moments impactful and how to intentionally craft them.

6. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team – Patrick Lencioni

Uncover the common pitfalls that hinder team success and learn strategies to overcome them. This book offers practical insights to build a cohesive, high-performing team by addressing the root causes of dysfunction.

7. Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ – Daniel Goleman

Almost all personal development comes from self-awareness. Mastering Emotional Intelligence plays a big part in helping you become a more self-aware and healthy leader.

8. Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t – Simon Sinek

Great teams aren’t formed by accident; they are built with intention. This book reveals how leaders can foster trust, collaboration, and a sense of safety to create strong, unified teams.

9. Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead – Sheryl Sandberg

An organization thrives not just by what you do, but by who you empower. This essential read offers insights into the challenges female leaders face and how to support and champion them effectively.

10. The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else in Business – Patrick Lencioni

Discover why a healthy organizational culture is the key to long-term success. This book provides practical strategies to build a cohesive team, create clarity, and drive sustainable business results.

11. Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter – Liz Wiseman

Your team’s success is the organization’s success. This book shows how great leaders amplify the intelligence and capabilities of those around them, driving growth and achieving remarkable results.

12. Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action – Simon Sinek

Leading with a clear “why” inspires action, overcomes criticism, and rallies support. This book is an essential guide for leaders looking to motivate and empower their teams effectively.

13. Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High – Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, Emily Gregory

Master the art of navigating high-stakes conversations with confidence and skill. This book provides practical tools to handle difficult discussions, strengthen relationships, and drive positive outcomes.

14. The Ideal Team Player: How to Recognize and Cultivate the Three Essential Virtues – Patrick Lencioni

Learn to identify and develop team members who embody humility, hunger, and emotional intelligence. This book offers actionable insights to build a strong, cohesive team that works effectively together.

14. Unreasonable Hospitality

Will Guidara shares how radical generosity transformed his restaurant into the best in the world. This book reveals how exceptional hospitality can create meaningful, unforgettable experiences in any industry.

1. Building a StoryBrand 2.0: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen

Donald Miller’s updated framework helps businesses communicate clearly by making customers the hero of their story. Learn to craft compelling messages that engage audiences, drive growth, and build lasting connections.

2. Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World – Cal Newport

Your focus shapes your success. To lead effectively, you must concentrate on what matters most, and this book provides the strategies to master deep, undistracted work.

3. Hit Makers: The Science of Popularity in an Age of Distraction – Derek Thompson

Success isn’t about luck; it’s about taking the right actions. This book reveals how to make your ideas stand out and captivate audiences in a world full of distractions.

4. Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die – Chip Heath, Dan Heath

Why do some ideas thrive while others fade away? This book uncovers how to make your ideas memorable using principles like the Velcro theory of memory, the human scale principle, and curiosity gaps.

5. Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable – Seth Godin

Stand out and make a difference with ideas that are truly remarkable. This book shows you how to create something extraordinary that captures attention and refuses to be ignored.

6. Switch on Your Brain: The Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking, and Health – Dr. Caroline Leaf

Change your questions, change your thinking. Dr. Caroline Leaf provides key strategies in this book to transform the way you lead, think, and live.

7. The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles – Steven Pressfield

Creativity often means battling your own inner resistance. This book exposes the mental obstacles we face and provides strategies to overcome them, unlocking your creative potential.

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero reveals how true spiritual growth requires emotional maturity. It challenges believers to break unhealthy patterns, slow down, and develop a deep, transformative relationship with Jesus through self-awareness and inner healing.

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day: A 40-Day Journey with the Daily Office

A daily devotional designed to help believers slow down, connect with God, and cultivate emotional and spiritual maturity through structured prayer, Scripture reading, and reflection rooted in the ancient practice of the Daily Office.

The Emotionally Healthy Leader: How Transforming Your Inner Life Will Deeply Transform Your Church, Team, and the World

Scazzero equips leaders to lead with integrity by addressing emotional health, setting boundaries, prioritizing rest, and developing a healthy team culture, ensuring sustainable leadership rooted in spiritual and emotional wholeness.

Emotionally Healthy Relationships: Discipleship That Deeply Changes Your Relationship With Others 

An interactive eight-session discipleship course teaching practical skills for building healthier relationships, resolving conflict biblically, and integrating emotional and spiritual maturity for deep, lasting transformation in personal and church life.

Emotionally Healthy Relationships Day by Day

A 40-day devotional designed to transform relationships by helping believers develop self-awareness, practice healthy communication, and engage in Christ-centered interactions that foster emotional and spiritual growth in daily life.

Emotionally Healthy Discipleship: Moving from Shallow Christianity to Deep Transformation

Scazzero challenges believers and church leaders to abandon superficial faith, embrace deep spiritual growth, and integrate emotional health with discipleship for a faith that is truly transformative and sustainable.

Beautiful, Disappointing, Hopeful: How Gratitude, Grief, and Grace Reflect the Christian Story

Drew Hyun explores how gratitude, grief, and grace shape the Christian journey, inviting readers to embrace life’s tensions and discover the beauty of God’s redemptive work in every season.