Read to Lead: My Updated Reading List for 2025

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” ~ Dr. Seuss

As Carol Burnett used to say, reading is fundamental. Here is the complete, updated My Reading List 2025.

• Think Ahead. Craig Groeschel.
  • A surprising book. It’s not what you think.
• Don’t Limit God. Andrew Wommack.
  • I read this once per year. Eye-opening truths.
• As a Man Thinketh. James Allen.
  • Must read. One of my friends reads this once a month! Me? Once a year.
• Dream Big. Bob Goff.
• The Power to Change. Craig Groeschel.
• You Don’t Need a Title to be a Leader. Mark Sanborn.
• Difficult Conversations Don’t Have to be Difficult. Jon Gordon.
• Jesus The High Road Leader. John Maxwell & Chris Hodges.
  • Instant classic! If you want to be like Jesus, you have to value people. Value!

Some of the books that are on my list for this year.

• The Energy Bus. Jon Gordon.
• High Road Leader. John Maxwell.
• The Go-Giver Influencer. Bob Burg and John David Mann.
• Find the Work You’re Wired to Do. Ken Coleman.
• The Alchemist.  Paulo Coelho.
• They Call Me Coach. John Wooden.
• Trust. Dr. Henry Cloud.
• A Million Little Miracles. Mark Batterson.
• Encore Effect. Mark Sanborn.

Next to the Bible, these are the books that have greatly influenced me. They are filled with rich nuggets, timeless truths and gems of wisdom.

1. Intentional Living. John Maxwell.
2. Think Ahead. Craig Groeschel.
3. Jesus The High Road Leader. John Maxwell & Chris Hodges.
4. Own Your Past, Change Your Future. John Delony.
5. An Enemy Called Average. John Mason.
6. Never Split the Difference. Chris Voss.
7. The Road Less Stupid. Keith Cunningham.
8. Atomic Habits. James Clear.
9. The Dream Giver. Bruce Wilkinson.
10. The Go-Giver. Bob Burg and John David Mann.
11. Wild at Heart. John Eldredge.
12. Think and Grow Rich. Napoleon Hill.
13. The Greatest Salesman in the World. Og Mandino.
14. The One Thing. Gary Keller.
15. Chase the Lion. Mark Batterson.
16. Rhinoceros Success. Scott Alexander.
17. Three Feet from Gold. Greg Reid.
18. Who Moved My Cheese? Dr. Spencer Johnson.
19. Thinking for a Change. John Maxwell.
20. The Screwtape Letters. C.S. Lewis.

Honorable Mention: The Tale of Three Kings (Gene Edwards), Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (John Mark Comer).

• Think Ahead. Craig Groeschel.
• Jesus The High Road Leader.
• The Dream Giver.
• You Were Born for This.
• The Prayer of Jabez.
• Born to Win.
• Crazy Love.
• The Screwtape Letters.
• The Go-Giver.
• Wild at Heart.
• The Tale of Three Kings.

• Think and Grow Rich.
• Atomic Habits.
• Never Split the Difference.
• Raving Fans.
• The Greatest Salesman in the World.
• Rhinoceros Success.
• Developing the Leader within You.
• The Coaching Habit.
• StoryBrand.

• Best of 2024: Think Ahead (Craig Groeschel).
• Best of 2023: Never Split the Difference. (Chris Voss).
• Best of 2022: The Road Less Stupid (Keith Cunningham).
• Best of 2021: Intentional Living (John Maxwell), hands down.
• Best of 2020: The Coaching Habit (Michael Bungay Stanier).
• Best of 2019: The One Thing (Gary Keller).
• Best of 2018: Born to Win. Zig Ziglar.
• Best of 2017: The Greatest Salesman in the World. Og Mandino.