There’s a statistic that does the rounds in business circles: the average CEO reads around 60 books a year. Five a month, roughly. Which either sounds deeply impressive or quietly exhausting, depending on your current reading pile.
But the number isn’t really the point. The point is that the people running some of the world’s most demanding organisations — people who are, by any measure, not short of things to do — still make time to read. Consistently, deliberately, and a lot.
That’s not a coincidence. Books offer something that no board meeting, strategy deck, or leadership workshop quite can: perspective. The space to slow down, think clearly, and see a situation from the outside rather than from inside the middle of it. The best business books sharpen how you think about decisions, deepen your understanding of people, and — perhaps surprisingly — can even take the edge off stress, simply by reminding you that whatever you’re facing, someone has navigated something like it before and found a way through.
Why Leaders Turn to Books
Good leadership has always required two things that can feel like opposites: logic and empathy. The ability to make tough calls and the ability to bring people with you when you do. Reading, it turns out, builds both, not through a neat formula, but through accumulated exposure to how other minds have wrestled with the same tensions.
So, which books are actually worth your time? Here’s a curated look at the titles that have earned a permanent place on C-suite bookshelves — and what makes each one worth picking up.
What CEOs Are Reading: Top Business & Leadership Books the C-Suite Swears By
So, let’s explore the titles that have helped the world’s most successful CEOs stay ahead of the curve.
by Peter Thiel
What makes innovation truly groundbreaking? Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal and Palantir, argues that real progress happens when we create something new — not just copy what already exists. Zero to One is a call to think boldly, challenge norms, and build the future rather than compete in the present. Elon Musk himself praises it, saying, “Peter Thiel has built multiple breakthrough companies and Zero to One shows how.” A must-read for anyone serious about entrepreneurship and innovation.
by Simon Sinek
Leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about trust. Simon Sinek reveals how great leaders create environments where people feel safe, valued, and motivated to give their best. Using real-world examples from the military and corporate life, Sinek explains why empathy is a competitive advantage. His central message – leadership is not about being in charge; it’s about taking care of those in your charge – resonates with CEOs across industries.
In this modern classic, Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman explores the two systems that drive human thought: the fast, instinctive mind and the slow, deliberate one. He unpacks how these systems influence every decision we make, from investing to hiring. CEOs like Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates have often cited Kahneman’s insights as essential for understanding bias, improving judgment, and making smarter decisions under pressure.
by Ed Catmull
What happens when art meets leadership? Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull pulls back the curtain on how creative cultures thrive. Creativity, Inc. blends personal stories with management lessons, revealing how Pixar’s teams maintained innovation while scaling up success. The book shows that true leadership means protecting creativity, even when mistakes happen. A favourite among leaders in design, media, and tech.
by Jim Collins
What separates good companies from truly great ones? Jim Collins and his team analysed years of data to identify the key traits of enduring success. The result: a blueprint that’s become a staple on every CEO’s reading list. From disciplined leadership to focused strategy, Good to Great explains how purpose-driven companies outperform competitors in the long run. The book continues to redefine corporate excellence.
Often overlooked, mid-level managers are the backbone of any organisation. This insightful book argues that empowering this tier can unlock massive potential. The authors offer research-backed strategies on hiring, training, and rewarding managers to build stronger companies. Forward-thinking CEOs are already using its principles to bridge the gap between leadership vision and ground-level execution.
In a world of uncertainty, how do leaders stay grounded? This book blends neuroscience and psychology to show how to respond – not react – to change. Through practical frameworks, the authors teach leaders to pause, assess, and make mindful decisions under stress. Many CEOs have embraced Deliberate Calm as a modern leadership manual for the post-pandemic era.
From creative leadership to decision science, these books reveal a powerful truth: the best leaders never stop learning. They read widely not just to gain knowledge, but to understand people, systems, and themselves better.
If you’ve ever wondered what CEOs are reading, let this list be your starting point. Build your own library of leadership wisdom.
