Give and Take, by Adam Grant

Grant’s book, which Stanford professor Bob Sutton says “just might be the most important book of this young century,” examines just how successful people can be when they give more than they take. Grant, a professor at Wharton, uses convincing research and anecdotes to show how givers are primed to succeed in a team-oriented, service-driven world, while also examining what holds them back.

Courtesy of Viking Adult

The Bully Pulpit, by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin has delivered yet another tale of our past presidents, this time examining the relationship — first friends, then enemies — between Theodore Roosevelt and Taft. Called “a notable, psychologically charged study in leadership” by Kirkus Reviews, Goodwin’s timely book reveals the stark differences between the two men’s styles and how their personal feud changed history.

Courtesy of Simon & Schuster

I Am Malala, by Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani girl who has become a symbol for girls’ education and the youngest-ever nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, shares her story in a tale that should inspire leaders with the power of her courage.

Courtesy of Little, Brown /

Act of Congress, by Robert Kaiser

To write this book, The Washington Post’s Robert Kaiser had extraordinary behind-the-scenes access over 18 months to the players involved in creating the Dodd-Frank Act, the sweeping financial reform legislation. But the book is more than an analysis of a law. “Act of Congress” reveals the personalities behind the bill, the leading roles played by lawmakers’ staffs, and an up-close view of the partisan dysfunction that prevails in Washington.

Courtesy of Knopf /

Lean In, by Sheryl Sandberg

Few books made more of an impact on our cultural conversation this year than the Facebook executive’s “sort of a feminist manifesto” (as she calls it) for professional women. It was not without controversy: The book was criticized for putting the onus for change on women rather than institutions and society, among other things. But it is also a worthy read, not only to keep up with cocktail-party chatter, but for the smart and candid career advice it contains.

Courtesy of Knopf /

Wonder Women, by Debora Spar

In a year dominated by Sandberg’s book “Lean In,” it might seem there’s little left to say about the advancement of women. But the Barnard College president’s book — which examines the high expectations society holds for women and how women struggle to reach them — adds plenty to the conversation through insightful research, well-argued rationales for change and, most of all, candid and humorous stories from her personal life and career.

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Bleeding Talent, by Tim Kane

Though released at the end of 2012, we’re including Kane’s book for his sharp analysis of what the military needs to do to keep its best leaders. Kane persuasively argues that unless the military gives its officers and enlistees more control over their careers and their hiring decisions — and unless it starts to recognize merit more than seniority — it will continue losing its best people.

Courtesy of Palgrave Macmillan /

The End of Power, by Moises Naim

Naim, a columnist and former editor in chief of Foreign Policy, tracks the shifts underway in nearly every corner of society, from corporations to religion, governments to education. In this “sophisticated” work, as a Post reviewer called it, Naim examines a world in which weakened leaders face a multitude of forces he terms micropowers — “insurgents, fringe political parties, innovative start-ups” and the like — that are shaking up traditional power structures.

/ Courtesy of Basic Books

Decisive, by Chip and Dan Heath

The Heath brothers, the duo behind the bestsellers “Switch” and “Made to Stick,” are at it again with another clever how-to guide, this time for making better choices. The authors offer a thorough but accessible look at research about how we make decisions, as well as provide a four-step process for making better ones.

Courtesy of Crown Business /

Creative Confidence, by Tom and David Kelley

Another set of brothers make our list. Tom is a partner at the innovation and design firm IDEO; David is its founder, as well as the creator of Stanford University’s design school. In “Creative Confidence”, these respected minds in the world of innovation and design offer an inspiring guide to help anyone tap into their inner artist.

Courtesy of Crown Business /

The Kennedy Half Century, by Larry Sabato

Timed to the 50th anniversary of J.F.K.’s assassination, this book from Sabato, a political science professor at the University of Virginia, examines Kennedy’s successes and failures as president, explores the questions of his assassination, and looks at the influence he had on the leaders who would hold the job after him.

Courtesy of Bloomsbury /

Playing to Win, by A.G. Lafley and Roger Martin

A practical guide to strategy, “Playing to Win” uses examples from Lafley’s first tenure at Procter & Gamble (he’s returned as chief executive since the book was published) to show how five key strategic choices made a difference in the company’s success. With Martin, a strategic adviser to Lafley and former dean of the Rotman School of Management, “Playing to Win” is a rare tale from the front lines of business and from two of its smartest minds.

Courtesy of HBS press /

To Sell is Human, by Daniel Pink

Leadership might not seem like a sales job, but Pink makes the argument that leading others, as well as doing almost any job these days, is really a persuasive art. Through surprising research and fresh insights, Pink’s analysis of what it really means to influence others is provocative, accessible and engaging.

Courtesy of Riverhead Books /

Contagious, by Jonah Berger

Berger, a young Wharton professor, turns Malcolm Gladwell’s “The Tipping Point” on its head, focusing on what kind of messages get shared with others rather than who the messenger might be. Using six principles to describe why ideas or content spread, Berger offers a data-driven approach to marketers and leaders who want their messages to go viral.

Courtesy of Simon & Schuster /

Margaret Thatcher, by Charles Moore

Described as “unexpectedly sparkling, riveting and fresh” by one reviewer, this biography of Thatcher, released the year of her death, had unprecedented access to her papers, letters and family, offering the most detailed portrait of the Iron Lady and how she came to be a woman leading Britain in a man’s world.

Courtesy of Knopf /

Happy Money, by Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norto

Using behavioral science research, Dunn and Norton, professors at the University of British Columbia and Harvard Business School, respectively, show readers how to spend money in a way that brings us more joy. Yet it also has lessons for leaders, sharing research on the best way to reward and motivate people so they become happier employees.

Courtesy of Simon & Schuster /

The Everything Store, by Brad Stone

A history of the Internet juggernaut and now Post owner, Stone’s book chronicles the rise of Amazon and its massive influence in the world of retail and technology. It also offers a rare close-up image, albeit one that his wife disputed, of Bezos’ leadership style.

/ Courtesy of Little, Brown

(Forget a Mentor) Find a Sponsor, by Sylvia Ann Hewlett

Hewlett’s book is full of smart advice, backed up by data, about the impact that a senior-level leader who acts as an advocate can have on others. Hewlett, an economist and the author of multiple books on women in the workplace, shows the power that such champions can have on anyone’s career — and why they’re particularly essential for women and minorities.

Courtesy of HBS Press /