I just attended the 21st annual National Leadership Symposium at the University of Richmond, which is an intensive 3-day workshop for directors and faculty/academic staff who are running university-based leadership programs. I was one of three faculty scholars who presented throughout the conference, and I was asked many very good questions. The one question that really stumped me was, "If someone really wanted to get a good grasp on the academic field of leadership, which books would you recommend?" I can't believe that I was blindsided by a question that I should have been well prepared to answer. [Moreover, I can't believe that I haven't been asked this question before!]
So, here is my list of books that will give an educated person a good grasp of the study of leadership and what we have learned from over 100 years of leadership research. Realize that these are academic books, not the easy-to-digest popular books on leadership.
1. Bass's Handbook of Leadership (4th edition). Authors: Bernard M. Bass with Ruth Bass (2008). New York: Free Press.
This is the "bible" for serious students of leadership. No one knew more about leadership than the late Bernie Bass, whose research career spanned 7 decades. At more than 1500 pages, this is the most comprehensive treatment of leadership research that exists.
2. Leadership. Author: James MacGregor Burns. (1978). New York: Harper Collins.
Presidential scholar and biographer, and Pulitzer Prize winner, Jim Burns, wrote this inspirational book that distinguished between what he called "transforming" and "transactional" leaders. It led to the development of the theory of transformational leadership, spawned thousands of research studies, and helped revive (and diversify) the study of leadership.
3. The Nature of Leadership. (2nd edition). Editors: David V. Day & John Antonakis. (2011). SAGE press.
This new edited book gives a scholarly, in-depth review of the core areas of leadership research in management and psychology. The collection provides a good "base" for understanding the latest empirical research on leadership.
4. Organizational Culture and Leadership. (4th edition). Author: Edgar H. Schein. (2010). Jossey Bass.
This book is more about organizational culture and how leaders can affect and are affected by culture. Schein's foundational work in psychology, organizational development, and leadership provides breadth to the understanding of leadership and the larger context of organizational leadership.
5. The Practice of Leadership. Editors: Jay A. Conger & Ronald E. Riggio (2007). Jossey-Bass.
This book brought together the leading scholars in each area of leadership research, from leader selection to leader development, to leading teams and leading under crisis. Each chapter author draws on the research to give practicing leaders brief takeaways to help them be more effective.
Best Guide to Personal Leader Development
6. Full Range Leadership Development. (2nd edition). Author: Bruce J. Avolio. SAGE press.
Avolio is one of the top leadership scholars. This guide to personal leader development is steeped in research and in Avolio's own consulting work and life experiences. It shows that leadership is complex and development is hard to do, but clearly lays out the path to leadership development.
Best Collected Readings on Leadership (Tie)
7. The Leader's Companion. Editor: J. Thomas Wren. (1995). Free Press. & Leadership: Essential Selections on Power, Authority, and Influence. Editor: Barbara Kellerman. (2010). McGraw-Hill.
An older and a new collection of classic writings on leadership, both with editor introductions and explanatory text.
Best Leadership Textbooks
8-10. Leadership: Science & Practice. (5th edition) (2010). Author: Peter Northouse. SAGE press.
Leadership in Organizations. (7th edition). (2009). Author: Gary Yukl. Prentice-Hall.
Leadership: Enhancing the Lessons of Experience. (7th edition). (2010). Richard L. Hughes, Ginnett, & Curphy. McGraw-Hill/Irwin.
These are the 3 best texts in leadership that I have found, with Northouse being more accessible (and briefer), Yukl more business-oriented and academic, and Hughes, et al., is more like a traditional textbook with exercises.
So, here is my list of books that will give an educated person a good grasp of the study of leadership and what we have learned from over 100 years of leadership research. Realize that these are academic books, not the easy-to-digest popular books on leadership.
1. Bass's Handbook of Leadership (4th edition). Authors: Bernard M. Bass with Ruth Bass (2008). New York: Free Press.
This is the "bible" for serious students of leadership. No one knew more about leadership than the late Bernie Bass, whose research career spanned 7 decades. At more than 1500 pages, this is the most comprehensive treatment of leadership research that exists.
2. Leadership. Author: James MacGregor Burns. (1978). New York: Harper Collins.
Presidential scholar and biographer, and Pulitzer Prize winner, Jim Burns, wrote this inspirational book that distinguished between what he called "transforming" and "transactional" leaders. It led to the development of the theory of transformational leadership, spawned thousands of research studies, and helped revive (and diversify) the study of leadership.
3. The Nature of Leadership. (2nd edition). Editors: David V. Day & John Antonakis. (2011). SAGE press.
This new edited book gives a scholarly, in-depth review of the core areas of leadership research in management and psychology. The collection provides a good "base" for understanding the latest empirical research on leadership.
4. Organizational Culture and Leadership. (4th edition). Author: Edgar H. Schein. (2010). Jossey Bass.
This book is more about organizational culture and how leaders can affect and are affected by culture. Schein's foundational work in psychology, organizational development, and leadership provides breadth to the understanding of leadership and the larger context of organizational leadership.
5. The Practice of Leadership. Editors: Jay A. Conger & Ronald E. Riggio (2007). Jossey-Bass.
This book brought together the leading scholars in each area of leadership research, from leader selection to leader development, to leading teams and leading under crisis. Each chapter author draws on the research to give practicing leaders brief takeaways to help them be more effective.
Best Guide to Personal Leader Development
6. Full Range Leadership Development. (2nd edition). Author: Bruce J. Avolio. SAGE press.
Avolio is one of the top leadership scholars. This guide to personal leader development is steeped in research and in Avolio's own consulting work and life experiences. It shows that leadership is complex and development is hard to do, but clearly lays out the path to leadership development.
Best Collected Readings on Leadership (Tie)
7. The Leader's Companion. Editor: J. Thomas Wren. (1995). Free Press. & Leadership: Essential Selections on Power, Authority, and Influence. Editor: Barbara Kellerman. (2010). McGraw-Hill.
An older and a new collection of classic writings on leadership, both with editor introductions and explanatory text.
Best Leadership Textbooks
8-10. Leadership: Science & Practice. (5th edition) (2010). Author: Peter Northouse. SAGE press.
Leadership in Organizations. (7th edition). (2009). Author: Gary Yukl. Prentice-Hall.
Leadership: Enhancing the Lessons of Experience. (7th edition). (2010). Richard L. Hughes, Ginnett, & Curphy. McGraw-Hill/Irwin.
These are the 3 best texts in leadership that I have found, with Northouse being more accessible (and briefer), Yukl more business-oriented and academic, and Hughes, et al., is more like a traditional textbook with exercises.
