Business Booklist for Growth & Leadership

The right books can be game-changers when it comes to growth, leadership, and building a successful business.

At The AGN Group and the Badass Leaders Podcast, we’re all about learning from the best, so we’ve built our foundation on some powerhouse reads that have shaped our mindset, strategy, and success. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a leader, or just someone looking to level up, this book list is packed with wisdom, inspiration, and practical advice. Here are Angela Gill Nelms’ business and leadership book recommendations!

Business leadership book recommendation

1. Make Your Brand Legendary by Scott Wozniak

If you want your brand to be more than just a name—if you want it to inspire loyalty, excitement, and even obsession—then Make Your Brand Legendary is for you. Scott Wozniak dives into what makes iconic brands like Apple and Disney so beloved and breaks down the systems behind their world-class customer experience. This book is perfect for business owners, marketers, and leaders who want to turn casual buyers into raving fans. If you’re ready to build a brand people can’t stop talking about, this is your roadmap!

2. Any Dumb-Ass Can Do It: Learning Moments from an Everyday CEO of a Multi-Billion-Dollar Company by Garry Ridge, Martha Finney, Ken Blanchard, et. al. 

I love Garry’s true authenticity. He leads with bold transparency, genuineness, and raw realness. The book is engaging and filled with AGN-approved guidance on becoming a truly badass leader. Be sure to add it to your bookshelf and consider gifting it to others; trust me, everyone will appreciate it! While I believe there’s a fine line between a dumbass and a badass, this level of self-awareness is definitely AGN-approved!

3. Culture Map by Erin Meyer

If you’ve ever wondered why your international colleagues communicate, lead, or negotiate so differently, The Culture Map is your ultimate guide. Erin Meyer unpacks the hidden cultural factors that shape workplace interactions—why some cultures prefer blunt feedback while others soften criticism, how hierarchy influences decision-making, and why what works in one country might flop in another. This book is a game-changer for leaders managing global teams, working across cultures, or expanding into international markets. This book is a must-read if you want to avoid miscommunication and build stronger, more effective relationships worldwide!

4. Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara

If you think hospitality is just for restaurants, Unreasonable Hospitality will change your mind. Will Guidara shares how he transformed Eleven Madison Park into the best restaurant in the world—not just by serving great food but by creating unforgettable, over-the-top experiences for guests and his team. This book is a goldmine for any leader who wants to turn ordinary moments into extraordinary ones, whether in business, customer service, or team culture. If you’re looking to build a brand (or workplace) that people rave about, this book will show you how to go above and beyond in all the right ways!

5. Radical Candor by Kim Scott

Secret Tip: You know that AGN is obsessed with Conflict Resolution. This book changed her life and it can change yours as well. Need help with Conflict Resolution? Email us today to work with your team!

If you’ve ever struggled to balance being a kind leader with giving honest feedback, Radical Candor is your guide. Kim Scott breaks down how to be both caring and direct—so you’re not a pushover but also not a jerk. Packed with real-world stories and practical tips, this book teaches leaders how to build strong teams, create a culture of open communication, and drive results without sacrificing relationships. Whether leading a small team or a huge organization, Radical Candor will help you become the kind of boss people respect and love working with.

6. Raving Fans by Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles 

If you want customers who don’t just like your business but love it, Raving Fans is your playbook. Written as a fun, easy-to-digest parable (think The One Minute Manager style), this book breaks down the secret to next-level customer service. The core lesson? Satisfied customers aren’t enough—you need to turn them into raving superfans.

7. Think Again by Adam Grant

If you’ve ever clung to an idea just because it felt right—even when the facts said otherwise—Think Again is here to shake things up. Adam Grant makes a compelling case for why the most visionary leaders aren’t just great thinkers, but great rethinkers. He dives into the power of questioning assumptions, embracing being wrong, and staying curious in a rapidly changing world. Perfect for leaders who want to foster innovation, navigate challenging conversations, and build a culture of learning, this book will challenge you to rethink the way you think!

8. Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg

Ever walked away from a conversation feeling like you completely missed the mark? Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg dives into the hidden layers of communication and teaches you how to truly connect—whether you’re leading a team, negotiating a deal, or just trying to get through to a stubborn teenager. Through fascinating stories and research-backed insights, Duhigg breaks down the three types of conversations (practical, emotional, and social) and how the best communicators navigate them seamlessly. Perfect for leaders who want to inspire, influence, and be genuinely heard, this book is a game-changer for anyone looking to level up their communication skills!

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9. Daring Greatly by Brené Brown

Daring Greatly by Brené Brown is a transformative leadership book that challenges the notion that vulnerability is a weakness. Drawing from twelve years of research, Brown argues that vulnerability is, in fact, the key to courage, creativity, and meaningful connections. She explores how embracing uncertainty and emotional exposure can lead to greater innovation, empathy, and fulfillment in both personal and professional life. In a world driven by fear and scarcity, Daring Greatly offers a powerful framework for stepping into the arena, facing risks, and living with authenticity and purpose.

10. Grit by Angela Duckworth 

This powerful book challenges the idea that talent drives success, showing instead that passion and perseverance matter most. Through research and real-world stories, Duckworth proves that grit can be developed by anyone, making it a game-changer for leaders, teams, and individuals striving for excellence. I highly recommend this book to colleagues because it shifts the focus from innate ability to resilience and effort. Whether you’re leading, learning, or overcoming challenges, Grit offers invaluable insights on staying committed and achieving long-term success.

11. The Power of Moments by Chip Heath and Dan Heath 

The Power of Moments explores how defining moments—shaped by elevation, insight, pride, and connection—can create lasting impact in our personal and professional lives. Through engaging research and real-world stories, the book reveals why we remember specific experiences and how we can intentionally craft meaningful moments.

This book is perfect for leaders, educators, customer experience professionals, and anyone looking to create more memorable, transformative experiences for others. Whether you want to inspire a team, deepen relationships, or design unforgettable moments, *The Power of Moments* offers practical strategies to make every interaction more impactful.

12. Lead Bigger by Anne Chow

Lead Bigger by Anne Chow is a transformative leadership guide that redefines inclusion as a strategic skill for driving innovation, engagement, and business growth. Drawing from her experience as the former CEO of AT&T Business, Chow goes beyond traditional DEI conversations, offering actionable insights on how leaders can expand their perspectives to create dynamic, high-performing workplaces. This book is ideal for executives, managers, and aspiring leaders who want to foster inclusive cultures, adapt to change, and unlock the full potential of their teams. If you want to lead with impact in an evolving world, this is a must-read.

13. Honeybee Democracy by Thomas D. Seeley 

Drawing fascinating parallels between honeybee swarms and human decision-making, Honeybee Democracy by Thomas Seeley reveals how these tiny creatures use collective intelligence, open deliberation, and consensus-building to make life-or-death choices. By studying their decision-making process, Seeley uncovers valuable lessons for leaders, teams, and organizations on fostering collaboration, minimizing bias, and reaching better outcomes through democratic debate. This book is ideal for business leaders, policymakers, and anyone interested in group dynamics, offering a fresh perspective on how nature’s wisdom can enhance human leadership and teamwork.

14. No Rules Rules by Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer 

Netflix’s groundbreaking success is no accident—it stems from a bold, counterintuitive culture of freedom and responsibility, as revealed in No Rules Rules by Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer. This book explores the radical management principles that have enabled Netflix to continually reinvent itself, emphasizing innovation over efficiency, candid feedback over hierarchy, and flexibility over rigid policies. Ideal for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and managers looking to foster high-performance teams, No Rules Rules challenges conventional wisdom and offers a fresh perspective on building a culture that thrives on adaptability and creative risk-taking.

15. Dopamine Nation by Dr. Anna Lembke 

In Dopamine Nation, Dr. Anna Lembke unpacks the neuroscience behind pleasure and addiction, revealing how our modern world of instant gratification leads to compulsive overconsumption and, ultimately, pain. Through compelling patient stories and accessible scientific insights, she explores how to restore balance by managing dopamine and embracing discomfort. This book is perfect for anyone struggling with digital distractions, addictive behaviors, or simply seeking a healthier, more fulfilling life in an age of excess.

16. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

Focusing on the power of presence, this book offers a transformative guide to overcoming mental distractions, breaking free from self-imposed suffering, and embracing a more fulfilling, enlightened life. By teaching readers how to detach from the mind’s constant chatter and live fully in the present, it provides a path to inner peace and clarity. Ideal for leaders, professionals, and anyone seeking personal growth, it encourages mindfulness and self-awareness—key traits for making better decisions, reducing stress, and leading with wisdom and authenticity.

17. Atomic Habits by James Clear 

Focusing on the power of small, consistent changes, this book provides a science-backed system for building good habits, breaking bad ones, and achieving lasting success. James Clear distills complex psychological and neurological principles into simple, actionable strategies that help individuals and teams create environments where positive behaviors thrive. Ideal for leaders, professionals, athletes, and anyone looking to improve productivity, health, or personal growth, it offers a practical roadmap to lasting transformation through the power of incremental progress.

These books helped shape the secret sauce for building a brand customers can’t stop raving about. They inspired a management style that keeps it real—encouraging open, honest conversations (yes, even the tough ones) to bring out the best in every team. And at the heart of it all? The game-changing realization is that genuinely understanding people—not just as employees or customers but as humans—is the key to success at every stage.

I hope you enjoyed the business and leadership book recommendations!

Want to learn other ways to take your leadership to the next level? Be sure to tune into the Badass Leaders Podcast!