The best leaders are also voracious readers. If you want to become better at managing yourself and others, take a page from Nobel Prize winners, editors-in-chief, economists, and government leaders—and refresh your library with books that span subjects and genres. For more reading inspiration, take a peek at the bookshelves of McKinsey leaders—including global managing partner Bob Sternfels, senior partner Tracy Francis, and senior partner Sven Smit—and check out our full 2022 summer reading guide for even more.
Leadership: Six Studies in World Strategy by Henry Kissinger
On Photography by Susan Sontag
The Age of Unpeace: How Connectivity Causes Conflict by Mark Leonard
Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law by Haben Girma
The Art of Procrastination: A Guide to Effective Dawdling, Lollygagging and Postponing by John Perry
Picks from McKinsey leaders
The Barbary Coast: An Informal History of the San Francisco Underworld by Herbert Asbury –Bob Sternfels, Global managing partner
The Power of Crisis: How Three Threats—and Our Response—Will Change the World by Ian Bremmer –Tracy Francis, Senior partner
Republic by Plato –Sven Smit, Senior partner
From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life by Arthur C. Brooks –Gautam Kumra, Senior partner
How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need by Bill Gates –Magnus Tyreman, Senior partner