The 20 Best Business Books from 2022: Amazon’s Ultimate List for Leaders

When looking for the ultimate compilation of the best business books in 2022, why not trust the one that has garnered the support and reviews of thousands of satisfied readers? With countless lists claiming to feature the best in the business, it’s crucial to rely on the opinions of real people.

Here, we’ve gathered a list of thebest business books for leaders, pulled from Amazon’s bestsellers list! Whether you’re freshly moved into a career or your leadership position, or you’re an experienced leader, one of these is sure to give you new ways to inspire you and be your best.

1. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People — Stephen Covey

The Seven Habits of Highly EffectivePeople introduces the habits that set apart those who deal particularly effectively with the world around them.

Covey’s basic hypothesis is that people who lead successful and fulfilling lives eschew individual independence as the ultimate goal, aligning themselves instead with universal principles like honesty and integrity. Given how many great leaders have chosen this book as their go-to, there’s guaranteed to be a habit in here for you.

2. Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill

Think and Grow Rich, often called the “Granddaddy of All Motivational Literature,” explores the concept of success and what it takes to become a winner.

Napoleon Hill spent significant time and effort developing the “Law of Success” philosophy, which serves as the foundation for his books. Through exploring mindset, visualization, goal setting, and perseverance, he provides readers with a roadmap to transform their thoughts into reality and attain their desired level of success.

3. Your Brain at Work — David Rock

Your Brain At Work explores the inner workings of the human mind and furnishes a whole slew of novel methods to optimize your thinking.

Drawing upon thousands of neuropsychological studies conducted in the last 25 years, Rock’s book lays down strategies to help overcome distraction, become more focused, meet goals, and more.

4. How to Win Friends and Influence People — Dale Carnegie

In 1936, Dale Carnegie wrote what might be the definitive self-help book. If you only ever read one book in this genre, it should probably be this one.

How to Win Friends & Influence People presents some basic rules for how to make a good first impression on people and make them putty in your hands—a skill that applies in every arena. Carnegie couches the advice in memorable anecdote from a star-studded cast of famous people, former US presidents to actors and world leaders.

5. The Art of War — Sun Tzu

This is a timeless masterpiece. Considered one of the best business books in 2022, its teachings on tactics, leadership, and understanding the enemy offer invaluable guidance to navigate the complexities of the business world and emerge victorious in today’s competitive landscape.

6. Atomic Habits – James Clear

It is a transformative book exploring small habits’ power and their profound impact on personal and professional success. The author provides practical strategies to create and sustain positive habits while breaking free from negative ones. By focusing on small, incremental changes and leveraging the power of compounding, readers learn how to make lasting improvements in various areas of life, from productivity and health to relationships and personal growth.

7. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team — Patrick Lencioni

Nobody’s perfect, and when you crush us together in teams, things can get abrasive, or simply inefficient.

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team acknowledges that teams are made of wonderful and flawed humans, thus inherently complex. Embracing this fact and then taking deliberate steps to facilitate great teamwork is the only way to be an effective leader. Lencioni shows how a knowledgeable manager can do a great deal to make his or her team effective  and also offers practical tools to do it.

8. Lean In — Sheryl Sandberg

You’ve definitely heard of this one, but if you still haven’t read it, it’s time.

In this one, Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook and 5th most powerful woman in the world, offers up anecdotes, solid data, and practical advice that applies to both women and men in the workplace. Lean In examines the prevalence of and reasons for gender inequality both at home and at work. It encourages women to lean into their careers by seizing opportunities and aspiring to leadership positions, as well calling on both men and women to acknowledge and remedy the current gender inequalities.

9. Good to Great — Jim Collins

These are the comprehensive findings from a five-year study conducted by Jim Collins—the big pumba of management—and his team of researchers.

Collins and his crew picked out public companies that had achieved meaningful and enduring success after years of mediocre performance and isolated the factors that differentiated them from their lackluster competitors. The book takes those key concepts regarding leadership, culture, and strategic management and distills them into actionable insights.

10. Emotional Intelligence 2.0 — Travis Bradberry

No matter how sensitive a being, you can always use a little EQ upgrade.

Emotional Intelligence 2.0 offers expert insight into which skills you need to read others and build better relationships, both in the office and out. It breaks down the four aspects of emotional intelligence and gives advice on what you can do to improve your own skills.

11. Start with Why — Simon Sinek

The best leaders inspire great work in others, but here’s a secret: they know how to ignite that spark in themselves, too.

Start With Why gets to the bottom of why certain people and businesses are far more inspired, innovative, and successful than others—even in situations where everyone has access to the same technology, people and resource. Sinek walks you through how to create a business built on happy leaders, employers, and customers, too.

12. The Compound Effect — Darren Hardy

The Compound Effect shows how to make lasting change by paying attention to the smallest decisions you make—and their cumulative effect on your life.

Author Darren Hardy shows that by accepting responsibility for our own lives, we can change our habits and carve out a life that is more successful, fulfilling, and happy. This is how to make a plan, build up momentum, slowly change bad habits into good ones, and tackle your personal limits.

13. Surrounded by idiots – Thomas Erikson

“Surrounded by Idiots” is a must-read for anyone seeking to enhance their understanding of people and improve their interpersonal skills, an eye-opening exploration of human behavior and communication styles. Through the DISC model, Erikson demystifies the dynamics between different personality types and sheds light on how these differences can influence our interactions.

14. Drive — Daniel Pink

What motivates you? In Drive, Daniel Pink describes the characteristics of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. He reveals that many companies rely on extrinsic motivation, even though this is often counterproductive.

This book explains clearly how to best motivate yourself and others by understanding and tapping into intrinsic motivation.

15. Creativity Inc. — Ed Catmull & Amy Wallace

In Creativity Inc., Ed Catmull describes his personal journey and that of Pixar Animation Studios’ towards the widely successful and creative company they are today.

The book uncovers which principles and steps were essential in producing such results, while acknowledging failure and striving for excellence at the same time. It can be seen as a guide for managers on how to make teams work together in a successful and creative way.

16. Influence — Robert Cialdini

This one’s a classic. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion explains in detail the fundamental principles of persuasion that get us to say yes, including how they are used by professionals like salesmen, advertisers, con artists—and, yes, business leaders like you.

17. The Power of Habit — Charles Duhigg

This book unravels the mysterious workings of our daily routines and their remarkable impact on our lives. Duhigg explores the mechanics of habit formation and how it influences our productivity and health and equips readers to create positive, lasting change.

18. Think again – Adam Grant

Adam Grant explores the power of intellectual humility and the importance of embracing a growth mindset to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing world. Through compelling stories and scientific research, this thought-provoking book offers practical strategies to reframe our thoughts, enhance our decision-making, and foster a culture of learning and innovation.

19. Stop Overthinking – Nick Trenton

This book is a must-have for anyone who wants to break free from the shackles of overthinking. With practical strategies and actionable steps, it offers a roadmap to regain control over your thoughts and lead a more peaceful, productive life.  Invest in this life-changing book and experience the liberating power of freeing your mind.

20. The 48 Laws of Power – Robert Greene

“The 48 Laws of Power” is a captivating book that offers a unique perspective on the principles of power and influence. Through historical anecdotes and case studies, Robert Greene unravels the strategies and tactics of influential figures throughout history. By studying these laws, you will gain invaluable knowledge that can be applied in various aspects of life, from business to relationships. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of human behavior, learn how to navigate complex power dynamics, and, ultimately, empower yourself to succeed and thrive in any endeavor.

In conclusion, the world of business literature is brimming with captivating titles that promise to unlock new insights and strategies for success in 2022. 

As you explore the curated selection of the best business books from Amazon, it’s important to make the most of your reading experience. That’s where Blinkist comes in. With our vast library of condensed book summaries, you can delve into the core ideas of these influential works in just minutes. So why wait? Join us today for a 7-day free trial and unlock a world of knowledge and inspiration. Discover more, learn more, and empower yourself for success in the ever-evolving business landscape of 2022.

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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in October 2015 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.