Highlighting the most influential management books past and present as selected by the Thinkers50 Community.
What are the books every manager should read?
Every year we announce 10 more classic titles to create the ultimate management library, books which have stood the test of time and remain powerfully relevant today.
‘The classic management books are the ones that have had and continue to have a long-term impact on the way people think about and practice management,’ explains Thinkers50 co-founder Stuart Crainer. ‘They are the coping stones for modern management and remain essential reading for managers everywhere.’
As part of the selection process, Thinkers50 canvasses opinions from within the Thinkers50 Community, garnering nominations from many of today’s most eminent business thinkers. Nominations are invited for books that influenced the way we think about and practice management, and which have left a lasting legacy that is still relevant today. The only rule was that participants are not allowed to nominate their own books.
‘The Best New Management Books are the ones that have the potential to change the way people think about and practice management,’ explains Thinkers50 co-founder Stuart Crainer. ‘They offer a fresh perspective on how organisations are managed.’
As part of the selection process, Thinkers50 seeks opinions from within the Thinkers50 Community, gathering nominations from eminent business thinkers and practising managers.
Nominations are invited for books that excel in the 3Rs:
is it accessible, insightful, and inspiring?
The only rules for the 2025 Best New Management Booklist is that books have to have been published after January 2024 and participants are not allowed to nominate their own books.
The Management Classics Booklist is our curated collection of books which have stood the test of time and remain powerfully relevant today.
Shona L Brown and Kathleen M Eisenhardt
Stephen Covey
Frederic Laloux
John Mackey and Raj Sisodia
Donella Meadows
Satya Nadella, Greg Shaw, and Jill Tracie Nichols
Kenichi Ohmae
Mary Parker Follett
Richard Rumelt
Andrew J Scott and Lynda Gratton
The Best New Management Booklist is a curated collection of notable and promising new releases — books that have the potential to change the way people think about and practice management.
A fresh take on strategic thinking, embracing adaptability and intentionality.
A guide to navigating digital transformation with clarity, compassion, and strategic foresight.
André Hoffmann & Peter Vanham
Explores how companies can balance profits with impact on people and planet to achieve “sustainable prosperity”.
A powerful study of resilience and business longevity through the lens of immigrant entrepreneurs.
– Rita McGrath, Thinkers50 Ranking, author of Seeing Around Corners
An essential inquiry into how organisations can build ethical, trustworthy AI systems.
How to navigate difficult conversations at work and nurture inclusive cultures.
Evidence-based insights into how wellbeing drives engagement, innovation, and results.
Uncovers the hidden forces shaping decision-making and reveals how the best leaders aren’t those with all the answers.
Compelling argument for principled leadership in a polarised world.
A hard-hitting critique of corporate practice and how business can – and must – be transformed.
Thinkers50 Limited
The Studio
Highfield Lane
Wargrave RG10 8PZ
United Kingdom
Thinkers50 Limited
The Studio
Highfield Lane
Wargrave RG10 8PZ
United Kingdom
Thinkers50 Limited
The Studio
Highfield Lane
Wargrave RG10 8PZ
United Kingdom
The criteria: Books that have had a lasting influence on the way we think about and practice business and management, and which still have something to teach us today. (The only rule here is that you aren’t allowed to nominate your own books!)
Nominations close 31 March 2025 at 11:59 PM GMT.
Nominations are now closed for the Thinkers50 Management Classics Book List. Stay tuned for the final list announcement!
The criteria: All books published from January 2024 to March 2025 are eligible.
We are looking for the 3 Rs:
As with the criteria for the Classics booklist, the only other rule is that you cannot nominate your own book.
Nominations close 31 March 2025 at 11:59 PM GMT.
Nominations are now closed for the Thinkers50 Best New Management Book List. Stay tuned for the final list announcement!
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