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 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.
Nominations are invited for books that excel in the 3Rs:
is it accessible, insightful, and inspiring?
As part of the selection process, Thinkers50 seeks opinions from the world’s foremost management thinkers and business leaders within the Thinkers50 Community.
The only rule for the Best New Management Books is that they must have been published after January the previous year, and participants are not allowed to nominate their own books.
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.
Linda Hill, Emily Tedards, Jason Wild (HBR Press, March 2026)
How to catalyse transformation through co-creation, collaboration, and connection.
Courage isn’t a trait confined to fearless heroes, it’s a capability that we can all cultivate.
Scott Anthony (HBR Press, September 2025)
A deep dive into the breakthroughs that sparked some of the most consequential shifts in modern history and the lessons they teach for future disruptions.
Daniel Trabucchi & Tommaso Buganza (Platform Thinking Publishing, June 2025)
Platform thinking isn’t just for startups: how to unlock platform growth from the assets, relationships, and capabilities you already have.
Nilofer Merchant (Harper Collins, 2026)
Challenges conventional assumptions of management to open up new pathways for innovation.
Steve Goldbach & Geoff Tuff (Wiley, January 2026)
Rethinks leadership for uncertain times, demonstrating how continuous alignment and small, deliberate adjustments can outperform large-scale transformations.
Ruchika T. Malhotra (Viking, November 2025)
Making the case for moving beyond competition towards collaboration to unlock greater imagination and collective success.
Eric Ries (Authors Equity, May 2026)
From the author of The Lean Startup, a timely and unflinching guide to scaling without losing integrity, purpose, or soul.
A fresh take on creativity; a practical research-backed method for discovering breakthrough ideas through exploration rather than inspiration.
Joseph Pine (HBR Press, February 2026)
The co-author of The Experience Economy sets out the next economic frontier, where businesses create value by helping customers realise their deepest aspirations.
Meet the Authors
Scott Anthony, Nilofer Merchant, Ranjay Gulati, Linda Hill, and Jason Wild will be speaking in the Thinkers50 Studio at the Thinkers50 London Summit on 2 November 2026, with more names to be announced soon.
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: We are looking for the 3 Rs:
The only rule for the Best New Management Books is that they must have been published after January the previous year, and participants are not allowed to nominate their own books.
Nominations close 31 March 2026 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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