You don’t need to wait for a new year, or a major life change, to start rewriting your story. Whether you’re navigating personal or professional crossroads, seeking contentment, or looking to make a difference in the world, these personal development books can help you take your next step. Check out “What to read next: McKinsey’s 2025 annual book recommendations” for more picks from 45-plus leaders, including McKinsey’s Global Managing Partner Bob Sternfels.
Use the check boxes under each title to track what you’ve read, what’s on your list, and how your list stacks up to those of our contributors—and then share on social or revisit anytime.
Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results by Shane Parrish
Recommended by: Cristina Junqueira, Cofounder and chief growth officer, Nubank, Brazil
101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think by Brianna Wiest
Recommended by: Daniel Trujillo, Partner and global chief ethics and compliance officer, McKinsey
How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton M. Christensen, James Allworth, and Karen Dillon
Recommended by: Jeff (Jongyoon) Kim, CEO, Yanolja Cloud; chief strategy officer, Yanolja
A Little Daylight Left by Sarah Kay
Recommended by: Raju Narisetti, Partner and leader, McKinsey Global Publishing
Moral Ambition: Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference by Rutger Bregman, translated by Erica Moore
Recommended by: Ida Auken, Member of the Folketing, Folketinget (the Danish Parliament); former Minister for the Environment in Denmark; Young Global Leader, World Economic Forum
Ordinary Magic: The Science of How We Can Achieve Big Change with Small Acts by Gregory M. Walton
Recommended by: Tracy Francis, Senior partner and managing partner for Latin America, McKinsey and Yuval Atsmon, Senior partner and CFO, McKinsey
The Queen’s Code by Alison A. Armstrong
Recommended by: Maya Horgan Famodu, Founder and partner, Ingressive Capital; Young Global Leader, World Economic Forum
The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth by M. Scott Peck
Recommended by: Jeff (Jongyoon) Kim, CEO, Yanolja Cloud; chief strategy officer, Yanolja
Scarcity Brain: Fix Your Craving Mindset and Rewire Your Habits to Thrive with Enough by Michael Easter
Recommended by: Daniel Trujillo, Partner and global chief ethics and compliance officer, McKinsey
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Recommended by: Bob Sternfels, Global managing partner, McKinsey
Your Hidden Genius: The Science-Backed Strategy to Uncovering and Harnessing Your Innate Talents by Betsy Wills and Alex Ellison
Recommended by: Samar Ali, Founding president and CEO, Millions of Conversations; Young Global Leader, World Economic Forum