Each year, we invite a diverse group of leaders to share the books that have resonated with them—or ones they can’t wait to read. This year’s curated list features over 90 titles, including nine recommendations from McKinsey leaders like Global Managing Partner Bob Sternfels.
Be sure to visit “What to read next: McKinsey’s 2025 annual book recommendations” to discover what’s on their shelves and to track your own reading journey. Check the box next to any title and generate shareable images showcasing books you’ve read, your to-read list, and contributors who share your reading interests.
The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War by Erik Larson
Recommended by: Bob Sternfels, Global managing partner
101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think by Brianna Wiest
Recommended by: Daniel Trujillo, Partner and global chief ethics and compliance officer
A Little History of Philosophy by Nigel Warburton
Recommended by: Michael Birshan, Senior partner and managing partner, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Israel
A CEO for All Seasons: Mastering the Cycles of Leadership by Carolyn Dewar, Kurt Strovink, Scott Keller, and Vikram Malhotra
Recommended by: Raju Narisetti, Partner and leader of McKinsey Global Publishing
Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson
Recommended by: Shelley Stewart III, Senior partner and global leader, Reputation & Engagement
Precipice by Robert Harris
Recommended by: Sven Smit, Senior partner, chair of Insights and Ecosystems, and chair of McKinsey Global Institute
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
Yuval Atsmon, Senior partner and CFO
Matriarch by Tina Knowles
Recommended by: Yael Taqqu, Senior partner and managing partner of New York office
Every Living Thing: The Great and Deadly Race to Know All Life by Jason Roberts
Recommended by: Yuval Atsmon, Senior partner and CFO