Read by Mark Manson, Ryan Holiday, Rich Roll and 9 others
What books does Craig Groeschel recommend?
As disciplined as the leadership that made Life.Church one of the largest churches in America, Craig Groeschel's book recommendations arrive sorted, sourced, and put to work. Published through curated lists on CraigGroeschel.com and his leadership podcast, his 42 titles are grouped by theme, habits, leadership, mental health, creativity, and spiritual growth, and they center on psychology and human behavior, self-improvement, business and strategy, and leadership and management. His top picks include James Clear's Atomic Habits, which he says 'will change your life and leadership for the better,' along with Jim Collins's Good to Great, Will Guidara's Unreasonable Hospitality, and Jonathan Haidt's The Anxious Generation. A prolific writer, Groeschel is the author of Winning the War in Your Mind, Think Ahead, and roughly a dozen other books on faith, habits, and leadership.
Last updated February 2026 · Every recommendation cited to its original source.
Atomic Habits
An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
byJames Clear
2018320 Pages“The principles in this book will change your life and leadership for the better. Atomic Habits was a worldwide bestseller in 2021 for good reason.”
— Craig Groeschel
Source: CraigGroeschel.com: The 13 Best Books for Building Great Habits
Read by Jeff Bezos, Brian Armstrong, Chip Wilson and 5 others
Good to Great
Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't
byJim Collins
2001320 Pages“So many team members at Life.Church say this was the book that changed how they work. A must-read. How do you transform an organization on an 'okay' trajectory to achieve lasting success?”
— Craig Groeschel
Source: CraigGroeschel.com: The 10 Best Books to Strengthen Your Leadership
Read by Patrick Bet-David, Craig Groeschel, Rory Sutherland and 1 others
Unreasonable Hospitality
The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect
byWill Guidara
2022288 Pages“Of all the books I read in 2023, two stood out that I would recommend to anyone. Will Guidara's Unreasonable Hospitality is one of them. This book is a must-read if you lead in a nonprofit or any service industry.”
— Craig Groeschel
Source: CraigGroeschel.com: 6 Books on Mental Health, Finances, and Hospitality
Read by Barack Obama, Bill Gates, Sam Harris and 6 others
The Anxious Generation
How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness
byJonathan Haidt
2024400 Pages“A must-read for leaders and parents. With our Gen Z workforce constantly expanding, this is an essential tool for you in helping the next generation build a healthier framework.”
— Craig Groeschel
Source: CraigGroeschel.com: 6 Books on Mental Health, Finances, and Hospitality
Read by Doug McMillon, Peter Attia, Craig Groeschel and 1 others
From Strength to Strength
Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life
byArthur C. Brooks
2022272 Pages“Of all the books I read in 2023, two stood out that I would recommend to anyone... the other is From Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks. Inside, Arthur does a fantastic job of showing the strengths and weaknesses of aging as a leader.”
— Craig Groeschel
Source: CraigGroeschel.com: 6 Books on Mental Health, Finances, and Hospitality
Read by Craig Groeschel
Developing the Leader Within You 2.0
How to lead yourself and others
byJohn C. Maxwell
2018224 Pages“You don't develop as a leader accidentally. You develop intentionally. Developing the Leader Within You is John Maxwell's first leadership book and, in my opinion, one of his best. Don't miss it.”
— Craig Groeschel
Source: CraigGroeschel.com: The 10 Best Books to Strengthen Your Leadership
Read by Andrew Huberman, Ali Abdaal, Craig Groeschel and 4 others
Never Split the Difference
Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It
byChris Voss, Tahl Raz
2016288 Pages“One of my favorite books I've read recently. On top of being the most entertaining book on this list, Never Split the Difference teaches you how to tactfully approach every leadership conversation.”
— Craig Groeschel
Source: Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast (YouTube) & Blog
Read by Craig Groeschel
Lead Like Jesus
Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time
byKen Blanchard, Phil Hodges
2005256 Pages“Jesus is undoubtedly the best leadership role model of all time. This book is a fantastic combination of spiritual wisdom and practical ways to lead more like Jesus did.”
— Craig Groeschel
Source: CraigGroeschel.com: The 13 Best Books for Building Great Habits
Getting Things Done
The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
byDavid Allen
2015352 Pages“Busyness does not equal productivity. Don't do more. Do more of what matters. Getting Things Done shows you how.”
— Craig Groeschel
Source: CraigGroeschel.com: The 13 Best Books for Building Great Habits
Leaders Eat Last
Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't
bySimon Sinek
2014368 Pages“You never accidentally stumble into having a great team. You intentionally build one. Leaders Eat Last shows you how.”
— Craig Groeschel
Source: CraigGroeschel.com: The 14 Best Books on Leading People
Read by Tim Ferriss, Marc Andreessen, Joe De Sena and 4 others
Extreme Ownership
How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win
byJocko Willink, Leif Babin
2015320 Pages“As a leader, before you ever give blame, you have to take ownership. Adopting Extreme Ownership will help you build credibility and high-performance processes.”
— Craig Groeschel
Source: CraigGroeschel.com: The 14 Best Books on Leading People
Made to Stick
Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die
byChip Heath, Dan Heath
2007336 Pages“Chip and Dan show you how to make your ideas stickier by leveraging psychological principles such as the velcro theory of memory, human scale principle, and the creation of curiosity gaps.”
— Craig Groeschel
Source: CraigGroeschel.com: The 7 Best Books on Creativity
Purple Cow
Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable
bySeth Godin
2009224 Pages“Purple Cow will help you make your ideas impossible to ignore. You were created to stand out. To make a difference.”
— Craig Groeschel
Source: CraigGroeschel.com: The 7 Best Books on Creativity
The 4 Disciplines of Execution
Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals
byChris McChesney, Sean Covey, Jim Huling
2022336 Pages“Small disciplines done consistently lead to big results over time. This book helps you lead your team into a rhythm of disciplined accountability.”
— Craig Groeschel
Source: CraigGroeschel.com: The 10 Best Books to Strengthen Your Leadership
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
Follow Them and People Will Follow You
byJohn C. Maxwell
2022336 Pages“Follow these 21 laws, and people will follow your leadership.”
— Craig Groeschel
Source: CraigGroeschel.com: The 10 Best Books to Strengthen Your Leadership
Read by Craig Groeschel
High Road Leadership
Bringing People Together in a World That Divides
byJohn C. Maxwell
2024240 PagesSource: CraigGroeschel.com: 6 Books on Mental Health, Finances, and Hospitality
Read by LeBron James, Chip Wilson, Kobe Bryant and 2 others
The Tipping Point
How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
byMalcolm Gladwell
2000301 Pages“When it comes to getting your product or ideas out there, the goal isn't just to get it into more hands. It's to get it into the right hands at the right time.”
— Craig Groeschel
Source: CraigGroeschel.com: The 10 Best Books to Strengthen Your Leadership
Read by Ryan Holiday, Rick Rubin, Rich Roll and 5 others
The War of Art
Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
bySteven Pressfield
2002168 Pages“Steven Pressfield reveals the internal mind games we all play, and how you can win your inner creative war.”
— Craig Groeschel
Source: CraigGroeschel.com: The 7 Best Books on Creativity
Read by Craig Groeschel
Switch On Your Brain
The Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking, and Health
byDr. Caroline Leaf
2015240 Pages“In this book, Dr. Caroline Leaf will give you the key strategies to completely change how you lead, think, and write.”
— Craig Groeschel
Source: CraigGroeschel.com: The 7 Best Books on Creativity
Lean In for Graduates
With New Chapters by Experts, Including Find Your First Job, Negotiate Your Salary, and Own Who You Are
bySheryl Sandberg
2014432 Pages“Your organization doesn't become stronger by what you do. Your organization becomes stronger by who you empower.”
— Craig Groeschel
Source: CraigGroeschel.com: The 14 Best Books on Leading People
Read by Craig Groeschel
Emotional Intelligence
Why It Can Matter More Than IQ
byDaniel Goleman
1995352 Pages“Almost all personal development comes from self-awareness. Mastering Emotional Intelligence plays a big part in helping you become a more self-aware and healthy leader.”
— Craig Groeschel
Source: CraigGroeschel.com: The 14 Best Books on Leading People
Read by Donald Trump, Chip Wilson, Leila Hormozi and 5 others
Rich Dad Poor Dad
What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!
byRobert T. Kiyosaki, Sharon L. Lechter
2017336 Pages“Most leaders decide how to spend money. The best leaders strategize about how to invest it. It's a modern classic, and it'll help you embrace the mindset of a great investor.”
— Craig Groeschel
Source: CraigGroeschel.com: The 13 Best Books for Building Great Habits
Decisive
How to Make Better Decisions in Life and Work
byChip Heath, Dan Heath
2013336 Pages“The decisions we make today determine the stories we will tell tomorrow. ... This book equips you with four steps to overcome those biases and make better decisions.”
— Craig Groeschel
Source: CraigGroeschel.com: The 13 Best Books for Building Great Habits
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
byDaniel H. Pink
2009256 PagesSource: CraigGroeschel.com: The 13 Best Books for Building Great Habits
Loading more
Also recommends books in
Frequently asked questions
What books does Craig Groeschel recommend?
His 42 recommendations include Atomic Habits by James Clear, Good to Great by Jim Collins, Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara, and The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, organized into themed lists around habits and leadership.
What is Craig Groeschel's top book recommendation?
He highlights Atomic Habits by James Clear, writing that 'the principles in this book will change your life and leadership for the better' and noting it became a worldwide bestseller for good reason. It anchors his list on building habits.
Where do Craig Groeschel book recommendations come from?
They are published as themed lists on CraigGroeschel.com, covering habits, leadership, creativity, mental health, and spiritual growth, and are discussed further on the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast.
Has Craig Groeschel written any books?
Yes. He has written more than a dozen books, including Winning the War in Your Mind, Think Ahead, Soul Detox, Dare to Drop the Pose, and Hope in the Dark, spanning personal growth and Christian leadership.
What genres does Craig Groeschel read most?
His recommendations concentrate on psychology and human behavior, self-improvement, business and strategy, and leadership and management, with a consistent focus on practical habits and spiritual formation.
All 42 Books Craig Groeschel Has Recommended
- Atomic Habits · James Clear
- Good to Great · Jim Collins
- Unreasonable Hospitality · Will Guidara
- The Anxious Generation · Jonathan Haidt
- From Strength to Strength · Arthur C. Brooks
- Developing the Leader Within You 2.0 · John C. Maxwell
- Never Split the Difference · Chris Voss
- Lead Like Jesus · Ken Blanchard
- Getting Things Done · David Allen
- Leaders Eat Last · Simon Sinek
- Extreme Ownership · Jocko Willink
- Made to Stick · Chip Heath
- Purple Cow · Seth Godin
- The 4 Disciplines of Execution · Chris McChesney
- The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership · John C. Maxwell
- High Road Leadership · John C. Maxwell
- The Tipping Point · Malcolm Gladwell
- The War of Art · Steven Pressfield
- Switch On Your Brain · Dr. Caroline Leaf
- Lean In for Graduates · Sheryl Sandberg
- Emotional Intelligence · Daniel Goleman
- Rich Dad Poor Dad · Robert T. Kiyosaki
- Decisive · Chip Heath
- Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us · Daniel H. Pink
- Think Like a Freak · Steven D. Levitt
- Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up · Abigail Shrier
- Anxious for Nothing · Max Lucado
- The Awe of God · John Bevere
- Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table · Louie Giglio
- Emotionally Healthy Spirituality · Peter Scazzero
- The 5 Love Languages · Gary Chapman
- Gentle and Lowly · Dane Ortlund
- Get Out of Your Head · Jennie Allen
- Imagine Heaven · John Burke
- Knowing God · J.I. Packer
- Love Does · Bob Goff
- Mere Christianity · C.S. Lewis
- New Morning Mercies · Paul David Tripp
- Sacred Marriage · Gary Thomas
- The Screwtape Letters · C.S. Lewis
- Soul Keeping · John Ortberg
- The Pursuit of God · A.W. Tozer