These Soulful Books Every Leader Should Read in 2024 

I’m hearing from so many close friends and loved ones that there’s something about 2024 that’s just — unsettling. The news, the climate, the coming election, and other forces are downright un-grounding. And those who are in leadership positions are saying they’re looking for direction and guidance — and are more than willing to look beyond the usual host of business titles for deeper wisdom.  

So I put together a list of five books packed with insights that will help anyone — but especially leaders — find moments of joy, inner quiet, and develop the soulful, heart-deep resilience that gets us all through the toughest times. They enable us to move through this turbulent time with empathy, strength, and our feet on the ground. And that, of course, helps us lead better: with clarity, with authority, and with empathy.

Some of these are authors are long-time go-to’s and some are new friends I am thrilled to spend with. All have enlightening things to say that ring true, with approaches that awaken the mind-body-spirit connection in powerful ways. You may recognize a name or two, but I encourage you to explore them all.

The Radiant Life Project: Awaken Your Purpose, Heal Your Past, Transform Your Future, by Kate King. How do we fix the world? Cultivate radical well-being in each individual. King is a licensed professional counselor, board-certified art therapist, radiant life coach, published author, professional artist, and creative entrepreneur — and you can feel her multifaceted wisdom on every page. This practical guide to transformational healing combines science with spirit, psychology with creativity. King provides easy-to-follow strategies and practices, along with welcome moments of reflection. The book is a treasure, forging a path to self-healing that reconnects us with our core authenticity and integrity.

The Genius of Empathy: Practical Skills to Heal Your Sensitive Self, Your Relationships, and the World, by Judith Orloff, MD. Empathy has become a buzzword in work and life lately — and if you’re a leader, chances are you’re looking for ways to grow it in yourself as well as your teams. True empathy is a powerful, potent form of emotional intelligence, and it’s far beyond a momentary state of mind. Drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and energy medicine, Orloff has crafted a marvelous handbook to cultivating true empathy as an action and a practice — not just for others, but for ourselves. Packed with true stories and daily practices, it helps us develop a more compassionate heart and a stronger core. For anyone dealing with tricky personalities (like narcissistic colleagues), unsettling relationships (like codependencies), and empathy emergencies (such as an argument) there are proven, effective strategies in these pages to find the kindness within but stay true to ourselves.

Mindfulness and Mysticism: Connecting Present Moment Awareness with Higher States of Consciousness, by Ora Nadrich. Nadrich is a leading pioneer in mindfulness, transformational thinking, and self-discovery. Her lauded books, keynotes and coaching help countless people of all stripes, including executives, find their way. Mindfulness is about more than calming down — it’s a means to access the divine within all of us. Nadrich lays out the gorgeous, mystical “sacred truths” that transcend any doctrine or dogma, provides stories, examples, and guided meditations, and leads us right to ourselves. Her approach is a gift: in the quiet of these practices, we can reach a place of profound, higher consciousness — and genuine transformation.

Brief Flashings in the Phenomenal World: Zen and the Art of Running Free, by Katie Arnold. This book by an Outside Magazine and Runner’s World contributor, Zen practitioner and elite ultrarunner is a page-turner — equal parts harrowing adventure story and Zen guidebook. After a remote rafting trip turned into a harrowing disaster, Arnold had to rebuild her body, her soul, and her life. It’s an incredible journey — dramatic, amazing, and relatable, and filled with surprises. Truly, it would be a great story without the thru-line of Zen wisdom that literally runs through it. But what elevates it even further are Arnold’s reflections on recovery, and how to embrace uncertainty as we put our feet back on the ground. There’s a powerful metaphor in this book about what strength is truly about.

Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts, by Brené Brown. This bestseller has captured the hearts and minds of readers in work as well as in life — Brown’s lessons in taking charge of our own fortitude and power have universal applications. It’s a perfect way to end a list of books designed to help us better travel through these tough times and make a positive impact on this changing world. No surprise that she touches on the same heartfelt themes: empathy, compassion, healing, self-discover — and shows how the most powerful leaders in any sphere tap into those qualities to really make a difference.

As I often say, knowledge is power. It’s also the key to balance, well-being, and joy. I encourage you to add these to your library and turn to them again and again. As books often do, these titles may become your friends, helpers, and allies.

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Have you read?
The World’s Richest People (Top Billionaires, 2024).
Best and worst U.S. states to raise a family, 2024.
The Global Mobility Index: These Are the World’s Most Powerful Passports in 2024.
World’s Most Influential and Innovative Companies, 2024.
World’s Most Influential CEOs And Business Executives Of 2024.