Leadership Books
List compiled by Cathy Belben, Librarian, Burlington-Edison High School
Updated October 2002

Adams, Patricia.  The Helping Hands Handbook.  (302.14 ADA)

A guidebook for kids who want to help people, animals, and the world we live in.

A collection of over 100 ideas for projects young people can do in order to help others. Includes ideas on helping animals, homeless people, the earth, and the country.

Adams, Scott.  Dogberts Top Secret Management Handbook.  (658.3 ADA)

Contains text and cartoons featuring comic strip characters Dilbert and Dogbert that look satirically at management in the business world.

Asgedom, Mawi.  Of Beetles & Angels.  (921 ASG)

A boy’s remarkable journey from a refugee camp to Harvard.  An autobiography in which Mawi Asgedom tells the story of how, at the age of three, he fled civil war in Ethiopia by walking with his mother and brother to a Sudanese refugee camp, and later moved to Chicago and earned a full scholarship to Harvard University.  Includes recipes and discussion questions.

Blanchard, Kenneth H.  The One Minute Manager.  (158 BLA)

Blanchard, Kenneth H.  Leadership and the One Minute Manager.  (158 BLA)

Increasing effectiveness through situational leadership.

Bolden, Tonya (editor).  33 Things Every Girl Should Know.  (810.8 BOL)

Stories, songs, poems, and smart talk by 33 extraordinary women. A mix of short stories, essays, a comic strip, a speech, an interview, poems, and more, which offer insights and advice for girls.

Borden, Kay.  Bulletproof News Releases.  (659.1 BOR)

Practical, no-holds barred advice for small businesses from 135 American Newspaper Editors.  Whether you are just thinking of starting a business or well on your way, this book will guide the small-business person who needs to advertise more, but can't afford it, showing you how to successfully promote your small business with news releases and avoid the ever-increasing cost of paid ads.

Brehony, Kathleen A.  Ordinary Grace.  (177.7 BRE)

An examination of the roots of compassion, altruism, and empathy, and the ordinary individuals who help others in extraordinary ways, attempts to discover what motivates people to devote themselves to helping others and profiles people who have found a way to act with compassion and generosity.

Bridges, John.  How to be a Gentleman.  (395.1 BRI)

An etiquette guide for gentlemen, presenting advice on traditional issues such as how to attend a funeral or set a table; and discussing modern etiquette situations, including answering e-mail, using a cell phone, and spitting tobacco properly.

Brooks, Susan.  Any Girl in the World.  (305.235 BRO)

Provides information and resources for teenage girls who want to do more with their lives, such as becoming a political activist, investing in the stock market, or producing a cable television show.

Byham, William C.  Zapp!  (158 BYH)

The lightning of empowerment : How to improve quality, productivity, and employee satisfaction .  A fable about fictional manager Joe Mode that illustrates methods of encouraging responsiblity, creativity, and enthusiasm in employees.

Canfield, Jack.  Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul II.  (158.12 CAN)

101 more stories of life, love, and learning .  Teens who share their experiences on learning to accept life, becoming the best person you can be, being happy with who you are, and loving yourself.

Conari Press.  Random Acts of Kindnes  (177.7 CON)

Puts forth the idea of doing acts of kindness on a daily basis to bring delight and goodness to the self and others.

Conari Press.  The Power of Kindness.  (158 CON)

A Collection of uplifting stories, thoughts, demonstrations of the power of kindness to forge such a community.

Carlson, Richard.  Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff With Your Family.  (158.1 CAR)

Simple ways to keep daily responsibilities and household chaos from taking over your life.

Carlson, Richard.  You Can Be Happy No Matter What.  (158.1 CAR)

Identifies five principles of psychological functioning that can act as guides to help individuals reach a natural state of serenity or happiness, including thinking, moods, separate psychological realities, feelings, and the present moment.

Covey, Sean.  The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens.  (158.1 COV)

The ultimate teenage success guide.  Describes seven habits teenagers can cultivate to help them improve their self-images, build friendships, resist peer pressure, achieve goals, get along with parents, and make other positive changes in their lives.

De Pree, Max.  Leadership is an Art.  (158 DeP)

Provides advice on the "art" of leadership by the CEO of one of Fortune magazine's ten best managed companies.

Desetta, Al.  The Struggle to be Strong.  (305.235 DES)

First person accounts of teenagers who overcame major life obstacles with insight, independence, relationships, initiative, creativity, humor, and morality.

Duper, Linda.  160 Ways to Help the World.  (363.3 DUP)

Includes a wide variety of service projects, involving different degrees of time and commitment, that young people can implement to better their communities, with step-by-step instructions, a discussion of why community service is important, and advice on how to plan, execute, and gather support for a project.

Fairview Press.  How We Made the World a Better Place.  (361.3 FAI)

A collection of essays in which kids and teenagers write about the things they have done to change the world for the better, inspired by a contest sponsored by Fairview Press.

Fornatale, Peter.  All You Need is Love.  (158.1 FOR)

Life Lessons from classic rock songs.  The "life lessons" that one can learn from 100 classic rock songs are explained, with suggestions for improving one's life based upon them.

Fulghum, Robert.  Words I Wish I Wrote.  (158.1 FUL)

A collection of writing that inspired my ideas.  Contains quotations that have inspired Robert Fulghum over the years, arranged by such topics as God, play, companions, and believe, and by writers including Henry David Thoreau, W.B. Yeats, Walt Whitman, and Anne Morrow Lindbergh.

Gelb, Michael J.  How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci.  (153.3 GEL)

By capturing the very essence of Da Vinci's life and genius, Michael Gelb guides us in a discovery and understanding of the boundlessness of our own full human potential, providing an inspirational and practical guide.

Glick, Stephen.  Little by Little.  (158.1 GLI)

A meditation book written especially about and for teens.  Whether you are recovering and looking for support, or searching for a new direction in life, this book can help.  Little by Little offers daily inspiration, understanding, and support for a future filled with hope and promise.

Gordon, Sol.  Life is Uncertain..Eat Dessert First!  (158.1 GOL)

A series of simple suggestions about how to increase the joy in your life and improve your relationships with others.

GTE Academic.  Life’s Playbook for Success.  (158 GTE)

The people you will meet in this publication could very possibly change the way you view success in life.

Gulley, Phillip.  For Everything a Season.  (242 GUL)

Simple Musings on living well. Tender and often humorous stories that celebrate God's refreshing grace at work in a small Indi

Hall, Doug.  Jump Start Your Brain.  (650.1 HAL)

A guide to enhance everyday thinking and stimulate creative thinking by a highly successful creativity entrepreneur.

Harper, Suzanne.  Hands On!  33 More Things Every Girl Should Know. (649.70 HAR)

Skills for living your life from 33 extraordinary women.

Harrison, Earl.  You Are More Than Your Job.  (158.7 HAR)

People who have faced or are facing employment crises tell how their experiences have opened their eyes to new ways of thinking about work and about themselves.

Hentoff, Nat.  Living the Bill of Rights  (342.73 HEN)

Contains profiles and stories of individual Americans in the public and private sectors who have fought for the freedoms guaranteed to them by the Bill of Rights.

Hoff, Benjamin.  The Tao of Pooh.  (299.5 HOF)

Explains the principles of Taoism through Winnie-the-Pooh, and explains Winnie-the-Pooh through the secret wisdom of the Taoists.

Hollender, Jeffrey.  How to Make the World a Better Place.  (361.2 HOL)

Advice to effect postitive social change.

Howarth, Enid.  Daily Imperfections.  (082 HOW)

364 Surprising and Delightful Ways to Celebrate the Imperfect You.

Jeter, Derek.  The Life you imagine.  (796.357 JET)

Life lessons for achieving your dreams.  New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter tells about his life and his very early desire to play for the Yankees, and shares his ten-step plan for success.  Includes profiles of Jeter by friends and colleagues.

Johnson, Spencer.  “Yes or No”.  (158 JOH)

"Yes" or "No" is the simple story of a youngman who journeys up a mountain and soon discovers, like the reader, how to make better decisions by asking the two most valuable questions he learns from other hikers. A parable for anyone who leads others or who needs suggestions about how to improve his or her decision-making skills.

Johnson, Spencer.  The Precious Present.  (158.1 JOH)

A young boy grows to be a sick, bitter old man searching for the precious present he was told would be the key to happiness, then realizes he had the gift inside himself all along.

Kasl, Charlotte.  Finding Joy.  (158.1 KAS)

101 ways to free your spirit and dance with life.  A guide to bring perspective and balance to life including playfulness, creativity, honesty, and self-acceptance. 101 short articles suggest activities and behaviors people can engage in that will make their lives happier.

Landsman, Julie.    From Darkness to Light  (362.7 LAN)

Teens write about how they triumphed over trouble.  Contains the sixty winning entries in the "Publish a Story" contest sponsored by Fairview Press, in which young adults ages twelve to nineteen were challenged to write non-fiction stories about their positive responses to personal problems such as abuse, alcohol and drugs, depression, and peer pressure

Larned, Marianne.  Stone Soup for the World.  (177.7 LAR)

Life-changing stories of kindness & courageous acts of service.  A collection of stories that demonstrate how people can make a difference by performing random acts of kindness.

Latifah, Queen.  Ladies First.  (150.1 LAT)

Revelations of a strong woman.  The author shares her ideas about what's important in life, and discusses how to instill self-esteem, respect, and courage into your life to bring peace and independence.

Lemon, Peter.  Beyond the Medal.  (355.1 LEM)

A Journey from Their Hearts to Yours.

Levine, Michael.  Guerrilla P. R..  (659 LEV)

How You Can Wage An Effective Publicity Campaign...Without Going Broke.  Gerrilla P. R. gives you the resources necessary to mount your own campaign and get the media exposure you need.  Levine, a top public relations counselor, reveals the same procedures he uses every day to get press on major stars-and how they can be utilized on little or no budget.  Levine shows you how to think like a publicist and map out a strategy for success, giving ingenious methods to bridge the gap between their message and the public.

Lewis, Barbara.  The Kid’s Guide to Social Action.  (361.2 LEW)

How to solve the social problems you choose, and turn creative thinking into positive action. 

Lieberman, Susan.  The Real High School Handbook.  (373.18 LIE)

How to survive, thrive, and prepare for what's next.  A guide to getting through high school and deciding what will come next, providing information about courses, grades, testing, communicating with teachers, and post-graduation options.

Mace, Nancy.  In the Company of Men.  (355.007 MAC)

Nancy Mace describes her decision to attend the Citadel, formerly a males-only military university, and the experiences she had there--both positive and negative--on her path to becoming the first female of the South Carolina  institution.

McGraw, Jay.  Life Strategies for Teens.  (158 McG)

Life Strategies for Teens tackles the challenges of adolescence.  Combining proven techniques for dealing with life's obstacles and the youth and wit of writer Jay McGraw. A guide to help teenagers not only stay afloat, but to thrive during these pivotal years.

 

The Monks of New Skete.  In the Spirit of Happiness.  (255.81 MON)

A warm and heartfelt spiritual guide offering profound wisdom about leading a meaningful existence, inviting the reader to consider the uniquely vital and engaged way of life they practice in their community.

Morin, Isobel.  Women Who Reformed Politics.  (303.48 MOR)

Text and accompanying photographs present a profile of eight women who were active in reforming the United States' political system.

National Association.  School Spirit: The Best of Leadership.  (158 NAT)

A collection of ideas for student leaders that can be used to generate school spirit and motivate others.  Each is an article previously featured in Leadership magazine.

Niven, David.  The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People.  (158 NIV)

What Scientists Have Learned and How You Can Use It.  Each of the hundred practices, attitudes and habits for happiness illustrated will give you a clear and straightforward explanation of the science behind it to show you how to transform a ho-hum existence into a full and happy life.

Packer, Alex.  How Rude!  (395.1 PAC)

The teenagers' guide to good manners, proper behavior, and not grossing people out.

Post, Elizabeth.  Emily Post’s Teen Etiquette.  (395 POS)

Manners and Etiquette. What you need to know to be more comfortable at home, school, work and play.

Reisfeld, Randi.  Got Issues Much?  (158 REI)

Celebrities share their traumas and triumphs.

Riach, Steve.  Heart of a Champion.  (796.09 KEL)

In this inspiring collection of profiles and vignettes, Riach and Humphrey provide a veritable roll call of sports and role models-those who exemplify a true champion's heart and are set apart by their examples of character and virtue. 

Rimm, Sylvia B.  How Jane Won.  (646.70 RIM)

Fifty-five successful women share stories about how they succeeded in business, sports, family, education, and life.

Shriver, Maria.  Ten Things I Wish I’d Known  (158 SHR)

Maria Shriver expands upon a commencement speech she gave at Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts in which she enumerated ten things she wished she had known about life before she graduated from college.

Smith, Jeanette.  The New Publicity Kit.  (659 SMI)

A Complete Guide for Entrepreneurs, Small Businesses and Nonprofit Organizations.

A guide that gives you all you need to know to get publicity at little or no cost, showing you how to create news, write a news release, and develop a press kit.

Tannen, Deborah.  Talking from 9 to 5.  (651.7  TAN)

How women's and men's conversational styles affect who gets heard, who gets credit, and what gets done at work.

Von Oech, Roger.  A Whack on the Side of the Head.  (158 VON)

Basic ideas about the creative process that can be used at home, school, or the workplace.

Ziglar, Zig.  Something Else to Smile About.  (158 ZIG)

Encouragement and inspiration of life's ups and downs. Short stories and reminders about how to go about having a happy life.