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 list includes over 90 titles, from timely insights to timeless fiction.

Reading is more than a pastime. It’s also a good way to make sense of change, challenge assumptions, and evolve with purpose. That spirit is at the heart of McKinsey’s 2025 book recommendations, curated by Raju Narisetti, partner and leader, McKinsey Global Publishing. This year’s list features more than 90 different recommendations from 47 contributors, including CEOs and business leaders, editors and columnists, and university, think tank, and social-sector leaders—as well as some McKinsey colleagues.

NEW THIS YEAR: Keep track of what you’ve read, what you want to read, and how your lists stack up to those of our contributors—and then share on social or revisit anytime. Simply sign into (or sign up for) your free McKinsey account, and click the checkbox next to any title to mark it as read or save for later. Enjoy!

Spanning genres from AI and business to memoir and fiction, this year’s book choices reflect a shared hunger for meaning, progress, and human connection. Notably, many leaders gravitated toward books tackling today’s most pressing themes, from democracy and power to the ethical dilemmas of AI. These titles echo the questions leaders are asking and the ideas shaping what could come next. Dive in, and don’t forget to download the full list.

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REVISIT PREVIOUS YEARS’ READING LISTS

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What to read next: McKinsey’s 2024 annual book recommendations
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Looking for your next book? Each year, McKinsey seeks out the best books in business, technology, workplace culture, and more. Here’s our 2024 list, recommended by CEOs, founders, editors in chief, and other global leaders.
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2023 summer reading guide
McKinsey’s annual book list from leaders and editors is back—and once again offers compelling picks that reflect the times.
2022 Summer Reading List
2022 summer reading guide
McKinsey’s annual book list from leaders, authors, and editors is back—with something for everyone.

Comments and opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not represent or reflect the opinions, policies, or positions of McKinsey & Company or have its endorsement. McKinsey & Company does not benefit from third-party books you may choose to buy based on these recommendations.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

It takes a village to curate amazing lists from a busy group of leaders from all over the world. We wish to especially thank Preeti Wali, Rebecca Lowell Edwards, Rimjhim Dey, and Robert Christie for their help.

Special thanks to McKinsey Global Publishing colleagues Dan Spector, Diane Rice, Drew Holzfeind, Elana Brown, Eleni Kostopoulos, Eliza Cooper, Emily Adeyanju, Eric R. Quinones, Janet Michaud, Jermey Matthews, Julie Macias, Kanika Punwani, LaShon Malone, Mary Gayen, Michael Goesele, Mike Borruso, Nancy Cohn, Nathan Wilson, Oriana Parisi, Philip Mathew, Sarah Thuerk, Sean Conrad, Stephen Landau, and Victor Cuevas for making this list come alive.

And thank you to all the contributors and their organizations for providing McKinsey Global Publishing with official photos of the contributors, which are all used here with their explicit permission for McKinsey & Company to use them for this annual curation.

We hope you have enjoyed our annual reading list. Please let us know how we could have made it even more enjoyable or useful for you: Drop us a note at NewIdeas@McKinsey.com.