The Best Leaders Are Readers: Explore Johnny Quinn’s Personal Reading Library
Reading is one of the most powerful tools for leadership development. It exposes you to fresh ideas, diverse perspectives, and innovative strategies that can enhance your effectiveness. Books allow you to gain insights from thought leaders, stay ahead of trends, and tackle challenges with a competitive edge. Beyond knowledge, reading sharpens communication skills by expanding your vocabulary and improving your command of language. It also hones critical thinking by encouraging analysis and informed decision-making. Whether it’s staying current or mastering timeless principles, reading equips leaders to inspire, innovate, and succeed. Great leaders don’t just lead—they read.
Do you want to see my Top 10 Reads of All-Time? Download my FREE Think Guide for your sneak peek.
Note: Books are listed in alphabetical order (by title) under the year they were read.
2026 (2)
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| Then Darkness Fled: The Liberating Wisdom of Booker T. Washington Stephen Mansfield |
2025 (20)
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| Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren’t Growing Up Abigail Shrier |
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| Being a Dad Who Leads John MacArthur |
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| Bitcoin Age Nik Bhatia |
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| Fanatical Prospecting: The Ultimate Guide to Opening Sales Conversations and Filling the Pipeline Jeb Blount |
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| How To Think About The Economy: A Primer Per L. Bylund |
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| New England Primer John Cotton |
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| Praying the Bible Donald S. Whitney |
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| Ridiculously Easy To Do Business With David Avrin |
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| The AI Edge: Sales Strategies for Unleashing the Power of AI to Save Time, Sell More, and Crush the Competition Jeb Blount and Anthony Iannarino |
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| The Coffee Bean: A Simple Lesson to Create Positive Change Damon West & Jon Gordon |
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| The Elements of Style William Strunk |
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| The Mentor: A Career-Readiness Business Parable J.N. Whiddon |
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| Warnings To The Churches J.C. Ryle |
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| You Can’t Teach a Kid to Ride a Bike at a Seminar David H. Sandler |
2024 (19)
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| Become a Bookable Speaker: From the Agent Who Takes Speakers from No Name to Hall of Fame Christa Haberstock |
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| Book More Business: Make MORE Money Speaking Lois Creamer |
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| Index Fund Investing 101 The Wealth Dad |
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| Inventing Bitcoin: The Technology Behind The First Truly Scarce and Decentralized Money Explained Yan Pritzker |
 | Leadership and Emotional Sabotage Joe Rigney |
 | Mind Shift: It Doesn’t Take a Genius to Think Like One Erwin Raphael McManus |
 | Simple Theology: A Gospel Catechism for Kids Dale Partridge |
 | Straightforward Thoughts for Young Men J.C. Ryle |
 | Taking Over: Insider Tips from a Third-Generation CEO Mitchell Kaneff |
 | The Bitcoin Handbook Anil Patel |
 | The Inner Game of Tennis W. Timothy Gallwey |
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| The Power of 168: Shaping Moments Dr. Jeffery Williamson |
 | The Sacredness of Secular Work Jordan Raynor |
 | Training to Imagine Kat Koppett |
 | What Has The Government Done to Our Money? Murray N. Rothbard |
2023 (15)
 | $100M Offers Alex Hormozi |
 | Chose by God RC Sproul |
 | Exactly What to Say Phil M. Jones |
 | Live Not by Lies Rod Dreher |
 | The Manliness of Christ: How the Masculinity of Jesus Eradicates Effeminate Christianity Dale Partridge |
 | Knee Ability Zero Ben Patrick |
 | Knowing the Spirit Costi Hinn |
 | QBQ! The Question Behind the Question: Practicing Personal Accountability at Work and in Life John G. Miller |
 | The Comfort Crisis Michael Easter |
 | The Ground for Good Theology Dale Partridge |
 | The Lord’s Prayer Kevin Deyoung |
 | The Referable Speaker Michael Port |
 | The Story of Reality Gregory Koukl |
2022 (20)
 | The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith in Modern English Reformation Fellowship |
| Faith Is for Weak People Ray Comfort |
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Finish First: Winning Changes Everything Scott Hamilton |
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Future Men: Raising Boys to Fight Giants Douglas Wilson |
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Into Thin Air Jon Krakauer |
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It Is What You Make Of It Justin McRoberts |
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Live No Lies: Recognize and Resist the Three Enemies That Sabotage Your Peace John Mark Comer |
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Mama Bear Apologetics: Empowering Your Kids to Challenge Cultural Lies Hillary Morgan Ferrer |
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Ploductivity: A Practical Theology of Work & Wealth Douglas Wilson |
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Putting Out of Your Mind Dr. Bob Rotella |
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Right Thinking in a World Gone Wrong John MacArthur |
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Tactics Gregory Koukl |
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The Coddling of the American Mind Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt |
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The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment Tim Challies |
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The Fourth Turning William Strauss & Neil Howe |
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The Knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God: Their Meaning in the Christian Life A.W. Tozer |
 | The Secret Society of Success Tim Shurrer |
 | Ultimate Proof of Creation Dr. Jason Lisle |
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What Is The Gospel? Greg Gilbert |
2021 (26)
 | Bitcoin: Hard Money You Can’t **** With: Why Bitcoin Will Be The Next Global Reserve Currency Jason Williams |
 | End The Fed Ron Paul |
 | Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage Alfred Lansing |
 | Health With An Attitude Fred Kienle |
 | Legacy James Kerr |
 | Mastering Golf’s Mental Game: Your Ultimate Guide to Better On-Course Performance and Lower Scores Dr. Michael Lardon |
 | Thank God for Bitcoin: The Creation, Corruption and Redemption of Money Jimmy Song, Robert Breedlove and Additional Authors |
 | The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance W. Timothy Gallwey |
 | The Internet of Money Andreas M. Antonopoulos |
 | The Little Bitcoin Book: Why Bitcoin Matters for Your Freedom, Finances, and Future Multiple Authors |
 | X: Multiply Your God-Given Potential John Bevere |
2020 (30)
 | 438 Days: An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea Jonathan Franklin |
 | A Simple Way to Pray Martin Luther |
 | Anxious for Nothing: God’s Cure for the Cares of Your Soul John MacArthur |
 | Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds David Goggins |
 | Getting There: A Book of Mentors Gillian Zoe Segal |
 | Golf is Not a Game of Perfect Dr. Bob Rotella |
 | Greenlights Matthew McConaughey |
 | How Champions Think: In Sports and in Life Dr. Bob Rotella |
 | Man’s Search for Meaning Viktor Frankl |
 | Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine Mike Michalowicz |
 | Salt Talks: Salty At 70 Randy Marshall |
 | The End of Reason: A Response to the New Atheists Ravi Zacharias |
 | The Golfer’s Mind: Play to Play Great Dr. Bob Rotella |
 | The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact Chip Heath & Dan Heath |
 | The True Measure of a Man Richard E. Simmons III |
 | Tipping Point: The End is Here Jimmy Evans |
 | Ultra-Solutions: How to Fail Most Successfully Paul Watzlawick |
 | Warnings to the Churches J.C. Ryle |
2019 (29)
 | 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos Jordan B. Peterson |
 | A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World John Stonestreet & Brett Kunkle |
 | As Many Reps As Possible Jason Khalipa |
 | A Tale of Three Kings: A Study in Brokenness Gene Edwards |
 | Can We Trust the Gospels? Peter Williams |
 | Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual Jocko Willink |
 | Everyday Millionaires: How Ordinary People Built Extraordinary Wealth―and How You Can Too Chris Hogan |
 | Garden City: Work, Rest, and the Art of Being Human John Mark Comer |
 | Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God Timothy Keller |
 | Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations Admiral William H. McRaven |
 | The Power of Your Words Robert Morris |
 | The Promise Principle: A New Way to Encounter the Bible Phillip Hunter |
 | The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World John Mark Comer |
 | The Screwtape Letters C.S. Lewis |
 | Weapons of Mass Instruction: A Schoolteacher’s Journey Through the Dark World of Compulsory Schooling John Taylor Gatto |
2018 (31)
 | Culture Wins: The Roadmap to an Irresistible Workplace William Vanderbloemen |
 | Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work Chip Heath and Dan Heath |
 | Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World–and Why Things Are Better Than You Think Hans Rosling |
 | Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance Angela Duckworth |
 | Letters to the Church Francis Chan |
 | Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe the World William H. McRaven |
 | Saved from Success: How God Can Free You from Culture’s Distortion of Family, Work, and the Good Life Dale Partridge |
 | Ten Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe: Are Urban Legends & Sunday School Myths Ruining Your Faith? Larry Osborne |
 | The Art of Getting Back Up: 9 Simple Steps to Get You Back Up When Life Knocks You Down Wayne Salmans |
 | The Last Lecture Randy Pausch |
 | The Richest Man in Babylon George Clason |
2017 (27)
 | Boundaries with Kids: When to Say Yes, When to Say No, to Help Your Children Gain Control of Their Lives Henry Cloud |
 | Cold Calling Techniques (That Really Work!) Stephen Schiffman |
 | Evangelpreneur: How Biblical Free Enterprise Can Empower Your Faith, Family, and Freedom Josh Tolley |
 | Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done Jon Acuff |
 | Mindset: The New Psychology of Success Dr. Carol S. Dweck |
 | Same Kind of Different As Me Ron Hall & Denver Moore |
 | The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable Patrick Lencioni |
 | The Fred Factor: How Passion in Your Work and Life Can Turn the Ordinary into the Extraordinary Mark Sanborn |
 | The Operator: Firing the Shots that Killed Osama bin Laden and My Years as a SEAL Team Warrior Robert O’Neill |
 | Thou Shall Prosper: Ten Commandments for Making Money Rabbi Daniel Lapin |
2016 (40)
 | 31 Facts About Wisdom Mike Murdock |
 | Advertising Headlines That Make You Rich: Create Winning Ads, Web Pages, Sales Letters and More David Garfinkel |
 | Beyond Just Win G.A. Moore |
 | Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics Daniel James Brown |
 | Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again Donald J. Trump |
 | Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less Greg McKeown |
 | Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win Jocko Willink & Leif Babin |
 | Framing History Bob Burke |
 | Hero of Heroes: Seeing Christ in the Beatitudes Iain M. Duguid |
 | Humility Andrew Murray |
 | Making My First Ten Million: The Story of Money & Leveraged Income Brian Carruthers |
 | Paid To Speak: Best Practices For Building A Successful Speaking Business National Speakers Association |
 | Precious Unborn Human Persons Gregory Koukl |
 | Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike Phil Knight |
 | Speak More!: Marketing Strategies to Get More Speaking Business National Speakers Association |
 | Surprised by Serenity Dr. Randy Marshall |
 | Tell Someone: You Can Share the Good News Greg Laurie |
 | The Essential Bernie Sanders and His Vision for America Jonathan Tasini |
 | The Money Answer Book Dave Ramsey |
 | Unashamed Lecrae |
 | Zillow Talk: The New Rules of Real Estate Spencer Rascoff & Stan Humphries |
2015 (39)
 | A More Perfect Union: What We the People Can Do to Reclaim Our Constitutional Liberties Dr. Ben Carson |
 | Alive!: A Physician’s Biblical and Scientific Guide to Nutrition Dr. Scott Stoll |
 | Courage That Changed The World Rick Joyner |
 | Do the Work: Overcome Resistance and Get Out of Your Own Way Steven Pressfield |
 | Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion Gary Vaynerchuk |
 | Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: It’s Impossible to Be Spiritually Mature, While Remaining Emotionally Immature Peter Scazzero |
 | Evolution: The Cutting-Edge Guide to Breaking Down Mental Walls and Building the Body You’ve Always Wanted Joe Manganiello |
 | Growing Up Social: Raising Relational Kids in a Screen-Driven World Gary Chapman & Arlene Pellicane |
 | H3 Leadership: Be Humble. Stay Hungry. Always Hustle. Brad Lomenick |
 | It Is Finished: 365 Days of Good News Tullian Tchividjian |
 | Killing Lions: A Guide Through the Trials Young Men Face John Eldredge |
 | Necessary Endings Dr. Henry Cloud |
 | Never Surrender: A Soldier’s Journey to the Crossroads of Faith and Freedom General Jerry Boykin |
 | No Hero: The Evolution of a Navy Seal Mark Owen |
 | One Nation: What We Can All Do to Save America’s Future Dr. Ben Carson |
 | Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World Michael Hyatt |
 | Rising to the Challenge: My Leadership Journey Carly Fiorina |
 | Scary Close: Dropping the Act and Finding True Intimacy Donald Miller |
 | #Struggles: Following Jesus in a Selfie-Centered World Craig Groeschel |
 | The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change Dr. Stephen R. Covey |
 | The Compound Effect Darren Hardy |
 | The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal Jim Loehr & Tony Schwartz |
 | The Top 10 Distinctions Between Millionaires and the Middle Class Keith Cameron Smith |
 | The Top 10 Distinctions Between Winners and Whiners Keith Cameron Smith |
2014 (11)
 | Don’t Give Up, Don’t Give In: Lessons from an Extraordinary Life Louis Zamperini & David Rensin |
 | Fight: Winning the Battles That Matter Most Craig Groeschel |
 | First: What It Takes to Win Rich Froning |
 | Only Believe Danny & Diane McDaniel |
 | Searching for God Knows What Donald Miller |
 | The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism Timothy Keller |
 | Things I Wish I’d Known Before We Got Married Gary Chapman |
2013 (12)
 | Benghazi: The Definitive Report Brandon Webb & Jack Murphy |
 | Jesus + Nothing = Everything Tullian Tchividjian |
 | Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead Sheryl Sandberg |
 | Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife Dr. Eben Alexander |
 | SEAL Team Six: Memoirs of an Elite Navy SEAL Sniper Howard Wasdin & Stephen Templin |
 | Steinbrenner: The Last Lion of Baseball Bill Madden |
 | Steve Jobs Walter Isaacson |
 | The Essential Wooden: A Lifetime of Lessons on Leaders and Leadership John Wooden & Steve Jamison |
 | The Explicit Gospel Matt Chandler & Jared Wilson |
2012 (11)
 | Boots on the Ground by Dusk: My Tribute to Pat Tillman Mary Tillman & Narda Zacchino |
 | ESPN The Company: The Story and Lessons Behind the Most Fanatical Brand in Sports Anthony Smith & Keith Hollihan |
 | Hidden America: From Coal Miners to Cowboys, an Extraordinary Exploration of the Unseen People W ho Make This Country Work Jeanne Marie Laskas |
 | Outlaw Platoon: Heroes, Renegades, Infidels, and the Brotherhood of War in Afghanistan Sean Parnell & John Bruning |
 | The Mental Athlete Kay Porter |
 | Through My Eyes Tim Tebow & Nathan Whitaker |
 | Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption Laura Hillenbrand |
2011-prior (19)
 | All Things Possible: My Story of Faith, Football, and the First Miracle Season Kurt Warner & Michael Silver |
 | Go Long!: My Journey Beyond the Game and the Fame Jerry Rice & Brian Curtis |
 | How to Win Friends & Influence People Dale Carnegie |
 | Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 Marcus Luttrell & Patrick Robinson |
 | Mind Gym: An Athlete’s Guide to Inner Excellence Gary Mack & David Casstevens |
 | Rich Dad Poor Dad: What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! Robert T. Kiyosaki |
 | Running Within: A Guide to Mastering the Body-Mind-Spirit: A Guide to Mastering the Body-Mind-Spirit Connection for Ultimate Training and Racing Jerry Lynch & Warren Scott |
 | The Alchemist Paulo Coelho |
 | The Coming Economic Collapse: How You Can Thrive When Oil Costs $200 a Barrel Stephen Leeb & Glen Strathy |
 | The Greatest Miracle in the World Og Mandino |
 | The Greatest Salesman in the World Og Mandino |
 | The Greatest Secret in the World Og Mandino |
 | The Winners Manual: For the Game of Life Jim Tressel |
 | Think Big: Make It Happen in Business and Life Donald J. Trump & Bill Zanker |
 | T.O. Terrell Owens & Jason Rosenhaus |