Every year I put together a list of books to read in 2021, and this year is no different.
Here is my guide to 12 powerful books for you to read from January to December. I've selected this list carefully, looking for books that will grow different areas of your leadership. And also ones that are important to expand your diversity & inclusion lens.
I'm also thrilled to let you know that I'll be running a book club in 2021 based on this reading list - more details on that at the end of the post 
Disclaimer: I've used Amazon affiliate links in this article, meaning at no cost to you, I get a small commission for purchases. It's kind of like saying "thanks!" for me putting the links together 🙂
January
Lead from the Outside
Stacey Abrams
Key quote: "From the moment I enter a room, I am clear about how I intend to be treated and how I intend to engage."
February
Bossed Up
Emilie Aries
Key quote: "Saying no makes room for more "oh hell yes!" in your life."
March
So You Want to Talk About Race
Ijeoma Oluo
Key quote: "When we identify where our privilege intersects with somebody else's oppression, we'll find our opportunities to make real change."
April
The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense at Work
Suzette Haden Elgin
Key quote: "Language is the only source of real power."
May
Eloquent Rage
Brittney Cooper
Key quote: "When I talk about owning eloquent rage as your superpower, it comes with the clear caveat that not everyone is worth your time or your rage."
June
Wordslut
Amanda Montell
Key quote: "One of our culture’s least helpful pieces of advice is that women need to change the way they speak to sound less “like women” (or that queer people need to sound straighter, or that people of color need to sound whiter)."
July
How to Be an Antiracist
Ibram X. Kendi
Key quote: "What’s the problem with being “not racist”? It is a claim that signifies neutrality."
August
Five Dysfunctions of a Team (Manga Edition),
Patrick Lencioni
Key quote: "Trust is knowing that when a team member does push you, they're doing it because they care about the team "
September
VisuaLeadership
Todd Cherches
Key quote: "[T]he goal of visual thinking and visual communication? Ultimately, in a simple phrase, it's about getting other people to "see what you're saying."
October
Between the World and Me
Ta-Nehisi Coates
Key quote: "You are growing into consciousness, and my wish for you is that you feel no need to constrict yourself to make other people comfortable."
November
The Speed of Trust
Stephen M.R. Covey
Key quote: "We judge ourselves by our intentions and
others by their behaviour."
December
Being the Boss
Linda A. Hill
Key quote: "Nothing you do as a manager will be more important than developing and pursuing a view of the future that you and your group want to create."
Want to join a Book Club on your own terms?
The only leadership book club where you don't have to read the books 😉
Join a community of like-minded womxn who meet monthly to grow & build meaningful community.