A 2025 Enter the Boardroom “Wrapped” Insight — drawn from conversations with world-class Chairs, CEOs, NEDs and governance leaders

Every year on Enter the Boardroom with Nurole, we ask some of the most experienced board leaders in business, public service, scale-ups, private equity, the NHS and the charitable sector to share the books that have shaped how they think and lead.

Here are the Top 10 Books Every Board Member Should Read, based on the books most often cited by our guests throughout 2025.

Rebel Ideas — Matthew Syed

A clear favourite across the year. Directors consistently raised Syed’s exploration of cognitive diversity, groupthink and the power of unconventional thinking. The message resonates strongly with leaders working to strengthen challenge, culture and decision-making.

Bad Blood — John Carreyrou

A recurring reference point in discussions about accountability and oversight. Directors frequently cite it as a vivid reminder of what happens when curiosity and challenge collapse inside a board.

Shackleton’s Way — Morrell & Capparell

Admired for its deep relevance to leadership in adversity. Whether navigating geopolitical risk, digital disruption or organisational change, boards continue to look to Shackleton’s style of resilient, human-centred leadership.

The One Minute Manager — Ken Blanchard

Routinely mentioned for its clarity on how to coach, motivate and get the best out of others — a skill set especially relevant for chairs and committee leads.

Built to Last — Jim Collins & Jerry Porras

Still essential for directors thinking about long-term stewardship. Its frameworks for purpose, coherence and organisational discipline are regularly referenced by board chairs and CEOs.

Supremacy — Parme Olson

A standout among leaders concerned with AI, cyber risk and the geopolitical landscape shaping technology. As these issues rise on board agendas, this book’s relevance has grown sharply.

Flying Without a Net — Thomas DeLong

Cited for its exploration of fear, pressure and high-performance psychology. Directors increasingly emphasise self-awareness, EQ and vulnerability as essential boardroom capabilities.

Homo Deus — Yuval Harari

Raised by directors seeking to expand their thinking beyond the immediate horizon. It challenges leaders to consider long-term societal shifts and technological forces shaping the future.

Questions Are the Answer — Hal Gregersen

Frequently referenced during conversations about challenge, inquiry and board effectiveness. Directors repeatedly point out that good governance begins with asking better questions.

Enlightenment Now — Steven Pinker

Noted for its evidence-based perspective and focus on principles. Many chairs referenced its usefulness in bringing rationality and long-term thinking into the boardroom.

What This Reveals About How Boards Are Thinking in 2025

1. Board members are gravitating toward behavioural insight and decision science.

Books about listening, questioning, bias, fear, influence and team dynamics dominate the list. Technical governance manuals barely appear, suggesting directors learn governance primarily through people, psychology and narrative.

2. Long-term stewardship matters more than ever.

Works like Built to Last, Enlightenment Now and Homo Deus indicate that today’s boards are balancing short-term pressures with structural, societal and technological shifts.

3. Failure examples are powerful teaching tools.

Bad Blood shows that directors learn as much from breakdowns as from blueprints.

4. Modern boards are actively seeking emotional intelligence.

Books on vulnerability (Flying Without a Net), influence and interpersonal dynamics appear throughout the year’s conversations — a strong sign of where board effectiveness is heading.