5 Must-Read Books I Often Recommend to My Friends
Leadership is lonely, but it doesn’t have to be.
Whether you're building a church, launching a nonprofit, or just trying to keep your faith and family strong while leading others, these books have shaped me and countless others on the journey. Each one offers timeless wisdom, practical tools, and soul-level encouragement.
I’ve included Amazon links to each book. If you use them, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you), which helps support this work at BeMaroon.com.
📚 1. Emotionally Healthy Leader by Pete Scazzero
Why You Should Read It: This is the blueprint for doing leadership from a deep, healed place. Scazzero calls out the hustle culture in the church and replaces it with emotionally honest, spiritually grounded leadership. Scazzero is an OG in the spiritual formation space.
📚 2. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
Why You Should Read It: For leaders running on fumes, this book is a wake-up call. It’s not just about slowing down, it’s about reclaiming your soul and your schedule. Just a heads up: For brothers and sisters living and serving in hard places, the first few chapters can be hard to connect with, but past that, there is gold.
📚 3. From Nice to Known by Charlie Mitchell
Why You Should Read It: Yep, shameless plug, but for good reason. If you struggle with people-pleasing and want to live with confidence, clarity, and healthy boundaries, this is the book. Short, sweet, and to the point.
📚 4. Atomic Habits by James Clear
Why You Should Read It: Small habits, big changes. Every leader I coach needs structure, and this book is your playbook for building better rhythms without burning out. The concept of identity-driven goals is priceless.
📚 5. The Deeply Formed Life by Rich Villodas
Why You Should Read It: A beautiful guide for leaders of color and anyone trying to hold spiritual depth and cultural awareness together. Rich brings spiritual formation into real life. Rich picks up the baton from Scazzero and adds the cultural nuance you need.
🛠 Bonus: Build Your Leadership Arsenal
These books are just the start. Bookmark this page. I’ll keep updating it with tools, reads, and resources to help you grow in faith and lead with power.
