15 Books HR Leaders Know You’ll Love in 2025

To help you navigate any HR challenge in the year ahead, we tapped into our network of talent leaders to bring you their picks of the best HR books to add to your bookshelf. Covering topics from AI and DEI to emotional wellness and the science of connection, these HR books will be your roadmap to professional growth and leading meaningful change at work.    

Ahead is a preview of our full list of 15 HR books for 2025 with selections from last year’s list toward the end. You can download our complete list of the best HR books below.  

2025 HR books to add to your bookshelf 

1.“You’re Invited: The Art and Science of Connection, Trust, and Belonging” by Jon Levy

Recommended by: Betty Thompson, SHRM Chair and former Chief People Officer of Booz Allen Hamilton

Why it’s a top HR book: “You’re Invited” offers insights on building stronger workplace relationships and fostering a culture of belonging. You’ll get science-backed strategies that can strengthen employee engagement and collaboration within your organization.

About the author: Jon Levy is a behavioral scientist who has written extensively on the principles of building strong social connections. He specializes in applying the latest research to transform the ways companies approach marketing, sales, consumer engagement, and culture.

2. "Love 'Em or Lose 'Em, Sixth Edition: Getting Good People to Stay" by Beverly Kaye and Sharon Jordan-Evans

Recommended by: John Vlastelica, CEO and Founder of Recruiting Toolbox

Why it’s a top HR book: You’ll get evidence-based tactics to boost employee engagement and reduce costly turnover. The book covers a wide range of topics, from effective recognition and career development to managing difficult conversations. You'll create a more positive and productive work environment that inspires employees to stay with your organization long-term.

About the authors: Beverly Kaye is an internationally recognized expert on employee development, engagement, and retention. She's helped organizations around the world improve their talent management practices.

Sharon Jordan-Evans is an organizational development consultant and leadership coach who specializes in employee engagement and retention strategies. She has over 30 years of experience working with companies to create positive work environments.

3. "The Equality Machine: Harnessing Digital Technology for a Brighter, More Inclusive Future" by Orly Lobel  

Recommended by: Sam Shaddox, General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer at SeekOut 

Why it’s a top HR book: If you're still iffy about AI’s place in the world, this book will be a perfect addition to your 2024 HR reading list. “The Equality Machine” is an optimistic take on the future of AI and its applications to reduce or eliminate inequality across employment, healthcare, criminal justice, and other industries. One chapter focuses on hiring biases in the workplace and how AI and humans can work together to mitigate these pitfalls. You’ll walk away from this book with a hopeful, more informed view of how technology can be used for good and help overcome humankind’s greatest obstacles.  

About the author: Orly Lobel is the Warren Distinguished Professor of Law and the founding director of the Center for Employment and Labor Policy at the University of San Diego. She’s been named one of the most cited legal scholars in law and technology and employment law, and her work has been featured in top media, including the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. 

4. "The Alchemy of Talent: Leading Teams to Peak Performance" by Vijay Pendakur 

Recommended by: Katie Coupe, Chief People Officer (Interim) at SeekOut and former VP, Human Resources at BetterUp 

Why it’s a top HR book: Disruption fatigue has led to widespread employee overwhelm and disengagement, creating a crisis for team leaders who need their people to perform at their best. “The Alchemy of Talent” offers a research-backed blueprint for harnessing productive friction within complex teams and leveraging "talent catalysts" to achieve peak performance. You'll learn how to cultivate team resilience and innovation, ultimately transforming workplace challenges into consistent wins. 

About the author: Vijay Pendakur brings over 20 years of leadership experience, including VP and C-level roles at major companies like Zynga, VMware, and Dropbox, as well as serving as the former Dean of Students at Cornell University. As a trained social scientist, he combines operational expertise with scholarly research to help organizations and teams perform at their highest potential. 

5. "Play Bigger: How Pirates, Dreamers, and Innovators Create and Dominate Markets" by Al Ramadan, Dave Peterson, Christopher Lochhead, and Kevin Maney   

Recommended by: Jeff Diana, advisor and former CHRO of Atlassian and Calendly 

Why it’s a top HR book: Discover the concept of "category design," which argues that the most successful companies don't just create great products but actively design and dominate entirely new market categories. The authors present a detailed framework for how companies can become "category kings" by defining a problem, developing a solution that creates a new market category, and then using strategic storytelling and timing to condition the market to accept and embrace this new category. "We in HR need to constantly redefine our work to create real business value and push our business leaders to do the same," says Jeff. 

About the authors: Al Ramadan is a former technology executive who has worked with various successful startups. Dave Peterson has a background in technology and marketing and is an expert in helping businesses define and dominate their market categories. Christopher Lochhead is an author, podcast host, and former tech company CMO. He runs the "Follow Your Different" podcast and has written additional books about category design and business strategy. Kevin Maney is a technology journalist and author who has written extensively about technology and business. 

6. "Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men" by Caroline Criado-Perez

Recommended by: The SeekOut Team

Why it’s a top HR book: "Invisible Women" exposes how data bias against women has created a pervasive "one-size-fits-men" approach across virtually all aspects of life, from medical research and urban planning to technology and workplace policies. Through extensive research and compelling examples, you'll learn how this male-centric data gap endangers women's health, safety, and economic well-being.

About the author: Caroline Criado-Perez is a British feminist author, journalist, and activist. She is the winner of the 2019 Royal Society Science Book Prize and the 2019 Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year. Her advocacy work addresses gender inequality, including co-founding The Women's Room, an organization that aims to increase the representation of female experts in the media.

7. "Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life" by Susan David, PhD  

Recommended by: Annie Rihn, advisor and former talent leader at Discord and Zillow 

Why it’s a top HR book: You’ll learn how to help employees navigate workplace changes, stress, and challenges while maintaining productivity and well-being. The book offers practical tools for developing psychological flexibility in the workplace, which can lead to improved team dynamics, reduced burnout, and more effective leadership during difficult conversations and organizational transitions. 

About the author: Susan David, PhD, is a psychologist and researcher at Harvard Medical School and the co-founder of the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital. Her work has influenced organizational behavior and personal development, reaching millions through her TED Talk "The Gift and Power of Emotional Courage," which has been viewed over 9 million times. 

8. "Tomorrowmind: Thriving at Work with Resilience, Creativity, and Connection—Now and in an Uncertain Future" by Gabriella Rosen Kellerman and Martin Seligman   

Recommended by: The SeekOut Team 

Why it’s a top HR book: You’ll build organizational resilience and prepare your workforce for rapid technological and social change. The book combines Seligman's pioneering work in positive psychology with Kellerman's expertise in workplace innovation to offer practical frameworks for developing five key skills: prospection, cognitive flexibility, social connection, purpose, and energized focus. These are crucial for employee success in an increasingly uncertain business landscape. 

About the authors: Gabriella Rosen Kellerman is a psychiatrist, behavioral scientist, and technology entrepreneur who has held leadership positions in various workplace innovation companies. Martin Seligman is considered the father of positive psychology and has served as the President of the American Psychological Association, Director of the Penn Positive Psychology Center, and has written numerous influential books. 

9. "The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter" by Michael D.Watkins 

Recommended by: Diane Bahu, Head of Talent Sourcing at BP Americas 

Why it’s a top HR book: You'll learn how to prove yourself in a new role in the first 90 days. "This period of transition can be stressful, but with the right guidance, you can set benchmarks for yourself and set up easy wins that can help you achieve goals," says Dianne. 

About the author: Michael D. Watkins is a renowned leadership transitions expert, co-founder of Genesis Advisers, and Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change at IMD Business School. He has spent decades researching how leaders navigate critical career transitions. 

10. "Thank You for Arguing: What Aristotle, Lincoln, and Homer Simpson Can Teach Us About the Art of Persuasion" by Jay Heinrichs 

Recommended by: Jonna Sjövall, Global Head of Talent Attraction and Campus Recruiting at UBS 

Why it’s a top HR book: The book explores how to manage things when they don’t go your way and how to find common ground with people who don’t share your point of view. It unpacks the timeless art of rhetoric by examining persuasion techniques used throughout history showing how mastering these tools can help win arguments without alienating others. 

About the author: Jay Heinrichs is a bestselling author and persuasion expert who has worked as a journalist, magazine editor, and marketing executive while also serving as a professor of persuasion and rhetoric at multiple universities, including Harvard. 

Selections from last year's HR books list

11. "Work Rules! Insight from Inside Google That Will Transform How You Live and Lead" by Laszlo Bock 

Recommended by: The SeekOut team 

Why it’s a top HR book: As the former Senior Vice President of People Operations at Google, Laszlo presents a data-driven human resources book that looks into today’s workplace and sets up a blueprint for creating a culture of creativity in your organization. You’ll walk away with actionable insights centered around attracting the smartest people to your teams and keeping them there, including how to use data to predict and shape the future and what you can learn from your best (and worst) employees.  

About the author: When Laszlo led Google’s People function, Google was named the Best Company to Work for over 30 times worldwide. Laszlo is the founder of tech companies Humu and Gretel, and he was named “Human Resources Executive of the Year” by HR Executive Magazine in 2010.  

12. "Black Box Thinking: Why Most People Never Learn from Their Mistakes—But Some Do" by Matthew Syed 

Recommended by: Darren Lancaster, CEO (Americas &EMEA) at Hudson RPO

Why it’s a top HR book: “Black Box Thinking” emphasizes the transformative power of learning from mistakes and challenging the fear of failure in order to foster a culture that values adaptability, resilience, and progress. The book draws parallels between aviation and other high-stakes industries where a "black box" approach allows for thorough investigation and learning from errors—a stark contrast from fields where a "blame game" culture prevails, which inevitably hinders progress and innovation. The author pushes for a shift toward a growth mindset that encourages individuals and organizations to analyze failures, identify root causes, and implement changes for continuous improvement. 

About the author: Matthew Syed has written seven bestselling books on mindset high performance, is a multi-award-winning journalist, and is the host of the popular BBC Radio 4 Show “Sideways.”

13. "The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups" by Daniel Coyle 

Recommended by: Nicole Goldman, VP of Talent Acquisition at Huntington Ingalls Industries  

Why it’s a top HR book: “The Culture Code” was named Best Business Book of Year by Bloomberg, BookPal, and Business Insider. It dives into the inner workings of organizations like Pixar, the San Antonio Spurs, and the U.S. Navy’s SEAL Team six, to decode the secrets behind their success. The book also explores three key skills—building cohesion, fostering cooperation, and developing a shared mindset—that demystify the culture-building process and lead to effective collaboration within diverse groups. 

About the author: Daniel is a New York Times bestselling author and has served as an advisor to high-performing organizations, including the Navy SEALs, Microsoft, Google, and the Cleavland Guardians.  

14. "Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity" by Kim Scott 

Recommended by: Bret Feig, VP of Global Talent Acquisition at Zip Co 

Why it’s a top HR book: “Radical Candor” has been a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller for multiple years

with a simple message that you can be both kind and clear as a leader. You’ll learn how to create a culture of open communication, build solid relationships with team members, and achieve optimal performance by embracing honesty and empathy and soliciting criticism. The book has become a required reading for many successful organizations and has raised the bar for management practices across the globe. If you’re interested in reading this book with your team, you can use this official book club PDF to guide your discussion and get the most out of the reading.  

About the author: Kim Scott is the co-founder of the company Radical Candor, an executive education company that helps organizations move from a culture of command and control to one of collaboration. Kim was a CEO coach at Dropbox, Qualtrics, X (formerly Twitter), and other tech companies.

15. "How to Be an Inclusive Leader: Your Role in Creating Cultures of Belonging Where Everyone Can Thrive (Second Edition)" by Jennifer Brown 

Recommended by: Charlesiah McLean, Head of Diverse Talent Workforce Acceleration at Novartis 

Why it's a top HR book: “[This] is an incredible book where [Jennifer] details the attributes of being an inclusive leader and the four stages of the inclusive leadership continuum,” says Charlesiah.  

Brown’s book is an essential read for anyone who wants to become a better leader and create a more inclusive workplace culture. You’ll learn how to make a business case for diversity and inclusion along with gaining practical tools and strategies for managing unconscious bias, developing an inclusive leadership style, and building diverse teams. The book also includes real-world examples of successful inclusive leadership, leaving you with insights to apply to your own organization.  

About the author: Jennifer Brown is the founder and CEO of Jennifer Brown Consulting, an industry-leading DEI consulting firm for over 20 years. She’s a sought-after keynote speaker at industry events and has been featured in media such as Harvard Business Review, Bloomberg Businessweek, and Forbes. 

Supplement your HR books with these resources

• Report: Redefining the Role of the Recruiter: From Sourcing Expert to Talent Advisor

• Webinar: Three Ways SeekOut Makes You a Better Recruiter

• E-book: Five ChatGPT Mistakes Recruiters Make and How to Fix Them