In the day-to-day havoc of running a business, it’s easy to get caught up in all the details, from social media posts and customer complaints to ordering baler twine and other business supplies. The holidays give busy business owners the chance to relax and reflect during some well-owned time off. Not only is this the perfect opportunity to spend time with your loved ones or relax at the beach, but you can also use this time to catch up on your reading.

There are a range of books that can help business leaders learn about new and important approaches to various aspects of running a business, grow their skills, or simply gain perspective. Here are the books you should put on the top of your reading list these holidays!

1. Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike, by Phil Knight

This memoir from the founder of one of the most recognizable brands in the world, Phil Knight, is packed with inspiration and lessons for owners of businesses of all sizes. One of the things that will strike you when reading this book is how long the journey of Nike really was, unlike the overnight success we may think of Nike being.

This story also speaks to putting everything on the line a truly betting on yourself and your idea: it outlines how Knight wagered his house and his entire livelihood on his business idea. It’s packed with lessons on how to deal with unexpected challenges and make your brand stand out from the crowd.

2. The Nuclear Effect: The 6 Pillars of Building a 7+ Figure Online Business, by Scott Oldford

If you want to launch a new online business or take your existing enterprise to new heights in 2022, this book will be essential holiday reading. It goes through the different phases you need to go through to build a successful online business, from creation to scaling it to a 7-figure annual income.

This book goes beyond basic business tips, giving you solid approaches to overcome fear and build the mindset you’ll need for business success. Finally, it takes you through how to generate more profits, and build momentum to ultimately achieve your business goals.

3. Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork, by Dan Sullivan and Dr Benjamin Hardy

This book is all about building higher-performing teams, with a framework for being more collaborative and encouraging better teamwork. These lessons can be applied not only to your business, but also to all parts of your life.

The book outlines a methodology where you can shift your thinking from how you can do something to who you can help you to do it. This is key to the art of delegation, something that is vital for small business owners, yet also a skill that many lack.

4. Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less, by Tiffany Dufu

This book is all about why it is ok to drop the ball from time to time. In fact, it argues that this can actually be necessary in order to achieve what you want in life, especially for women balancing work, family and other commitments.

This book is packed with important lessons for all business owners, from issues of gender equity to how to pursue your goals and define your own journey. This read will surely inspire you to do what you need to do to achieve your goals!

5. Never Split The Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It, by Chris Voss with Tahl Raz

Negotiation is one of the most important skills for any business owner, and this is one of the best negotiation books you’ll ever read, if not the best. In this gripping read, Voss provides many compelling examples of negotiation to demonstrate this skill in a very relatable way. The lessons here can apply to leaders of the world’s biggest brands to owners of small businesses.

6. Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad, by M.T. Anderson

Your holiday reading list doesn’t need to be limited to business books. There are many books that are not directly related to business, marketing, and similar subjects, but teach you a lot about leadership and other vital skills.

This book outlines the story of composer Shostakovich during the siege of Leningrad during the Second World War, and how he overcame incredible challenges to write a symphony. It encapsulates many lessons of resilience, courage, strength, and hope – all important lessons for business owners!

The right holiday reading will put you in a stronger position to hit the ground running next year and set you up for a successful 2022. So place your order now for one, two, or all of the books on this list and have your e-reader ready!