Collection

The 40 Best AI Books for Business Leaders

Essential 2026 reading across literacy, strategy, transformation, and governance

40 resourcesFive leadership reading pathsLast reviewed 2026-11-08
40 of 40 resources

Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI — Ethan Mollick

Ethan Mollick

BookAI literacyIntermediatePaid

For: Executives, managers, consultants, knowledge workers, and anyone beginning to integrate generative AI into professional workflows.

Why explore: Co-Intelligence examines the relationship between human work and increasingly capable AI systems. Rather than treating AI exclusively as automation, Ethan Mollick explores the emerging possibilities of working alongside artificial intelligence as a collaborator, assistant, coach,

Open resource

AI Snake Oil: What Artificial Intelligence Can Do, What It Can’t, and How to Tell the Difference — Arvind Narayanan & Sayash Kapoor

Arvind Narayanan & Sayash Kapoor

BookAI literacyIntermediatePaid

For: Leaders evaluating AI vendors, enterprise solutions, predictive systems, or major technology investment proposals.

Why explore: One of the most useful things a business leader can develop is skepticism without becoming dismissive.

Open resource

Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans — Melanie Mitchell

Melanie Mitchell

BookAI literacyIntermediatePaid

For: Nontechnical leaders who want to understand foundational AI concepts without relying on marketing terminology.

Why explore: Melanie Mitchell offers a careful introduction to machine learning, neural networks, reasoning, and the long-running challenges of artificial intelligence.

Open resource

You Look Like a Thing and I Love You — Janelle Shane

Janelle Shane

BookAI literacyIntermediatePaid

For: Leaders looking for an accessible, memorable introduction to how machine-learning systems behave.

Why explore: Janelle Shane uses unusual and often humorous examples to explain the logic, limitations, and unexpected behavior of AI systems.

Open resource

These Strange New Minds — Christopher Summerfield

Christopher Summerfield

BookAI literacyIntermediatePaid

For: Strategists, technology leaders, and executives seeking a deeper conceptual understanding of contemporary AI.

Why explore: Christopher Summerfield explores artificial intelligence through questions about cognition, language, intelligence, and the differences between human and machine minds.

Open resource

The Worlds I See: Curiosity, Exploration, and Discovery at the Dawn of AI — Fei-Fei Li

Fei-Fei Li

BookAI literacyIntermediatePaid

For: Leaders interested in the history of modern AI and the human decisions that shaped its development.

Why explore: Fei-Fei Li combines a personal scientific journey with the development of computer vision and modern machine learning.

Open resource

The Age of AI: And Our Human Future — Henry A. Kissinger, Eric Schmidt & Daniel Huttenlocher

Henry A. Kissinger, Eric Schmidt & Daniel Huttenlocher

BookAI literacyIntermediatePaid

For: Senior executives, strategists, policymakers, and readers concerned with the broader consequences of artificial intelligence.

Why explore: The Age of AI examines how artificial intelligence could reshape human knowledge, decision-making, institutions, and geopolitical power.

Open resource

HBR Guide to Generative AI for Managers — Elisa Farri & Gabriele Rosani

Elisa Farri & Gabriele Rosani

BookAI literacyIntermediatePaid

For: Managers and team leaders translating generative AI into everyday work practices.

Why explore: This practical management guide addresses the challenge of adopting generative AI within professional teams.

Open resource

Prediction Machines: The Simple Economics of Artificial Intelligence — Ajay Agrawal, Joshua Gans & Avi Goldfarb

Ajay Agrawal, Joshua Gans & Avi Goldfarb

BookAI strategyIntermediatePaid

For: Executives and strategists seeking a foundational economic model of AI.

Why explore: Prediction Machines reframes artificial intelligence through the economics of prediction.

Open resource

Power and Prediction: The Disruptive Economics of Artificial Intelligence — Ajay Agrawal, Joshua Gans & Avi Goldfarb

Ajay Agrawal, Joshua Gans & Avi Goldfarb

BookAI strategyIntermediatePaid

For: Executives responsible for large-scale AI transformation or business-model redesign.

Why explore: Power and Prediction extends the economic reasoning of Prediction Machines.

Open resource

Competing in the Age of AI — Marco Iansiti & Karim R. Lakhani

Marco Iansiti & Karim R. Lakhani

BookAI strategyIntermediatePaid

For: CEOs, strategy leaders, operating-model designers, and digital transformation executives.

Why explore: This book explores how AI changes the architecture of businesses and the foundations of competition.

Open resource

All-in on AI: How Smart Companies Win Big with Artificial Intelligence — Thomas H. Davenport & Nitin Mittal

Thomas H. Davenport & Nitin Mittal

BookAI strategyIntermediatePaid

For: Enterprise leaders seeking examples of companies applying AI across multiple business functions.

Why explore: All-in on AI examines organizations that have made artificial intelligence a substantial part of their competitive and operational strategies.

Open resource

Power and Progress: Our Thousand-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity — Daron Acemoglu & Simon Johnson

Daron Acemoglu & Simon Johnson

BookAI strategyIntermediatePaid

For: Strategists, policymakers, executives, and readers examining the distribution of technological gains.

Why explore: Although not exclusively an AI book, Power and Progress is essential for understanding the economic and institutional context of technological transformation.

Open resource

AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future — Kai-Fu Lee & Chen Qiufan

Kai-Fu Lee & Chen Qiufan

BookAI strategyIntermediatePaid

For: Executives exploring alternative AI futures and their potential economic consequences.

Why explore: AI 2041 combines speculative fiction with analysis to examine potential applications and consequences of artificial intelligence.

Open resource

The AI-First Company: How to Compete and Win with Artificial Intelligence — Ash Fontana

Ash Fontana

BookAI strategyIntermediatePaid

For: Founders, product executives, investors, and strategists considering how to build AI-native businesses.

Why explore: The AI-First Company examines how data and machine learning can shape the creation of competitive advantage.

Open resource

The Thinking Machine: Jensen Huang, Nvidia, and the World’s Most Coveted Microchip — Stephen Witt

Stephen Witt

BookAI strategyIntermediatePaid

For: Strategists, investors, technology executives, and leaders seeking to understand the AI infrastructure economy.

Why explore: Stephen Witt explores Nvidia’s development and its central position in the modern AI industry.

Open resource

Rewired: McKinsey’s Playbook on How Leading Companies Win with Technology and AI, Second Edition — Eric Lamarre, Kate Smaje, Robert Levin, Alex Singla & Alexander Sukharevsky

Eric Lamarre, Kate Smaje, Robert Levin, Alex Singla & Alexander Sukharevsky

BookTransformationIntermediatePaid

For: CEOs, CIOs, transformation leaders, and executives responsible for enterprise-wide change.

Why explore: Rewired offers an organizational and managerial approach to technology and AI transformation.

Open resource

Human + Machine: Reimagining Work in the Age of AI — Paul R. Daugherty & H. James Wilson

Paul R. Daugherty & H. James Wilson

BookTransformationIntermediatePaid

For: HR executives, operating-model designers, transformation leaders, and managers redesigning work.

Why explore: Human + Machine explores the interaction between human capabilities and artificial intelligence.

Open resource

The AI Playbook: Mastering the Rare Art of Machine Learning Deployment — Eric Siegel

Eric Siegel

BookTransformationIntermediatePaid

For: Executives, analytics leaders, transformation managers, and teams deploying predictive AI systems.

Why explore: Eric Siegel focuses on one of the most persistent challenges in AI: successful deployment.

Open resource

AI First: The Playbook for a Future-Proof Business and Brand — Adam Brotman & Andy Sack

Adam Brotman & Andy Sack

BookTransformationIntermediatePaid

For: Business leaders, brand executives, founders, and managers integrating generative AI into organizational strategy.

Why explore: AI First approaches artificial intelligence from the perspective of business transformation and competitive relevance.

Open resource

The AI-Driven Leader — Geoff Woods

Geoff Woods

BookTransformationIntermediatePaid

For: Executives and managers interested in applying AI to strategic reasoning, decision preparation, and leadership work.

Why explore: Geoff Woods explores how AI can support leaders in approaching complex professional challenges.

Open resource

Agentic Strategy: Leading Organizations That Think, Learn, and Act — Alex Pawlowski

Alex Pawlowski

BookTransformationIntermediatePaid

For: CEOs, strategists, innovation leaders, transformation executives, and organizational designers.

Why explore: Most discussions about AI transformation focus on improving existing workflows through automation.

Open resource

Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future — Reid Hoffman & Greg Beato

Reid Hoffman & Greg Beato

BookTransformationIntermediatePaid

For: Executives exploring the future of human agency, AI augmentation, and broad organizational adoption.

Why explore: Superagency presents an optimistic perspective on the potential of artificial intelligence to expand human capabilities.

Open resource

The AI-Savvy Leader — David De Cremer

David De Cremer

BookTransformationIntermediatePaid

For: Senior managers, executives, and leaders responsible for integrating AI while preserving effective human oversight.

Why explore: David De Cremer examines the leadership challenges created by artificial intelligence.

Open resource

AI Engineering: Building Applications with Foundation Models — Chip Huyen

Chip Huyen

BookProducts & implementationIntermediatePaid

For: Technology executives, AI product leaders, engineering managers, and technically curious strategists.

Why explore: AI Engineering examines the development of applications built around foundation models.

Open resource

Designing Machine Learning Systems — Chip Huyen

Chip Huyen

BookProducts & implementationIntermediatePaid

For: Engineering leaders, data science managers, platform teams, and executives responsible for production AI capabilities.

Why explore: This book examines how machine-learning systems are designed, maintained, and operated in real environments.

Open resource

Building AI-Powered Products — Marily Nika

Marily Nika

BookProducts & implementationIntermediatePaid

For: Product managers, product executives, founders, and leaders responsible for translating AI capabilities into customer value.

Why explore: Marily Nika focuses on the product-management challenges of developing AI-enabled offerings.

Open resource

Data Makes the World Go ‘Round: The Data, Tech, and Trust Behind AI Success — Fern Halper

Fern Halper

BookProducts & implementationIntermediatePaid

For: CIOs, CDOs, data leaders, enterprise architects, and executives planning AI implementation.

Why explore: This book investigates the organizational and technical foundations required for AI success.

Open resource

Strategic Analytics: Towards AI-based Strategy Planning, Second Edition — Martin Kunc

Martin Kunc

BookProducts & implementationIntermediatePaid

For: Strategists, analysts, planning executives, and managers exploring evidence-based strategic decisions.

Why explore: Martin Kunc connects strategic management with analytical methods and the increasing role of artificial intelligence.

Open resource

The AI-Ready CFO: A Strategic Guide to Evaluating and Implementing AI, Automation, and Analytics — Glenn Hopper

Glenn Hopper

BookProducts & implementationIntermediatePaid

For: CFOs, financial executives, investment committees, and leaders responsible for evaluating AI economics.

Why explore: Glenn Hopper explores the intersection of financial leadership, automation, analytics, and AI implementation.

Open resource

Working with AI: Real Stories of Human-Machine Collaboration — Thomas H. Davenport & Steven M. Miller

Thomas H. Davenport & Steven M. Miller

BookProducts & implementationIntermediatePaid

For: Operations executives, HR leaders, managers, and organizations designing human–AI collaboration.

Why explore: Working with AI examines practical examples of artificial intelligence affecting real jobs and operational activities.

Open resource

HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Artificial Intelligence, Updated and Expanded — Harvard Business Review

Harvard Business Review

BookProducts & implementationIntermediatePaid

For: Executives seeking a compact collection of management perspectives on AI.

Why explore: This Harvard Business Review collection brings together articles examining artificial intelligence from a business and organizational perspective.

Open resource

The Alignment Problem: Machine Learning and Human Values — Brian Christian

Brian Christian

BookGovernance & futureIntermediatePaid

For: Executives, policymakers, AI governance leaders, and readers interested in responsible AI systems.

Why explore: Brian Christian explores the challenges of developing machine-learning systems that behave consistently with human intentions and values.

Open resource

Human Compatible: Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control — Stuart Russell

Stuart Russell

BookGovernance & futureIntermediatePaid

For: Technology executives, governance leaders, policymakers, and readers concerned with increasingly capable AI systems.

Why explore: Stuart Russell investigates the problem of maintaining meaningful human control over advanced artificial intelligence.

Open resource

Atlas of AI: Power, Politics, and the Planetary Costs of Artificial Intelligence — Kate Crawford

Kate Crawford

BookGovernance & futureIntermediatePaid

For: Executives responsible for technology governance, ESG, supply chains, and the wider consequences of AI investment.

Why explore: Kate Crawford examines the material, social, political, and environmental dimensions of artificial intelligence.

Open resource

Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines — Joy Buolamwini

Joy Buolamwini

BookGovernance & futureIntermediatePaid

For: Leaders working on responsible AI, organizational trust, compliance, and technology governance.

Why explore: Joy Buolamwini examines algorithmic bias through her research and advocacy.

Open resource

Code Dependent: Living in the Shadow of AI — Madhumita Murgia

Madhumita Murgia

BookGovernance & futureIntermediatePaid

For: Executives, strategists, and leaders evaluating the real-world consequences of AI deployment.

Why explore: Madhumita Murgia examines the human consequences of algorithmic systems through reporting and personal stories.

Open resource

The Coming Wave: Technology, Power, and the Twenty-first Century’s Greatest Dilemma — Mustafa Suleyman with Michael Bhaskar

Mustafa Suleyman with Michael Bhaskar

BookGovernance & futureIntermediatePaid

For: Executives, policymakers, technology investors, and readers exploring the governance of powerful emerging technologies.

Why explore: The Coming Wave examines the challenge of managing rapidly advancing technologies, including artificial intelligence and synthetic biology.

Open resource

Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT, and the Race That Will Change the World — Parmy Olson

Parmy Olson

BookGovernance & futureIntermediatePaid

For: Strategists, investors, technology executives, and readers seeking to understand the competitive dynamics of the AI industry.

Why explore: Parmy Olson examines the people, organizations, and rivalries involved in the development of modern artificial intelligence.

Open resource

Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI — Karen Hao

Karen Hao

BookGovernance & futureIntermediatePaid

For: Executives, investors, policymakers, and leaders interested in the political economy of the AI industry.

Why explore: Karen Hao investigates the development of OpenAI and the wider structures of power surrounding contemporary artificial intelligence.

Open resource

About this collection

This is the searchable companion to The Strategy Stack's 2026 AI leadership reading library on Substack. Use it when you need the right book for a specific leadership question—literacy, economics, transformation, product implementation, or governance. Filter by reading path, cost, and format. Each entry links to the book and summarizes who it helps. Start with AI literacy, then strategy and competitive advantage, organizational transformation, product and data implementation, and responsible governance. For curated reading paths and how to combine perspectives without confusing them, read the editorial guide on Substack (linked on this page).
Read the full editorial guide on Substack ↗