10 Must-Read Books for ENTJs

Want to find some inspiring books to add to your reading list? Today we’re taking a look at the books that ENTJs love and recommend time and time again. I surveyed my email list, Twitter followers, and friends to get a good idea which books ENTJs love most. I hope that you’ll find something you enjoy here!

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This post contains affiliate links. I only recommend books I truly love and believe in.

Why Are ENTJs Drawn to These Specific Books?

ENTJs enjoy books that give them insights into strategy, psychology, business, and leadership. Highly ambitious, ENTJs believe every activity should be productive in some way. As a result, non-fiction books are often their favorites, but they also love fiction that inspires them with strong characters and symbols that evoke a sense of meaning in life.

Estimated reading time: 13 minutes

The 10 Favorite Books of ENTJs

#1 – The Art of War by Sun Tzu

“All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.”

The Art of War is a thought-provoking classic that not only holds a special place in the culture and history of East Asia, but has helped military strategists to this day. This ancient Chinese text explores the philosophy and politics of warfare and military strategy by a warrior now famous throughout the world as Sun Tzu. Even though much time has passed since the 6^th century when this book was written, its teachings remain relevant to leaders and strategists to this very day.

ENTJs are natural strategists who enjoy digging into the planning methods of powerful leaders in the past or present. The Art of War gives them a profound and effective way to organize their own lives and increase their strategic capabilities in everyday life!

Find out more about The Art of War.

#2 – The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

“Life is a storm, my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes. You must look into that storm and shout as you did in Rome. Do your worst, for I will do mine! Then the fates will know you as we know you”

Everything is looking bright for handsome young sailor Edmond Dantes. He’s about to become captain of a ship as well as be married to the lovely Mercédès. However, four jealous and corrupted men conspire to have Dantes thrown in prison, in solitary confinement no less. No one has ever escaped from this prison, the Chateau d’If, before. For many years, Dantes withers away, nearly losing his mind in agony. Then unexpectedly his luck changes when he befriends another prisoner who tells him about a great hoard of treasure hidden on the Isle of Monte Cristo.

ENTJs are drawn to the noble character of Edmond Dantes and his undefeatable ambition and will to escape. This grand, intricately woven story of vengeance is one they admit to re-reading again and again.

Find out more about The Count of Monte Cristo.

#3 – Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

“Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swamps of the not-quite, the not-yet, and the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists.. it is real.. it is possible.. it’s yours.”

Atlas Shrugged tells the story of John Galt, a man who insists that he will stop the motor of the world. Did he do the world a great justice or a great evil? Why did he have to fight this particular battle? Tremendous in its scope, Atlas Shrugged is considered Ayn Rand’s magnum opus. It is filled with profound questions about good and evil and challenges readers to check every premise at the root of their convictions.

ENTJs repeatedly mentioned this book as their favorite and it’s not hard to see why. Rand’s masterpiece focuses on making the most with what one has, taking pride in one’s accomplishments, valuing honesty, and taking action rather than accepting what life throws at you passively. These are all values that most ENTJs espouse and abide by themselves.

Find out more about Atlas Shrugged.

#4 – The 33 Strategies of War by Robert Greene

“It is your own bad strategies, not the unfair opponent, that are to blame for your failures. You are responsible for the good and bad in your life.”

This thrilling non-fiction book synthesizes dozens of political, philosophical, and religious texts spanning thousands of years of warfare to provide tactics for defeating failure and negotiating from a position of strength. Author Robert Greene gives us a guide to the social game of life by using ingenious and effective military principles. You’ll learn lessons from a variety of people including Napolean Bonaparte, Shaka the Zulu, Samurai swordsmen, movie moguls, and more. He’ll use these examples to give you clear strategies to win life’s wars, avoid unwinnable wars, and respond to dangerous situations. You’ll learn how to overcome self-defeating patterns and forever gain the upper hand in business and conflict.

ENTJs will love the sharp, clever tone of this non-fiction book. Their shrewd minds will be stimulated by the abundance of material to draw from and the methods devised by warriors throughout history. For the commanding, visionary ENTJ, The 33 Strategies of War is full of lessons they’ll enjoy using in a dog-eat-dog world. Find out more about this book here: The 33 Strategies of War (Joost Elffers Books)

#5 – Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

“Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.”

Meditations takes you on a journey into the private thoughts of one of Rome’s most powerful Emperors. Trained in Stoic philosophy, Marcus Aurelius paused every night to practice a series of spiritual exercises – reminders designed to make him empathetic, brave, generous, and humble. You can’t read his writings and come away unaffected. ENTJs mentioned being drawn to this book because of the practical philosophy it provided. It isn’t just a series of unproductive musings, there is a line in every page that can be applied to the exact day someone is living in. Meditations pushes us to be better, kinder, stronger, and more in touch with our human values.

Find out more about Meditations.

#6 – David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell

“Courage is not something that you already have that makes you brave when the tough times start. Courage is what you earn when you’ve been through the tough times and you discover they aren’t so tough after all.”

Famed journalist Malcolm Gladwell looks at the complex and surprising ways that the vulnerable or weak can defeat the strong in David and Goliath. Taking examples from the world of business, sports, culture, and psychology, he explores the power of the underdog. His book is full of practical advice on how to turn adversity into power and strength.

ENTJs tend to enjoy Malcolm Gladwell, but particularly this practical, insightful book. They enjoyed how Gladwell challenged the readers to turn their disadvantages into advantages and to see life and its struggles from new perspectives.

Find out more about David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants

#7 – The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi

“To become the enemy, see yourself as the enemy of the enemy”

Written over three centuries ago, this book by a Samurai warrior has been praised as a profound source of psychological insight for businessmen, innovators, and leaders who rely on strategy and tactics to outwit their competition. As strategists themselves, ENTJs love the practical application of this book as well as the psychological insights it provides. They appreciate the focus on a disciplined mind and an independent spirit.

Find out more about The Book of Five Rings.

#8 – All Quiet On the Western Front

“We are not youth any longer. We don’t want to take the world by storm. We are fleeing. We fly from ourselves. From our life. We were eighteen and had begun to love life and the world; and we had to shoot it to pieces.”

Banned in Nazi Germany, All Quiet On the Western Front tells the story of a company of volunteer German soldiers stationed behind the front lines in the last weeks of World War I. Based on the author’s time as an infantryman, it’s the first-person account of Paul Baumer, who joins the cause with the fire and patriotism of youth, only to become disillusioned and traumatized by the fiery gruesome horrors and inhumanity of war.  All Quiet On the Western Front became an anti-war masterpiece that tapped into a global sorrow following the conflict that led to more than 37 million casualties from 1914-1918.

ENTJs do not shy away from difficult reading material. In fact, they prefer material that makes them think about the gravity of life and its meaning and purpose. The conviction of the author and the profound thoughts that trail through the story capture their minds and make them unsettled, but in a way that challenges them to think about human nature and the price so many have paid in war.

Find out more about All Quiet On the Western Front

#9 – Start with Why by Simon Sinek

“Leadership requires two things: a vision of the world that does not yet exist and the ability to communicate it.”

Why are some people more natural at leadership? Why are some organizations and companies more profitable, influential, and innovative than others? What does a great leader do to command loyalty from customers and employees alike? Simon Sinek takes you, the reader, on a journey to some of the greatest leaders and innovators in history and gives you insights into their communication styles and the frameworks they used to spread their message or succeed in business. And it all starts with WHY.

Isabel Briggs-Myers had a unique name for ENTJs. She called them “the leaders of leaders,” or “superleaders.” Psychologist David Kiersey also stated that “It was no accident that World War II saw three of these ENTJs in command of our armed forces – George Marshall, Dwight Eisenhower, and Douglas MacArthur – each a genius in strategic mobilizing and marshalling of personnel and materiel toward world-wide aims.” ENTJs strive to be proficient leaders, whether they lead a business, cause, or a family. Communicating effectively and inspiring others with their vision and values is something that moves them. Start with Why helps them to achieve their goals by excelling at communication and inspiring others with their passion.

Find out more about Start with Why.

#10 – Fahrenheit 451

“There must be something in books, something we can’t imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don’t stay for nothing.”

Set in a bleak, dystopian future, Fahrenheit 451 tells the story of Guy Montag, a fireman. His job is destroy the most illegal thing anyone can own, the printed book. He not only destroys books, but the houses in which books are hidden. He never questions his actions or the destruction those actions inevitably cause. Each day he returns home to his wife and television and lives a routine but rather mundane life. It isn’t until he meets his eccentric young neighbor, Clarisse, that he starts to understand the enchantment and importance of the written word.

Gail, an ENTJ who emailed me said of this book, “It raises the question: Why? What is it about the written word that’s so important to us? It’s not so much that the books are empirically true and have all the answers. It’s that books make us ask the questions.”

Find out more about Fahrenheit 451

What Are Your Thoughts?

Did you enjoy this article? Are you going to explore any of these books or do you have other suggestions for fellow ENTJs? Let us know in the comments!

Find out more about your personality type in our eBooks, Discovering You: Unlocking the Power of Personality Type,  The INFJ – Understanding the Mystic, The INTJ – Understanding the Strategist, and The INFP – Understanding the Dreamer. You can also connect with me via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!

Other Articles You Might Enjoy:

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