Best Leadership Books for Principals (2026)

The school year is starting and the office door already has a line outside it, so the best leadership books for principals are the ones that answer the questions you are actually asking. The short version: the Schwanke book is the mentor for new principals, the two Kafele books are the reflection companions, and the Bambrick-Santoyo guide is for the people who coach principals. All four books below are ranked by our scores.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	You're the Principal! Now What?	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	The Aspiring Principal 50	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
3	The Principal 50	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Leverage Leadership 2.0 Guide	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon

1

You're the Principal! Now What?

Jen Schwanke·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Jen Schwanke's mentor guide for new principals, 345 pages, published August 2016.

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Pros

• A mentor's guidance for new principals, per the listing
• 345 pages covering culture, conflict, budgets and hiring
• Standalone chapters for quick problem-solving, per the listing

Cons

• No warranty term applies to books
• The 2016 edition, not the newest printing
• At 345 pages, a longer read than the Kafele books

2

The Aspiring Principal 50

Baruti K. Kafele·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Baruti Kafele's 50 reflective questions for aspiring principals, 128 pages.

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Pros

• 50 reflective questions for new and future school leaders, per the listing
• A full chapter on the administrator job interview, per the listing
• From a four-time principal, per the listing

Cons

• No warranty term applies to books
• At 128 pages, shorter than the Schwanke guide
• Reflection-focused, not a strategy manual

3

The Principal 50

Baruti K. Kafele·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Baruti Kafele's 50 leadership questions for schoolwide excellence, 112 pages.

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Pros

• 50 self-reflection exercises for school leaders, per the listing
• Focuses on student achievement as the number one priority, per the listing
• Covers culture, mission and parent engagement, per the listing

Cons

• No warranty term applies to books
• At 112 pages, the shortest book here
• The 2015 edition, the oldest printing here

4

Leverage Leadership 2.0 Guide

Paul Bambrick-Santoyo·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Paul Bambrick-Santoyo's guide to coaching principals, 272 pages, first edition 2018.

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Pros

• A step-by-step guide to coaching principals, per the listing
• The See It, Name It, Do It approach, per the listing
• 1st edition from Jossey-Bass, August 7, 2018

Cons

• No warranty term applies to books
• Written for principal managers, not principals themselves
• The 2018 edition, not the newest printing

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More picks to compare

• The Principal 2.0Michael Fullan's updated edition on the changing principal role, 208 pages.Check on Amazon
• The Principal's PlaybookJosh McLaurin's 23-point instructional leadership playbook, 298 pages.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Specifications are manufacturer rated as listed, collected 19 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs principal-leadership fit, writing quality, value, safety and warranty. For books, safety means a stated reading age; none of the four listings states one, and no book listing states a warranty. The Schwanke guide leads on its 345 pages of practical coverage. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best leadership books for principals

New principal or sitting principal

The Aspiring Principal 50 is for the leap: 50 questions for new and future school leaders, with a chapter on the administrator job interview. You’re the Principal! Now What? is for the first years: 345 pages of direct, practical strategies. Pick the one that matches where you are.

Reflection or management

The two Kafele books are reflection: 50 questions each on excellence and aspiration. The Bambrick-Santoyo guide is management: coaching principals through the seven levers of leadership, written for principal managers and districts. One asks who you are; the other tells you what to do.

Check the edition

Editions here run from 2015 to 2019. The Principal 50 is the 2015 edition, You’re the Principal! Now What? is 2016, the Leverage Leadership guide is the 2018 first edition and The Aspiring Principal 50 is 2019. Match the listing to the edition you want before ordering.

Before you buy

These are professional books for school leaders; none of the listings states a reading age. Check the print length against your plans: 345 pages is a longer read, 112 pages is a weekend. None of these listings states a warranty, which is normal for books. For more school leadership picks, see our best leadership books for school principals list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which book is best for a brand-new principal?

You’re the Principal! Now What? offers mentor guidance for the first years, per the listing, while The Aspiring Principal 50 helps decide whether the principalship is the right move.

Which book is best for a principal’s coach?

A Principal Manager’s Guide to Leverage Leadership 2.0, written for principal managers, superintendents and districts coaching principals.

Which is the longest book here?

You’re the Principal! Now What? at 345 pages. Then the Leverage Leadership guide at 272, The Aspiring Principal 50 at 128 and The Principal 50 at 112.

Still deciding? Our top pickYou're the Principal! Now What?

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