My Favourite Books on Communication and Confidence (and Why They're Worth Your Time)
If there is one investment that has consistently paid off in my career and in my coaching, it is the investment in how I communicate. How I show up in a room. How I hold a difficult conversation. How I advocate for myself and the people I work with. These books have each shaped the way I think about communication and confidence, and I return to them often. Whether you are navigating a career transition, leading a team, or simply wanting to show up with more presence and clarity, I think you will find something in here that shifts something for you.
1. Captivate by Vanessa Van Edwards
The book that made me realise charisma is a skill, not a personality type.
I came to this book after listening to Vanessa on several podcasts, and her energy was immediately infectious. What first drew me to her was something she is known for saying: that she is a recovering awkward person.
She opens her TEDx Talk with that exact line, and when I heard it, something clicked for me.
When I first entered the workforce I was very shy, and that shyness kept my confidence low for longer than I would have liked. Hearing her speak so honestly about her own awkwardness made me feel like she genuinely had the answer to how to navigate it. And she did.
Captivate gave me the framework to build real connection skills, and over time those skills have shaped my entire career. My work has grown into having a much stronger stakeholder focus, and that is something I genuinely enjoy now because I have built real capability in this space. I enjoy building rapport with people. I enjoy the human side of what I do. And I have Vanessa's books to thank for so much of that growth.
"When you try to be the same as everyone else, it's boring. When you try to fit into a mold, you become forgettable. Just be yourself, because no one is like you."
— Vanessa Van Edwards
2. Cues by Vanessa Van Edwards
The deeper dive into why you might be underselling yourself without even realising it.
I read this one second and found it incredibly powerful, particularly around understanding not just how to read body language in others, but how to create it intentionally in yourself. That distinction matters.
This book is about using your physical presence, your voice, your words, and your visual brand to connect with people, build rapport, and show up with greater influence, especially in the workplace where you are often navigating a wide range of personalities and dynamics.
For anyone who wants to be taken more seriously, heard more consistently, or simply feel more empowered in how they communicate day to day, Cues is the practical toolkit that makes that possible.
"You might be the most competent, warmest person in the world, but if you don't show it, people won't believe you."
— Vanessa Van Edwards
3. Think Again by Adam Grant
The book that gave me permission to change my mind.
This one was particularly profound for me. In the world we are operating in today, agile thinking is not optional. The ability to hold your ideas loosely, challenge your own assumptions, and stay genuinely open when engaging with others is what separates people who keep growing from people who stay stuck.
What I took from Think Again was a real invitation to examine my own thoughts and biases, especially in the context of communication and connection.
How often are we reacting to a story we have told ourselves rather than what is actually in front of us?
Grant gives you the tools to slow that down, stay curious, and create better conversations and better opportunities as a result. In a world that is moving fast and demanding more of us, this book is a quiet but powerful reset.
"After all, the purpose of learning isn't to affirm our beliefs; it's to evolve our beliefs."
— Adam Grant
4. Dare to Lead by Brene Brown
The book that reframed vulnerability as a leadership strength, not a liability.
Anything Brene Brown does is just so supportive. What I love about her is that she grounds her ideas in a way that is deeply applicable to real life, and you feel that in every page. There is a warmth and a nurturing quality to her writing that is rare, and it is only amplified when you hear her speak in interviews.
She is a natural teacher, but what she teaches does not just inform you, it genuinely enhances you. That is the best way I can describe it.
Dare to Lead is the book I recommend when someone is ready to step into their personal power, because that is exactly what it helps you do.
It strips away the armour, the perfectionism, the people-pleasing, and asks you to lead from a place of courage and authenticity instead. She has been a real inspiration to me, and I think you will feel that too when you read her.
"The courage to be vulnerable is not about winning or losing, it's about the courage to show up when you can't predict or control the outcome."
— Brene Brown
5. The Next Conversation by Jefferson Fisher
The book that gave me practical tools for the conversations that matter most.
Jefferson Fisher does something really well that most communication books do not: he shows you how to hold a difficult conversation in a way that is kind, clear, and authoritative all at the same time. You do not have to choose between being direct and being connected. He teaches you how to do both.
The thing that has stayed with me most is the power of the mindful pause. Something as simple as pausing before you respond removes the emotion from the moment and gives you the space to proceed with clarity and confidence. I have personally used his tools in conflict resolution situations, and they have been genuinely effective, particularly when the other party is not aware of the dynamic at play.
His approach creates the conditions for mutual understanding and a positive way forward, even in difficult moments. What he teaches is relevant to anyone, in any setting, at any stage of their career. This one is a keeper.
"Stop seeing arguments as something to win but as an opportunity to understand the person behind the words. Stop hearing only what's said and start hearing what's felt."
— Jefferson Fisher
Also worth your time: three bonus recommendations
Conscious Communications by Mary Shores
The book that shows you how the words you use are quietly building or limiting your life.
Mary Shores spent two decades researching how language shapes the mind, and this book is the practical result of all of it. Her central message is simple but profound: words have the power to create and transform.
Not just the words we say to others, but the words we repeat to ourselves every day. She teaches you how to identify the limiting language that keeps you stuck and replace it with words that create new neural pathways and new possibilities.
If you have ever caught yourself saying "I can't," "I'm not good enough," or "that's just how I am," this book is a direct and compassionate challenge to all of it.
It sits beautifully alongside the other books on this list because it starts from the inside out.
"In everything you're doing, you're either moving towards what you want or you're moving further away."
— Mary Shores
Tongue Fu by Sam Horn
The book that gives you the words to handle almost any difficult interaction with grace and confidence.
Sam Horn describes Tongue Fu as verbal self-defence, and that is exactly what it is. The idea is that the right words, chosen in the right moment, can deflect, disarm, and defuse conflict before it escalates.
What I love about this book is how practical it is. She covers everything from handling criticism and coaching performance, to saying no diplomatically and staying composed under pressure.
It is the kind of book you keep coming back to because the situations it covers are the ones we all face, at work, at home, and everywhere in between.
If communication is a skill, this book is one of the best handbooks for the moments when it matters most
"The quality of our relationships is directly proportionate to the quality of our communication."
— Sam Horn
Permission to Speak by Samara Bay
The book that gives you permission to sound like yourself and be taken seriously for it.
This one came highly recommended by a friend and it did not disappoint. Samara Bay is a speech coach to Hollywood stars and political leaders, and this book is her gift to every woman who has ever been told she needs to sound more authoritative to be taken seriously. Her central argument is that power does not have one sound.
You do not need to lower your voice, flatten your accent, or remove your emotion to be heard and respected. She helps you understand your own voice story, where it came from and what you might be ready to let go of, with practical exercises throughout that are genuinely useful. If you have ever held back in a meeting, over-apologised before making a point, or wondered why your words are not landing, this book will feel like someone finally putting words to something you have always known.
"I am willing to be seen. I am willing to speak up. I am willing to keep going."
— Samara Bay
The common thread
Every one of these books comes back to the same thing: how you communicate is not just about words. It is about how well you know yourself, how willing you are to be seen, and how clearly you can express what you think, feel, and need. That is the work at the heart of everything I do as a coach. And it is the kind of work that changes not just your career, but the way you move through the world.
If any of these resonate and you want to explore what building that kind of communication and confidence looks like in practice, I would love to support you. You can find out more about working with me here.