Every year, I read advance copies of dozens of big idea and business books. So do other authors, but we all do it separately—and rarely get a chance to discuss, debate, and share our insights. My resolution this year is to change that.
I’ve started a book club with Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, and Dan Pink. Each quarter, we’ll handpick the two new must-reads in the realm of work and psychology, discuss them in an online forum, and donate 100% of our profits to The Future Project, who will give two books to students in under-resourced communities for every subscription.
To kick off 2018, here are the 20 books that have intrigued me the most so far.*
Everything important in life depends on timing, but in a sea of how-to books there’s almost nothing on when-to. In this amazingly actionable and equally enthralling book, Dan tackles all the big timing questions: the ideal part of your day to schedule your creative vs. analytical work, the ideal time to go first vs. last in a job interview, and the ideal time to quit your job. Disclaimer: although he presents fascinating evidence about when to take and wake up from a nappucino, I still can’t bring myself to believe there’s ever a good time to take a nap.
You know that famous culture deck at Netflix? Well, Patty co-created it, and her book unlocks how to build workplaces that prize freedom and responsibility.
In an ambitious new study, a Berkeley professor illuminates the habits that separate superstars from their peers. It’s the latest guide to working smarter.
The FUBU founder and Shark Tank investor dives into the routines behind grit. Along with sharing his own, he interviews 16 hardworking high achievers as sources of information and inspiration.
I’ve been waiting years for someone to write this book—and it’s even better than I imagined. It demystifies the magic of great groups and blows all other books on the topic right out of the water.
A vibrant book on how to bring out the best in others—and how they can bring out the best in us. With enticing stories, fresh studies, contagious enthusiasm, and practical tips, this is Shawn at his best.
Humans have broken the 4-minute mile barrier and cracked the 100-mile ultramarathon. But this elite runner turned journalist turned Cambridge physics PhD makes the case that we’re actually underestimating our potential, and reveals how we can all surpass our perceived physical limits.
A captivating, clever, and comical look at why social discomfort haunts us long beyond our teenage years. This book didn’t just help me make sense of my most awkward moments. It freed me from feeling embarrassed by them. Well, most of them.
Attention, good guys: if you want to advocate for women but don’t want to be villainized, this book is for you. It’s a rare guide on championing gender equality that you’ll actually enjoy reading—and it’s full of strategies for improving your workplace.
This inspiring book shows how it’s possible for people who have been cast aside in society to turn their lives around and start giving back to that society. Cat proves that within America’s broken criminal justice system lies the potential for prisoners to become productive entrepreneurs and upstanding citizens. She writes with such passion that you’ll want to open your calendar—or your wallet—to support this important cause.
In a time when truth is under assault, Hector Macdonald is here to defend it. He offers clear-eyed, compelling guidelines for becoming a more accurate consumer and producer of information.
This book debunks a host of myths about what it takes to become a CEO—and succeed as one. Based on an impressive database of intensive interviews with executives, it turns out that big failures and small egos are among the building blocks of great leadership. You won’t ever look at the corner office in the same way again.
I’ve known for a while that Nell is an unusually talented and funny writer, but I had no idea just how much she shaped the TV that I’ve watched for decades—or how much bias she faced along the way. Despite that (and sometimes because of it), this book was a delight to read. It’s full of jokes that made me laugh and sharp analyses that made me think.
A leading expert on making decisions and influencing others presents a career’s worth of evidence on why the views you don’t want to consider are often the ones you need to hear most. If you want to escape confirmation bias and overcome groupthink, you need to take dissenting opinions seriously—even if you think they’re wrong.
14.Meltdown by Chris Clearfield and Andras Tilcsik (March 20)
Too often, we blame failures on bad apples when the real culprits are bad barrels. This evidence-based book sheds light on why blunders and bankruptcies happen—and how you can get better at designing systems to prevent them.
Ever the provocateur, Jeff argues that modern management is creating toxic stress. He shares his vision for designing sustainably human workplaces that promote health instead of destroying it.
If you care about improving the quality of life at work, you’ll enjoy this lively, data-driven book. Dan Cable on neuroscience to share steps for breathing life into an organization.
Don’t hate Sally because she’s smarter than you. Just revel in the hope that if even a fraction of the population soaks up the wisdom in this book, America will be in a far better place. It’s a stunning debut by a truly gifted writer—an eye-opening read for both liberals and conservatives.
The drummer for The Roots is skeptical of books on creativity… so he wrote a different kind. It’s a thoughtful, funny meditation on how to make your creative work less self-conscious, more enjoyable, and more productive.
My favorite thinker on geopolitics—and the only LinkedIn Influencer who was more engaging in 2017 than Prime Minister McDreamy—offers a masterful analysis of why globalism crashed and populism has soared. And he peers into his crystal ball for some clues about what we can expect down the road.
*Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Dan Pink and I will be selecting two of these books for the Next Big Idea Club winter box—and possibly more for the spring. If you buy a subscription by the end of January, you’ll also get Dan’s book When as a free bonus.
