Book recommendations for business leaders: 7/6/17

Jul 6, 2017 | Reading Lists

Stephen King says that if you want to be a writer, there are two things you must do: read a lot and write a lot. This is about the “read a lot” part. I include reading lists and book reviews that will help you do business more effectively and write better for business.

In this post, I point you to lists of leadership books coming out this month, books on neuroscience for coaches, books on business growth, favorites of Matt Calkins (a CEO who thinks most business books aren’t worth reading), and what CEOs are reading.

From Michael McKinney: First Look: Leadership Books for July 2017

From Madeleine Homan Blanchard: 7 Best Books on Neuroscience for Coaches

“Ready to take the plunge and learn more about this fascinating new field? Here’s a short list of books that will help you get up to speed. I have the first edition of The Owner’s Manual for the Brain, published in 1994. I’m going to buy the new fourth edition to see what’s changed.”

From Michael Bungay Stanier: Doug Winnie’s Five Essential Books for Business Growth

“Doug Winnie embarked on his first entrepreneurial experience at the age of 14 by selling holiday greeting cards door to door. This early drive for success led him to become a successful business owner, and now a business coach. Today Doug is my guest blogger, sharing his favourite essential books for business growth.”

From Jennifer Pellet: Matt Calkins, Founder and CEO of Appian

“Ask Appian’s Matt Calkins for book recommendations and he’ll happily reel off a lengthy list—none of which you’ll find on a list of best-selling business books. ‘I don’t think many business books are worth reading,’ says Calkins, who instead seeks business lessons in historical accounts. ‘If you go to a popular book to learn about how businesses succeed, the business in question is described, but you don’t end up knowing why they won or get the information you need to replicate that success.’ Calkins, who also uses books as fodder in creating board games (his hobby), shared a handful of favorite and recent reads with Chief Executive.”

From McKinsey & Company: What CEOs are reading in 2017

“Leaders of some of the world’s biggest organizations share which books will keep them occupied in the weeks ahead.”

Reading recommendations are a regular feature of this blog. Want more recommendations about what to read? Check out my Three Star Leadership blog and Michael McKinney’s LeadingBlog.