Book recommendations for business leaders: 9/19/19

Sep 19, 2019 | 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 reviews of Learning to Lead, The 10 Stories Great Leaders Need to Tell, It’s Not You, It’s the Workplace, and Think Like Amazon. Plus there is a pointer to Bruce Rosenstein’s amazing annual list of summer reading lists. Don’t pay attention to the word “summer.” This list of lists will give you reading ideas for a year or two. Maybe more.

From Wharton: Why Most Leadership Skills Are Learned

“As a longtime business executive, Ron Williams is often asked for advice on management issues. He likes to keep his answers clear and simple. One of his favorite mantras is, ‘Don’t get stuck in paralysis by analysis.’ He also tells young people not to map every step of their careers because, like him, they never know where they may end up. Williams grew up in Chicago’s South Side, where he used to wash cars, and became one of the few African-Americans to lead a Fortune 500 company, serving as chairman and chief executive officer of Aetna. He’s on the board at American Express, Boeing and Johnson & Johnson, and also runs his consultancy, RW2 Enterprises. Williams shares his life lessons and experiences in a new book, Learning to Lead: The Journey to Leading Yourself, Leading Others, and Leading an Organization.”

From Michael McKinney: The 10 Stories Great Leaders Need to Tell

“On the pages of The 10 Stories Great Leaders Tell—a book designed to be read in about an hour—Paul Smith reveals the ten most important stories a leader needs to tell and how to begin to craft our own unique story. Each story has a specific objective”

From Bob Morris: It’s Not You, It’s the Workplace

“How gender biases have impact on personal and professional development…for better or worse”

From Skip Prichard: Think Like Amazon

“If you want a book that will stimulate your team’s thinking, provoke a new mindset, and provide terrific discussions, then pick up a copy of former Amazon executive John Rossman’s Think Like Amazon: 50 ½ Ideas to Become a Digital Leader.”

From Bruce Rosenstein: Not-too-late Summer Book List Curation for 2019

“There is still a lot of life left in the summer. That means there is plenty of time for summer books. These 23 curated lists can provide endless enjoyment and enlightenment at the beach, on the porch, or wherever you favorite spot is for reading:”

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