This list could have easily have contained 50 books. But, we pared it down to the must-haves with some recommendations from our guest experts. Enjoy.
–annsonita robinson, MBA, PHR ~
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable (Jossey-Bass) by Patrick Lencioni
Told in parable style, Lencioni details how the five killers — absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability and inattention to results — affect team leaders and members alike.
Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely (Harper Perennial)
Having studied behavioral economics for over 20 years, MIT professor Ariely gives hard evidence that confirms that people are irrational in predictable ways.
Made to Stick by Chip & Dan Heath (Random House)
Inspired by the Malcolm Gladwell’s classic, The Tipping Point, the Heath brothers delve into why some ideas take ‘hold’ and others fade away.
The Human Side of Enterprise by Douglas McGregor (McGraw-Hill)
First published in 1960, this gem remains on the reading list for most B-schools. You’ve been exposed to various interpretations of Theory-X and Theory-Y. Now, read what the originator of this concept has to say about it.
The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore (Spiegel & Grau)
Two young black boys of the same age, from the same area of Baltimore living in female-led single parent homes, both named Wes Moore but grew to be very different men with equally different fates. One a Rhodes scholar, the other a convicted felon. The difference? One had mentors and family who repeatedly met his fascination with the criminal underworld with an outstretched hand and a firm “No!” A modern-day true story that echoes the adage “There, but for the grace of God, go I.”
Title of best business book you’ve read in the last three years?
Manuel Knight, Sinkfield & Co.
From Good to Great by Jim Collins (Jossey-Bass)
It’s a little dated, but the lessons are timeless. This book will be pertinent in 50 years.
Goldie Taylor, Goldie Taylor Omnimedia LLC
The Grace of Silence (Vintage) by Michelle Norris of National Public Radio and
Who’s Afraid of Post-Blackness (Free Press) by Toure
Tenera McPherson, Staffing One Inc.
The Go-Giver: A Little Story About A Powerful Business Idea (Portfolio Hardcover) by Bob Burg and John David Mann
I challenge anyone in business to read it and not be positively impacted!
Paulette Norvel Lewis, The Women’s Bureau of the U.S. Dept. of Labor
With the passage of time, I find I read fewer “business” books. I read more books about how to be a better person and a more effective communicator. I forgot who said that “people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Showing that you care can be tricky in the workplace — it’s definitely an art. Women have to be careful not to go too far. Right now, I’m reading Dorothy Height’s last book, Living with Purpose. I’m learning a lot about working gently yet effectively with people.
