If reading is something you’re willing to do to sharpen yourself, check out these highly recommended titles.
The most successful people typically work hard, practice the right habits every day, and often are readers who strive for self-improvement. If reading is something you’re willing to do to sharpen yourself, take some suggestions from more than two dozen executives who highly recommend these titles.
1. Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman
“Nobel Prize Laureate Kahneman packs in gems like, ‘We either ignore [small risks] or give them too much weight. Nothing in between.’ In moving from information to intelligence, this book is a must-read for leaders at any level. The audiobook is amazing, and I love the real-life examples that shed light on inherent biases from the truth.”
–Ryan Smith, founder and CEO of FTSY (“footsy”), an artificial intelligence platform for matching people to shoes that fit
2. The Power of Now, by Eckart Tolle
“Spearheading the vision of any company tends to cause leaders to live in the future, focusing on when milestones will be reached and goals will be met. The interesting part is this ‘when’ is often never realized when we stay in this future-focused state. [This book] showcases the power of being truly present to where you are. The answers are often right in front of you. The success is playing out for you in the now. As leaders, we love the end game, but we must also learn to smell the roses, be mindful, and be fully present. Falling in love with the process of being present is a reminder for all leaders. Tolle not only logically breaks down the madness of future living but shows a new way to be a visionary in the now.”
–Janice Taylor, founder and CEO of Mazu, a social-media village built on core values, safety, and curated content for families
3. When Breath Becomes Air, by Paul Kalanithi
“This book tells a tale about the life of Paul Kalanithi–an Oxford English major turned neurosurgeon–who finds himself as both a doctor and terminally-ill patient at the same time. It speaks to the fragility of life and highlights the imperativeness of living life to the fullest. It is a great book for entrepreneurs and risk-takers who are looking for new perspectives on life, career, and family. Like the roller coaster of building a large sustainable business, this book truly illustrates how real life’s proverbial roller coaster really is.”
–Derrick Fung, CEO of Drop, a Millennial-focused reward program that lets users accrue points while shopping their favorite brands
4. Acting Power, by Robert Cohen
“It may be surprising to learn that one of the best leadership books has nothing to do with leadership at all, or business for that matter. In fact, [this book] is just the opposite: an academic text about dramatic performance written to be used in college acting courses. Still, it remains an essential read for anyone interested in professional success. A critical part of leadership is understanding human behavior and using that knowledge to more effectively communicate an idea or vision. Acting Power teaches readers how to identify the core motivations behind behavior and use that knowledge as a powerful tool.”
–Michael Parrish DuDell, Millennial expert and chief strategy officer of CouponFollow
5. The End of Illness, by David Agus, M.D.
“I mostly read books about science and health these days. At this point in my life, and at the age of 72, I think staying young, fit, and alert are the most important things I can do to continue to succeed in all aspects of my life, including professionally. The End of Illness by my friend David Agus is a book I go back to over and over, not only because he acknowledges my contribution (right next to Steve Jobs) but because it is a guide for staying healthy. In my opinion, being healthy is much more important than being rich, although being both is not bad.”
–Avram Miller, former corporate VP of business development at Intel, the co-founder of Intel Capital, and current board vice chairman of Sommetrics, a company developing products and services aimed at enhancing health and well-being by improving sleep quality
6. The Zen of Listening: Mindful Communication in the Age of Distraction, by Rebecca Z. Shafir
“Our minds are bombarded by a constant stream of to-do lists, deadlines, noisy emails, and even noisier newsfeeds. Information can go in one ear and out the other easier than expected, creating the difficult task of being truly present. [This book] is grounded in the Zen concept of mindfulness, a simple yet profound way of learning how to filter our distractions and be totally present in a conversation. Rather than a list of tricks, this book is an all-encompassing approach, allowing me to learn the barricades of misunderstanding with simple strategies to use immediately in my personal and professional life.”
–James Ingram, CEO of Splashlight, a visual content creation company geared toward e-commerce and social media
7. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, by Pat Lencioni
“Nothing gets done in business alone. Everything is dependent on teams, which in turn is a function of alignment, communications, trust, and accountability. This book highlights what often sidelines teams and gives leaders a look into what it takes to build high-performing teams, not just teams of high-performing individuals.”
–Neil Lustig, CEO of Sailthru, a cross-channel experience management platform for retail and media companies
8. Brand Hijack, by Alex Wipperfürth
“This is an oldie but a goodie. The customer is always right, no matter what. This book explains why the supplier of a good or a service needs to understand that they are exposing their brand to the customer, and the customer will make the brand what they want it to be, so let them. The book has great case studies outlining the success of letting the consumer evolve your brand and catering your marketing communications to what the consumer believes your brand is. A must-read for marketing professionals.”
–Justin LaGosh, sales and marketing director at SunButter, a U.S. grown, seed-to-jar sunflower butter, free of the top eight food allergens, including peanuts, tree nuts, soy, dairy, eggs, wheat, fish, and shellfish
9. and 10. Endurance, by Alfred Lansing and In the Heart of the Sea, by Nathaniel Philbrick
“I recommend a few books that provide survival analogues and reality checks which help to place things in perspective. These are tales from the past…. Both are harrowing reads based on actual events, where individuals and teams were thrust into stressful situations and pushed beyond controls and limits. These reads will guide you to self-reflect on your life journey.”
–Drew Richardson, president and CEO of PADI Worldwide (the Professional Association of Diving Instructors), a company committed to diver safety and education, underwater adventure and exploration, community and conservation
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This article was originally posted on INC.com.