Reading List:

I am frequently asked about great books to read around leadership, coaching and increasing self and team performance. Here is a list of some of the books I have followed. These aren’t ranked in any particular order.

How Emotions Are Made, the secret life of the brain: Lisa Feldman Barret.
I love this book. Modern neuroscience explained and updated. Dispels many myths of the brain by focusing on how it does work. Science understanding of the brain is accelerating. This book brought me up to speed. Its a 600 page book, but half of the book is references and footnotes. Which I love to be able to substantiate the research.

The Wayfinders, Why ancient wisdom matters: Wade Davis
Maybe my favourite book ever written. Certainly the one I give away the most. I always have 3 copies on the shelf and on both kindle and audio book. Summed up to me. Its a book about finding our way. How the ancients did it. Even though this may not be a business or coaching book, the stories are all incredible metaphors that guide me all the time.

Leading at the Edge: Leadership Lessons from Shakelton: Dennis N. T. Perkins, Margaret P. Holtman
One of my favourite books on leadership. I love both the concepts and the stories that put the concepts in perspective. Shakelton was all about people, morale and team. What likely would have been a disaster for so many was a triumph of human spirit.

Turn this Ship Around: L. David Marquet
This is a great book for those building culture, particularly communication styles, delegation style and the implications on accountability. Hint* it is not what you expect and not what you have been taught. This actually works, is proven time over time. I love this book.

Influence: Robert Caldoni
A master piece. A must read. As Daniel Pink says in one of his books, if you haven’t read Influence by Caldoni, stop reading my book and read that one first. So I did. I wasn’t disappointed. Not just on how we influence others, but how we are influenced by others. Update 2022: if you want to understand how certain people are able to control a narrative. This is the book, those controlling the narrative no doubt have read and use this book.

Good to Great Jon Collins
Great book to break down what makes organizations great. This is an essential read for all leaders. Not just because the book is so good; it is also defines a languages common in high performance organizations.

Built to Last: Jon Collins
Great book on how organizations build themselves to be successful long term. A continuation of Good to Great, even though it was written prior (don’t you love how good science always fits the timeline).

The field guide to Human error: Sydney Deckar
If you have ever made an or wanted to understand how to reduce human error this is a book for you. Well written, heavy topic broken down in very digestible pieces. I am always revisiting this book.

Drive, The surprising truth about what motivates us: Daniel Pink
Brilliant, I love it. This is the book I give away second most, only after the Wayfinders. Great on audio book as well. Author reads his own book, which is always great.

A whole new mind: Daniel Pink:
Really great perspective on right- left brain thinking. Although the concept of left - right brain has been debunked. Pink raises great questions about where we are headed based on societal thinking.

Good Strategy, Bad Strategy, the difference and why it matters: Richard Rumelt
I loved and hated this book. From my perspective the author is a bit self absorbed and dismisses some key points. He eventually goes on to describe and value these dismissed points using different terminology. Just because he is a bit into himself, doesn’t mean he doesn’t have some excellent points. Certainly essential reading if you want to evaluate the effectiveness of a strategy. However, if you have been around coaching in the last 15 years, you will see where his concepts fit in really well with newer understanding of the brain.

Me myself and Us: Brian Little
If you want to understand about personality or personality tools, this is a good place to start. Having used personality tools for sometime myself, I really enjoyed the perspective and honesty of a scientist who is an expert at understanding personality. I loved the contrast to companies trying to sell a personality programs. Most of which are outdated and loose with the science. This book is a little old, but even since it was written, billions are made on personality tools. If you have read “How Emotions are Made”, you can quickly expand on the concepts of Me myself and us to make your understanding of personality more relevant and effective.

Speed of Trust: Stephen MR Covey
This book is often referenced in organizations. It is a good synopsis of the dynamics of trust. I found it a bit verbose. I wanted to get to the meat of it much faster. Eventually listened to it on audio book. Its a worthy read, particular if trust is an issue in your organization. But it could be 60% shorter.

The Platinum rule:Tony Alessandra and Michael J. O’Connor
Understanding the 4 key personality styles. Much of which has been challenged in science recently. Its a good book with some good insights into our default settings. Again, if you like this follow it with “How Emotions are Made” which will update the concepts.

The 5 Dysfunctions of a team. Patrick Lencioni
Must read. The concepts are solid, many people are familiar with this book. I would reframe to the positive. Its easy to identify what is dysfunctional, Lencioni does a great job of that and identifying some potential deal breakers. When you read this, make note of the things you want to do, not just what is dysfunctional.

Our Iceberg Is Melting: Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions: John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber
I love this book. Super quick read, cute story, all the key components are there to deal with Change. The length of the book makes it a highly likely to complete book. I so appreciate books that get to the point and don’t waste my time.

Managing Change: Jon Kotter
One of the first management books I have read. Its older, but stands the test of time. Something I refer to frequently. Kotters understanding of change is immense and he has great insight for leaders on how to effect change.

Sway: The Irresistible pull of irrational behaviour: Ori Brafman, Rom Braeman
I know I really loved this book when I was reading it, but I have to confess I don’t remember a lot of the content.

The Tipping point: Malcolm Gladwell
Awesome and essential reading. I read simultaneously with Sway, which provided me some interesting thought processes. This is all about how things really take off. Fascinating. I read this prior to participating in social media, I would like to read that again with that in mind. If you want to understand how things are “tipped” to become popular. This is your read.

Blink: Malcolm Gladwell
Awesome. This is all about how accurate and trustworthy first impressions are and how we can tell so much about others in the blink of an eye. Great writer, explains concepts effectively through stories.

Outliers:Malcolm Gladwell
What makes people exceptional. Stories and examples of how people excel. Awesome. Great writer, explains concepts effectively through stories.

Seven Habits of Highly Effective people: Stephen Covey
Must read. This is one of the grand daddies of development books. When I am asked what is one book to read. It is usually this one.

Leadership and Self Deception: Arbinger Institue
I liked this book. Was a great book for me when first recognizing and managing my own crap as a leader and coach.

Start with Why: Simon Sinek
Loved it, good to look at what we do from a place of purpose. Why is a significant driver in how people live. How aware of the implications are you? This is a great book for that.

Eastern Body Western Mind: Anodea Judith
This is a book on Charkas. It is a very good book to have a better understanding of how our body and our mind communicate. Often in life, business and organizations we do all our processing in our mind. When realistically much of the lessons we learn are felt and communicated from our body. Long book, very insightful. Highly recommend. For people unfamiliar with Yoga, this is a read that will take you outside your comfort zone and provide a lot of value doing it. Its not woo woo.

The Tao of Leadership: John Heider
Good perspectives and reflections. More of something to get a person thinking than anything. Short excerpts, read and reflect type book. This is on the shelf next to my bed for times I want a short blurb to read.

The Ethical Slut: Dossie Easton and Janet W Hardy
This book was recommended to me by a polyamorous person. This is a great book to understand boundaries. I am not Polyamorous, but it is worth a read if you want to understand boundaries. Particularly boundaries in romantic relationships. The content may be triggering for some as it is meant for polyamorous people. I don’t know any better book that addresses boundaries.

Words that Change minds: Shelle Rose Charet
This book has some good insights into metaprograms. However, I completely disagree with the authors intention of predetermining what people are good at or profiling based on their metaprograms. I think her ideas of how to use the information are outright wrong and extremely dangerous. Understanding these metaprograms opens up some insight on ones self, but as we are so contextual I find it a categorization tool more than a conversation. If the reader uses metaprograms as a conversation instead of profiling, those would be worthwhile conversations to have. I am mixed, lots of better stuff out there from my perspective. Update 2022: I was right to disagree with how to use metaprograms. New neuroscience shows our brains to be much more plastic and putting people into a box highly damaging.

Five Love Languages: Gary Chapman
I really enjoy the concepts of this book. I listened to the audio book. Light and simple to follow. I refer to it often in discussions with people struggling in relationships as a common language to identify personal tendencies.

What got you hear won’t get you there: Marshal Goldsmith and Mark Reiter
I think the title pretty much sums it up. The book is alright, I didn’t finish it though. The concept of the book to me is more powerful than the content.

Linchpin: Seth Godin
Awesome. What makes you indispensable. If you are struggling to be successful, this might be just the piece that puts you to the top of your mountain. This is a must read for artists and creatives.

Bury my Heart in Conference room B: Stan Slap
I liked this book, no doubt this book launched a ton of understanding into the importance of values. Its a bit dated as much has been written to enhance his concepts. Worthwhile read if you are wondering whether you are doing what you are supposed to be doing.

Quiet: Susan Cain
A book to understand introversion. Not sure I agree with all the recommendations, but great great insight into introverts. This told to me by several introverts.

The Checklist Manifesto: Atul Gawande
Love it, love it. Use it all the time. Have it on audio book, listen to it every once in awhile.

Iron John A book about men: Robert Bly
Great book get it on audio book with the growly voiced reader. As I work a lot with men and member of the Mankind project, this book helps both men and women understand stages of manhood, rites of passage told from the perspective of the Iron John Fable. I refer this to lots of young men trying to figure it out and older men who have discovered something is missing in their life. Third most frequent book I give away.

I know some of you have asked me to do blog posts on each book, I dunno. If there is something that really catches your mind or a concept addressed by a book let me know. I think I will let you read these and tell me what you think. I am open to suggestions.

Will update every once in awhile.

Enjoy

– Steve