7 Books Every Leader Should Read

1. "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman

I think we’ve all heard of this one. Bazerman says:

The development of decision research is the most pronounced influence of the social sciences on professional education and societal change that we have witness in the last half century. Kahneman is the greatest social scientist of our time, and" Thinking, Fast and Slow" provides an integrated history of the fields of behavioral decision research and behavioral economics, the role of our two different systems for processing information (System 1 vs. System 2), and the wonderful story of Kahneman’s relationship with Amos Tversky (Tversky would have shared Kahneman’s Nobel Prize had he not passed away at an early age).

2. "Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness" by Richard Thaler & Cass Sunstein

This is another one I think most of you have heard of but it’s a classic. I once used this book as the foundation to make the case to a management team for hiring a group of behavioral psychologists. Along with "Thinking, Fast and Slow" it is part of the ultimate behavioral economics reading list.

Nudge takes the study of how humans depart from rational decision making and turns this work into a prescriptive strategy for action. Over the last 40 years, we have learned a great deal about the systematic and predictable ways in which the human mind departs from rational action. Yet, we have observed dozens of studies that show the limits of trying to de-bias the human mind. Nudge highlights that we do not need to de-bias humans, we simply need to understand humans, and create decision architectures with a realistic understanding of the human to guide humans to wise decisions. Nudge has emerged as the bible of behavioral insight teams that are transforming the ways countries help to devise wise policies.

3. "The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine" by Michael Lewis

Lewis is an amazing writer, with the talent to capture amazing features of how humans have the capacity to overcome common limitations. Moneyball (that would have been on the list, but I imposed a one book per author limit) was a fascinating look about how overcoming common human limits allowed baseball leaders to develop unique and effective leadership strategies. In The Big Short, Lewis shows how people can notice, even when most of us are failing to do so. Lewis shows that it was possible to notice vast problems with our economy by 2007, and tells the amazing account of those who did.

4. "Eyewitness To Power: The Essence of Leadership Nixon to Clinton" by David Gergen

This one looks fascinating.

David Gergen is an amazingly insightful intellect about so many things, including the nature of Presidential leadership. His writing is wonderful, and his ability to pull out the nuggets of effective leadership in his closing chapter is a lasting contribution. You will learn about four Presidents that have escaped you in the past, and in the process, learn some insights about leadership in your organization.

5. "Moral Tribes: Emotion, Reason, and the Gap Between Us and Them" by Joshua Greene

This book has been recommended to me by so many smart people that there must be something to it.

Joshua Greene is a wonderful mix of insightful philosopher, careful psychologist, and keen observer of human morality. If you have ever been confronted with the famous “trolley problem”, and want to learn more, Moral Tribes is the place to go. Whether you are a philosopher looking for a new path, a psychologist looking for insight from a new direction, or simply a human who wants to understand your own morality, this book is terrific.

6. "Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending" by Elizabeth Dunn & Michael Norton

For decades, the study of consumer behavior has been dominated by the question of how marketers can understand consumers to sell their products and services. Dunn and Norton use contemporary social science to provide insight into what consumers can do to make themselves, rather than marketers, happy.

7. "The Art and Science of Negotiation" by Howard Raiffa

The Art and Science of Negotiation is where it all began from an intellectual standpoint, where Raiffa provides insight into how to think systematically in a world where you cannot count on the other side to do so.

The Secret of the Ages

 The Secret of the Ages

In the Secret of the Ages, Robert Collier shares with us the secrets of success. This book gives you the tools to have a happier and more successful life. Collier will show you how the way you think and the decisions you make have a direct influence on how successful and happy you are. With out the foundation that Collier laid herein, Rhonda Byrnes' The Secret could never have been written. Long before Michael Losier and James Arthur Ray reminded the world just how effective the power of positive thinking could be in Laws of Attraction and The Science of Success, there was Robert Collier's Secret of the Ages. This edition is complete and unabridged.

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Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School

In Brain Rules, Dr. John Medina, a molecular biologist, shares his lifelong interest in how the brain sciences might influence the way we teach our children and the way we work. In each chapter, he describes a brain rule—what scientists know for sure about how our brains work—and then offers transformative ideas for our daily lives.Medina’s fascinating stories and infectious sense of humor breathe life into brain science. You’ll learn why Michael Jordan was no good at baseball. You’ll peer over a surgeon’s shoulder as he proves that most of us have a Jennifer Aniston neuron. You’ll meet a boy who has an amazing memory for music but can’t tie his own shoes.You will discover how:    * Every brain is wired differently
    * Exercise improves cognition
    * We are designed to never stop learning and exploring
    * Memories are volatile
    * Sleep is powerfully linked with the ability to learn
    * Vision trumps all of the other senses
    * Stress changes the way we learnIn the end, you’ll understand how your brain really works—and how to get the most out of it.

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Pebbles On The Beach

The "Discourse on Truth' or 'Satsangha' is a journey towards the awareness of the
actualization and realities of human life. It is the path that distinguishes humans as Ashraf
ul Makhluqat, the best of creation of Allah Almighty, which in the present era, long lost
in their daily lives has brought hatred, frustration and despair into the world.
This book is an earnest attempt to give a broader perspective to questions relating human
existence. Life is a fascinating journey and each of us is walking, running or tumbling
along it. In turn every individual is unique and fascinating in his own respect. Our
connectivity with self and others is beautiful. Everybody has a unique place in this
majestic universe which is breathtaking. There is a part of us which is always in delight;
in praise; in mirth at the heavens and it bounties. We know this deep inside, however like
children, we cannot articulate what we know. We grow up incomplete. We live our lives
incomplete.
This book is my story; a story of the places I've visited, things I've seen, people I've loved
and lost, and my experiences. It is a story of life, and like life itself, it is fascinating.

Message from the author

“Pebbles on the beach” marks the portrayal of numerous touchstones faced in stringent
hardships during an entire life span. My thinking reflections throughout this book relate
lifetime spiritual experiences, I have gathered through the test of times.
This book is the essence of my quest of more than three decades, my findings in the
journey towards self awareness, discovery and enlightenment. Unlocking the secrets of
happiness and satisfaction, it describes the various human blocks, limitations of our mind
to make decisions and answering the most common "Whys?" in our modern day lives.
Through this book I strive to interrupt our current monotonous pattern of thoughts, mindsets
and perceptions which leads us towards Depression, Anxiety and Selfishness towards
a new beginning of Fulfillment, Satisfaction and Focus for a better life.
The readers' expedition in this book will be full of unique experiences and concepts,
which at times might be difficult to accept and adapt, as at present you “believe" what
your mind accepts and “question" what your mind rejects.
“People are not the prisoners of fat, but the Prisoners of their minds.”
Franklin Roosevelt

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Unlimited Power by Anthony Robbins

Anthony Robbins calls it the new science of personal achievement. You'll call it the best thing that ever happened to you. If you have ever dreamed of a better life, Unlimited Power will show you how to achieve the extraordinary quality of life you desire and deserve, and how to master your personal and professional life. Anthony Robbins has proven to millions through his books, tapes, and seminars that by harnessing the power of the mind you can do, have, achieve, and create anything you want for your life. He has shown heads of state, royalty, Olympic and professional athletes, movie stars, and children how to achieve. With Unlimited Power, he passionately and eloquently reveals the science of personal achievement and teaches you: * How to find out what you really want * The Seven Lies of Success * How to reprogram your mind in minutes to eliminate fears and phobias * The secret of creating instant rapport with anyone you meet * How to duplicate the success of others * The Five Keys to Wealth and Happiness Unlimited Power is a revolutionary fitness book for the mind. It will show you, step by step, how to perform at your peak while gaining emotional and financial freedom, attaining leadership and self-confidence, and winning the cooperation of others. It will give you the knowledge and the courage to remake yourself and your world. Unlimited Power is a guidebook to superior performance in an age of success

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The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

 The Power of Now

Ekhart Tolle's message is simple: living in the now is the truest path to happiness and enlightenment. And while this message may not seem stunningly original or fresh, Tolle's clear writing, supportive voice and enthusiasm make this an excellent manual for anyone who's ever wondered what exactly "living in the now" means. Foremost, Tolle is a world-class teacher, able to explain complicated concepts in concrete language. More importantly, within a chapter of reading this book, readers are already holding the world in a different container--more conscious of how thoughts and emotions get in the way of their ability to live in genuine peace and happiness.

Tolle packs a lot of information and inspirational ideas into The Power of Now. (Topics include the source of Chi, enlightened relationships, creative use of the mind, impermanence and the cycle of life.) Thankfully, he's added markers that symbolise "break time". This is when readers should close the book and mull over what they just read. As a result, The Power of Now reads like the highly acclaimed A Course in Miracles--a spiritual guidebook that has the potential to inspire just as many study groups and change just as many lives for the better.

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The 4-Hour Workweek Rate this book 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss

 The 4-Hour Workweek

What do you do? Tim Ferriss has trouble answering the question. Depending on when you ask this
controversial Princeton University guest lecturer, he might answer:

“I race motorcycles in Europe.”
“I ski in the Andes.”
“I scuba dive in Panama.”
“I dance tango in Buenos Aires.”

He has spent more than five years learning the secrets of the New Rich, a fast-growing subculture who has abandoned the “deferred-life plan” and instead mastered the new currencies—time and mobility—to create luxury lifestyles in the here and now.

Whether you are an overworked employee or an entrepreneur trapped in your own business, this book is the compass for a new and revolutionary world. Join Tim Ferriss as he teaches you:

• How to outsource your life to overseas virtual assistants for $5 per hour and do whatever you want
• How blue-chip escape artists travel the world without quitting their jobs
• How to eliminate 50% of your work in 48 hours using the principles of a forgotten Italian economist
• How to trade a long-haul career for short work bursts and freuent "mini-retirements"
• What the crucial difference is between absolute and relative income
• How to train your boss to value performance over presence, or kill your job (or company) if it’s beyond repair
• What automated cash-flow “muses” are and how to create one in 2 to 4 weeks
• How to cultivate selective ignorance—and create time—with a low-information diet
• What the management secrets of Remote Control CEOs are
• How to get free hou

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