Here are 32 books that Leadership and Self-Deception fans have personally recommended if you like Leadership and Self-Deception. Book DNA is a community of 13,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve always loved solving problems. Over 30 years ago, I worked for a company that had high employee turnover and an inability to recruit. The problem was the worst in the company backbone—the employees who made us money. I moved from Finance to HR even though I didn’t know anything about HR. Quickly, I identified the root causes of our turnover, developed plans, and implemented them. Within six months, we’d shut down the exodus, which immediately made recruiting easier. Over the years I’ve worked with a wide variety of firms in many industries. I have demonstrated my process with continued success while moving beyond much of HR’s dogma.

Clark's book list on understanding the infinite power found in the alignment of employees and organizations

Clark Ingram Why Clark loves this book

This book is great for finding the journey for your organization that will get you out of the red ocean where the sharks will eat you.

The ideas in it will guide you in finding a blue ocean where you can dominate with less work. What’s more, you can sell that to good employees as they all like a journey. It will also demonstrate the competency of management. 

By W. Chan Kim , Renée Mauborgne ,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Blue Ocean Strategy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

OVER 4 MILLION COPIES SOLD
WALL STREET JOURNAL AND BUSINESSWEEK BESTSELLER
RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC AND IMPACTFUL STRATEGY BOOKS EVER WRITTEN

The global phenomenon that has sold over 4 million copies, is published in a record-breaking 46 languages and is a bestseller across five continents--now updated and expanded with new content. Named by Fast Company as one of the most influential leadership books in its Leadership Hall of Fame. A strategy classic.

In this perennial bestseller, embraced by organizations and industries worldwide, globally preeminent management thinkers W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne challenge everything you thought you…


If you love Leadership and Self-Deception...

Book cover of Aggressor

Aggressor by FX Holden,

It is April 1st, 2038. Day 60 of China's blockade of the rebel island of Taiwan.

The US government has agreed to provide Taiwan with a weapons system so advanced that it can disrupt the balance of power in the region. But what pilot would be crazy enough to run…

Book cover of Good to Great

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve always loved solving problems. Over 30 years ago, I worked for a company that had high employee turnover and an inability to recruit. The problem was the worst in the company backbone—the employees who made us money. I moved from Finance to HR even though I didn’t know anything about HR. Quickly, I identified the root causes of our turnover, developed plans, and implemented them. Within six months, we’d shut down the exodus, which immediately made recruiting easier. Over the years I’ve worked with a wide variety of firms in many industries. I have demonstrated my process with continued success while moving beyond much of HR’s dogma.

Clark's book list on understanding the infinite power found in the alignment of employees and organizations

Clark Ingram Why Clark loves this book

I loved this book because it put the onus of building a well-run organization right where it belongs—on management.

I’ve had the opportunity to see multiple organizations work through this book with varied results. The results were based exclusively on how management individuals responded to the challenges presented in the book. 

By Jim Collins ,

Why should I read it?

18 authors picked Good to Great as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

________________________________
Can a good company become a great one? If so, how?

After a five-year research project, Jim Collins concludes that good to great can and does happen. In this book, he uncovers the underlying variables that enable any type of organisation to make the leap from good to great while other organisations remain only good. Rigorously supported by evidence, his findings are surprising - at times even shocking - to the modern mind.

Good to Great achieves a rare distinction: a management book full of vital ideas that reads as well as a fast-paced novel. It is widely regarded…


Book cover of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve always loved solving problems. Over 30 years ago, I worked for a company that had high employee turnover and an inability to recruit. The problem was the worst in the company backbone—the employees who made us money. I moved from Finance to HR even though I didn’t know anything about HR. Quickly, I identified the root causes of our turnover, developed plans, and implemented them. Within six months, we’d shut down the exodus, which immediately made recruiting easier. Over the years I’ve worked with a wide variety of firms in many industries. I have demonstrated my process with continued success while moving beyond much of HR’s dogma.

Clark's book list on understanding the infinite power found in the alignment of employees and organizations

Clark Ingram Why Clark loves this book

This was one of the first business books I read after getting out of school.

I recommend it to everyone, and I don’t think I’ve met anyone who wouldn’t benefit from it. I took comfort in those areas in which I was already following his advice. I also worked on those areas that I was lacking in, and it made me a better person, employee, and manager.

By Stephen R. Covey ,

Why should I read it?

20 authors picked The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

New York Times bestseller - over 25 million copies sold
The No. 1 Most Influential Business Book of the Twentieth Century

"[Thirty] years after it first appeared, the wisdom of The 7 Habits is more relevant than ever. On an individual level people are burning out, and on a collective level we are burning up the planet. So Dr. Covey's emphasis on self-renewal and his understanding that leadership and creativity require us to tap into our own physical, mental, and spiritual resources are exactly what we need now." Arianna Huffington

One of the most inspiring and impactful books ever written,…


If you love The Arbinger Institute...

Book cover of The Warhog Paladins

The Warhog Paladins by Jer Patch,

Mia Lark is running out of options. There is only one way to change the score: the fantasy planet Revivium. 

Armed with the powerful magic in the helm and the friendly AI, Hex that goes with it, Mia throws caution out the window. It’s time to find the main guildhall…

Book cover of Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve always loved solving problems. Over 30 years ago, I worked for a company that had high employee turnover and an inability to recruit. The problem was the worst in the company backbone—the employees who made us money. I moved from Finance to HR even though I didn’t know anything about HR. Quickly, I identified the root causes of our turnover, developed plans, and implemented them. Within six months, we’d shut down the exodus, which immediately made recruiting easier. Over the years I’ve worked with a wide variety of firms in many industries. I have demonstrated my process with continued success while moving beyond much of HR’s dogma.

Clark's book list on understanding the infinite power found in the alignment of employees and organizations

Clark Ingram Why Clark loves this book

When I moved into HR from Finance, the biggest obstacle for a typical employee was a lack of awareness of who they were.

What I’ve found is that the vast majority of employees have taken a personality survey. But they’ve never had anyone explain what the survey actually said. I believe every employee and manager would benefit from reading Goleman’s book.      

By Daniel Goleman ,

Why should I read it?

7 authors picked Emotional Intelligence as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The groundbreaking bestseller that redefines intelligence and success Does IQ define our destiny? Daniel Goleman argues that our view of human intelligence is far too narrow, and that our emotions play major role in thought, decision making and individual success. Self-awareness, impulse control, persistence, motivation, empathy and social deftness are all qualities that mark people who excel: whose relationships flourish, who are stars in the workplace. With new insights into the brain architecture underlying emotion and rationality, Goleman shows precisely how emotional intelligence can be nurtured and strengthened in all of us.


Book cover of Unblock

Ivanna Mikhailovna Rosendal and Anne Katrine Carlsson Sejr Author Of Maneuvering Monday

From my list on improving your work life one small step at a time.

Why are we passionate about this?

We are two leaders of teams who work in the intersection between people and technology and are obsessed with the human factor in organizational transformation. We have developed the Maneuvering Monday universe to create a space where we discuss topics around leadership, organizational design, and transformation with other thought leaders and experts around the world, and love to nerd these topics to better understand different perspectives and, not least, share tactics to make work better. We spend so much time at work, so it has to be meaningful. All the books on this list have inspired us to improve as leaders, colleagues, and employees. We hope they will inspire you too!

Ivanna and Anne Kathrine's book list on improving your work life one small step at a time

Ivanna Mikhailovna Rosendal and Anne Katrine Carlsson Sejr Why Ivanna and Anne Kathrine loves this book

We loved this book because it gave us concrete ideas for how to approachor “unblock”difficult situations at work, while also entertaining us at the same time!

It has a great way of communicating the author’s advice with short fictional stories in the beginning of each chapter to highlight the specific challenge that the chapter can help you tackle with a set of methods. It gave us tangible and pragmatic advice in the space of strategy, steering, decision-making, ownership, teamwork, meetings, and change management.

I, AK, ended up reading the book from cover to cover because the topics resonated with situations at work, but I believe it’s helpful that each chapter can be read standalone, so I can go back in the future to address specific needs.

By Jurriaan Kamer ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Unblock as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Need significant outcomes quickly? But does everything feel like swimming through peanut butter? It is time to Unblock your organization.Perhaps you want to double your company’s market share or reinvent its core business. Or you are bringing a new product to market or need to implement regulations. If so, this book is for you; it’s designed for leaders who want to move the needle.To achieve your goals, you need people to take ownership. You need less talking, more action, less analysis and faster decisions, less bureaucracy, and more initiative.Learn to apply modern organizational methods in areas of:Strategy: Craft a strategy…


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Book cover of Magnetic Nonsense

Ivanna Mikhailovna Rosendal and Anne Katrine Carlsson Sejr Author Of Maneuvering Monday

From my list on improving your work life one small step at a time.

Why are we passionate about this?

We are two leaders of teams who work in the intersection between people and technology and are obsessed with the human factor in organizational transformation. We have developed the Maneuvering Monday universe to create a space where we discuss topics around leadership, organizational design, and transformation with other thought leaders and experts around the world, and love to nerd these topics to better understand different perspectives and, not least, share tactics to make work better. We spend so much time at work, so it has to be meaningful. All the books on this list have inspired us to improve as leaders, colleagues, and employees. We hope they will inspire you too!

Ivanna and Anne Kathrine's book list on improving your work life one small step at a time

Ivanna Mikhailovna Rosendal and Anne Katrine Carlsson Sejr Why Ivanna and Anne Kathrine loves this book

We enjoyed reading Magnetic Nonsense because of the way it calls out the corporate bullshit bingo and challenges the management trends that are dominating organizations across the world.

For me, AK, it even challenges some of my own perceptions of concepts that I have spent a lot of time on at workfor instance, cultural valueswhich was refreshing and thought-provoking. I thought it was a fun read too, and I like that the book’s points and arguments are based on a collection of research, data, and case studies. The author is aggressively passionate about cutting the rubbish and enabling a better work future for all.

The reading experience felt a little uncomfortable for me (because it forced me to reconsider some of my beliefs) in the best and most inspirational way possible, and therefore, I absolutely recommend this book.

By Paul D. Sweeney ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Magnetic Nonsense as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

For millions of us work feels like The Office - only less funny. We’re drowning in nonsense whilst pretending it’s all perfectly rational.Endless management fads and the soundbites of self-proclaimed gurus promise to improve everything. But they never do. It’s just more pointless and annoying bullshit.But where did all this nonsense come from? Why is it so universal? And how do we make it go away?This is the story of how we got here, why we keep falling for the same rubbish, and what we can collectively do to change our belief systems and enable a better work future for…


If you love Leadership and Self-Deception...

Book cover of A Last Serenade for Billy Bonney

A Last Serenade for Billy Bonney by Mark Warren,

Winner of the 2024 New Mexico - Arizona Book Award.

In this deeply researched novel of America's most celebrated outlaw, Mark Warren sheds light on the human side of Billy the Kid and reveals the intimate stories of the lesser-known players in his legendary life of crime. Warren's fictional composer…

Book cover of The Learning Mindset

Ivanna Mikhailovna Rosendal and Anne Katrine Carlsson Sejr Author Of Maneuvering Monday

From my list on improving your work life one small step at a time.

Why are we passionate about this?

We are two leaders of teams who work in the intersection between people and technology and are obsessed with the human factor in organizational transformation. We have developed the Maneuvering Monday universe to create a space where we discuss topics around leadership, organizational design, and transformation with other thought leaders and experts around the world, and love to nerd these topics to better understand different perspectives and, not least, share tactics to make work better. We spend so much time at work, so it has to be meaningful. All the books on this list have inspired us to improve as leaders, colleagues, and employees. We hope they will inspire you too!

Ivanna and Anne Kathrine's book list on improving your work life one small step at a time

Ivanna Mikhailovna Rosendal and Anne Katrine Carlsson Sejr Why Ivanna and Anne Kathrine loves this book

The author’s enthusiasm and expertise shine through this book and make it an enjoyable read, especially if you are interested in learning as a capability in human beings and organizations like we are!

I, AK, think that she has managed to make a complex topic engaging, and I felt inspired by her practical ideas for how to nurture a learning mindset in an age of artificial intelligence and technological advancement.

I think it’s a well-researched book with many great examples from real life on the topic of building a sustainable learning environment and continuous improvement in both individuals and corporate settings.

By Katja Schipperheijn ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Learning Mindset as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

WINNER: getAbstract International Book Award 2025 - Learning Impact Developing a learning mindset is essential in a rapidly changing world. But how can you adopt this approach? What qualities do you need? What role do technology and neuroscience play? How can it boost innovation, problem-solving and collaboration? The Learning Mindset has the answers. Written by an international learning expert, this book explains what a learning mindset is and what the benefits are for individuals, teams and the wider organization. It covers the competencies needed for this approach such as imagination, curiosity, consilience, empathy and openness. This book shows how these…


Book cover of Unbound

Ivanna Mikhailovna Rosendal and Anne Katrine Carlsson Sejr Author Of Maneuvering Monday

From my list on improving your work life one small step at a time.

Why are we passionate about this?

We are two leaders of teams who work in the intersection between people and technology and are obsessed with the human factor in organizational transformation. We have developed the Maneuvering Monday universe to create a space where we discuss topics around leadership, organizational design, and transformation with other thought leaders and experts around the world, and love to nerd these topics to better understand different perspectives and, not least, share tactics to make work better. We spend so much time at work, so it has to be meaningful. All the books on this list have inspired us to improve as leaders, colleagues, and employees. We hope they will inspire you too!

Ivanna and Anne Kathrine's book list on improving your work life one small step at a time

Ivanna Mikhailovna Rosendal and Anne Katrine Carlsson Sejr Why Ivanna and Anne Kathrine loves this book

This is not a traditional business book.

In this book, the author shows how aligning yourself with your needs and being able to express them leads to more effective communication. This is in the context of being a woman who has a very narrow acceptable definition of wants that we are allowed to have.

For me, Ivanna, reading this book opened up my eyes to the times when I have failed at negotiating. It helped me understand how to effectively communicate the needs that I have in a negotiation.

By Kasia Urbaniak ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Unbound as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Stop being a servant of the life you're living and become a creator of the world you want. Electrifying lessons in power, influence and persuasion to equalise women in an unequal world.

Why do so many women feel they're too much yet not enough? How can you feel 'good and mad' yet reluctant to speak up in a meeting or difficult conversation? What causes women to freeze at critical moments?

Kasia Urbaniak spent 17 years studying to become a Taoist nun. To foot the bill for her studies, she worked as a high-paid (and extremely successful) dominatrix in dungeons around…


Book cover of Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts

David P. Barash Author Of OOPS! The Worst Blunders of All Time

From my list on people making mistakes: mythic, silly, tragic.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m an emeritus professor of psychology (University of Washington) who has long been intrigued by the mistakes that people have made throughout history. I’ve long been struck by Oppenheimer’s observation, immediately after the Trinity explosion, that “I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” This led me to look into the wide array of mistakes, from the mythic, literary, athletic, business, political, medical, and military. In writing OOPS!, I let myself go in a way that I’ve never before, writing with a critical and wise-ass style that isn’t strictly academic, but is factually accurate and, frankly, was a lot of fun!

David's book list on people making mistakes: mythic, silly, tragic

David P. Barash Why David loves this book

Two renowned social psychologists show how people—some famous and some not—avoid taking responsibility for their blunders.

By the book''s end, we see how we avoid admitting our missteps, and aware of how much our own (and everyone's) lives would improve if we could simply say, ''I made a mistake. I'm sorry.”

By Elliot Aronson , Carol Tavris ,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Renowned social psychologists Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson take a compelling look into how the brain is wired for self-justification. This updated edition concludes with an extended discussion of how we can live with dissonance, learn from it, and perhaps, eventually, forgive ourselves.

Why is it so hard to say “I made a mistake”—and really believe it?

When we make mistakes, cling to outdated attitudes, or mistreat other people, we must calm the cognitive dissonance that jars our feelings of self-worth. And so, unconsciously, we create fictions that absolve us of responsibility, restoring our belief that we are smart, moral,…


If you love The Arbinger Institute...

Book cover of Ramón Ramirez's Dog: Reflections on Then and Now

Ramón Ramirez's Dog by David J. Dunford,

Ramon Ramirez’s Dog is a collection of essays written over the years about the adventures and misadventures, mostly outside but occasionally inside the diplomatic career of a U.S. ambassador. Common threads weaving the stories together are a desire for a life well-lived, balancing career with family and friends, keeping physically…

Book cover of Bright-Sided: How Positive Thinking Is Undermining America

Karen A. Cerulo Author Of Dreams of a Lifetime: How Who We Are Shapes How We Imagine Our Future

From my list on understanding how social inequality impacts hopes and dreams, not simply opportunities.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have spent an entire career, via reading, research, and teaching, helping people realize their dreams. For me, it represents “paying it forward,” thanking those who helped a girl from an ethnic, working-class background become an internationally recognized scholar. Studying optimism and goal-seeking has taught me that dreaming and optimism are important—but they are simply not enough to move someone forward. Dreams must become projects motivated by mentoring, planning, and hard work. Not everyone has those resources available to them. The curse of social inequality can indeed destroy hopes and dreams in the very early lives of the socially disadvantaged—with devastating consequences for society as a whole. 

Karen's book list on understanding how social inequality impacts hopes and dreams, not simply opportunities

Karen A. Cerulo Why Karen loves this book

Bright-sided shows the chokehold that positive thinking has on Americans. I admired the way the author “bucks” this central tenet of our society. The author demonstrates how positive thinking permeates all facets of American lives. Most importantly, she convinced me of the false promises and perils that emanate from our culture of positive thinking.

By Barbara Ehrenreich ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Bright-Sided as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Barbara Ehrenreich's New York Times bestselling Bright-sided is a sharp-witted knockdown of America's love affair with positive thinking and an urgent call for a new commitment to realism

Americans are a "positive" people -- cheerful, optimistic, and upbeat: This is our reputation as well as our self-image. But more than a temperament, being positive is the key to getting success and prosperity. Or so we are told.

In this utterly original debunking, Barbara Ehrenreich confronts the false promises of positive thinking and shows its reach into every corner of American life, from Evangelical megachurches to the medical establishment, and, worst…


Book cover of Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant
Book cover of Good to Great
Book cover of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

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