Books like Unlearning Silence — picked by fans

This book expanded my thinking and provided a fresh perspective, reminding me of why I became interested in this important topic years ago and continue to be fascinated by the complexity and nuances of cross-cultural communication.

Now, more than ever, we are all interconnected through advances in technology that bring us closer together. We are working increasingly with a global workforce that inherently comes with very different backgrounds, languages, histories, foods, music, religions, social norms, customs, traditions, and values.

We need to grow our understanding of people from cultures different from our own and Erin's book is a complimentary contribution to this body of knowledge; it is not duplicative but singularly unique and a refreshing read.

When I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the author, Stephen Shedletzky (aka Shed), I was prepared to read with a critical eye because I had already felt I knew a lot about building psychologically safe team cultures. However, as soon as I read the opening of the book, where Shed shares the story behind Boeing’s 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019, I was hooked.

I appreciated the depth of the book. It’s not only about why leaders need to create a psychologically safe environment in which people can speak up and how they can do it; it’s also about how they make it worth taking the risk of speaking up. I loved the stories and found the whole book highly compelling.

As I listened to the audiobook version of this book, I felt optimistic and hopeful, which is not a common feeling when I read business, leadership, or DEI books. I found the whole book to be an invitation to do better as a leader, a community member, and a human being.

I felt a strong call to action without the usual shaming or blaming that I’ve found in too many recent books. I wanted to sit down and have a conversation with Denise, even though I had never met her. After finishing the book, I felt inspired, uplifted, and committed to taking ownership of my role in making our world more inclusive and indivisible. 

I could not stop listening to this book, read by the author, Rob Volpe. It’s filled with compelling, entertaining, and moving stories of Rob’s interactions with people from all walks of life as he conducts consumer insights interviews. To me, the book is not only a masterclass in both storytelling and empathy but also a book about the power of listening with an open mind and heart, which is why I believe it should be a leadership must-read (even if it’s not technically a leadership book).

I loved Rob’s personal stories and was fascinated by the stories from his consumer interviews. You have to read it to witness how Rob seamlessly moves from a conversation about an interviewee’s brother’s ghost to preferences in soup flavors!

In the summer of 2019, my world began to crumble, and this book was the catalyst for the earthquake I desperately needed.

When I picked it up, I was on the tail end of a failing marriage, but I didn’t know it yet. All I knew was that I needed to figure out who I was outside of the trauma narrative I had told about my story, again and again. And I needed to stop feeling like a victim in my own story. 
If you need a swift kick in the rear-end, this book is the one for you. With insightful and encouraging, but direct, prose, Kipp invites you to take a careful look at who you are and what values you truly hold, dispute your best intentions. I thought I knew who I was and what I wanted, but I didn’t feel empowered to make those dreams a reality… show more.

I love this book because it reframes emotional strength as flexibility, not control.

Susan David reminds us that emotions aren’t weaknesses to manage; they’re data points to understand. The research and stories in the book make it feel practical, not preachy.

Every time I read it, I’m reminded that clarity starts with self-honesty: you can’t lead others intentionally if you’re disconnected from what’s really going on inside yourself—and you need to get honest about your emotions and stay agile within them.

This is one of the most actionable books I’ve ever read on this aspect of inner resilience.

Part graphic novel, part brain teaser, The Lying Carpet is about a statue of a little girl that awakens in a grand, strange house. Her name is Faith and she wishes to know how she came to be, and the only one who can tell her is a lying carpet in the shape of a tiger who offers her numerous and confounding possibilities. A great introduction to philosophy and a story for readers of all ages, a book to be opened again and again and again. A timeless classic.

Bernadette Jiwa’s short, pithy books make an outsized impact. This one is about applying the power of authentic stories to business and marketing. What if you can differentiate yourself, and your business, through meaning? Jiwa outlines what it means to be a story-driven business and provides a clear path to getting there.

This book is a powerful guide to manifestation.

It really did help me to acquire an unwavering faith in the universe – a realisation that the universe truly does have my back – at all times. The book also falls into alignment with the other books mentioned in this list, in that it speaks of how we can connect with spiritual guidance – especially through tough times.

I have had a rigorous manifestation practice since reading this book for the first time in 2020 – and I have been able to manifest almost all of my deepest desires. I 100% believe in manifestation, and this book is a solid stepping stone towards such.

I read this book (a second time) as I was approaching my 50th birthday.

It totally changed the way I viewed the “second half” of my life. While this book is geared to a Christian audience, it offers great encouragement on ways you can “go to the locker room” at halftime and strategically plan the second half so that it is the best half!