Behavioural science, emotional intelligence, resilience and personal growth for people at work. It spans Mindset, Grit and Emotional Intelligence, behavioural-economics reads such as Predictably Irrational and Nudge, and reflective classics like Man’s Search for Meaning.
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Alphabetical by title, each with a short description. Open the details for related reads and courses, or go straight to Amazon.
Looks at why sadness, longing and bittersweet feelings are part of being human and how they can inspire creativity and connection. Susan Cain draws on psychology, culture and personal reflection. For readers interested in emotion, creativity and loss.
Argues that vulnerability is a source of courage and connection rather than weakness, and examines how shame gets in the way. Brené Brown applies her research to work, leadership, relationships and parenting. Useful for managers and leaders building trust.
Design thinking is applied to career and life choices here, with readers encouraged to prototype small experiments, reframe stuck problems and explore several possible futures rather than hunting for one perfect plan. It suits anyone facing a career crossroads.
Argues that emotional skills such as self-awareness, self-control and empathy strongly influence success at work and in life, alongside conventional intelligence. Daniel Goleman draws on psychology and brain research. Relevant to leaders and managers.
Explores flow, the state of deep absorption in a challenging activity that matches one's skills, and why it contributes to a satisfying life. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi draws on his psychological research. Useful for people designing work, learning or leisure.
Argues that sustained passion and perseverance towards long-term goals can matter as much as natural talent in achieving success. Angela Duckworth draws on her research and on examples from many fields. Of interest to leaders, educators and anyone building a career.
Combines the author's account of surviving Nazi concentration camps with an introduction to logotherapy, his approach to psychotherapy. He argues that finding a sense of purpose helps people endure suffering. Reflective reading for leaders considering meaning in work and life.
Contrasts a fixed mindset, which treats ability as set, with a growth mindset, which sees ability as something developed through effort and learning. Carol Dweck explains how these beliefs affect achievement, relationships and leadership. Useful for managers, teachers and parents.
Part personal history and part introduction to a field, this book recounts how behavioural economics took shape as Richard Thaler challenged the assumption that people act like perfectly rational agents. It suits readers curious about why real decisions depart from economic theory.
Thaler and Sunstein introduce choice architecture, the idea that how options are presented shapes what people pick. They argue that sensible defaults and well-designed choices can steer people towards better outcomes while preserving freedom, with lessons for policymakers, employers and designers.
Experiments from behavioural economics show how people's irrational choices follow predictable patterns, from the pull of free offers to the influence of arbitrary reference points. Dan Ariely's book helps readers understand how pricing, context and emotion shape everyday decisions.
Explores how feeling present and self-assured in moments of pressure, such as interviews or presentations, helps people perform. Amy Cuddy links this to body language and mindset. Useful for anyone preparing for high-stakes conversations.
Examines the strengths of introverts and argues that workplaces and schools often favour extroverted styles. Susan Cain draws on research and stories to show how quieter people contribute. Valuable for managers, leaders and introverts themselves.
Describes how people get back up after setbacks and failure, setting out a process of reckoning with emotions, examining the stories we tell ourselves and changing how we act. Brené Brown draws on her research and personal examples. Relevant to leaders handling difficulty.
Draws on neuroscience and social psychology to explore how our brains connect with other people and how relationships shape wellbeing and behaviour. Daniel Goleman looks at empathy and social awareness. Useful for leaders who want to understand interpersonal dynamics.
Explains why people are poor at predicting what will make them happy in the future, drawing on psychology and research on imagination and memory. Daniel Gilbert shows how these errors affect everyday decisions. Of interest to anyone making choices under uncertainty.
As lifespans lengthen, the traditional pattern of education, work and retirement will no longer fit many lives, argue Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott. The book explores how to rethink careers, finances, learning and relationships for a life that may run to a century.
A collection of short chapters, each describing one common error in judgement, such as survivorship bias or the sunk cost fallacy. Dobelli aims to help readers spot these thinking traps in everyday decisions at work, in investing and in personal life.
Explores the confidence gap that many women experience, drawing on psychology, neuroscience and interviews. Katty Kay and Claire Shipman argue that confidence can be built through action and risk-taking. Suits women building careers and managers who support them.
Presented as a conversation between a philosopher and a young man, this book introduces Adlerian psychology and argues for freeing oneself from the need for approval. Covers ideas such as taking responsibility for your own choices and separating your tasks from other people's.
Presented as a dialogue between a philosopher and a young man, this sequel to The Courage to Be Disliked builds on Alfred Adler's individual psychology. It looks at how we relate to others and take responsibility for our own happiness.
Encourages readers to let go of perfectionism and comparison and to practise authenticity, self-compassion and resilience. Brené Brown frames this as wholehearted living, drawing on her research on shame and vulnerability. Suited to readers who are hard on themselves.
Drawing on a long-running Harvard study of adult development, Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz argue that close, warm relationships are central to lasting health and happiness. They offer practical ways to build and maintain connection in family, friendship and work.
Argues that happiness fuels success rather than only following it, and that positive people tend to perform better at work. Shawn Achor draws on positive psychology research and offers practical habits. Suits managers and teams interested in motivation and wellbeing.
Tests ancient ideas about happiness and virtue against modern psychological research. Jonathan Haidt uses the image of a rider on an elephant to describe how reason and emotion interact. Of interest to readers curious about wellbeing and decision making.
A follow-up to The 100-Year Life by the same authors, this title looks at what longer lifespans mean in practice for individuals, employers and society, and how to prepare for them.
More choice does not always mean more satisfaction, argues Barry Schwartz, who links an abundance of options to anxiety, regret and decision paralysis. He contrasts maximisers with satisficers and suggests ways to choose well without chasing the perfect option.
Argues that sustained performance depends on managing energy rather than time, across the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual dimensions. Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz recommend alternating periods of effort with recovery. Useful for managers and busy professionals.
A psychiatrist's reflections on personal growth, arguing that facing problems honestly, taking responsibility and practising discipline and love are central to a mature life. M. Scott Peck draws on his clinical practice. For readers interested in self-development.
Julia Galef contrasts the soldier mindset, which defends existing beliefs, with the scout mindset, which aims to see things as they are. The book offers practical habits for judging evidence honestly, admitting mistakes and updating views, useful for anyone making consequential decisions.
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