Book Reviews
Looking for recommendations for books on leadership and coaching?
Here are some of my favourites…
Book Reviews
Looking for recommendations for books on leadership and coaching?
Here are some of my favourites…
Patrick Lencioni – The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
Lencioni is one of the founders of The Table Group and is the pioneer of the organisational health movement. This easy-to-read book follows a fictional management team as they learn about the 5 dysfunctions that means a team is likely to fail. The 5 dysfunctions are interconnected and Lencioni explains how it’s possible to overcome each one. Spoiler alert, successful teams are based on trust.
Erin Meyer – The Culture Map
Meyer is a Professor of Organisational Behaviour at Insead and a best-selling author. I love this book. Using an 8-point framework, Meyer explains how cultures vary along the spectrum from one extreme to the other. It’s a must-read for anyone operating internationally. As you consider each example, you’ll find yourself saying “that’s why!”
Professor Lynda Gratton – The 100-Year Life: Living and Working in an Age of Longevity
Lynda is a Professor of Management Practice at London Business School. She is also acknowledged globally as one of the top influential business and HR thinkers. She’s written many great books and articles. This book is a particular favourite book of mine and explores the impact on governments, organisations, and individuals as we live longer.
Matthew Syed – Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking.
Syed is a best-selling author, thought leader, and consultant. This is an impactful and thought-provoking book that considers real-life examples of decision-making. By considering each issue through a diversity lens, Syed challenges the status quo and shows us how to be more collaborative and creative.
Herminia Ibarra – Working Identity
Ibarra is a Professor of Organisational Behaviour who has served at London Business School, Insead, and Harvard in her career. Working Identity is an engaging read and explains why changing roles/careers can affect people so profoundly. Ibarra suggests 8 unconventional strategies as to why people change careers and by doing so change their identities. She argues against the common premise that people know what they want to do and go and do it.
Nancy Kline – More Time to Think
Kline is the creator of The Thinking Environment and founder of Time to Think. In this book, Kline shares 10 effective ways to help you think with rigour and courage. Despite its simplicity, you’ll learn the mind works best in the presence of a question and that a key factor in the quality of a person’s thinking is how they are treated by the people with them while they are thinking, to the importance of appreciation and of facing what you have been denying.
Peter Zeihan – The Accidental Superpower and Disunited Nations.
One of the masters of geopolitics and an engaging speaker. Zeihan considers the macro environment post the Second World War, the ascendence of the USA, and how it will retain its strength due to its geography and size whereas other nations will fail. Disunited Nations consider the emerging shifts in competing powers and economic systems through Asia and Europe, who will succeed and who will fail.
Philip Houston, Michael Floyd, and Susan Carnicero – Spy the Lie
Three former CIA officers share their techniques for spotting a lie, using behaviour-based interviewing methods developed by the CIA to detect deception in counterterrorism and criminal investigations. This is a fascinating read which uses examples from their own careers. It’ll make you consider how you respond to others and what they are really telling you!
Simon Sinek – Start with Why
A leading visionary thinker, best-selling author, and inspirational thinker Sinek challenges businesses and leaders to inspire people to make the world a better place. In this book, Sinek explores business success and failures and summaries that true success comes from identifying your purpose and not focusing on the money. Caring about your people – employees, clients, etc can make a difference – and can earn your trust and loyalty which in turn helps companies change the world.
Scott Osman, Jacquelyn Lane, Marshall Goldsmith – Becoming Coachable
Three experts in the field of coaching and colleagues from the 100 Coaches Agency consider how to elevate the quality of leadership. This is a guidebook for leaders on how to embrace coaching to cultivate a flourishing professional and personal life and create value for shareholders.
Professor Steve Peters – The Chimp Paradox
Peters is a consultant psychiatrist specialising in the function of the mind. In this book, he explains how the rational and emotional parts of the brain independently interpret our experiences. It’s not the easiest book to read, but if you’re looking for something to challenge your self-sabotaging behaviour, to help you focus and move towards your goals, this may be it.
Patrick Lencioni – The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
Lencioni is one of the founders of The Table Group and is the pioneer of the organisational health movement. This easy-to-read book follows a fictional management team as they learn about the 5 dysfunctions that means a team is likely to fail. The 5 dysfunctions are interconnected and Lencioni explains how it’s possible to overcome each one. Spoiler alert, successful teams are based on trust.
Erin Meyer – The Culture Map
Meyer is a Professor of Organisational Behaviour at Insead and a best-selling author. I love this book. Using an 8-point framework, Meyer explains how cultures vary along the spectrum from one extreme to the other. It’s a must-read for anyone operating internationally. As you consider each example, you’ll find yourself saying “that’s why!”
Professor Lynda Gratton – The 100-Year Life: Living and Working in an Age of Longevity
Lynda is a Professor of Management Practice at London Business School. She is also acknowledged globally as one of the top influential business and HR thinkers. She’s written many great books and articles. This book is a particular favourite book of mine and explores the impact on governments, organisations, and individuals as we live longer.
Matthew Syed – Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking.
Syed is a best-selling author, thought leader, and consultant. This is an impactful and thought-provoking book that considers real-life examples of decision-making. By considering each issue through a diversity lens, Syed challenges the status quo and shows us how to be more collaborative and creative.
Herminia Ibarra – Working Identity
Ibarra is a Professor of Organisational Behaviour who has served at London Business School, Insead, and Harvard in her career. Working Identity is an engaging read and explains why changing roles/careers can affect people so profoundly. Ibarra suggests 8 unconventional strategies as to why people change careers and by doing so change their identities. She argues against the common premise that people know what they want to do and go and do it.
Nancy Kline – More Time to Think
Kline is the creator of The Thinking Environment and founder of Time to Think. In this book, Kline shares 10 effective ways to help you think with rigour and courage. Despite its simplicity, you’ll learn the mind works best in the presence of a question and that a key factor in the quality of a person’s thinking is how they are treated by the people with them while they are thinking, to the importance of appreciation and of facing what you have been denying.
Peter Zeihan – The Accidental Superpower and Disunited Nations.
One of the masters of geopolitics and an engaging speaker. Zeihan considers the macro environment post the Second World War, the ascendence of the USA, and how it will retain its strength due to its geography and size whereas other nations will fail. Disunited Nations consider the emerging shifts in competing powers and economic systems through Asia and Europe, who will succeed and who will fail.
Philip Houston, Michael Floyd, and Susan Carnicero – Spy the Lie
Three former CIA officers share their techniques for spotting a lie, using behaviour-based interviewing methods developed by the CIA to detect deception in counterterrorism and criminal investigations. This is a fascinating read which uses examples from their own careers. It’ll make you consider how you respond to others and what they are really telling you!
Simon Sinek – Start with Why
A leading visionary thinker, best-selling author, and inspirational thinker Sinek challenges businesses and leaders to inspire people to make the world a better place. In this book, Sinek explores business success and failures and summaries that true success comes from identifying your purpose and not focusing on the money. Caring about your people – employees, clients, etc can make a difference – and can earn your trust and loyalty which in turn helps companies change the world.
Scott Osman, Jacquelyn Lane, Marshall Goldsmith – Becoming Coachable
Three experts in the field of coaching and colleagues from the 100 Coaches Agency consider how to elevate the quality of leadership. This is a guidebook for leaders on how to embrace coaching to cultivate a flourishing professional and personal life and create value for shareholders.
Professor Steve Peters – The Chimp Paradox
Peters is a consultant psychiatrist specialising in the function of the mind. In this book, he explains how the rational and emotional parts of the brain independently interpret our experiences. It’s not the easiest book to read, but if you’re looking for something to challenge your self-sabotaging behaviour, to help you focus and move towards your goals, this may be it.
Patrick Lencioni – The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
Lencioni is one of the founders of The Table Group and is the pioneer of the organisational health movement. This easy-to-read book follows a fictional management team as they learn about the 5 dysfunctions that means a team is likely to fail. The 5 dysfunctions are interconnected and Lencioni explains how it’s possible to overcome each one. Spoiler alert, successful teams are based on trust.
Erin Meyer – The Culture Map
Meyer is a Professor of Organisational Behaviour at Insead and a best-selling author. I love this book. Using an 8-point framework, Meyer explains how cultures vary along the spectrum from one extreme to the other. It’s a must-read for anyone operating internationally. As you consider each example, you’ll find yourself saying “that’s why!”
Professor Lynda Gratton – The 100-Year Life: Living and Working in an Age of Longevity
Lynda is a Professor of Management Practice at London Business School. She is also acknowledged globally as one of the top influential business and HR thinkers. She’s written many great books and articles. This book is a particular favourite book of mine and explores the impact on governments, organisations, and individuals as we live longer.
Matthew Syed – Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking.
Syed is a best-selling author, thought leader, and consultant. This is an impactful and thought-provoking book that considers real-life examples of decision-making. By considering each issue through a diversity lens, Syed challenges the status quo and shows us how to be more collaborative and creative.
Herminia Ibarra – Working Identity
Ibarra is a Professor of Organisational Behaviour who has served at London Business School, Insead, and Harvard in her career. Working Identity is an engaging read and explains why changing roles/careers can affect people so profoundly. Ibarra suggests 8 unconventional strategies as to why people change careers and by doing so change their identities. She argues against the common premise that people know what they want to do and go and do it.
Nancy Kline – More Time to Think
Kline is the creator of The Thinking Environment and founder of Time to Think. In this book, Kline shares 10 effective ways to help you think with rigour and courage. Despite its simplicity, you’ll learn the mind works best in the presence of a question and that a key factor in the quality of a person’s thinking is how they are treated by the people with them while they are thinking, to the importance of appreciation and of facing what you have been denying.
Peter Zeihan – The Accidental Superpower and Disunited Nations.
One of the masters of geopolitics and an engaging speaker. Zeihan considers the macro environment post the Second World War, the ascendence of the USA, and how it will retain its strength due to its geography and size whereas other nations will fail. Disunited Nations consider the emerging shifts in competing powers and economic systems through Asia and Europe, who will succeed and who will fail.
Philip Houston, Michael Floyd, and Susan Carnicero – Spy the Lie
Three former CIA officers share their techniques for spotting a lie, using behaviour-based interviewing methods developed by the CIA to detect deception in counterterrorism and criminal investigations. This is a fascinating read which uses examples from their own careers. It’ll make you consider how you respond to others and what they are really telling you!
Simon Sinek – Start with Why
A leading visionary thinker, best-selling author, and inspirational thinker Sinek challenges businesses and leaders to inspire people to make the world a better place. In this book, Sinek explores business success and failures and summaries that true success comes from identifying your purpose and not focusing on the money. Caring about your people – employees, clients, etc can make a difference – and can earn your trust and loyalty which in turn helps companies change the world.
Scott Osman, Jacquelyn Lane, Marshall Goldsmith – Becoming Coachable
Three experts in the field of coaching and colleagues from the 100 Coaches Agency consider how to elevate the quality of leadership. This is a guidebook for leaders on how to embrace coaching to cultivate a flourishing professional and personal life and create value for shareholders.
Professor Steve Peters – The Chimp Paradox
Peters is a consultant psychiatrist specialising in the function of the mind. In this book, he explains how the rational and emotional parts of the brain independently interpret our experiences. It’s not the easiest book to read, but if you’re looking for something to challenge your self-sabotaging behaviour, to help you focus and move towards your goals, this may be it.
