Useful and inspirational at the same time, Claire’s book shares the lessons she learned in building business units at Google and as chief operating officer at Stripe, where she helped expand the company from 160 to 7,000 people. I couldn’t wait to test out some of her approaches on my own team, where they’re already making our processes more efficient.

The book is full of valuable lessons in thinking, decision-making, history and other topics gleaned from the author’s remarkable career experiences in dealing with uncertainty.

It’s about how power can be a force for good. We bought a copy for all the people leaders within Delta earlier this year so they could use the vital lessons to harness and grow their teams.

It’s an erudite view on what it is to be an emperor on an everyday basis and how citizens experience life in an empire. As always with Beard, clichés are crushed. She debunks some of the most common myths about the Roman emperors, and her insights are relevant to our understanding of power and leadership today.

We often read about AI, blockchain, tokenization, quantum computing and virtual reality as technologies that are innovative, disruptive and/or which contribute to human advancement. Beyond merely describing what each of these technologies can do in the economic and business sense, this book also considers the human aspect. The writers dwell on how such technologies can affect our lives and society. Also discussed are the question of ethics and what could happen if this technology were left unchecked.

Johnson breaks down the art of building and managing complex teams. The book really amounts to a textbook for leading organizations. Flip to any page, and you’ll find at least one practice that makes you a better manager.

Kissinger was in a unique position to have personally observed and interacted with all the major world leaders in the 20th and 21st century. Leadership is the most authoritative take on what makes great and most impactful leaders.

A compelling and insightful book that offers valuable leadership lessons from his own experiences of being an F-14 fighter pilot, a TopGun instructor and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Winnefeld emphasizes the importance of managing risk, adaptability, resilience in navigating challenging circumstances, tools for cultivating leadership, organizations and personal development. 

Luke is an amazing storyteller. The way he captured the love between a father and son, and the vivid pictures he created of his travels to faraway places to explore his search for self following his father’s death, moved me deeply. He’s an inspiring person to me.

Just an astonishing read from start to finish of a girlhood spent at sea with her family—full of disaster, near-death experiences and much humor, but ultimately the yearning and search for normality and an education. An epic adventure story that is all the most remarkable for being true.

I do a lot of work helping organizations see the imperative link between the strategic and performance goals of their business and having diverse and inclusive teams. In Chapter 17, James highlights the recipe to accomplish bold new things: being crystal clear with yourself and with others on what’s needed; traveling like geese in a flock, soaring on the momentum and encouragement of others; and upholding the shared obligation to help one another when struggling to maintain the formation. This deeply resonates with me because the leaders I see succeed don’t do it alone. Instead, it’s the full leadership team creating momentum at each level of the organization to build inclusive teams by providing support and upholding obligations. It’s a testament to how clarity and true community get the job done.

A remarkable memoir of one woman’s journey through addiction, the criminal justice system and motherhood. Addiction, drug use and its consequences are among the most challenging problems the country currently faces.

With relatable nostalgia, Rosen remembers his closest childhood friend, from their school-day dramas to their competitive aspirations and transition into adulthood. It’s more than a walk down memory lane, however; it’s also an attempt to understand the battle his best friend lost to mental illness. In addition to processing his own grief, Rosen describes the evolution of US policy decisions around mental illness, counts the human cost, and contributes to the debate society needs to have to build a sustainable, humanitarian future.

An uplifting and inspiring memoir from a Black woman, born in harsh conditions but surrounded by loving family and friends, who’d become one of the most influential leaders in American higher education. The story of Ruth Simmons provides hope for a better future and reminds us of the powerful importance of educators and education for so many.

The Coming Wave gives an urgent warning of the unprecedented risks that AI and other fast-developing technologies pose to the global order. The banking industry should contain the risks while benefiting from this new technology’s productivity gains.

By far the best book I have read on how to live a healthier, happier life. Peter explains how you can maximize your “health span”—that is, maximizing your healthy life span.

As Greenland melts, Australia burns, and greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, we think we know who the villains are. But what if the real blocks to progress are the ideas and institutions that are supposed to be helping us? Five Times Faster is an inside story from Simon Sharpe, whose work in the UK’s energy department and foreign office convinced him it was too simplistic to blame oil companies or short-termist politicians alone for slow progress. In our fight to avoid dangerous climate change, science is pulling its punches, diplomacy is picking the wrong battles, and economics has been fighting for the other side. This provocative and engaging book sets out how we should rethink our strategies.

I’ve read a lot of things about AI and biotech this year, and this was the best of them. Suleyman is not just brilliant, and historically thoughtful, but he also shares some thought-provoking ideas about what we as leaders and society can do to prepare. Whether or not you agree with his take, it’s essential to be thinking about the questions he raises. 

Peter Attia is someone I trust with information and insights, so I was really happy when this book came out. It’s a thorough guide to health and longevity, going through boosting all different qualities of life that are important—physical, emotional, mental, relational and spiritual health. For anyone who wants to live a healthier and more alive life, this is the book for you.

Dr. Hyman is one of the world’s leading functional medical doctors who speaks to reversing disease, easing pain and living younger longer. This is an important read for those interested in wellness and longevity specifically.

Microchips have become more than the new oil—they’ve become absolutely vital to everything we do in the modern world. The countries that control this resource wield immense power over all of us. It’s a riveting read and a real eye-opener as to how political power of the future is going to be dominated by those with the most advanced chip technology.

Amid the buzz surrounding AI, quantum and digital assets, my curiosity led me to a different realm—bridging the financial gap for the growing elderly population. Macroeconomist Roy delves deep into the intricate relationship between population characteristics and economic outcomes, challenging prevailing perspectives that often neglect the importance of demographics in macroeconomics. Demographic factors—age structure, gender distribution, education levels, migration patterns—significantly shape economic trends and future scenarios. Roy focuses on people’s behavior and characteristics, shaping the world regarding responses to technology, climate, health, retirement and insurance.

As someone who’s worked in finance for almost 20 years, I’ve never thought of myself as a creator or an artist, but this book made me realize that creativity can take on so many different forms. It's more about the lens we see the world through than it is about being labeled as an artist. The book begins with a concept that bent the way I think about work: Every idea has its own timeline, and when that idea’s time has come, it will be revealed in one way or another. By one creator or another. Starting from that vantage point, you begin to see things differently. This book removes our conventional definitions and gives us permission to color outside the lines we’ve drawn.

This anthology is my current “happy place.” There are love letters from celebrated Black writers, creators and thinkers (including Brontez Purnell, Morgan Jerkins, Bill Whitaker and Dr. Imani Perry) that are quick and easy to read and leave me uplifted and energized. I read a different one each day, and some several times.

“If I knew where the good songs came from, I’d go there more often,” the musician Leonard Cohen famously said. Now we have a clever compass for “how to have more good ideas.” Read draws an arc from the era of Blombos carvings in South Africa 70,000 years ago to an AI-dominant future where human originality will need to thrive to survive. Taking us on an exciting journey, from the Romans to Rihanna, he offers gems of insight and key learnings of some of humanity’s greatest thinkers and creators. This literary debut provides an essential workout guide for the muscle that’s most defined human civilization—the brain.

I was so pleased to find this book as an artistic expression that’s been a staple of Miraval programming since its inception. Magsamen and Ross offer a research-based case for the benefits art offers each of us, from building cognitive skills to reductions in cortisol—and our overall longevity.  

The book introduces the history of ancient Chinese art, weaving in various perspectives with conversational language and adopting a Western-readers-friendly mindset. The author’s familiarity with Chinese culture offers us a glimpse into the larger reality with the small topics, connecting the past and present, and the East and West.

I read The Creative Act during a time of transformation for my business. When we took the leap to reopen our restaurant post-pandemic with a fully plant-based menu, it started from a creative place before anything else. Plant-based cuisine has existed throughout time globally, and our creative direction was a channel, not a source, for an idea to spark change. Rubin talks about the concept of being a channel for an idea, rather than the sole source of an idea, to take the pressure off creating—and how, if we tap into the instinctive inclinations and creativity we all have, it can lead to greater fulfillment both personally and professionally.

Its powerful blend of culinary innovation and cultural significance seamlessly fused the artistry of food with a profound exploration of Black history and empowerment. It’s not just a collection of recipes but a celebration of heritage, a testament to the transformative power of food, and a catalyst for meaningful conversations about identity and community.

Richard Hamming is one of my personal heroes, and I’ve always found inspiration in his persistent and urgent question: “What are the most important problems in your field?” Hamming insists that one should strive for extraordinary work, and for that he offers detailed advice. Specifically, a way of thinking that makes significant scientific discoveries inevitable.

This biography covers the extraordinary life and work of the late Austrian artist Maria Lassnig, who was a student in Vienna under National Socialist rule, then spent the postwar years in Paris, New York and Berlin before finally settling back in Vienna. I love learning about the context behind her sensitive, witty and seductive portraits of her body, sometimes fused with animals, aliens or machinery, and always a depiction of how her body felt rather than how it appeared.

Devlin’s installations are the Schrödinger’s cats of stage design: Experiencing them, especially together with other people, warps our perceptions of reality and puts us right inside the world of her mind.

Claire Keegan’s newest book is a collection of three poignant short stories, each addressing the power dynamic between men and women. She creates vivid characters who shed light not only on the complexity of gender issues but also on the hopes and despair of being human. 

Following up on her first successful thriller, and featuring the memorable protagonist Avery Keene, this book is an absolutely riveting, suspense-filled journey that challenges the mind with daring plot twists and turns. It equally compels us to think about the implications of law on our global, technologically driven society during tense moments in time.

I thought it was Boyd at his best. I could not put it down once I started. It was totally entertaining and the best Boyd I’ve read in years—loved the lead character, Cashel, and the full scope of his life.

There are very few moments in life when I look back and say to myself, “What would have happened if I had said it differently?” Most of the time I prefer living in the present. Then came this book, which made me wonder what moment I would like to go back to and what effect it could have on my life. Kawaguchi’s storytelling captures love and the essence of farewells in a way that feels incredibly personal and real. 

Hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time, it brings to the forefront contemporary culture and issues overlooked by society—including foster care, child labor and addiction.

A beautiful yet brutal story about a world so different than mine yet so close to my heart. Young Mungo is a ripping love story that can send tremors through people’s hearts, just like it did to mine.

I have a natural inclination to read nonfiction, but this is now part of my collection of books that I must read more than once. Hernan Diaz keeps the reader engaged by playfully architecting individual and collective narratives of power, love and the meaning of financial success.

Violeta is a remarkable tale, weaving a century of history through the life of author Violeta Del Valle. Its vivid portrayal of endurance through pandemics, political chaos and personal trials is deeply moving. This book masterfully captures the resilience of the human spirit against the backdrop of South America’s turbulent 20th century, making it a compelling and unforgettable read.

This novel describes the confusion and ambiguity of feelings when a woman in her 50s, in love with her husband, meets up with her childhood friend. It shows the fragility of even the most established situations.

In Le Mage du Kremlin (The Wizard of the Kremlin), the main character, Vadim Baranov, thinks three moves ahead with a dash of clairvoyance as he accompanies Vladimir Putin’s ascendancy. In real life, Germany’s growing reliance on Russian gas post-2013 highlights that such foresight is a rare attribute. This mirrors the demands of the business world, where foresight and adaptability are essential. In our era, marked by rapid advancements in AI and significant demographic shifts, corporate boards should seek individuals with Baranov-esque qualities—minus the lack of moral grounding.

I normally only read fiction, but I make an exception whenever Michael Lewis releases a new book. He has the ability to take complex issues and make them not just understandable but also highly entertaining. The extraordinary tale of Sam Bankman-Fried’s meteoric rise and fall is brilliantly handled, not just the murky world of crypto but some of the motivations behind Bankman-Fried’s empire building.

Although he’s made both controversy and progress, Elon Musk is an entrepreneur I admire because of his focus on the details, combined with his unlimited ambition for growth. Like him, I come from the emerging markets, where you’re forced to think differently, adapt and find new ways to grow. Isaacson gives a very detailed account of Musk’s challenging roots that made him force his way forward. The way he created business ventures that were disruptive in technology, but simple to the end user, is inspiring for many people out there who want to make their own path.

Taming the Street is an incredibly researched and beautifully written reflection on one of Washington’s most powerful agencies—the Securities and Exchange Commission. Given the regulatory clarity impasse that the digital asset industry is facing because of the current SEC, this book provides the history of how the agency was formed and helps us better understand how we got to where we are today and where we might be headed in the future.

An exhaustive look at New York City’s incredible transformation, shepherded by Dan Doctoroff, deputy mayor for economic development and rebuilding in the Bloomberg administration. With hundreds of photos and essays from people who worked closely with Dan, the book shows how large-scale change can be accomplished in cities, bringing the public and private sectors together to leave a lasting built legacy. Many of Doctoroff’s projects emerged from New York’s Olympic bid, showing that even defeat can be a powerful catalyst for change. The book gives an insider’s perspective on how the High Line, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Governors Island and many more have shaped our city—and inspires readers to dream big and deliver results. (Doctoroff is former CEO of Bloomberg LP.)

The brilliance of Gage’s work is both in her commitment to amassing enormous amounts of primary data—and in her restraint. At the end, we must see J. Edgar Hoover’s malevolence, but in a balanced way, and we can almost understand how it all emerged.

Without a deep and shared understanding of our history, it’s impossible to effectively navigate our present and make decisions to get to the future we want. Anyone who has interest in doing the work to keep the US an active democracy should absolutely read this book.

A vivid story of inequality, race and injustice against the historical backdrop of the Great Migration, optimism and perceived opportunity. Although the book happens to hit incredibly close to my own home (Dawidoff focuses on a New Haven neighborhood just steps away from Yale University), it’s an all-too-common story of inequity that exists in plain sight. Defining the problem is an important first step toward progress.

I always recommend this book to anyone working in technology. It’s incredibly informative and explores climate change and why we must act now. It explains how innovation stopped in the 1970s and what we need to change to build a more prosperous society in the future. 

On college campuses today, we’re educating the most diverse and arguably most liberal generation in American history, a cohort who grew up thinking themselves secure in the many individual rights granted by the Supreme Court over the last half-century. But in the last two terms, the court’s conservative majority has overturned several long-established precedents these young people thought inviolate. Managing this disconnect will become an increasing challenge not just for campus leaders but for society. Waldman offers an impassioned and comprehensive account of how we got here—and suggests the court may now be sowing the seeds of a backlash.

Engaging and inspiring tales of how a number of women lawyers fought back against the many attempted injustices of the Trump administration. These stories reaffirm the importance of the many courageous and principled stalwarts of our constitutional framework. It’s a stirring affirmation of all that’s right about America.

This book about Black Americans’ heroism during World War II amid a segregated military and country at home confronts uncomfortable truths and highlights crucial, previously unsung contributions. A more complete history of such well-known events honors these service members for their help in winning the war, and for the second battle they waged at home—a fight for civil rights.

While the ongoing impacts of systemic, institutionalized racism and discrimination on marginalized communities are painfully evident, not enough time is devoted to understanding that we all suffer the consequences as a society. McGhee compellingly describes how zero-sum thinking—the belief that resources must be denied to some for others to prosper—is both deeply flawed and at the root of the extreme polarization that’s come to dominate our nation. Thankfully she also provides the way forward, what she refers to as the “Solidarity Dividend,” reminding us that when we come together and unite around our shared humanity, we can accomplish the improbable and raise up every American in the process.

The Perfection Trap is a really important book. It talks about our insecurity about what we don’t have, how we don’t look and what we haven’t achieved. The deeper we fall into our culture’s perfection trap, the more perfectionism will drain the life from our lives. 

In a society where we’ve become increasingly obsessed with the definitions of “success” and the accompanying ideas of potential and promise, this book offers a much-needed alternative take on the path to delivering greatness. It opens the door for anyone—not just the anointed geniuses and “chosen few” among us—to achieve in abundance and find great success in their endeavors.

Even though my kids are now teenagers, a fun and uplifting read at any age is Stephen Curry’s children’s book. I believe it all starts with sports: Sports can empower all of us to achieve excellence in every aspect of our life. Stephen is dedicated to promoting literacy, both as an involved father of three and through his Eat.Learn.Play Foundation. He’s not only an amazing athlete but also an inspiration in how he uplifts those who are underrated, which shines through in his writing.

A fascinating look at how the world’s greatest investors successfully built world-class businesses and created great wealth. (Rubenstein hosts a Bloomberg Television show, during which he interviews business titans.)

Being genuinely confident is often easier said than done. Self-doubt and second-guessing can happen to anyone in daily life or at work. Drawing from various sources, including relatable personal anecdotes, philosophy and psychology, the writing provides us with practical strategies and valuable guidance on how to embrace the true self and define success on one’s own terms.

You might think you know hospitality, but nothing will prepare you for the intentional and creative lengths that Will Guidara and team will go to build a special bond with their customers. In this excellent book, Guidara describes a compelling journey that intertwines innovative customer service, the importance of creating memorable moments and the art of making each customer feel uniquely valued. Even in an increasingly digital world, you can never understate the importance of providing your customers with the highest level of personal attention and care.

Never Enough would clearly be the book I’d put forward for 2023. Jennifer addresses a foundational issue we have today in parenting. The pressure we place on our kids relative to achievement, from academics to sports, is certainly contributing to what’s referred to in universities as “an epidemic of anguish.” We all need to reflect on how we embrace this profound responsibility of allowing our children to live lives of meaning and purpose.

Edmondson provides an insightful, sensitive and sensible guide that has transformational thinking about failure. The key that this book offers is how to replace shame and blame with curiosity, vulnerability and personal growth to achieve professional success.