Resilient Management

by Lara Hogan

It has a very good toolset for first time EM’s, or for anyone that wants to review some proven ways of working. It is structured in 5 chapters (“Meet your team”, “Grow your teammates”, “Set clear expectations”, “Communicate Effectively” and “Build resiliency”), and it’s full of good tips, with a human-centric approach. Very useful for these turbulent times!

Brave New Work

by Aaron Dignan

An exploration of alternative ways of organizing companies - focusing on how to create more adaptive and human organizations in the face of complexity and uncertainty. Dignan argues that the traditional way of working based on hierarchy, bureaucracy and control is outdated and ineffective. Instead, it proposes a new operating system (OS) for work that is based on principles such as autonomy, experimentation, transparency and purpose. It has good practical tools and examples to help with transformation - and specific industry examples (like Gore)

Thinking in Systems: A Primer

by Donella Meadows

Very good introduction to systems thinking, which is a way of understanding how the interconnected parts of a system function together. It covers topics such as feedback loops, stocks and flows, and system dynamics, and provides practical examples of how systems thinking can be applied to complex problems in various fields.

Cracking the Coding Interview

by Gayle Laakman McDowell

Really good guide to prepare for and succeed in technical interviews. It is really useful to gain confidence on technical interviews. The book includes a collection of practice problems and solutions, and is based on McDowell’s experience as a hiring manager and technical interviewer.

Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant

by W. Chan Kim

A guide on how to create new markets, and compete in new areas without competition; instead of fighting for market share growth in crowded markets. I liked how it could result counter-intuitive, but sometimes it’s best to avoid competition at all, and find a market that is underserved (blue ocean), instead of starting a fight in a proven, competed one (red ocean).

Continuous Discovery Habits: Discover Products that Create Customer Value and Business Value

by Teresa Torres

I saw a presentation by Teresa Torres defending the product discovery, and introducing the concept of the “product trio” (tech + product + design), and got the book right away. It is a practical guide for product teams on how to build a culture of continuous discovery and use data to drive decision-making.

Crossing the Chasm

by Geoffrey A. Moore

The book focuses on how to navigate the “chasm” between early adopters and mainstream customers and achieve mass market success; and how it’s key to succeed after a promising beginning with the most passionate (and forgiving) piece of the market.

Escaping the Build Trap: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Products

by Melissa Perri

A guide for organizations on how to avoid the “build trap” of constantly adding more features to their products and focus on delivering value to customers. It includes how to prioritize and validate product ideas, how to build and measure product outcomes, and how to create an organizational culture that is focused on delivering value to customers. It has quite some practical tips.

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't

by Jim Collins

Guide for businesses on how to become great by focusing on the right goals, assembling the right team, and making the right decisions. The book presents the results of a research study that identified a set of companies that made the transition from good to great and identifies the key factors that contributed to their success. Collins provides practical guidance and strategies for businesses looking to make the transition from good to great, including how to set the right goals, how to assemble the right team, and how to make the right decisions.

Loonshots: How to Nurture the Crazy Ideas That Win Wars, Cure Diseases, and Transform Industries

by Safi Bahcall

Its main topic is innovation, covering related topics including how to encourage risk-taking and creativity, how to identify and support promising ideas, and how to create an organizational culture that is conducive to innovation. Bahcall uses examples from a variety of fields, including science, technology, and business, to demonstrate how organizations can foster and support innovation at different stages of development. The book offers practical strategies and insights for organizations looking to foster a culture of innovation and turn promising ideas into successful ventures.

Measure What Matters: How Google, Bono, and the Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKRs

by John Doerr

I started using OKR’s because they were in place - as many of us. Reading the book from John Doerr, it’s creator - helped me get a more clear background on the intention of the framework, and how good and bad OKR’s look like. It has some quite useful and relatable examples, and while thee framework itself is not a silver bullet, there are many good parts that can be taken - especially as a tool to reflect on big goals that will push you forward, and how to “divide and conquer” a large objective.

No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention

by Reed Hasting

Based on Netflix’s story - the book gets deeper into the culture of the company, focusing on the freedom and responsibility, with the gains on high performance, innovation and growth. For that, it explains how to set clear expectations and hold people accountable, and how to foster a sense of purpose and meaning in work. It gives very useful context on some concepts that have been popularized by Netlix, such as talent density, the keeper test, or their approach for paying “top of the market”. Very well told - and while you can’t just copy-paste a company culture, it serves a lot to see the reflection that lead to it.

Principles: Life and Work

by Ray Dalio

Guide for individuals and organizations on how to achieve success by following a set of principles and practices that Dalio has developed over his career. The book covers a wide range of topics, including how to set and achieve goals, how to make better decisions, and how to build and lead effective teams. Dalio provides practical guidance and strategies for individuals and organizations looking to achieve success by following a set of guiding principles

The Hard Thing about Hard Things

by Ben Horowitz

Guide for leaders on how to navigate and overcome challenges in business. The book covers a wide range of topics related to leadership and management, including how to make difficult decisions, how to hire and develop great teams, and how to build and scale a successful company. It’s quite straightforward, and written in a direct and easy going way.

The Lean Product Playbook

by Dan Olsen

Guide for product teams on how to build and launch successful products using the principles of lean startup. The book covers a range of topics related to product development and management, including how to validate product ideas, how to build and measure product outcomes, and how to optimize product performance. Olsen provides practical strategies and tools for product teams looking to apply the lean startup framework to their work, and offers a step-by-step guide for building and launching successful products

Trillion Dollar Coach: The Leadership Playbook of Silicon Valley's Bill Campbell

by Eric Schmidt lan Eagle Jonathan Rosenberg

It tells the career and management philosophy of Bill Campbell, a well-respected coach and advisor to many of Silicon Valley’s most successful tech companies. He worked and deeply influenced companies like Apple, Google, and Amazon, helping achieve significant growth and success. The book is based on interviews with Campbell and with the many executives and entrepreneurs who worked with him, and offers insights into how his coaching and mentorship helped shape the culture and strategies of some of the most successful tech companies in the world.

Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future

by Peter Thiel

A guide for entrepreneurs on how to create and grow successful startups. It’s mainly related with entrepreneurship, including how to identify and pursue unique business opportunities, how to build and scale a successful company, and how to overcome common challenges faced by startups. It’s based on the notes from a class that Thiel gave - so it’s very practical and to the point.

Clarity First: How Smart Leaders and Organizations Achieve Outstanding Performance

by Karen Martin

A guide for leaders on how to achieve outstanding performance through clarity and focus.

Extreme Ownership

by Jocko Willink

A leadership guide that teaches the importance of taking responsibility and accountability for everything that goes on in an organization.

Never split the difference

by Chris Boss

A negotiation guide that teaches strategies for reaching mutually beneficial agreements.

Spark: How to Lead Yourself and Others to Greater Success

by Angie Morgan

A guide for leaders on how to motivate and inspire themselves and others to achieve success.

The Art of Leadership: Small Things, Done Well

by Michael Lopp

A leadership guide that teaches the importance of focusing on small things done well in order to drive results.

The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever

by Michael Bungay Stanier

A guide for leaders on how to coach their team members effectively by asking more questions and giving less advice.

Turn the Ship Around

by L. David Marquet

A leadership guide that teaches the importance of empowering team members and fostering a culture of accountability, told from the real story of a navy officer that gets the responsibility of a dysfunctional submarine. It introduced me to the concept of leader-leader, and how empowerment can be used as a force for transformation and collective ownership and accountability.

Flex: Reinventing work for a smarter, happier life

by Annie Auerbach

A guide for individuals and organizations on how to create a smarter, happier work life through flexibility and work-life balance.

It doesn't have to be crazy at work

by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson

A guide for organizations on how to create a healthy and productive work culture. It rejects the “Silicon Valley” status quo and default ways of doing things, advocating for a more sane and people-centric approach.

Rework

by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson

A guide for entrepreneurs and small businesses on how to be more productive and efficient.

The Best Place to Work: The Art and Science of Creating an Extraordinary Workplace

by Ron Friedman

Guide for leaders on how to create a positive and productive workplace culture. The book covers a wide range of topics, including how to foster collaboration, how to create a positive work environment, how to motivate and retain top talent, and how to encourage innovation and creativity. Friedman draws on research from the fields of psychology, sociology, and neuroscience to provide practical strategies for creating a workplace that is engaging, rewarding, and fulfilling for employees.

Hit Refresh: The Quest to Rediscover Microsoft's Soul and Imagine a Better Future for Everyone

by Satya Nadella

Satya Nadella’s story is refreshing. This autobiography tell the story of how he got to the CEO position, with the setbacks on the path, how he convinced the ranks until getting to the CEO position, and his vision for the future of technology and the role it can play in improving people’s lives.

Shoe Dog

by Phil Knight

The story of Nike’s founder and his journey building the company from a small start-up to a global brand. It’s written with a focus on storytelling, making it very easy to read, and enjoying the ups and downs - especially in the beginning as the company was really small and had to default to creativity to make things happen.

Algorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Human Decisions

by Brian Christian

It explores the ways in which computer science concepts can be applied to everyday life to help us make better decisions. The book covers a range of topics, including how to optimize for efficiency and effectiveness, how to balance exploration and exploitation, and how to make decisions under uncertainty. The authors draw on a variety of examples from computer science, psychology, and economics to illustrate how these concepts can be applied to real-world situations. The book offers practical insights and strategies for anyone looking to improve their decision-making skills.

Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

by Cal Newport

The book dives into the importance of focus and concentration in today’s fast-paced, always-connected world. The book argues that the ability to do deep work – defined as the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task – is becoming increasingly rare and valuable in today’s economy. The book offers practical strategies and tips for cultivating the ability to do deep work, including how to establish clear goals and priorities, how to eliminate distractions, and how to build habits that support deep work. The book is aimed at anyone looking to improve their productivity and achieve success in a world that is constantly vying for their attention.

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

by Greg McKeown

The book focuses in the idea of living a more focused, intentional life by eliminating unnecessary distractions and commitments. It argues that we often spread ourselves too thin and waste time and energy on things that are not essential to our goals and values. The book offers practical strategies for practicing essentialism, including how to identify and prioritize your most important goals, how to eliminate distractions and unnecessary commitments, and how to stay true to your values and priorities. The book is aimed at anyone looking to simplify their life and focus on what is truly important to them.

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

by Angela Duckworth

Grit is defined as the ability to persevere in the face of challenges and setbacks. The book centers on it, and its role in personal success. The book argues that grit is a more important predictor of success than talent or intelligence, and offers practical strategies for cultivating grit in oneself and in others. It offers insights into how grit can be developed and sustained over time.

Meditations

by Marcus Aurelius

It is a collection of personal writings by the Roman Emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius. The writings are in the form of short reflections and meditations on a wide range of topics, including ethics, philosophy, and Stoicism. The book served as a strong influence in my personal view of the world, and my personal philosophy on life.

Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know Hardcover

by Adam Grant

The book explores the importance of intellectual curiosity and openness to new ideas in today’s fast-paced, constantly changing world. The book argues that we often fall into the trap of overconfidence and close-mindedness, and that cultivating a willingness to challenge our own beliefs and assumptions is essential for success. The book offers practical strategies for developing intellectual curiosity and staying open to new ideas, and is based on Grant’s research in psychology and management.

Why Buddhism Is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment

by Robert Wright

It explores the intersection of Buddhism and modern science, and argues that many of the insights of Buddhism are supported by scientific evidence. It covers topics like mindfulness, happiness, and the nature of the self, and offers practical strategies for incorporating Buddhist practices into one’s life.

Everything is Fucked: A Book about hope

by Mark Manson

The world is not as broken as it seems :-)

Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow

by Yuval Noah Harari

A look at the future of humanity and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Platform Revolution: Platform Revolution: How Networked Markets Are Transforming the Economy―and How to Make Them Work for You

by Geoffrey G. Parker

A look at how networked markets are transforming the economy and how businesses can leverage them to their advantage.

Rule Makers, Rule Breakers: how Tight and Loose Cultures Wire Our World

by Michele Gelfand

A look at how cultural differences shape behavior and how they can be understood and managed.

The Industries of the Future

by Alec Ross

A look at the technological and economic trends that will shape the future and the opportunities they will create.

What We Owe the Future Hardcover

by William MacAskill

It explores the ethical questions surrounding the future and our responsibility to shape it. It covers a wide range of topics, including global poverty, the environment, artificial intelligence, and existential risks. MacAskill presents an interesting examination of the moral challenges that we face as a society and the choices that we must make in order to create a better future. He argues that we have a moral obligation to consider the long-term consequences of our actions and to take steps to ensure that the future is as good as it can be.

Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance

by Alex Hutchinson

It explores the limits of human performance and the factors that influence it. The book covers a many topics, including exercise, nutrition, genetics, psychology, and neuroscience, and it examines the latest research on how the body and mind respond to physical and mental challenges. I like the exploration on ways in which body and mind can be pushed to extremes, and how to optimize human performance.

Pro Cycling on $10 a Day: From Fat Kid to Euro Pro

by Phil Gaimon

Gaimon’s journey from being a “fat kid” to becoming a pro cyclist in Europe. He shares his struggles and triumphs as he navigates the cutthroat world of professional cycling, and offers insights into the hard work, determination, and sacrifice that it takes to succeed in this demanding sport It’s written in a very close and funny way - and gives insights on how doping affected to the clean professionals.

Engineering Management for the Rest of Us

by Sarah Drasner

Recommended by my colleague Bruno

Let My People Go Surfing - The Education of a Reluctant Businessman

by Yvon Chouinard

Recommended by my colleague Anton - a biography of Patagonia’s founder.

The Infinite Game

by Simon Sinek

Recommended by my colleague Tobi.