Leaders are readers. Reading helps you discover ideas to try and expand your mental models. In this post, I point you to reviews of recent business books. You’ll find pointers to reviews of Secrets of Power Negotiating, The Burnout Epidemic: The Rise of Chronic Stress and How We Can Fix It, A Land As God Made It: Jamestown and the Birth of America, Nudge: The Final Edition: Improving Decisions About Money, Health, and the Environment, and The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward.

Plus, there’s Michael McKinney’s preview of leadership books coming out in March 2022.

From Skip Prichard: One Secret of Power Negotiating

“This is an excerpt from Secrets of Power Negotiating, 25th Anniversary Edition by Roger Dawson”

From Kevin Eikenberry: The Burnout Epidemic: The Rise of Chronic Stress and How We Can Fix It

“Burnout. Stress. These seem like a given in the world and the world of work today. If you haven’t experienced them, you are lucky (or in denial). Most would agree with the title of this book that burnout is an epidemic. But most think about it as an individual phenomenon. This wonderful book will convince you otherwise.”

From Ken Downer: Book Notes: “Chains of Command” in Jamestown

“Unity of command is crucial for the success of an organization, yet the colonists settling Jamestown seemed to be actually trying to make it hard on themselves. In fact, the colony nearly failed several times as a result of their strange approach to establishing leadership. Here’s what they did, and what we can learn from them so that our own teams are focused and productive.”

From Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein: Nudge: Preface to the Final Edition

“Very much in keeping with the book’s spirit, we were induced to emerge from our slumber by a seemingly small matter. The contracts for the American and British paperback editions had expired, and new ones had to be agreed upon. Editors asked whether we might want to add a new chapter or possibly make other changes. Our immediate reaction was to say no. After all, Thaler is famously lazy and Sunstein could have written an entirely new book in the time it would take to get the slow?fingered Thaler to agree to anything. Besides, we were proud of the book, and why mess with a good thing?”

From Daniel Pink: The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward

“Daniel Pink is the author seven books about business, work, creativity, and behavior, including the #1 New York Times bestsellers Drive and To Sell Is Human. He is also one of our curators here at the Next Big Idea Club. Below, Daniel shares 5 key insights from his new book, The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward.”

From Michael McKinney: First Look: Leadership Books for March 2022

“Here’s a look at some of the best leadership books to be released in March 2022. Be sure to check out the other great titles being offered this month.”

Reading recommendations are a regular feature of this blog. Want more recommendations about what to read? Monday is “Book Day.” Come back for book reviews, reading lists and other reading-related posts.