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 Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again, Leadership to Last: How Great Leaders Leave Legacies Behind, Promotions Are So Yesterday: Redefine Career Development. Help Employees Thrive, The Man Who Broke Capitalism: How Jack Welch Gutted the Heartland and Crushed the Soul of Corporate America—and How to Undo His Legacy, and The Upside of Uncertainty: A Guide to Finding Possibility in the Unknown. There’s also a link to Michael McKinney’s preview of leadership books scheduled for release in September 2022.

From Johann Hari: Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again

“Johann Hari is a writer and journalist. He has written for the New York Times, Le Monde, The Guardian, and other newspapers. His TED Talks have been viewed over 70 million times, and his work has been praised by a broad range of people, from Oprah Winfrey to Noam Chomsky to Joe Rogan. Below, Johann shares 5 key insights from his new book, Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again”

From HBS Working Knowledge: 5 Qualities That Help Companies Thrive for Decades—Even Centuries

“What makes a business resilient, agile, and enduring? Geoffrey Jones and Tarun Khanna analyze some of India’s most successful companies and offer lessons for leaders everywhere in their book Leadership to Last.”

From Skip Prichard: Redefine Career Development and Help Employees Thrive

“Continuing instability within the workforce (the Great Resignation that we hear about daily) has re-ignited the war for talent. Organizations and leaders everywhere are challenging themselves to find ways to engage and retain employees. Julie Winkle Giulioni offers a framework for doing just this in her new book, Promotions Are So Yesterday. I recently had a chance to connect with Julie and explore why – and how – we can redefine career development and help employees thrive.”

From David Leonhardt: The Jack Welch Effect

“His ruthlessness as General Electric’s C.E.O. was ultimately bad for the company, a new book argues.”

From McKinsey & Company: Into the Unknown

“In this edition of Author Talks, McKinsey Global Publishing’s Astrid Sandoval chats with Nathan Furr, an associate professor at INSEAD, and Susannah Harmon Furr, a designer, entrepreneur, and art historian, about their new book, The Upside of Uncertainty: A Guide to Finding Possibility in the Unknown.”

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

“HERE’S A LOOK at some of the best leadership books to be released in September 2022. Be sure to check out the other great titles being offered this month.”