The best 100 Work Culture books

Work culture plays a pivotal role in shaping the daily experiences and effectiveness of individuals within an organization. Understanding the dynamics of work culture is essential for fostering a positive environment and maximizing productivity. That's why we've compiled a diverse selection of books on work culture to provide a comprehensive insight into this crucial aspect of professional life.

Dive into our collection to gain valuable strategies and perspectives for cultivating a thriving work culture. Ready to elevate your workplace dynamics and enhance your organizational success? Start exploring these insightful titles now!

The best 100 Work Culture books
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1
Work Culture Books: ReWork by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson

ReWork

Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson
4.5 (280 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's ReWork about?

Rework (2010) throws out the traditional notions of what it takes to run a business and offers a collection of unorthodox advice, ranging from productivity to communication and product development.

These lessons are based on the authors’ own experiences in building, running and growing their company to a point where it generates millions of dollars in profits annually.

Who should read ReWork?

  • Anyone who has ever considered starting their own company
  • Anyone interested in what work should be like in the 21st century
  • Anyone trying to create an environment of productivity

2
Work Culture Books: Scaling Up Excellence by Robert I. Sutton and Huggy Rao

Scaling Up Excellence

Robert I. Sutton and Huggy Rao
Getting to More Without Settling for Less
4.2 (56 ratings)
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00:00

What's Scaling Up Excellence about?

Scaling Up Excellence is the first major business publication that deals with how leaders can effectively spread exemplary practices in their organization. Readers can expect to learn about the latest research in the organizational behavior field, lots of instructive industry case studies, and many helpful practices, strategies and principles for scaling up.

The authors help leaders and managers understand major scaling challenges and show how to identify excellent niches, spread them and cultivate the right mindset within their organizations. They also set out scaling principles that guide leaders in their daily decisions.

Who should read Scaling Up Excellence?

  • Leaders and managers seeking to improve the performance of their organization
  • Anyone who wants to know how to spread best practices in an organization
  • Anyone interested in cutting-edge organizational research

3
Work Culture Books: Tribal Leadership by Dave Logan, John King and Halee Fischer-Wright

Tribal Leadership

Dave Logan, John King and Halee Fischer-Wright
Leveraging Natural Groups to Build a Thriving Organization
4.2 (68 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Tribal Leadership about?

This book explains how members of the same workplace function together as a tribe. Each tribe has a culture that determines its productivity, and there are five distinct stages of tribal culture. Tribal Leadership will show how you, as the “tribal leader,” can guide your tribe to higher levels, resulting in a healthier and more productive work environment.

Who should read Tribal Leadership?

  • CEOs and managers
  • Anyone who wants to guide their workplace to greater success
  • Anyone who want to emerge as a tribal leader

4
Work Culture Books: How to Be a Positive Leader by Jane E. Dutton & Gretchen M. Spreitzer

How to Be a Positive Leader

Jane E. Dutton & Gretchen M. Spreitzer
Small Actions, Big Impact
4.1 (123 ratings)
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00:00

What's How to Be a Positive Leader about?

How to Be a Positive Leader examines cutting-edge research from the field of positive organizational behavior, in which companies aim to foster both a positive attitude to work and high performance among employees. The research is complemented with vivid examples from real organizations.

Who should read How to Be a Positive Leader?

  • Anyone interested in the concept of happiness at work
  • Leaders who want to build thriving, successful organizations
  • Employees who want to be happier and more productive

5
Work Culture Books: The Best Place to Work by Ron Friedman

The Best Place to Work

Ron Friedman
The Art and Science of Creating an Extraordinary Workplace
3.7 (40 ratings)
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00:00

What's The Best Place to Work about?

If you want to design the best possible workplace, improve employee satisfaction and ultimately motivate your staff to deliver better results, look no further. The Best Place to Work will guide you through the process of improving your working environment, leading to more enthusiastic and productive employees.

Who should read The Best Place to Work?

  • Anyone who’s interested in workplace design
  • Anyone who’s concerned about employee satisfaction
  • Managers who want to improve productivity

6
Work Culture Books: Reinventing Organizations by Frederic Laloux

Reinventing Organizations

Frederic Laloux
A Guide to Creating Organizations Inspired by the Next Stage of Human Consciousness
4.4 (166 ratings)
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00:00

What's Reinventing Organizations about?

Reinventing Organizations discusses why companies around the world are getting rid of bosses, introducing flat hierarchies and pursuing purpose over profit. And ultimately, by adopting a non-hierarchical model, these organizations thrive.

Who should read Reinventing Organizations?

  • Anyone studying leadership or management
  • Employees and managers fed up with hierarchical organizations
  • CEOs who want to change and modernize their company

7
Work Culture Books: The 4 Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, Jim Huling

The 4 Disciplines of Execution

Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, Jim Huling
Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals
4.4 (268 ratings)
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00:00

What's The 4 Disciplines of Execution about?

The 4 Disciplines of Execution (2012) is a manual for CEOs and managers, showing leaders how to execute their strategic goals by getting their staff to behave differently. By introducing the four disciplines of execution, you’ll help motivate your team to achieve broader company goals.

Who should read The 4 Disciplines of Execution?

  • CEOs, managers and company leaders who want to execute their strategic goals
  • Students of economics and management
  • Anyone who wants to see their organization achieve its goals

8
Work Culture Books: Change the Culture, Change the Game by Roger Connors and Tom Smith

Change the Culture, Change the Game

Roger Connors and Tom Smith
The Breakthrough Strategy For Energizing Your Organization and Creating Accountability For Results
4.2 (217 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Change the Culture, Change the Game about?

Change The Culture, Change The Game (2012) demonstrates how to implement a culture of accountability within your organization. You’ll discover how to help encourage a shift in thinking to get the game-changing results you want and explore the steps needed to sustain such changes.

Who should read Change the Culture, Change the Game?

  • Anyone interested in managing change
  • Anyone wanting to change their organization’s culture

9
Work Culture Books: The Culture Engine by S. Chris Edmonds

The Culture Engine

S. Chris Edmonds
A Framework for Driving Results, Inspiring Your Employees, and Transforming Your Workplace
3.9 (57 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Culture Engine about?

The Culture Engine (2014) is a guide to creating an inspirational workplace by revolutionizing the culture of your organization. These blinks will walk you through the process of designing, implementing and managing an organizational constitution to guide and transform any group.

Who should read The Culture Engine?

  • CEOs who want to revolutionize their company culture
  • Leaders looking to inspire their teams
  • Organizations that want to transform their approach to work

10
Work Culture Books: The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle

The Culture Code

Daniel Coyle
The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups
4.4 (320 ratings)
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00:00

What's The Culture Code about?

Daniel Coyle’s The Culture Code (2018) digs into the findings of psychologists, organizational behavior theorists and his own firsthand knowledge of the contemporary business world to provide answers. What makes a group tick? Why do some teams outperform other seemingly evenly matched competitors? As well-researched as it is practical, this study of group dynamics is packed full of illuminating ideas and considered, hands-on advice about getting the best performance out of groups.

Who should read The Culture Code?

  • Managers and executives looking to hone their leadership skills
  • Employees of large organizations curious about the group dynamics around them
  • Members of sports teams interested in boosting their on-field performance

11
Work Culture Books: It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson

It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work

Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson
4.0 (233 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work about?

It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work (2019) is a refreshing antidote to dysfunctional work culture. Drawing on real-world examples from the authors’ successful software company, these blinks shine a light on how we can say goodbye to habitual workplace stress and become calm, focused and efficient.

Who should read It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work?

  • High achievers longing for a better work-life balance
  • Managers looking for a fresh perspective
  • Entrepreneurs trying to de-stress

12
Work Culture Books: The Fearless Organization by Amy C. Edmondson

The Fearless Organization

Amy C. Edmondson
Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth
4.5 (412 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Fearless Organization about?

The Fearless Organization (2018) delves into psychological safety and how the workplace can become an environment in which everyone feels confident enough to pitch in and do their best. These blinks explain why people hold back on sharing their ideas at work, how this harms businesses, and how leaders can encourage a culture of openness, questioning, and experimentation that leads to learning and innovation. 

Who should read The Fearless Organization?

  • Forward-thinking leaders who want to encourage innovation and learning
  • Human resources managers looking to get the most out of their talent
  • Team players interested in creating a supportive workplace

13
Work Culture Books: The Fifth Discipline by Peter M. Senge

The Fifth Discipline

Peter M. Senge
The Art & Practice of The Learning Organization
4.5 (228 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Fifth Discipline about?

The Fifth Discipline (1990) is a comprehensive guide to creating learning organizations – workplaces that nurture innovation and personal growth. The author argues that, in our rapidly changing world, companies can only succeed if they change the way in which they deal with problems. In his view, a reactive approach, based on constantly putting out fires, no longer works. Instead, businesses need to adopt what he calls a systems thinking method. This method is proactive, and its purpose is to identify underlying patterns and generate innovative solutions. But this approach only works if you have motivated staff who share the company’s vision. 

Who should read The Fifth Discipline?

  • Entrepreneurs who want to uncover blind spots in their thinking
  • Disgruntled employees seeking satisfaction in their work
  • Team members who want to learn to speak their minds

14
Work Culture Books: Building an Inclusive Organization by Stephen Frost and Raafi-Karim Alidina

Building an Inclusive Organization

Stephen Frost and Raafi-Karim Alidina
Leveraging the Power of a Diverse Workforce
4.3 (208 ratings)
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00:00

What's Building an Inclusive Organization about?

Building an Inclusive Organization (2019) offers a roadmap for leaders to create organizations that truly celebrate diverse perspectives in the workplace. The authors show that to become truly inclusive, workplaces need to work hard to overcome unconscious bias, create divergent teams where people challenge each other, and implement policies to create a psychologically safe environment for all. 

Who should read Building an Inclusive Organization?

  • Hiring managers who want to learn how to turn good intentions into action
  • Leaders wanting to make their companies more innovative and inclusive
  • Anyone who has suffered systematic discrimination and wants to understand how the system works.

15
Work Culture Books: It's the Manager by Jim Clifton, Jim Harter

It's the Manager

Jim Clifton, Jim Harter
Gallup Finds the Quality of Managers and Team Leaders is the Single Biggest Factor in Your Organization's Long-term Success
4.2 (140 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's It's the Manager about?

It’s the Manager (2019) outlines the latest workplace research from Gallup. It explores what good leadership looks like in the modern age, and how managers can get the best out of the people they lead.

Who should read It's the Manager?

  • Human Resources professionals seeking a fresh perspective
  • Managers looking to the future
  • Team leaders wanting to know what makes people tick

16
Work Culture Books: Making Work Human by Eric Mosley and Derek Irvine

Making Work Human

Eric Mosley and Derek Irvine
How Human-Centered Companies are Changing the Future of Work and the World
4.4 (59 ratings)
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00:00

What's Making Work Human about?

Making Work Human (2020) is a roadmap for building the workplace of the future based on positive human values such as community, connection, and belonging. Drawing on a vast amount of data and using deep analytics, the pioneers of social recognition company Workhuman explain how a work culture of gratitude makes people happier and healthier while boosting productivity and performance.

Who should read Making Work Human?

  • HR professionals interested in new management approaches
  • Business owners looking to boost productivity and innovation in their companies
  • Those curious about the future of work

17
Work Culture Books: The New Corner Office by Laura Vanderkam

The New Corner Office

Laura Vanderkam
How the Most Successful People Work from Home
4.1 (304 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The New Corner Office about?

The New Corner Office (2020) is a practical guide to succeeding in the world of remote work. This timely tome is filled with sensible advice for remaining creative and productive while working from home.

Who should read The New Corner Office?

  • Remote workers seeking new success strategies 
  • Managers skeptical about the benefits of remote work
  • Anyone looking to stay productive while working from home

18
Work Culture Books: No Rules Rules by Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer

No Rules Rules

Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer
Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention
4.6 (482 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's No Rules Rules about?

No Rules Rules (2020) sets out the principles of Netflix’s unique company culture, based on employee freedom and responsibility, and optimized for maximum innovation. In doing so, it charts the incredible journey of Netflix, a start-up fairytale.

Who should read No Rules Rules?

  • Anyone who works at a start-up
  • Fans of the film The Social Network
  • Those who are wary of Silicon Valley’s increasing dominance

 


19
Work Culture Books: The Serendipity Mindset by Christian Busch

The Serendipity Mindset

Christian Busch
The Art and Science of Creating Good Luck
4.3 (249 ratings)
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00:00

What's The Serendipity Mindset about?

The Serendipity Mindset (2020) offers a practical guide to welcoming more positive and fortuitous outcomes in your life. It explains how subtle shifts in your attitude and perception can lead to dramatic differences in your ability to persevere and get positive results.

Who should read The Serendipity Mindset?

  • People eager for more “luck” in their lives
  • Managers and executives who want to create a better company culture
  • Anyone who’d like to get the most out of life

20
Work Culture Books: Think Again by Adam Grant

Think Again

Adam Grant
The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know
4.6 (1,297 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Think Again about?

Think Again (2021) examines the science behind changing your mind – and persuading others to change theirs. It explores the biases and assumptions that we bring to our decision-making, and outlines how individuals and organizations can build a mindset of lifelong curiosity.

Who should read Think Again?

  • Psychology buffs looking for fresh insights
  • Sales professionals seeking a new angle
  • People managers hoping to improve team performance

21
Work Culture Books: UX for Lean Startups by Laura Klein

UX for Lean Startups

Laura Klein
Faster, Smarter User Experience Research and Design
4.6 (149 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's UX for Lean Startups about?

UX for Lean Startups (2013) provides an innovative, cost-effective approach to researching and designing products and services. Geared toward start-ups and companies that want to act like them, it shows that you can provide your customers with an excellent user experience while keeping your time and money expenditures as lean as possible.

Who should read UX for Lean Startups?

  • Entrepreneurs
  • Product designers, managers, and engineers
  • Start-up workers and founders

22
Work Culture Books: Can't Even by Anne Helen Petersen

Can't Even

Anne Helen Petersen
How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation
4.3 (183 ratings)
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00:00

What's Can't Even about?

Can’t Even (2020) is an attempt to explain and defend the generation that became the world’s punching bag: the millennials. Arguing against accusations of laziness and entitlement, it suggests that millennial exhaustion is a natural response to the messed-up world they inherited.

Who should read Can't Even?

  • Millennials dealing with burnout and exhaustion
  • Friends and relatives of this troubled generation
  • Anyone interested in the problems of modern work

23
Work Culture Books: A World Without Email by Cal Newport

A World Without Email

Cal Newport
Reimagining Work in an Age of Communication Overload
4.4 (299 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's A World Without Email about?

A World Without Email (2021) presents a bold reimagining of the workplace, one in which the days of email and instant messaging are a thing of the past. It argues that while email may seem like an integral part of modern knowledge work, it’s actually making everyone less productive and less focused, not to mention miserable. The solution will require a major paradigm shift –⁠ but it will be well worth the effort.

Who should read A World Without Email?

  • Business leaders who want to root out inefficiencies in their organizations
  • Employees frustrated with the workplace culture of constant communication
  • Freelancers and entrepreneurs looking to improve their workflow

24
Work Culture Books: High-Impact Tools for Teams by Stefano Mastrogiacomo and Alexander Osterwalder

High-Impact Tools for Teams

Stefano Mastrogiacomo and Alexander Osterwalder
5 Tools to Align Team Members, Build Trust, and Get Results Fast
4.1 (173 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's High-Impact Tools for Teams about?

High Impact Tools for Teams (2021) offers flexible tools for project planning, assessment, and creating an empowering environment for your team members. At the center is the Team Alignment Map, a simple chart that will transform the way you conduct meetings, track progress, and identify problems before they occur.

Who should read High-Impact Tools for Teams?

  • Leaders and project managers looking for better results
  • Anyone trying to get an ambitious project off the ground
  • Team members who long for a better work environment

25
Work Culture Books: Anxiety at Work by Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton with Anthony Gostick

Anxiety at Work

Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton with Anthony Gostick
8 Strategies to Help Teams Build Resilience, Handle Uncertainty, and Get Stuff Done
4.2 (218 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Anxiety at Work about?

Anxiety at Work (2021) explores how the modern workplace contributes to our soaring anxiety levels. It outlines how organizations, and team leaders, can help alleviate their employees’ worries and concerns.

Who should read Anxiety at Work?

  • Anyone interested in organizational psychology
  • Stressed-out employees looking for some perspective
  • Managers hoping to give employee well-being a boost

26
Work Culture Books: The Long-Distance Teammate by Kevin Eikenberry and Wayne Turmel

The Long-Distance Teammate

Kevin Eikenberry and Wayne Turmel
Stay Engaged and Connected While Working Anywhere
4.2 (134 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Long-Distance Teammate about?

The Long-Distance Teammate: Stay Engaged and Connected While Working Anywhere (2021) is a guide to being a quality teammate while working remotely. It helps you navigate all the interpersonal issues that pop up when you’re no longer sharing an office with your coworkers, and gives advice on how to build connections with people you haven’t seen.

Who should read The Long-Distance Teammate?

  • Anyone working remotely
  • Workers unsure where they fit in
  • People seeking a better work-life balance

27
Work Culture Books: Teams That Work by Scott Tannenbaum and Eduardo Salas

Teams That Work

Scott Tannenbaum and Eduardo Salas
The Seven Drivers of Team Effectiveness
4.5 (128 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Teams That Work about?

Teams That Work (2020) presents the seven drivers that make any team effective. Packed with the latest research and real-world examples, this practical guide draws on the many years of experience of coauthors Scott Tannenbaum and Eduardo Salas in helping teams succeed.

Who should read Teams That Work?

  • Managers or leaders who want to boost team performance
  • Anyone who wants to be a better team player
  • Teamwork skeptics who’ve tried it all

28
Work Culture Books: The Phoenix Project by Gene Kim, Kevin Behr and George Spafford

The Phoenix Project

Gene Kim, Kevin Behr and George Spafford
A Novel about IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business Win
4.5 (232 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Phoenix Project about?

The Phoenix Project (2013) explores how integrating the Development and IT Operations teams of a company’s IT department can improve communication, accelerate workflow, and increase value. It uses a fictional lens to unpack a common real-life scenario – demonstrating how the DevOps approach enables organizations to deftly adapt to sudden changes, updates, or market pressures.

Who should read The Phoenix Project?

  • Business leaders looking to increase value through their IT department 
  • IT managers seeking to streamline their teams’ workflow
  • Tech employees wondering how different parts of a business interrelate

29
Work Culture Books: Masters of Scale by Reid Hoffman

Masters of Scale

Reid Hoffman
Surprising Truths from the World's Most Successful Entrepreneurs
4.3 (479 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Masters of Scale about?

Masters of Scale (2021) is part fascinating anecdote, part how-to guide for entrepreneurs who are preparing to launch their product or scale up their company. With case studies and stories behind some of the world’s biggest companies, it isolates the principles behind successfully scaling up.

Who should read Masters of Scale?

  • Serial entrepreneurs
  • Investors looking to scale a startup
  • Executives seeking to grow their companies

30
Work Culture Books: Who Not How by Dan Sullivan with Benjamin Hardy

Who Not How

Dan Sullivan with Benjamin Hardy
The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork
4.5 (572 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Who Not How about?

Who Not How (2020) introduces a new way of thinking about entrepreneurship, goal setting, and collaboration. Developed by business coach Dan Sullivan, the Who Not How mindset shows the importance of delegating tasks to others. By inviting them to help you achieve your goals, you’ll gain more free time, increase your income, and develop valuable, lasting professional relationships.

Who should read Who Not How?

  • Aspiring entrepreneurs looking to realize a business idea
  • Burned-out professionals with a desire for more free time
  • Perfectionists on the hunt for procrastination cures

31
Work Culture Books: Strategic Kaizen™ by Masaaki Imai

Strategic Kaizen™

Masaaki Imai
Using Flow, Synchronization, and Leveling Assessment to Measure and Strengthen Operational Performance
4.5 (96 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Strategic Kaizen™ about?

Strategic Kaizen (2021) examines the principles and practices of corporations that have embraced lean thinking – a paired-down, customer-oriented production process pioneered in postwar Japan. Also known as the Toyota Production System, this managerial philosophy is all about maximizing efficiency and reducing waste by making many small changes. 

Who should read Strategic Kaizen™?

  • Managers and leaders
  • Technophiles and car lovers
  • Strategists and planners

32
Work Culture Books: Neurodiversity at Work by Theo Smith and Amanda Kirby

Neurodiversity at Work

Theo Smith and Amanda Kirby
Drive Innovation, Performance and Productivity With a Neurodiverse Workforce
4.4 (316 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Neurodiversity at Work about?

Neurodiversity at Work (2022) is a practical guide to recruiting neurodiverse employees and creating work environments that allow them to thrive. Thanks to the digital revolution, the world of work has changed dramatically over the last decades. Yet corporate culture has remained trapped in archaic hiring practices that don’t work for the neurodiverse. By updating these practices, you’ll create a more inclusive workplace, which will yield more successful and innovative teams.

Who should read Neurodiversity at Work?

  • Hiring managers seeking to attract neurodiverse candidates
  • Leaders looking to create a communicative, trusting workplace
  • Anyone who wants to learn how to advocate for themselves in a corporate environment

33
Work Culture Books: Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People by Renée Evenson

Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People

Renée Evenson
Over 325 Ready-to-use Words and Phrases for Working with Challenging Personalities
4.2 (616 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People about?

Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People (2013) provides practical tactics for navigating tough conversations at work. Along with over 325 phrases, it includes dozens of sample conversations that show the phrases in action.

Who should read Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People?

  • Anyone dealing with difficult coworkers or bosses
  • Employees looking for practical guidance on how to talk to colleagues
  • People interested in conflict management

34
Work Culture Books: The Leader's Guide to Unconscious Bias by Pamela Fuller & Mark Murphy with Anne Chow

The Leader's Guide to Unconscious Bias

Pamela Fuller & Mark Murphy with Anne Chow
How To Reframe Bias, Cultivate Connection, and Create High-Performing Teams
4.3 (198 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Leader's Guide to Unconscious Bias about?

The Leader’s Guide to Unconscious Bias (2020) is a guide to unconscious bias at work: how to identify it, and what to do about it. Leaders and managers have a particular responsibility to ensure unconscious bias doesn’t harm the careers of their team members.

Who should read The Leader's Guide to Unconscious Bias?

  • Workplace leaders who want to take good care of their teams
  • Workers curious about how unconscious bias affects them
  • People looking to deepen their understanding of bias

35
Work Culture Books: Working Backwards by Colin Bryar

Working Backwards

Colin Bryar
And Other Insights, Stories, and Secrets from Inside Amazon
4.4 (152 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Working Backwards about?

Working Backwards (2021) tells the story of how Amazon changed the way people live. It explores founder Jeff Bezos’ leadership philosophy, and reveals how this philosophy has informed Amazon’s most iconic products and services

Who should read Working Backwards?

  • Executive coaches looking for fresh insights
  • Entrepreneurs hoping to turbo-charge their business
  • Managers wanting to boost their teams’ performance

36
Work Culture Books: Getting Along by Amy Gallo

Getting Along

Amy Gallo
How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People)
3.2 (240 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Getting Along about?

Getting Along (2022) describes the importance of workplace interactions and their effects on productivity and creativity.

Who should read Getting Along?

  • Managers who want to create positive work environments
  • People unhappy with their colleagues
  • Anyone interested in workplace relationships

37
Work Culture Books: Humor, Seriously by Jennifer Aaker & Naomi Bagdonas

Humor, Seriously

Jennifer Aaker & Naomi Bagdonas
Why Humor Is a Superpower at Work and in Life (And How Anyone Can Harness It. Even You.)
4.1 (470 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Humor, Seriously about?

Humor, Seriously (2021) explores the value of a human-centered approach to business, and of the funny that can be found and created in any environment. It relies on science, psychology, and humorous anecdotes from experts in the field to show how using humor can create a culture of levity, build trust, and unlock creativity.

Who should read Humor, Seriously?

  • Leaders looking to build trust
  • Managers who want to enhance creativity
  • Anyone seeking more joy in work and life

38
Work Culture Books: Learning Agile by Andrew Stellman and Jennifer Greene

Learning Agile

Andrew Stellman and Jennifer Greene
Understanding Scrum, XP, Lean, and Kanban
4.3 (374 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Learning Agile about?

Learning Agile (2015) is a no-nonsense guide to an often misunderstood concept – agile. The reason for that misunderstanding is simple: all too often, agile is bandied about as a one-size-fits-all solution to every conceivable organizational difficulty. Longtime agile practitioners Andrew Stellman and Jennifer Greene don’t see it that way. For them, agile is a great tool, but you have to know how – and when and why – to use it. And that starts with getting a grasp on agile’s underlying principles. 

Who should read Learning Agile?

  • Software developers
  • Team leaders 
  • Project managers

39
Work Culture Books: Management Mess to Leadership Success by Scott Jeffrey Miller

Management Mess to Leadership Success

Scott Jeffrey Miller
30 Challenges to Become the Leader You Would Follow
4.4 (244 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Management Mess to Leadership Success about?

Management Mess to Leadership Success (2019) is a guide to renovating and polishing your management skills. Through relatable, personal anecdotes of fumbles, missteps, and what not to do, it offers applicable challenges for you to revamp your team by providing a step-by-step guide on how to lead yourself and others and deliver results.

Who should read Management Mess to Leadership Success?

  • Team managers
  • HR professionals
  • Leaders in and beyond the corporate office

40
Work Culture Books: Trust and Inspire by Stephen M.R. Covey

Trust and Inspire

Stephen M.R. Covey
How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others
4.5 (154 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Trust and Inspire about?

Trust & Inspire (2022) provides a new leadership model. Instead of the traditional “Command and Control” approach, Covey proposes one that focuses on collaboration, trust and personal growth. It offers a new set of tools for inspiring and unlocking the massive potential of a modern workforce. 

Who should read Trust and Inspire?

  • CEOs and executives looking to create a better workplace environment
  • Managers and supervisors who want to be more hands-off
  • Parents and educators who want a more empowering approach to childcare

41
Work Culture Books: The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety by Timothy R. Clark

The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety

Timothy R. Clark
Defining the Path to Inclusion and Innovation
4.3 (297 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety about?

The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety (2020) is a practical handbook for creating and maintaining psychological safety in the workplace. In order for employees to take risks, ask questions, challenge the status quo, and make mistakes – all while learning and growing – they have to feel included and safe. This book shows how leaders can reduce social friction while encouraging collaboration and innovation.

Who should read The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety?

  • Managers and CEOs trying to boost employee well-being and productivity
  • Leaders tired of dusty corporate hierarchies
  • Anyone interested in practical approaches to workplace inclusion

42
Work Culture Books: Jerks at Work by Tessa West

Jerks at Work

Tessa West
Toxic Coworkers and What to Do About Them
4.1 (286 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Jerks at Work about?

Jerks at Work (2022) provides a handbook for how to deal with difficult people at work. Identifying seven types of jerks, it informs you about what kind of behaviors to look out for and how to deal with them in a pragmatic, positive way.

Who should read Jerks at Work?

  • Anyone who is struggling with a jerk at work
  • Those who have a friend or loved one who won’t stop complaining about a jerk at work 
  • People who are interested in how social psychology applies to the workplace

43
Work Culture Books: Workstyle by Lizzie Penny and Alex Hirst

Workstyle

Lizzie Penny and Alex Hirst
A revolution for wellbeing, productivity and society
3.8 (228 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Workstyle about?

Workstyle: A revolution for wellbeing, productivity and society (2022) introduces the concept of workstyle: the freedom to choose when and where we work. By examining the outdated history of the standard 9 to 5 working week in the light of the modern digital age, the authors lay the foundation for an individualized and autonomous way of working. 

Who should read Workstyle?

  • Career-optimizers who feel that our current way of working is inefficient or unnecessary.
  • People with disabilities or challenges which exclude them from the regular 9 to 5.
  • Visionaries who dare to dream of a better world.

44
Work Culture Books: The WEIRDest People in the World by Joseph Henrich

The WEIRDest People in the World

Joseph Henrich
How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous
4.1 (153 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The WEIRDest People in the World about?

The WEIRDest People in the World (2020) describes why Westerners think and behave so differently from most other people. It also explains how the policies of the Western Church in the realms of marriage and kinship have helped cultivate these odd cultural attributes, transforming the world and helping the West flourish in the process. 

Who should read The WEIRDest People in the World?

  • Anyone interested in the confluence of history, anthropology, culture, and economics
  • Westerners seeking a greater understanding of cross-cultural differences
  • Fans of experimental psychology

45
Work Culture Books: The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Michalowicz

The Pumpkin Plan

Mike Michalowicz
A Simple Strategy to Grow a Remarkable Business in Any Field
4.3 (220 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Pumpkin Plan about?

The Pumpkin Plan (2012) presents a simple yet powerful strategy to help you grow your business and stand out in any industry. Through real-life examples and practical tips, you’ll learn how to identify and focus on your most profitable clients, streamline your operations, and create a company culture that fuels growth.

Who should read The Pumpkin Plan?

  • Owners of small businesses looking to grow
  • Entrepreneurs seeking sustainable success
  • Startup founders needing a roadmap

46
Work Culture Books: Trust by Dr. Henry Cloud

Trust

Dr. Henry Cloud
Knowing When to Give It, When to Withhold It, How to Earn It, and How to Fix It When It Gets Broken
4.5 (335 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Trust about?

Trust (2023) is a sensitive and practical guide to this essential part of human relationships. It reveals the deep significance of trust as a factor in our lives and outlines the five essential elements for building and maintaining it.

Who should read Trust?

  • Leaders who wish to create trust within organizations
  • Those looking to establish deeper personal and familial relationships
  • People who want to rebuild trust after it has been broken

47
Work Culture Books: The Goal by Eliyahu M. Goldratt and Jeff Cox

The Goal

Eliyahu M. Goldratt and Jeff Cox
A Process of Ongoing Improvement
3.6 (253 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Goal about?

The Goal (1984) is a trailblazing example of the “business novel” genre, seamlessly blending fictional storytelling with practical business advice in a revolutionary manner. Experience the corporate journey of Alex Rogo as he endeavors to rescue his struggling company from going bust. Through Alex’s perspective, uncover valuable insights into topics like streamlining manufacturing operations and enhancing team productivity.

Who should read The Goal?

  • The ‘newbie’ manager
  • The experienced pro seeking a new perspective
  • General learners curious about the manufacturing world

48
Work Culture Books: The Devops Handbook by Gene Kim, Jez Humble, Patrick Debois & John Willis

The Devops Handbook

Gene Kim, Jez Humble, Patrick Debois & John Willis
How to Create World-Class Agility, Reliability, & Security in Technology Organizations
4.1 (176 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Devops Handbook about?

The DevOps Handbook (2016) offers a roadmap on how to catapult your technology operations into a realm of world-class agility, reliability, and security. Dive deep into the heart of the DevOps philosophy, equipping you with insights to bridge gaps between development and operations, while fostering unmatched efficiency.

Who should read The Devops Handbook?

  • Technology professionals seeking to enhance organizational efficiency
  • Business leaders navigating digital transformation initiatives
  • Aspiring IT managers and DevOps enthusiasts

49
Work Culture Books: Amp It Up by Frank Slootman

Amp It Up

Frank Slootman
Leading for Hypergrowth by Raising Expectations, Increasing Urgency, and Elevating Intensity
3.8 (176 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Amp It Up about?

Amp It Up (2022) uncovers the transformative leadership principles essential for unlocking unparalleled enterprise growth. By revealing strategies for sidestepping common pitfalls and costly restructures, it emphasizes the power of aligning teams with critical goals, shattering the chains of mediocrity, and fostering a culture of urgency and intensity. It’s an essential playbook for leaders aiming to elevate their organization to unparalleled success without the need for external consultants or drastic overhauls.

Who should read Amp It Up?

  • Entrepreneurs looking to scale their startups and find invaluable insights for fostering exponential growth
  • Corporate leaders seeking to reinvigorate their teams and discover strategies to break through stagnant performance barriers
  • Business students aiming to understand real-world applications of growth principles and benefit from a tech industry titan’s experiences

50
Work Culture Books: The Motive by Patrick M. Lencioni

The Motive

Patrick M. Lencioni
Why So Many Leaders Abdicate Their Most Important Responsibilities
4.4 (46 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Motive about?

The Motive (2020) dives into the importance of leaders having a strong and clear drive for their work. Centered around two fundamental motives, it guides leaders to recognize their genuine intentions and adopt responsibility-driven leadership for the good of their organizations.

Who should read The Motive?

  • Aspiring leaders wanting to know the essence of genuine leadership.
  • Managers seeking self-improvement
  • Advocates for selfless, service-oriented leadership.

51
Work Culture Books: How to Work with (Almost) Anyone by Michael Bungay Stanier

How to Work with (Almost) Anyone

Michael Bungay Stanier
Five Questions for Building the Best Possible Relationships
4.0 (71 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's How to Work with (Almost) Anyone about?

How to Work with (Almost) Anyone (2023) is a compelling guide to mastering workplace dynamics and nurturing professional relationships. It shows how you can enable more effective collaboration by facilitating open dialogue, nurturing curiosity, and fostering trust.

Who should read How to Work with (Almost) Anyone?

  • Leaders who manage projects or coordinate teams
  • Employees who want to boost their workplace relationships
  • Young adults learning to interact with varying personalities in academic and professional environments

52
Work Culture Books: Elevate Your Team by Robert Glazer

Elevate Your Team

Robert Glazer
Empower Your Team To Reach Their Full Potential and Build A Business That Builds Leaders
4.5 (93 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Elevate Your Team about?

Elevate Your Team (2023) presents a framework to optimize team performance and drive company growth, while safeguarding employees against burnout. By implementing this strategy, leaders can guide their teams to reach their full potential, so that both they – and their company – thrives.   

Who should read Elevate Your Team?

  • Leaders seeking sustained business growth
  • Managers wanting to optimize team performance
  • Directors looking for a new framework for success

53
Work Culture Books: The Purpose Effect by Dan Pontefract

The Purpose Effect

Dan Pontefract
Building Meaning in Yourself, Your Role, and Your Organization
4.2 (193 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Purpose Effect about?

The Purpose Effect (2016) combines motivational psychology, organizational culture, and the pursuit of meaning to explore how shared purpose can change the world. What happens when company and employee goals align? How can we foster a culture where we pursue work that really has an impact? This deep-dive is your guide to finding the sweet spot of shared purpose.

Who should read The Purpose Effect?

  • Leaders wanting to build meaningful businesses
  • Employees seeking purpose in their career
  • Managers and coaches looking to optimize performance

54
Work Culture Books: The Toyota Way by Jeffrey K. Liker

The Toyota Way

Jeffrey K. Liker
14 Management Principles from the World's Greatest Manufacturer
4.4 (201 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Toyota Way about?

The Toyota Way (2003) delves into Toyota's unique approach to lean manufacturing and continuous improvement. It shares the foundational principles that drive Toyota's exceptional operational and organizational culture, emphasizing long-term thinking, respect for people, and problem-solving. These principles have revolutionized business, and have been adapted and applied beyond manufacturing to various sectors and industries.

Who should read The Toyota Way?

  • Anyone curious about Lean Manufacturing 
  • Business leaders seeking process improvement strategies
  • Management students and professionals studying best practices

55
Work Culture Books: The Infinite Leader by Chris Lewis & Pippa Malmgren

The Infinite Leader

Chris Lewis & Pippa Malmgren
Balancing the Demands of Modern Business Leadership
3.4 (29 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Infinite Leader about?

The Infinite Leader (2020) presents the crisis afflicting modern leadership as a problem of balance, and proposes solutions to keeping the wholesome leader centered. Working from this position opens up boundless opportunities and restores people’s faith in leadership.

Who should read The Infinite Leader?

  • Anyone leading a team, business, organization or community
  • People learning how to choose and follow their leaders
  • Anyone trying to live a more balanced and fulfilling life

56
Work Culture Books: Rewired by Eric Lamarre & Kate Smaje & Rodney Zemmel

Rewired

Eric Lamarre & Kate Smaje & Rodney Zemmel
The McKinsey Guide to Outcompeting in the Age of Digital and AI
3.7 (192 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Rewired about?

Rewired (2023) presents a transformative roadmap crafted by the world's foremost management consultancy. It guides businesses on enhancing customer experiences, streamlining costs, and harnessing the immense potential of digital and AI. Dive in, and position your company for unparalleled long-term success.

Who should read Rewired?

  • Business leaders navigating digital transformation
  • Teams spearheading AI-driven enterprise initiatives
  • Consultants seeking proven digital strategy blueprints

57
Work Culture Books: Team Topologies by Matthew Skelton & Manuel Pais

Team Topologies

Matthew Skelton & Manuel Pais
Organizing Business and Technology Teams for Fast Flow
3.1 (68 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Team Topologies about?

Team Topologies (2019) offers a framework for organizing IT and business teams for optimal software delivery. It introduces four fundamental team structures and their interaction patterns to improve speed, autonomy, and alignment with business needs. This approach emphasizes dynamically adjusting team structures based on evolving requirements.

Who should read Team Topologies?

  • Organizational leaders seeking strategies to improve team efficiency and streamline software delivery processes.
  • IT managers looking to align business goals with technology team dynamics and interactions.
  • Software architects interested in how team topologies can influence system design and vice versa.

58
Work Culture Books: The Mind of the Leader by Rasmus Hougaard & Jacqueline Carter

The Mind of the Leader

Rasmus Hougaard & Jacqueline Carter
How to Lead Yourself, Your People, and Your Organization for Extraordinary Results
4.2 (199 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Mind of the Leader about?

The Mind of the Leader (2018) explores how leaders can cultivate critical inner capacities like mindfulness, selflessness, and compassion to become more effective guides. Supported by research conducted by The Potential Project, it draws on psychology, neuroscience, and case studies of global organizations to provide science-based tools for strengthening these core leadership skills. 

Who should read The Mind of the Leader?

  • Managers looking to improve their leadership skills
  • Emerging leaders 
  • Entrepreneurs and founders wanting to develop a purpose-based leadership approach

59
Work Culture Books: Move Fast and Fix Things by Frances Frei & Anne Morriss

Move Fast and Fix Things

Frances Frei & Anne Morriss
The Trusted Leader's Guide to Solving Hard Problems and Accelerating Change
3.2 (110 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Move Fast and Fix Things about?

Move Fast and Fix Things (2023) dives into the art of addressing core challenges in organizational landscapes. Emphasizing the interplay of genuine curiosity and steadfast trust, it reveals the blueprint for navigating business dynamics and turning challenges into stepping stones – paving the way for enduring success.

Who should read Move Fast and Fix Things?

  • Aspiring leaders seeking strategic insights
  • Management professionals aiming for transparency and trust-building
  • Business consultants focused on organizational problem-solving

60
Work Culture Books: Going Infinite by Michael Lewis

Going Infinite

Michael Lewis
The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon
3.8 (243 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Going Infinite about?

Going Infinite (2023) offers a behind-the-scenes look at the scandal surrounding Sam Bankman-Fried and the epic collapse of his cryptocurrency companies. It aims to answer the question: How can a man go from earning billions of dollars in a matter of years to losing it all in a matter of months?

Who should read Going Infinite?

  • News junkies interested in current financial events
  • Anyone who likes a good rise-and-fall story
  • People curious about the Sam Bankman-Fried trial

61
Work Culture Books: Nine Lies About Work by Marcus Buckingham & Ashley Goodall

Nine Lies About Work

Marcus Buckingham & Ashley Goodall
A Freethinking Leader’s Guide to the Real World
3.5 (97 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Nine Lies About Work about?

Nine Lies About Work (2019) challenges common beliefs and practices in the workplace, proposing that many widely accepted truths about work are actually misconceptions. It aims to shift our understanding of work, advocating for a focus on individual strengths, the importance of the team, and the intrinsic love of work.

Who should read Nine Lies About Work?

  • Managers seeking to improve team dynamics and performance
  • Employees looking to enhance their work experience and productivity
  • Anyone interested in reevaluating and challenging traditional workplace practices and beliefs

62
Work Culture Books: The Essential Drucker by Peter F. Drucker

The Essential Drucker

Peter F. Drucker
The Best of Sixty Years of Peter Drucker's Essential Writings on Management
3.9 (30 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Essential Drucker about?

The Essential Drucker (2001) distills key lessons from decades of management consulting. It covers how to set ambitious yet achievable goals, hire for organizational fit, develop knowledge workers, foster entrepreneurship and innovation, and craft strategies for growth. 

Who should read The Essential Drucker?

  • Managers of businesses and nonprofits seeking to unlock team potential
  • Entrepreneurs aiming to build enduring organizations
  • Leaders charting a course through uncertainty

63
Work Culture Books: 10 Leadership Virtues for Disruptive Times by Tom Ziglar

10 Leadership Virtues for Disruptive Times

Tom Ziglar
Coaching Your Team Through Immense Change and Challenge
4.5 (15 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's 10 Leadership Virtues for Disruptive Times about?

10 Leadership Virtues for Disruptive Times (2021) provides a framework for leaders navigating major change, concentrating on core virtues such as kindness, humility, and respect. Ziglar’s insights advocate for a Coach Leadership style that cultivates each team member’s unique dreams and abilities, ensuring that businesses thrive even in difficult times.

Who should read 10 Leadership Virtues for Disruptive Times?

  • Modern motivators
  • Team-centric visionaries
  • Digital desk directors

64
Work Culture Books: Competing in the Age of AI by Marco Iansiti & Karim R. Lakhani

Competing in the Age of AI

Marco Iansiti & Karim R. Lakhani
Strategy and Leadership When Algorithms and Networks Run the World
3.5 (192 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Competing in the Age of AI about?

Competing in the Age of AI (2020) unveils a future where AI is the cornerstone of business. It reveals how AI removes age-old business constraints, enabling a quantum leap in scale, scope, and learning. Step into a realm where strategy is reinvented and the economy is reimagined, offering both unprecedented opportunities and profound challenges for leaders in the digital epoch.

Who should read Competing in the Age of AI?

  • Tech entrepreneurs seeking to disrupt traditional business models
  • Executives exploring the impact of AI on operational and strategic decisions
  • Business strategists interested in digital transformation and innovation

65
Work Culture Books: Leadership Two Words at a Time by Bill Treasurer

Leadership Two Words at a Time

Bill Treasurer
Simple Truths for Leading Complicated People
4.1 (235 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Leadership Two Words at a Time about?

Leadership Two Words at a Time (2022) is a simple, practical guide to leadership. Following two-word instructions such as “create trust,” you can become a better leader – inspiring others and improving your work environment.

Who should read Leadership Two Words at a Time?

  • New leaders
  • Experienced leaders who want to learn something new
  • Anyone who wants to make their workplace a better place

66
Work Culture Books: Finding Clarity by Marc Lesser

Finding Clarity

Marc Lesser
How Compassionate Accountability Builds Vibrant Relationships, Thriving Workplaces, and Meaningful Lives
4.4 (234 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Finding Clarity about?

Finding Clarity (2023) offers insight into developing more fulfilling personal and professional relationships through the practice of compassionate accountability. It delves into seven strategies for enhancing communication and understanding in relationships, to foster environments that are both supportive and productive. 

Who should read Finding Clarity?

  • Professionals seeking improved workplace communication and leadership skills
  • Individuals looking to enhance personal relationship dynamics
  • Anyone interested in mindfulness and emotional intelligence development

67
Work Culture Books: Scaling People by Claire Hughes Johnson

Scaling People

Claire Hughes Johnson
Tactics for Management and Company Building
3.6 (60 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Scaling People about?

Scaling People (2023) offers practical leadership and management advice for founders and executives creating high-growth startups. Drawing on the author’s experience leading operations and people at top technology companies, it guides companies in building the systems needed to scale their most valuable asset – their people.

Who should read Scaling People?

  • Founders and executives
  • Leaders seeking company growth
  • Entrepreneurs looking to scale their startups

68
Work Culture Books: Take Back Your Power by Deborah Liu

Take Back Your Power

Deborah Liu
10 New Rules for Women at Work
3.8 (48 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Take Back Your Power about?

Take Back Your Power (2022) is part memoir, part practical guide to making your mark as a woman in the workplace. Through a wide-ranging selection of anecdotes from women at the top of their fields, it offers ten rules for career success and shares the mindsets and strategies that make each possible.

Who should read Take Back Your Power?

  • Female business leaders and employees
  • People from underrepresented backgrounds looking to make their mark at work
  • Men committed to fostering equality in the workplace

69
Work Culture Books: The Program by Eric Kapitulik & Jake MacDonald

The Program

Eric Kapitulik & Jake MacDonald
Lessons From Elite Military Units for Creating and Sustaining High Performance Leaders and Teams
4.2 (5 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Program about?

The Program (2019) is a hands-on guide to the winning techniques and tactics of The Program, a renowned team-building and leadership development company. Drawing from the real-life experiences of its instructors, it illustrates how military leadership and team-building concepts can elevate organizational performance and foster accountability and effective communication.

Who should read The Program?

  • Team leaders aiming for excellence and success
  • Coaches aiming to inspire athletes
  • Entrepreneurs seeking to develop a strong culture

70
Work Culture Books: The Age of AI by Henry Kissinger, Eric Schmidt & Daniel Huttenlocher

The Age of AI

Henry Kissinger, Eric Schmidt & Daniel Huttenlocher
And Our Human Future
3.8 (295 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Age of AI about?

The Age of AI (2021) examines the evolution of artificial intelligence, how it’s increasingly integrated into all facets of life, and profound questions surrounding AI’s relationship to ethics, security, economics, and the human experience itself.

Who should read The Age of AI?

  • Technology enthusiasts and professionals
  • Business leaders and entrepreneurs
  • Policymakers and ethicists

71
Work Culture Books: The Fund by Rob Copeland

The Fund

Rob Copeland
Ray Dalio, Bridgewater Associates, and the Unraveling of a Wall Street Legend
3.8 (131 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Fund about?

The Fund (2023) delves into the world of Ray Dalio and his hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, revealing the unvarnished truths behind its success and controversies. Explore its passionate culture and unique ideals, brought to life via painstaking research and exclusive interviews.

Who should read The Fund?

  • Wall Street aficionados
  • Corporate culture explorers
  • Financial leaders and entrepreneurs

72
Work Culture Books: The Idea Is the Easy Part by Brian Dovey

The Idea Is the Easy Part

Brian Dovey
Myths and Realities of the Startup World
4.1 (59 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Idea Is the Easy Part about?

The Idea is the Easy Part (2023) offers a refreshing, no-nonsense guide to the entrepreneurial journey, countering common myths about startup success and failure. With insights from decades of firsthand experience, it’s an enthusiastic yet realistic manual for aspiring entrepreneurs, providing practical advice on making informed decisions at every stage of the startup process, from ideation to execution.

Who should read The Idea Is the Easy Part?

  • Current and aspiring entrepreneurs
  • Anyone wanting to sort the startup fact from fiction 
  • People with big ideas that they want to become a reality

73
Work Culture Books: All In by Mike Michalowicz

All In

Mike Michalowicz
How Great Leaders Build Unstoppable Teams
4.1 (144 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's All In about?

All In (2024) argues that to build highly effective teams, great leaders must invest time and effort into recruiting people for potential rather than credentials, and fostering a sense of ownership and community in everyone.

Who should read All In?

  • Aspiring managers learning how to recruit and motivate others
  • Team leaders looking to improve engagement and productivity
  • Anyone focused on the recruitment, retention, and development of great teams

74
Work Culture Books: Glad We Met by Steven G. Rogelberg

Glad We Met

Steven G. Rogelberg
The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings
3.6 (27 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Glad We Met about?

Glad We Met (2023) examines the transformative power of one-on-one meetings. This insightful exploration reveals why these meetings are not just a managerial duty but a cornerstone of effective leadership and team development. Learn to master the balance among productivity, relationship-building, and employee growth.

Who should read Glad We Met?

  • The emerging leader
  • Experienced executives
  • The HR professional

75
Work Culture Books: Uncommon Service by Frances Frei & Anne Morriss

Uncommon Service

Frances Frei & Anne Morriss
How to Win by Putting Customers at the Core of Your Business
4.1 (57 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Uncommon Service about?

Uncommon Service (2012) unveils an innovative approach to conquering the business world. It emphasizes excellence in customer service by making strategic trade-offs and focussing on what the customers value most.

Who should read Uncommon Service?

  • Startup founders
  • Customer relationship managers
  • Strategy consultants

76
Work Culture Books: The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking by Michael D. Watkins

The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking

Michael D. Watkins
Leading Your Organization Into the Future
4.1 (261 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking about?

The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking (2024) is a comprehensive guide designed to enhance your leadership skills by focusing on strategic thinking. It identifies six key components of strategic thought: mental agility, pattern recognition, political savvy, problem-solving, systems analysis, and visioning, each essential for recognizing threats and opportunities, establishing priorities, and driving organizational success. Offering a blend of academic insights and practical tools, it aims to develop and nurture your strategic thinking, making it an invaluable resource.

Who should read The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking?

  • Aspiring business leaders seeking strategic skills
  • Executives facing complex organizational challenges
  • Professionals interested in leadership and organizational change

77
Work Culture Books: Untapped Leadership by Jenny Vazquez-Newsum

Untapped Leadership

Jenny Vazquez-Newsum
Harnessing the Power of Underrepresented Leaders
3.4 (121 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Untapped Leadership about?

Untapped Leadership (2023) explores the leadership strategies, capabilities, and contributions made by leaders of color and those from marginalized backgrounds. Sharing diverse stories and strategies, it argues that the insights derived from BIPOC leadership are universally applicable, offering valuable lessons for anyone interested in enhancing their approach to leadership and navigating complex professional and personal landscapes.

Who should read Untapped Leadership?

  • Aspiring leaders seeking personal and professional development
  • Managers aiming to enhance team performance and innovation
  • All those interested in diverse leadership strategies and perspectives

78
Work Culture Books: The Friction Project by Robert I. Sutton & Huggy Rao

The Friction Project

Robert I. Sutton & Huggy Rao
How Smart Leaders Make the Right Things Easier and the Wrong Things Harder – Without Driving Everyone Crazy
4.1 (23 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Friction Project about?

The Friction Project (2024) unveils strategies for how to make organizations run smoothly, beginning with identifying sources of both beneficial and detrimental friction. It introduces tools to address common friction troubles, empowering leaders to navigate and optimize organizational dynamics.

Who should read The Friction Project?

  • Employees so swamped with meaningless tasks that they have no time for work
  • Workers who wish they could put the brakes on projects that move too fast
  • Managers who suspect they’re out of touch with the concerns of their staff and clients

79
Work Culture Books: Attention Factory by Matthew Brennan

Attention Factory

Matthew Brennan
The Story of TikTok and China's ByteDance
4.0 (31 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Attention Factory about?

Attention Factory (2020) chronicles the meteoric rise of ByteDance, a company that has left an indelible mark on our perceptions of Chinese technology. A deft interweaving of storytelling, analysis, and captivating anecdotes, it offers an unparalleled glimpse into the company’s growth and how it has shaped the American and Chinese internet landscapes.

Who should read Attention Factory?

  • Tech enthusiasts interested in the inner workings of Chinese internet companies
  • Business professionals looking to understand the strategies behind TikTok’s rapid growth
  • Anyone curious about the TikTok phenomenon and its influence

80
Work Culture Books: Moving to Outcomes by Robert Glazer & Matthew Wool

Moving to Outcomes

Robert Glazer & Matthew Wool
Why Partnerships Are the Future of Marketing
4.3 (56 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Moving to Outcomes about?

Moving to Outcomes (2021) explores the evolution of partnership marketing from its traditional roots to its current automated and scalable form, a transformation driven by technological advancements and shifts in supply and demand. Packed with insights into leveraging this model to its fullest, it enables companies to navigate and thrive in the digital marketplace.

Who should read Moving to Outcomes?

  • Forward-thinking marketers seeking innovative strategies
  • Business leaders aiming for growth through diversification
  • Investors interested in marketing trends and future potentials

81
Work Culture Books: Marketing Artificial Intelligence by Paul Roetzer & Mike Kaput

Marketing Artificial Intelligence

Paul Roetzer & Mike Kaput
AI, Marketing, and the Future of Business
3.1 (142 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Marketing Artificial Intelligence about?

Marketing Artificial Intelligence (2022) unravels the transformative journey of marketing in the AI era, inviting you to explore the seismic shifts reshaping audience engagement and the essence of marketing strategies. Dive into the world where AI’s fusion with human creativity opens new avenues for innovation, personalization, and efficiency, fundamentally altering how we connect with consumers. This guide provides insights to navigate the evolving digital landscape, making AI an indispensable ally in crafting the future of marketing.

Who should read Marketing Artificial Intelligence?

  • Marketing professionals exploring AI integration
  • Business leaders seeking competitive advantage
  • Technology enthusiasts curious about AI’s impact

82
Work Culture Books: Remote Work Revolution by Tsedal Neeley

Remote Work Revolution

Tsedal Neeley
Succeeding from Anywhere
3.7 (44 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Remote Work Revolution about?

Remote Work Revolution (2021) unveils a roadmap for thriving in an era of virtual organizations, addressing the most pressing challenges facing remote teams and their managers. Drawing on evidence-based insights and practical strategies, this guide empowers leaders and employees to foster trust, productivity, and innovation in the digital workplace.

Who should read Remote Work Revolution?

  • Business leaders seeking to optimize their remote work strategies
  • Managers of virtual teams striving to maintain productivity and collaboration
  • Employees transitioning to remote work environments looking to thrive in their roles

83
Work Culture Books: Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick

Co-Intelligence

Ethan Mollick
Living and Working with AI
4.2 (236 ratings)
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What's Co-Intelligence about?

Co-Intelligence (2024) explores the benefits of partnering with generative, language-based artificial intelligence (AI) in education, the workplace, and any area of life you wish to excel in. By harnessing the potential of new AI technology, and better understanding its limitations, you can use AI to significantly enhance your performance and potential.

Who should read Co-Intelligence?

  • Workplace professionals wanting to benefit from AI
  • AI amateurs looking to advance their user skills
  • Curious luddites wishing to learn about AI

84
Work Culture Books: The Problem with Change by Ashley Goodall

The Problem with Change

Ashley Goodall
And the Essential Nature of Human Performance
4.2 (13 ratings)
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What's The Problem with Change about?

The Problem With Change (2024) argues that the constant disruption pursued by corporate leaders isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. It reveals how perpetual upheaval exerts a psychological toll that undermines motivation, productivity, and performance, offering strategies that you can use to create the stability needed to thrive.

Who should read The Problem with Change?

  • Employees who’ve been through the wringer of reorgs, layoffs, and strategic shifts
  • HR professionals seeking to advocate for the human side of change initiatives
  • Managers seeking to keep their teams engaged and motivated

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Work Culture Books: Red helicopter by James Rhee

Red helicopter

James Rhee
Lead Change with Kindness (Plus a Little Math)
4.3 (85 ratings)
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What's Red helicopter about?

Red Helicopter (2024) explores the transformative power of kindness, vulnerability, and generosity in both personal and professional life, and how these qualities can lead to a more fulfilling and impactful definition of success. Through engaging anecdotes and practical insights, it offers a roadmap for cultivating resilience, gratitude, and a sense of purpose in an increasingly complex world.

Who should read Red helicopter?

  • Business leaders looking to create more positive and impactful organizations
  • Philanthropists and social entrepreneurs interested in building more connected, compassionate communities
  • Anyone wanting to align their values with their career aspirations

86
Work Culture Books: The Culture Map by Erin Meyer

The Culture Map

Erin Meyer
Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business
4.5 (20 ratings)
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00:00

What's The Culture Map about?

The Culture Map provides a framework for handling intercultural differences in business and illustrates how different cultures perceive the world. It helps us understand these differences, and in doing so improves our ability to react to certain behaviors that might have once seemed strange. With this knowledge, we can avoid misunderstandings and maintain conflict-free communication, regardless of where we are in the world.

Who should read The Culture Map?

  • Anyone who’s interested in understanding cultural differences at work
  • Anyone who wants to improve his or her communications skills
  • Anyone who is leading an international team and is facing culture clashes

87
Work Culture Books: Radical Respect by Kim Scott

Radical Respect

Kim Scott
How to Work Together Better
4.0 (88 ratings)
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What's Radical Respect about?

Radical Respect (2024) navigates the complexities of toxic workplace behaviors, including bias, prejudice, discrimination, bullying, and harassment. It provides a comprehensive guide to recognizing and addressing these issues, offering targeted strategies and practical advice for fostering a culture of respect, inclusion, and growth in personal and professional spheres. 

Who should read Radical Respect?

  • Managers and leaders looking to create a healthier, more productive work environment
  • Employees experiencing or witnessing toxic behaviors like bias, prejudice, discrimination, bullying, or harassment
  • Anyone interested in personal growth, self-awareness, and building healthier relationships in their professional and personal lives

88
Work Culture Books: The Everything War by Dana Mattioli

The Everything War

Dana Mattioli
Amazon's Ruthless Quest to Own the World and Remake Corporate Power
4.6 (7 ratings)
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What's The Everything War about?

The Everything War (2024) is an investigative exposé revealing Amazon’s relentless strategies to dominate the world’s industries. It details how Amazon uses its vast resources and data to outcompete rivals, often resorting to exploitative practices and anticompetitive behavior. What does it really take to own the world and remake corporate powers?

Who should read The Everything War?

  • Those curious about Amazon’s shady legal and ethical history
  • Entrepreneurs and Business leaders
  • Anyone using Amazon services

89
Work Culture Books: Built with Purpose by Bill Roark

Built with Purpose

Bill Roark
How Our Employee-Owned Business Changed What it Means to Work and Why
3.5 (10 ratings)
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00:00

What's Built with Purpose about?

Built with Purpose (2024) chronicles the development of Torch Technologies from a defense company into a flourishing conglomerate under Starfish Holdings, illustrating a business model that enriches and empowers its employee-owners while making significant community contributions. Showcasing Torch’s sustainable business practices, it challenges outdated models focused solely on enriching a few founders.

Who should read Built with Purpose?

  • Entrepreneurs seeking sustainable, employee-focused business models
  • Business leaders interested in long-term company growth
  • Anyone curious about innovative corporate philanthropy practices

90
Work Culture Books: The Virtue Proposition by Sig Berg

The Virtue Proposition

Sig Berg
Five Virtues to Transform Leadership and Team Performance
4.5 (64 ratings)
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00:00

What's The Virtue Proposition about?

The Virtue Proposition (2024) argues that traditional leadership approaches lack an emphasis on virtues and consequently fail to deliver consistently superior results. It advocates instead for a "courageous third way" of virtuous leadership grounded in love, integrity, truth, excellence, and relationships.

Who should read The Virtue Proposition?

  • Corporate leaders who can’t connect with conventional models of leadership
  • Management track employees keen to align their career trajectory with their core values
  • Early-career employees looking for an inspiring blueprint for transforming into leaders

91
Work Culture Books: Good Team, Bad Team by Sarah Thurber & Blair Miller

Good Team, Bad Team

Sarah Thurber & Blair Miller
Lead Your People to Go After Big Challenges, Not Each Other
4.3 (78 ratings)
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00:00

What's Good Team, Bad Team about?

Good Team, Bad Team (2024) provides a powerful guide to transforming team dynamics and performance. Discover how to leverage thinking preferences, foster trust, and build a shared purpose to unlock your team’s full potential. Get ready to elevate collaboration and achieve remarkable results.

Who should read Good Team, Bad Team?

  • Team leaders seeking high-performance strategies
  • Professionals navigating cognitive diversity challenges
  • Individuals pursuing personal or team growth

92
Work Culture Books: Grow the Pie by Alex Edmans

Grow the Pie

Alex Edmans
How Great Companies Deliver Both Purpose and Profit
4.4 (76 ratings)
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00:00

What's Grow the Pie about?

Grow the Pie (2020) shows how businesses can thrive by creating value for society while also achieving sustainable profits. It reveals that companies prioritizing the well-being of all stakeholders often outperform those focused solely on shareholder returns. By presenting extensive research and real-world examples, it makes a compelling case that long-term success comes from growing the pie for everyone.

Who should read Grow the Pie?

  • Business leaders seeking sustainable growth strategies
  • Investors interested in long-term corporate performance
  • Academics studying corporate governance and responsibility

93
Work Culture Books: The Energy of Belonging by Wendy Gates Corbett

The Energy of Belonging

Wendy Gates Corbett
75 Ideas to Spark Workplace Community
4.3 (130 ratings)
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00:00

What's The Energy of Belonging about?

The Energy of Belonging (2024) is an action-oriented guide for everyone who wants to help create a sense of connection, respect, and safety in the workplace, and how this can transform organizations. It focuses on practical strategies for employees at all levels to foster a culture of belonging, to boost productivity, creativity, and overall success. 

Who should read The Energy of Belonging?

  • Employees at all levels who want to contribute to a more positive work environment
  • Diversity and inclusion specialists or enthusiasts interested in fostering belonging
  • Anyone looking to integrate better into their teams, or promote success and wellbeing for everyone

94
Work Culture Books: Smart, Not Loud by Jessica Chen

Smart, Not Loud

Jessica Chen
How to Get Noticed at Work for All the Right Reasons
3.5 (12 ratings)
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00:00

What's Smart, Not Loud about?

Smart, Not Loud (2024) addresses why “loud” people often get noticed and promoted at work – and how quieter individuals can succeed without compromising their values. It offers practical strategies such as tactful self-advocacy, building strategic relationships, and mastering voice elements to enhance communication.

Who should read Smart, Not Loud?

  • Soft-spoken professionals navigating loud workplaces
  • Managers who want to support “quiet culture” employees
  • Anyone who feels they could improve their workplace communication skills

95
Work Culture Books: No Ego by Cy Wakeman

No Ego

Cy Wakeman
Stop Drama, Eliminate Entitlement, Maximize Results
4.8 (13 ratings)
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00:00

What's No Ego about?

No Ego (2017) is a fresh take on leadership and a challenge to conventional wisdom. Focusing on eliminating workplace drama and emotional waste, it provides practical strategies for fostering accountability, resilience, and innovation. Wakeman's approach empowers managers and workers alike to embrace a culture of personal responsibility – a culture that, ultimately, will reduce stress, increase engagement, and engender a productive and positive work environment.

Who should read No Ego?

  • Leaders looking for new management techniques
  • Employees interested in self-motivation
  • Frustrated managers and executives

96
Work Culture Books: The Resilient Culture by Liane Stephan, Silke Rupprecht, Chris Tamdjidi, Michael Richards

The Resilient Culture

Liane Stephan, Silke Rupprecht, Chris Tamdjidi, Michael Richards
How Collective Resilience Leads to Business Success
5.0 (3 ratings)
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What's The Resilient Culture about?

The Resilient Culture (2024) provides a practical guide to building resilience within organizations, emphasizing the importance of productive, collaborative, and innovative cultures. It leverages decades of corporate and academic expertise to help businesses achieve lasting success.

Who should read The Resilient Culture?

  • Business leaders seeking strategies to enhance organizational resilience
  • HR professionals interested in practical frameworks for improving employee well-being
  • Team managers who want to cultivate collaborative and innovative work environments.

97
Work Culture Books: Leading Yourself by Elizabeth Lotardo

Leading Yourself

Elizabeth Lotardo
Find Joy and Meaning in Your Job Despite Challenges and Setbacks
4.5 (2 ratings)
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00:00

What's Leading Yourself about?

Leading Yourself (2023) offers practical strategies for transforming your work experience – even in less-than-ideal job situations. It provides tools to manage self-doubt, handle difficult bosses, and make informed career decisions, empowering you to take control of your professional growth.

Who should read Leading Yourself?

  • Professionals seeking greater job satisfaction
  • Employees facing workplace challenges
  • Individuals interested in self-improvement at work

98
Work Culture Books: The Ethical Imperative by Andrew Cooper

The Ethical Imperative

Andrew Cooper
Leading with Conscience to Shape the Future of Business
5.0 (1 ratings)
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00:00

What's The Ethical Imperative about?

The Ethical Imperative (2024) explores the role of ethics in modern business. It offers a treasure trove of narratives, strategies, and tools for leaders aiming to embed ethical decision-making within their organizations.

Who should read The Ethical Imperative?

  • Business leaders seeking to integrate ethics into their company culture
  • Entrepreneurs interested in sustainable, responsible business practices
  • Executives aiming to enhance organizational trust and integrity

99
Work Culture Books: Flip-Flops and Microwaved Fish by Peter Yawitz

Flip-Flops and Microwaved Fish

Peter Yawitz
Navigating the Dos and Don'ts of Workplace Culture
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What's Flip-Flops and Microwaved Fish about?

Flip-Flops and Microwaved Fish (2022) is a practical guide to workplace culture and communication, particularly aimed at those early in their careers. It offers advice on handling common professional scenarios confidently, from writing emails to delivering presentations and food to travel. Through humor and relatable examples, it aims to demystify the unspoken rules of corporate life.

Who should read Flip-Flops and Microwaved Fish?

  • Recent college graduates entering the workforce 
  • Managers mentoring new employees 
  • Career switchers adjusting to corporate environments 

100
Work Culture Books: How Work Works by Michelle P. King

How Work Works

Michelle P. King
The Subtle Science of Getting Ahead Without Losing Yourself
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00:00

What's How Work Works about?

How Work Works (2023) shows you how to thrive in your career by recognizing the hidden rules that shape workplace dynamics. This guide offers insights into building strong connections and staying true to yourself while advancing professionally. It’s your map to navigating modern work life with confidence and purpose.

Who should read How Work Works?

  • Professionals seeking to advance their careers with authenticity
  • Leaders interested in building inclusive workplace cultures
  • Individuals navigating the challenges of modern workplace dynamics

Related Topics

Work Culture Books
 FAQs 

What's the best Work Culture book to read?

While choosing just one book about a topic is always tough, many people regard ReWork as the ultimate read on Work Culture.

What are the Top 10 Work Culture books?

Blinkist curators have picked the following:
  • ReWork by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson
  • Scaling Up Excellence by Robert I. Sutton and Huggy Rao
  • Tribal Leadership by Dave Logan, John King and Halee Fischer-Wright
  • How to Be a Positive Leader by Jane E. Dutton & Gretchen M. Spreitzer
  • The Best Place to Work by Ron Friedman
  • Reinventing Organizations by Frederic Laloux
  • The 4 Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, Jim Huling
  • Change the Culture, Change the Game by Roger Connors and Tom Smith
  • The Culture Engine by S. Chris Edmonds
  • The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle

Who are the top Work Culture book authors?

When it comes to Work Culture, these are the authors who stand out as some of the most influential:
  • Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson
  • Robert I. Sutton and Huggy Rao
  • Dave Logan, John King and Halee Fischer-Wright
  • Jane E. Dutton & Gretchen M. Spreitzer
  • Ron Friedman