Looking to round out a syllabus for a government or business class? Need inspiration and advice on how to lead with integrity, empathy, and bravery? Read on to discover analyses and discussion topics on titles focusing on leadership, self-help, and management.
Publication year 1981
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Identity: Language
Tags Business / Economics, Psychology, Self Help, Leadership/Organization/Management, Relationships, Politics / Government, Psychology
Getting to YES: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In (1981) is a business and self-help book by Roger Fisher and William Ury. It teaches a principled method of settling disputes so that both sides win. Revised in 1991 and 2011, the book has sold 15 million copies in 35 languages, spent several years on the BusinessWeek bestseller list, and is one of the most commonly cited works on lists of the best negotiation books. Authors Fisher... Read Getting to Yes Summary
Publication year 2013
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Self Discovery
Tags Self Help, Business / Economics, Psychology, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology
Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success, by Adam Grant, explores the concept of reciprocity in the workplace and how it can lead to personal and professional success. First published in 2013, the book bridges the genres of business psychology and self-help, providing readers with actionable strategies to enhance their careers and professional relationships. Grant, an organizational psychologist and professor, draws on his extensive research and real-world examples to demonstrate the power of... Read Give and Take Summary
Publication year 2010
Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Relationships: Teams, Society: Community, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Identity: Language
Tags Self Help, Psychology, Education, Education, Leadership/Organization/Management, Business / Economics, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy
Publication year 2022
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Tags History: U.S., Politics / Government, Crime / Legal, Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World, Biography
Publication year 2001
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Teams
Tags Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management, Self Help
Good to Great, published in 2001, serves as both a follow-up and thematic prequel to author Jim Collins’s 1994 best seller, Built to Last. Comprehensive in the scope of its research, Good to Great is an examination of the defining qualities of greatness in companies that have made a pivotal transition from “good” (performing relatively consistently) to “great” (performing exceptionally). In making his arguments, Collins brings his expertise as a faculty member at the Stanford... Read Good to Great Summary
Publication year 2016
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Tags Chinese Literature, Asian Literature, Leadership/Organization/Management, Science / Nature, Business / Economics, Parenting, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help
Angela Duckworth’s best-selling 2016 book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance describes how persistent practice, and not mere talent, is the key to success among students and professionals. Duckworth’s extensive research demonstrates that young people do best in activities that hold their interest and give them a sense of purpose. This encourages them to practice hard and overcome obstacles until they achieve mastery and success in school and, later, in their professional lives. The... Read Grit Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Relationships: Family, Identity: Gender, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Fairy Tale / Folklore, Romance, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction
Publication year 1948
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Life/Time: Midlife
Tags Self Help, Psychology, Inspirational, Mental Illness, Education, Business / Economics, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Health / Medicine
Publication year 1998
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Identity: Language
Tags Business / Economics, Relationships, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help, Classic Fiction
First published in 1936, Dale Carnegie’s book How to Win Friends and Influence People launched the American self-help industry, sold over 30 million copies, and became a template for the thousands of self-improvement books that followed. It asserts that success with others depends on listening, showing appreciation, and empathizing with them. The book was revised in 1981; the 2020 eBook re-issue of that edition is the basis for this study guide. The book is divided... Read How to Win Friends and Influence People Summary
Publication year 2012
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Teams, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Self Discovery
Tags Self Help, Business / Economics, Psychology, Philosophy, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology, Philosophy
Publication year 2014
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Relationships: Family
Tags Gender / Feminism, Education, Women's Studies (Nonfiction)
Publication year 1984
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Society: Politics & Government, Identity: Language
Tags Business / Economics, Psychology, Self Help, Information Age, Leadership/Organization/Management, Science / Nature, Psychology
Publication year 2002
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Leadership/Organization/Management, Military / War, Business / Economics, Self Help, Biography
Publication year 2012
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Society: War, Society: Nation
Tags History: U.S., Politics / Government, Crime / Legal, Leadership/Organization/Management, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, Grief / Death, Vietnam War, History: World, Biography
Publication year 2002
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Community
Tags Historical Fiction, Humor, Fantasy, Absurdism, Religion / Spirituality, History: World
Publication year 2013
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Teams, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Psychology, Inspirational, Business / Economics, Self Help, Post Modernism, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy
Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t (2014) is inspirational speaker Simon Sinek’s second book, a follow-up to Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action (2009). The book’s title is derived from a practice in which Marine Corps Officers eat last, sacrificing their own needs for those in their care. Sacrifice is key. Sinek explores the ways in which successful individuals and companies develop cultures built on... Read Leaders Eat Last Summary
Publication year 1987
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Teams, Society: Nation, Society: War, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Business / Economics, History: World, Leadership/Organization/Management, Creative Nonfiction, Self Help, Military / War, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Politics / Government
Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun is a self-improvement and business leadership book by Wess Roberts, who was a human resources manager at Fireman’s Fund Insurance when he published the book in 1989. Using the historical figure of Attila the Hun as his mouthpiece, Roberts outlines his management style and approach to business. This guide refers to Attila’s “persona” when quoting words that Roberts imagines Attila might have said. In the introduction, Roberts discusses Attila... Read Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War
Tags Philosophy, Biography, Politics / Government, Leadership/Organization/Management, History: World, Business / Economics, Philosophy
Publication year 2020
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Leadership/Organization/Management, Business / Economics, Self Help, Military / War, Psychology, Psychology