Books possess the ability to transform our mental processes, professional activities, and social interactions with the environment. Research indicates that reading enhances empathy, cognitive flexibility, and problem-solving abilities for people at every stage of development. Thoughtful books offer readers both practical leadership and teaching methods, as well as insights into human behavior and emotion, enabling better communication and driving meaningful action. The practice of literature helps experts develop professional abilities through learning stress management techniques and managing complex social relationships. These titles provide valuable knowledge that transforms approaches to individual development, teamwork, and stress management. This roundup presents professionals who applied insights from various books to tackle real challenges in their work environments.
Teach Like a Champion Delivers Practical Techniques
Doug Lemov’s “Teach Like a Champion” doesn’t get much attention outside of education, but it gave me concrete teaching moves I actually use. It took a minute to get the hang of some techniques, but they worked wonders in my Zoom classes. My students started talking more, for real. If you tutor or teach, I’d recommend it for the practical, everyday stuff, not the high-level theory.
Rakesh Kalra, Founder and CEO, UrbanPro Tutor Jobs
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Small Giants Celebrates Excellence Over Endless Growth
Not many people talk about “Small Giants” by Bo Burlingham, but it’s the book that changed my approach to business. I used to think success meant getting as big as possible, especially when starting Dirty Dough. The book profiles companies that deliberately chose to be the best in their town, not the biggest in the country. That idea hit me. It’s a solid reminder that you don’t have to chase endless growth.
Bennett Maxwell, CEO, Franchise KI
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Give and Take Builds Partnerships Through Generosity
I’m not sure why more people don’t talk about Adam Grant’s book ‘Give and Take’. Adopting his ideas about being a ‘giver’ led to some partnerships for my last company that I still use today. My work in financial education has shown me this is true too-when you help others, the whole community gets better. If you want to make a real impact, this is the book you need to read.
JP Moses, President & Director of Content Awesomely, Awesomely
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A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Teaches Resilience
Personally, I feel like I haven’t encountered enough people who have read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, making it come to mind whenever I’m asked for an underrated book. I first read it as a teen and one of the lessons I learned from it was how life isn’t fair.
I believe realizing this at an early age made me appreciate my parent’s efforts to raise me and pushed me to live more frugally, since we didn’t have much growing up as well, similar to Francie’s family. As a teen, I really admired Francie’s resilience, which influenced me to make the most of what I have then.
I used to hate Johnny because of how he resorted to alcoholism when faced with reality but reading it now as an adult, I can at least understand how his circumstances have led him to make those choices.
What makes this book powerful is its ability to give you a different reading experience depending on what stage of life you’re in right now.
Mimi Nguyen, Founder, Cafely
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The Other End of the Leash Transforms Communication
“The Other End of the Leash” by Patricia McConnell is the book I recommend most. It got me through a really tough case with a fearful dog just by changing how I stood and moved. The stories are real and the advice actually works. It’s not about commands, it’s about conversation.
Mark Spivak, Founder, Comprehensive Pet Therapy (CPT)
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Rework Accelerates Progress Through Simple Action
I stopped making long-term business plans after reading ‘Rework’. Instead, I just started launching the simplest possible version of an idea. Our progress picked up almost overnight. The book by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson is what I recommend to anyone stuck in their own head about building a company. It gets you moving.
Alvin Poh, Chairman, CLDY.com Pte Ltd
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Quiet Unlocks Ideas From Quieter Team Members
I read Susan Cain’s Quiet and it completely changed how I think about meetings. I used to let the loudest people dominate. Now I make a point to ask the quieter folks for their thoughts, and that’s where our best ideas come from. It’s not your typical leadership book. It just makes sense and it actually works.
Selene Luk, Customer Care manager, Spanish Cultural Association of Hong Kong
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The Molecules of Emotion Connects Biology and Emotion
“The Molecules of Emotion” by Dr. Candace Pert deserves far more attention.
Her work reshaped scientific understanding of how the body communicates through peptides, receptors, and interconnected signaling networks. She shows how emotion and biology operate as one system and how our internal environment influences immunity, resilience, and overall function.
This book is powerful because it supports a principle that guides much of integrative health. The human body can repair and restore when its communication pathways receive the proper support. Pert’s research aligns with years of clinical experience showing that when nutrients reach the cell in a form the body can recognize and use, the system responds with remarkable efficiency.
This single resource elevates the way readers think about human potential and reinforces what modern nutritional science continues to reveal.
Dr. Richard Drucker, Board Certified Founder & CEO, Drucker Labs
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The Courage to Be Disliked Emphasizes Personal Freedom
The book “The Courage to Be Disliked” by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga presents a subtle approach to impact creation through personal freedom and instant responsibility rather than authority or historical legacy. It presents itself as a philosophical dialogue yet delivers therapeutic effects. The idea that assisting people to gain approval represents a form of dominance struck me deeply. That concept transformed our approach to handling creative work. Developing influence requires self-assurance and clear direction instead of constantly trying to gain approval from others.
The book “Small Giants” by Bo Burlingham stands as one of my essential reads. It celebrates businesses that focus on achieving excellence instead of chasing expansion. The book started as light reading, but I found myself writing notes in the margins halfway through. One company rejected a substantial investment opportunity to maintain their artistic vision, which led to building an extremely dedicated customer base. The path to meaningful impact involves creating deep connections with a specific group of people rather than striving for global conquest.
Vincent Carrié, CEO, Purple Media
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Setting the Table Prioritizes Care for People
If you want to understand how to run a business, read Danny Meyer’s Setting the Table. It’s not just about restaurants. His idea of enlightened hospitality changed how I treat my team. You take care of your people first, and everything else follows. The stories are practical, and I used one of his methods to get through our toughest quarter last year. It’s not just for hospitality folks.
Allen Kou, Owner and Operator, Zinfandel Grille
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Lost Connections Reveals Roots of Mental Health Struggles
I keep coming back to Johann Hari’s “Lost Connections.” It’s not your typical mental health book. Hari explains how we can feel lost when we’re disconnected from meaningful work, other people, and our values. I’ve found that teenagers get this. It helps us talk about the bigger stuff behind their anxiety or depression.
Aja Chavez, Executive Director, Mission Prep Healthcare
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Burnout Provides Real Tools for Stress Management
I keep recommending “Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle” by the Nagoski sisters. During one crazy project, I tried their techniques and watched my team and clients actually handle pressure better. People stopped snapping at each other. The book isn’t magic, but it gives you real tools for dealing with stress at work and home. I’ve seen it work.
Amy Mosset, CEO, Interactive Counselling
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The Art of Gathering Creates Authentic Connections
I always recommend Priya Parker’s book, The Art of Gathering. I tried a couple of her ideas for a cross-cultural get-together and it was totally different. People skipped the small talk and started sharing actual stories. It worked so much better than any usual networking event. It just made things more real.
Yoan Amselem, Managing Director, German Cultural Association of Hong Kong
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The Courage to Teach Improves Reflection and Curriculum
Parker Palmer’s ‘The Courage to Teach’ changed how I run my training sessions. I started having teachers reflect on their week, and suddenly our team meetings felt different. People opened up, and the classroom ideas got better. It’s not complicated stuff, but it gets right to what matters in making a curriculum that actually works for people.
Carmen Jordan Fernandez, Academic Director, The Spanish Council of Singapore
What do you think? Which insights resonated with you the most? Share your thoughts or experiences in the comments—we’d love to hear how generosity, kindness, compassion, and making a difference have shaped your path!
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