Inspiring Book Recommendations from the Inspirus Leadership Team

We’re pleased to share our 2021 collection of book recommendations from Inspirus leaders, ranging from career management to business strategy to self-care and beyond. Happy reading!

Career Management

Betting on You by Laurie Ruettimann
Recommended by Theresa Harkins-Schulz, Senior Vice President of Customer Experience & Product

A former HR professional, Laurie offers entertaining and practical advice on career management. She urges everyone to “always be learnin’”and shows the importance of putting yourself first to take control of your career.

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Recommended by Bill Tyler, Chief Financial Officer

One of the best-selling books of all time, this book contains many principles that still ring true in today’s world. Initially written in 1936 (yes!), it covers techniques in handling people, how to “win” people to your way of thinking, how to be a leader and more. He asserts if there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to understand another person’s point of view and see things from that vantage point, as well as your own.

David & Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell
Recommended by Kelley Briggs, Marketing/Sales Enablement Lead

Malcolm explores the power of the underdog in this book. He challenges how we think about obstacles and disadvantages, offering a new interpretation of what it means to be discriminated against, cope with a disability, lose a parent, attend a mediocre school, or suffer from any number of other apparent setbacks, and rise from that adversity.

Business Strategy & Leadership

Be the Best at What Matters Most by Joe Calloway
Recommended by Patti Traglio, Director of Business Development

This book boldly offers the only strategy you will ever need! Joe reveals the one essential strategy for business leaders, entrepreneurs, and those who aspire to lead: Simplify, focus, and win by outperforming all your competition on those things that create real value for the customer. Success isn’t about doing everything; it’s about doing the most important things.

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
Recommended by Bill Tyler, Chief Financial Officer

His first best-selling book, Malcolm explores the science behind viral trends in business, marketing, and human behavior. The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.

Culture Renovation: 18 Leadership Actions to build an Unshakeable Company by Kevin Oakes
Recommended by Patti Traglio, Director of Business Development

Written by the CEO and Co-Founder of i4cp (Institute for Corporate Productivity), this book explores what’s wrong with most efforts to change culture within an organization. It outlines how leaders need to renovate team culture vs. just attempting to transform it – to keep what works, change what needs to be changed, and then maintain it properly.

The Four Stages of Psychological Safety by Timothy R. Clark
Recommended by Terri Moore, Senior Vice President of People and Culture

Timothy explains the different stages of psychological safety and gives practical, hands-on guidance that shows how leaders can build psychological safety in their organizations. He shows leaders how an environment where employees feel included, fully engaged and encouraged, contribute to their best efforts and ideas. 

No Fail Meetings by Michael Hyatt
Recommended by Theresa Harkins-Schulz, Senior Vice President of Customer Experience & Product

Simple strategies for productive and motivational meetings. Michael’s book includes meeting agenda templates, scripts for backing out of meetings, and wisdom on how to conduct your meetings. The content is also available as video lessons, with PDF transcripts, a full coursebook and downloadable exercises.

Self-care

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
Recommended by Bill Tyler, Chief Financial Officer

Viktor was a prisoner in the Nazi concentration camps, and he chronicles his experiences of how he was able to survive and the method that he used to find purpose and imagine a better future. His advice: we cannot avoid suffering, but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward.

10% Happier by Dan Harris
Recommended by Bill Tyler, Chief Financial Officer

A number one New York Times Bestseller, Dan shows how to use meditation as a tool. Research suggests meditation can do everything from lower your blood pressure to essentially rewire your brain. The book is his personal look at the benefits of meditation, and he narrates the audible book, which features his amazing voice!

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
Recommended by Bill Tyler, Chief Financial Officer

Often referred to as the “granddaddy of all motivational literature,” (first published in 1937!) this book is about more than how to amass wealth. It is based on the principle that everything begins with an idea, and that by controlling your mind, you can control your destiny. Napoleon outlines 13 principles that guide readers to achieve success in virtually any endeavor.