Below are the most impactful developmental resources across different categories that I encountered in 2023 in the pursuit of personal and professional excellence. They are in no particular order. I hope they serve you well in your development journey.
Mindset and Behavior
Right Kind of Wrong by Amy Edmonson – One-of-a-kind guide to learning how to manage failure and how to learn from it
Hidden Potential by Adam Grant – Thoughtful roadmap to achieve excellence for any human being (my favorite Adam Grant book, so far)
Do Hard Things by Steve Magness – Meaningful elaboration of actual toughness and how to leverage it to reach one’s goals
Innovation
Subtract by Leidy Klotz – Elegant argument to remember that simplification should precede optimization
The Anatomy of a Breakthrough by Adam Alter – Practical ideas, backed by science, to move forward
Innovating by Luis Perez-Breva – A simple explanation of what innovation is and how to pursue it
Biographies and Memoirs
Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson – Fascinating story and observations with tons of practical entrepreneurial and business applications
The Chancellor by Kati Marton – Leadership at its best through the description of a journey devoted to serving others
My Life in Full by Indra Nooyi – First-hand account of the life of an immigrant who achieved success through hard work
Executive Coaching
Coach the Person, Not the Problem by Marcia Reynolds – This idea might be the cure for transactional coaching
The HeART of Laser-Focused Coaching by Marion Franklin – A compelling call to ditch the traditional list of questions and start delivering transformational coaching
Becoming a Coach by Jonathan Passmore and Tracy Sinclair – The must-read resource for anyone pursuing an International Coaching Federation credential
Analytics
Fundamentals of Data Engineering by Joe Reis and Matt Housley – All things related to data and how to manage it in our current environment
Time Series Forecasting in Python by Marco Peixeiro – Comprehensive and updated review of time series forecasting using Python
Python for Data Analysis by Packet – A hands-on deep dive into the use of Python to manage data efficiently
Other
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus – I could not put this novel down until I finished reading it!
Fuel Your Body by Angie Asche – Amazing cookbook for athletes, including a healthy dose of nutrition science
Let Your Mind Run by Deena Kastor – Honest account of a former Olympian’s journey highlighting many best practices for athletes