My 2022 Top Reads

1. Principles by Ray Dalio

This leadership classic easily makes it to my list of all-time favorites. Inspired by more than 30 years of experience leading one of the world's most influential companies, Ray Dalio's Principles is dense with practical wisdom about leadership and self-development.

While his unconventional ideas of radical transparency and idea meritocracy are ambitious, practicing some of his principles (and having to fail and learn along the way) has been a life-changing growth experience. One of the most influential principles for me is radical open-mindedness — how knowing what we don't know, recognizing our blind spots, and having the proper steps to find out the truth can lead to better decisions in life and at work.

Principles is recommended for leaders, shapers, and independent thinkers.

2. The Power of Regret by Daniel Pink

Daniel Pink's The Power of Regret has changed my approach to looking back on past mistakes and failures. Instead of dwelling in regret — or even worse, ignoring the past altogether — the author encourages us to embrace a constructive mindset that facilitates growth and generates better decisions moving forward.

My favorite idea from this book is what Daniel Pink calls the boldness regret. According to his research on the most common forms of regrets, we are more likely to regret the chances we didn't take that the ones we did. This idea alone has shifted my approach to dealing with opportunities and novel experiences.

The Power of Regrets is recommended for everyone who has regrets and even more so for those who delude themselves by thinking they don't.

3. Quiet by Susan Cain

Susan Cain's Quiet resonates with me as an introvert trying to fit into a world that celebrates sociability and gregariousness above all. The author offers practical advice on how to navigate social and work life without losing touch with our introverted nature. More than a survival kit, Quiet presents ways in which introverts can thrive and lead effectively in different environments. For example, research suggests that by speaking less and conveying ideas with more modesty, introverts make better leaders in an environment that requires creative problem-solving and collaboration.

While Quiet is written mostly for an audience of introverts, the author also speaks to extroverts on ways to communicate effectively with introverts and to lead organizations that allow introverts to thrive.

4. Antifragile by Nassim Nicolas Taleb

With the uncertainty and volatility we're experiencing this year, no book fits the context better than Nassim Nicolas Taleb's Antifragile. According to the author, some systems are antifragile — meaning that randomness strengthens them. As individuals and as a society, we can choose to become antifragile, though it requires the humility to acknowledge the things that are beyond our control and to resist the urge to control these systems by eliminating volatility out of the system. The level of epistemic humility that the author advocates for is rare in a world that values rhetorical confidence and fails to appreciate the virtue of knowing what one doesn't know (and what could not be known — ie. randomness).

One of the most critical decision-making lessons in Antifragile is to protect against extreme downsides when managing risks in a volatile system such as the financial markets. Personally, reading Antifragile serves as a reminder to stay foolish, to embrace uncertainty, and to come out stronger on the other side.

5. Humankind by Rutger Bregman

If you've ever felt like losing faith in humanity, Rutger Bregman's Humankind is here to restore it. Filled with anecdotes and substantial scientific evidence, Humankind is a wholesome read that defends the better angels of our human nature.

What's commendable about this book is that it doesn't idealistically ignore the realities of war, violence, and man-made sufferings. Rather, the author seeks to understand the root problems that cause them and recommends constructive ways that society can bring about positive change. Most importantly, Rutger Bregman presents what shifting the paradigm of human nature means for our education, government, and economic systems.

6. You're Not Listening by Kate Murphy

Reading Kate Murphy's You're Not Listening felt like attending a personal coaching session on communication. As I read, I simultaneously reflected back on the communication failures I have experienced in my personal life and at work. It was humbling to acknowledge that most of these failures come down to not being a good listener. It was also exciting to look forward with the optimism that comes from knowing that my listening skills could be improved with practice. Furthermore, through becoming a better listener, I can develop into a more integrated leader and cultivate more meaningful relationships.

You're Not Listening is filled with practical tips on how to become better listeners. Two of my favorite insights are to approach others with genuine curiosity and to ask more empathetic questions.

Imagine the better communities, workplaces, and societies we can create with better listeners in leadership positions.