End-of-Summer Books to Read—ASAP

Let’s be honest: It hasn’t been a big summer for reading. The available excuses are many, from watching the Olympics to following the presidential race to enjoying the nice weather. All of which means that you haven’t yet cracked that book. It’s not too late: You can still squeeze it in. Korn Ferry consultants are voracious readers of relevant business titles, new and old. Here are the half dozen titles our partners advise readers to enjoy in these dog days of August.

What It Takes: Lessons in the Pursuit of Excellence

By Stephen A. Schwarzman

The Blackstone co-founder takes readers from his dad’s linen shop, where he worked in his youth, to the top of the investment world, all the while leaning on lessons about goals and culture. “He never settled on talent,” says Kate Romanowicz, senior client partner in the Global Private Markets practice at Korn Ferry. “Always hire tens!”

The Five Temptations of a CEO: A Leadership Fable

By Patrick Lencioni

Lencioni traces the pitfalls that can lure CEOs off the path of success, such as aiming for harmony instead of engendering productive conflict. Our experts recommend the book to anyone in management. “There’s lots to learn about leadership, even if you’re not a CEO,” says organizational-strategy expert Maria Amato, senior client partner at Korn Ferry.

On Call: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service

By Anthony Fauci, M.D.

Fauci, who has been called “America’s doctor,” writes about a career in infectious disease that has spanned tuberculosis, HIV, and COVID. In working for seven different presidents, Fauci discovered a flexibility in himself that he had never imagined, says David Vied, global sector leader for medical devices and diagnostics, yet he remained consistent throughout in his values: “honesty, integrity, and not letting yourself be swayed by politics or other considerations.”

The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter

By Michael D. Watkins

This guide to jumping into a new leadership role has become a classic that is regularly passed around in business circles. “It is a wonderful guide as I transition into my new role,” says Radhika Papandreou, our newly minted president, North America, at Korn Ferry.

The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness

By Jonathan Haidt

If you want to understand Gen Z as well as Gen Alpha, reading this book is a strong start. “It goes deep into the two demographics’ intellectual and social development,” says industrial and specialty distribution expert Dustin Ogden, senior client partner at Korn Ferry. “It’s insightful in understanding where these cohorts are coming from, mentally and socially.”

Love, Hope & Leadership

By Gary Burnison

We’d be remiss to not mention our CEO’s latest book, a collection of perspectives on modern leadership. Flip through its to-the-point directives, which remind managers, executives, and entrepreneurs that the best leaders are empathetic, inclusive, and authentic, and help others thrive. 

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