Here are the ten business books that have shaped my thinking most recently, a mix of bold ideas, sharp insights, and a few genuine game-changers

I’ve pulled together short reviews for each, and I hope they spark your curiosity as much as they did mine

And a small favour: if you read any of these books, please leave a review

It makes a bigger difference to us authors than you might imagine

If you want to follow the books I’m reading in real time (without waiting for the reviews), head over to the DLA Ignite LinkedIn page and hit follow

Plenty more ideas and inspiration waiting there

LET it happen – How to Deal Successfully with Change through Logic, Emotion and Tactics by Mau Espinosa is a refreshingly practical and human take on one of leadership’s most overused topics. Rather than treating change as a purely strategic or operational challenge, Espinosa acknowledges what many books ignore: change is first experienced emotionally. By structuring his approach around Logic, Emotion, and Tactics, he provides a clear framework that helps readers understand what is changing, how people react to it, and what leaders can actually do to move forward.

What makes this book stand out is its balance of insight and application. Espinosa avoids abstract theory and instead offers grounded guidance that leaders can immediately apply to real-world situations, whether navigating organisational transformation, leading teams through uncertainty, or managing personal change. Clear, accessible, and deeply empathetic, LET it happen is a valuable read for anyone who wants to stop resisting change and start leading it with clarity, confidence, and intent.

A Brilliant "Diagnostic Tool" for Weary Business Owners Dr. Stephanie F. West has achieved something rare in the business world: she has taken a rigorous clinical framework and made it incredibly accessible for entrepreneurs. As a "non-traditional" business owner, I found her S.O.A.P. method (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan) to be the perfect antidote to the overwhelm of daily operations. While many management books rely on abstract theories, Dr. West treats your business like a patient that needs a clear diagnosis and a specific treatment plan. It’s practical, refreshingly simple, and most importantly it doesn't require an MBA to implement.

More Than Just Efficiency, It’s About Purpose What truly sets S.O.A.P. for Success apart is its heart. It’s easy to get lost in the "objective" data of spreadsheets and payroll, but Dr. West reminds us that the "subjective" side, the feelings of your team and your original mission, is just as vital to a healthy business. The anecdotes from her career as a veterinarian and executive leader are both engaging and instructive, proving that "mission and margin" can actually thrive together. If you feel like you’ve lost the "why" behind your work in a mountain of admin tasks, this book is the roadmap you need to clean up your systems and revitalize your passion.

Dr. Debra Clary’s The Curiosity Curve is a transformative guide for any leader feeling stuck in the "efficiency trap" of modern business. Drawing on her impressive career at Fortune 50 giants like Coca-Cola and Frito-Lay, Clary argues that the most powerful tool a leader possesses isn't a strategy deck, but a bold question. She successfully reframes curiosity from a "soft skill" into a rigorous, measurable strategic engine, backed by fascinating neuroscience and her own Cultural Curiosity Scale (CCS) research. The book is packed with actionable insights on how to identify "curiosity killers" like fear and fatigue, and how to move through the four growth factors, exploration, focused engagement, inspirational creativity, and openness to new ideas, to drive real organizational transformation.

What sets this book apart is Clary’s ability to blend high-level data with deeply personal storytelling, from her days as a route driver in Detroit to her work as a narrative scientist and Off-Broadway performer. She provides a practical roadmap for building psychological safety, which allows teams to innovate and stay engaged in an era of "quiet quitting" and massive disengagement. Whether you are a CEO or a first-time manager, The Curiosity Curve offers the tools to "unlearn" the habits that stifle wonder and to reclaim the inquisitive superpower that leads to higher job satisfaction and financial performance. It is a rare business book that is as intellectually stimulating as it is heart-centered and human.

Nicole Alexander’s Ethical AI in Marketing: Aligning Growth, Responsibility and Customer Trust is a must-read for any marketing professional navigating the increasingly complex world of AI. Alexander blends practical experience with deep ethical insight, offering a clear roadmap for using AI responsibly while still driving business growth. From transparency and bias mitigation to building customer trust, the book covers all the critical dimensions that marketers must understand to implement AI strategies that are both effective and ethical.

What makes this book stand out is its actionable frameworks, particularly the P.A.C.T. model, which provides step-by-step guidance on embedding ethics into AI-driven campaigns. Alexander also draws on real-world examples from diverse industries, making the lessons tangible and immediately applicable. Whether you’re a marketing leader, data professional, or simply curious about the future of AI in business, this book equips you with the knowledge and confidence to leverage AI responsibly and with integrity.

The "Heroic Leader" is dead, long live the Badass. Urs Koenig’s Radical Humility is a masterclass in modern leadership that manages to be both deeply human and unapologetically high-performance. Drawing on his unique background as a NATO peacekeeper and ultra-endurance athlete, Koenig dismantles the outdated "command and control" ego-trip and replaces it with a framework that actually works in today’s volatile world. This isn't a "soft" book about being nice; it’s a tactical guide on being "Tough on Results, Tender on People."

What sets this book apart is the Vulnerability Map and the "5 Shifts" framework. Koenig doesn't just tell you why humility matters; he shows you exactly how to implement it without losing your edge. Whether he's discussing the "Platinum Rule" or leading like a compass rather than a chess master, the insights are grounded in real-world stakes where leadership isn't just about KPIs, it’s about survival and soul. If you want to lead a team that is fearless, loyal, and high-achieving, this is the blueprint you’ve been waiting for.

Luan Wise and Dr. Tom Bowden-Green have achieved something rare: they’ve taken the vast, often intimidating world of behavioral science and distilled it into a framework that is actually usable for a busy marketer. By grouping hundreds of theories into the simple ABC Approach; Audience, Brand Perception, and Choice. The authors provide a structured roadmap that moves beyond "gut instinct" and into evidence-based strategy. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or a student, the book’s ability to explain complex mechanisms like the Dark Triad of personality or the Halo Effect through real-world examples makes it an essential reference guide for modern marketing planning.  A Masterclass in Understanding the Human Side of Data

What sets this book apart is the perfect balance between academic rigor and industry expertise. The case studies, ranging from Dove’s Real Beauty campaign to the Met Office’s storm naming, demonstrate how psychological concepts like anthropomorphism and mental availability drive real-world outcomes. I particularly appreciated the "Key Questions" at the end of each section, which act as a staff of experts prompting you to sharpen your tactics. It is a lively, engaging read that proves marketing is more effective when you stop treating customers like data points and start understanding them as human beings.

The shift from AI that simply "talks" to AI that "acts" is the most significant technological leap of our decade, and Safer Agentic AI is the definitive field guide for this new frontier. Nell Watson and Ali Hessami masterfully bridge the gap between abstract machine ethics and rigorous systems engineering. While many books focus on the fear of autonomous systems, this work provides a sophisticated roadmap for "machine psychology", offering concrete principles and responsible practices to ensure that as AI agents gain autonomy, they remain fundamentally aligned with human intent and safety standards.

What sets this book apart is the unique synergy between its authors: Watson’s visionary insights into machine intelligence and Hessami’s deep expertise in IEEE standards and systems safety. Together, they move beyond the "black box" mystery of AI to propose a transparent, engineering-grade framework for digital responsibility. Whether you are a developer building the next generation of autonomous agents or a policy maker trying to govern them, Safer Agentic AI is an essential, high-stakes manual for building a future where we can finally trust the machines we’ve empowered to act on our behalf.

In The Squeezed Middle, Gary Cookson delivers a masterclass in why mid-level leadership is the most misunderstood yet essential gear in the corporate machine. Far from being a dry management manual, this book pulses with a deep understanding of the unique pressures faced by those stuck between senior strategy and frontline execution. Cookson’s writing is refreshing, punchy, and incredibly timely, acknowledging the immense emotional labour and "invisible work" that has only intensified in our post-pandemic, hybrid world. It is a rare business book that manages to be both strategically high-level and deeply empathetic to the person actually doing the job.

What sets this apart from typical leadership literature is the shift from "surviving" to "thriving." Cookson provides actionable frameworks for bridging the translation gap, reclaiming autonomy, and crucially protecting one's own mental health in a high-pressure environment. Whether you are an "accidental manager" looking for a compass or a seasoned leader trying to better support your mid-level talent, this is an indispensable guide. It’s a powerful reminder that middle management doesn't just matter, it’s the very glue that holds successful organisations together.

In Exponential by Design, Anuj Pandey delivers a masterclass on navigating the fundamental shift from linear industrial models to the high-velocity "AI-first" reality. Moving far beyond the typical corporate buzzwords surrounding artificial intelligence, Pandey introduces the X-Framework, a sophisticated architectural blueprint for building what he calls "Growth DNA." The book brilliantly dissects how global titans like NVIDIA and Tesla outpace their competition not just through better tech, but through a systemic design that prioritizes sensing, learning, and self-evolution. It’s a provocative wake-up call for any leader still trying to solve 21st-century exponential problems with 20th-century spreadsheet logic.

What sets this book apart is its practical focus on hyper-convergence and the "Cognitive Enterprise." Pandey provides a rare bridge between high-level strategic theory and the gritty reality of organizational transformation, explaining exactly why the gap between "the fast and the slow" is widening at an unprecedented rate. Whether you are a startup founder looking to scale or a corporate executive trying to prevent obsolescence, this book offers the mental software update required to thrive in a world driven by agentic workflows and network economics. It is essential reading for anyone who wants to stop reacting to the future and start designing it.

In Ideas to Action, Rick Tucci delivers a refreshing and highly practical antidote to the "PowerPoint-heavy" culture of modern management. Drawing from thirty years of experience, ranging from Toyota’s factory floors to the high-stakes recovery efforts of the SBA.  Tucci argues that the most transformative solutions already exist within the "hidden genius" of frontline workers. By moving past the "Illusion of Engagement" and the "Persuasion Trap," the book provides a disciplined, 60-day "sprint" framework that empowers employees to take actual ownership of innovation rather than just offering suggestions that gather dust.

What sets this book apart is its rejection of rigid, expert-driven dogmas like Six Sigma in favour of simple, scalable tools like the "Idea Sorter" and "Action Accelerators". Tucci balances this frontline energy with five essential leadership disciplines, ensuring that senior executives know how to "hardwire" a culture of trust and rapid results into their organization's DNA. Whether you are an executive looking to close a profit gap or a frontline employee eager to drive change, Ideas to Action offers a clear, step-by-step roadmap for turning untapped potential into measurable, bottom-line impact.

And now a little bit about my books ....

I wrote the first edition of "social selling - techniques to influence buyers and changemakers - 1st edition" (the one with the white cover) back in 2015 and it was published in 2016. It was the first book on social selling to be published. With so many changes that have taken place in social media over time, when Kogan Page, my publisher, approached me and asked for a second edition (the one with the yellow cover), I agreed.

This second edition, has been totally updated from 187 pages to 306. I explain how the world of business has changed with digital and how that impacts the modern buyer and it's a business imperative that we change our sales and marketing.

Many people often think that social selling is some sort of future state. It's not, it's the here and now. DLA Ignite, my company, for example, has clients doing $multi-million deals using social media. If your not doing $multi-million deals on social, your competition are and you are losing market share and revenue.

With this book, I contacted people I knew that were using social media to drive revenue and got them to tell their story. Chris Fleming the CEO of Cyberhawk, shares how he transformed his business to social and digital 3 years ago. Putting that another way, if you haven't transformed to a social selling methodology by now, you are 3 years behind the market.

In my second book, "Smarketing - How to achieve competitive advantage through blended sales and marketing" published through Kogan Page, we looked at the age old problem of marketing and sales working together. At the time there was a lot of conversations on social media about how on earth do we get sales and marketing to be one team?

The book, takes a case study, which we cannot mention, it works through the strategy, how to implement a program to implement sales and marketing, the political risks and measures and governance. The book finishes with a look into the future of sales and marketing.

I would admit that if we wrote the book today, we would probably call it Rev-ops (revenue operations).

For those that have got this far, just so you know, there is a fourth book from me on its way.

Please note that some reviews (but not all) I had Chat GPT or Google's Gemini to help me.