| | | | | THIS QUARTER’S PAGE-TURNERS ON BUSINESS AND BEYOND | | | |
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| | Brought to you by Alex Panas, global leader of industries, & Becca Coggins, global leader of functional practices and growth platforms
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| | | McKinsey’s annual book recommendations are back—and bigger than ever. This year’s highly anticipated collection features nearly 100 books recommended by 53 contributors, including CEOs, bestselling authors, and McKinsey leaders, offering fresh perspectives for every kind of reader. A reimagined experience makes it easier than ever to build and personalize your reading list, discover recommendations through randomized quotes, and hear directly from contributors in a new video series about the books that shaped their thinking.
The conversation doesn’t stop there. In this edition of Readers & Leaders, go beyond the bookshelf with interviews featuring authors whose newest books are redefining leadership, organizational change, AI, innovation, resilience, and human connection. You’ll also get an early look at McKinsey’s latest book—an inside account of Asia’s owner-CEOs—before it arrives on bookshelves worldwide this September.
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| “From cooking to medical to various areas, we wondered, ‘How is technology going to really help?’ After many meetings with [big tech] companies, I thought, ‘Why don’t I just try for a while to see how AI will affect all parts of life?’” | | | | |
| | | BOOKS ON BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP
| | | The most compelling business ideas start with a great conversation. Explore interviews with today’s authors on leadership, strategy, and innovation—and discover ideas to help transform your organization and team.
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| | | | | In Lead with Kindness, television writer and producer Melinda Hsu explores how so-called soft skills like empathy, mindfulness, and collaboration can result in better business relationships and performance. | | | | |  | | | | | | Are recessions cyclical—or just random shocks in disguise? Tyler Goodspeed, ExxonMobil’s chief economist, challenges long-held assumptions, arguing downturns stem from unexpected shocks, not cycles. | | | | | | | | | | | What keeps teams from speaking up when it matters most? NASA’s Lindy Elkins-Tanton explains how trust and openness fuel better decisions—and surface critical problems sooner. | | | | | |
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| | | | | Why do so many promising products fail to gain traction? A McKinsey alumnus explains why conventional thinking leads founders astray—and shares a practical framework for finding the “ideal” customer. | | | | | | | | | | | What if the fastest way to transform an organization is through crisis? Marina Nitze explains how crises expose hidden failures—and create rare opportunities for reinvention. | | | | | | | | | | | From sneakers to crash test dummies, many everyday designs were developed based on the male body. Nike’s former global creative director explains why better design starts with broader perspectives. | | | | | |
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| “My core realization is that past passions and interests aren’t necessarily locked in the past. . . . Those step-out-of-it and just-go-do-something wildly different experiences became some of the most rewarding experiences of my life and absolutely defined who I became.” | | | | | |
| BOOKS ON PASSION AND PURPOSE
| | | Ready to explore a new passion—or rediscover an old one? Check out these books from authors who challenge conventional wisdom about purpose, connection, and personal growth.
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| | | | | Can a gap year redefine retirement? Mountaineer Tom French shares how skiing, climbing, and adventure travel became a path to self-discovery, renewal, and a clearer vision for what comes next. | | | | | | | | | | | Being stuck isn’t failure—it’s a signal to act. NobleReach Foundation CEO Arun Gupta explains how action—not clarity—creates momentum and fuels mission in an uncertain world. | | | | | | | | | | | What if the antidote to loneliness isn’t technology but ritual? Traveling across 16 countries, author Bruce Feiler uncovered a quiet global movement helping people reconnect in an age of digital overload. | | | | | |
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| | | | | Why does connection matter now? Steelcase Vice President Tracy Brower explains how a convenience-driven culture fuels loneliness and why social interaction is critical to maintaining health and well-being. | | | | | | | | | | | In a new book, Harvard instructor Sarah L. Kaufman draws on her experience translating movement into language to highlight the power of verbs in shaping clear, vivid communication. | | | | | | | | | | | What happens when AI runs your life for a year? NBC News Chief Technology Analyst Joanna Stern reveals surprising gains—and unsettling trade-offs—to embedding AI into everything from labor to leisure. | | | | | |
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| | Make room on your reading list for fresh perspectives on leadership.
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| | | | | In Shapers and Founders: The Untold Stories of Asia’s Extraordinary Owner-CEOs, coauthors Gautam Kumra, McKinsey senior partner and chair of McKinsey’s offices in Asia, McKinsey Partner Cheryl Lim, and McKinsey Senior Partner Joydeep Sengupta reveal the strategies behind Asia’s top-performing entrepreneur-led companies. Launching in September, the book offers practical lessons for leaders seeking to build enduring organizations and lasting competitive advantage. Preorder your copy today. | | Preorder the book  | | | |
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| | | | | The most enduring legacies are the ones that reshape everyday life. In our final online volume of Lives & Legacies, discover the remarkable stories of visionaries, including media mogul Ted Turner, Penguin Press founder Ann Godoff, 7-Eleven retail pioneer Toshifumi Suzuki, The Gap cofounder Doris Fisher, and other leaders whose ideas transformed industries—and continue to shape the way we live today. | | Reflect on leaders’ legacies | | | |
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| | | | —Edited by Emily Adeyanju, editor, Carolinas
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| | | | | Explore McKinsey’s annual book recommendations—a curated collection of nearly 100 thought-provoking titles to inspire fresh ideas and new perspectives. | | Browse the collection | | | |
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