This summer, recharge your batteries and find out how you can grow your business from the best authors in the field. This way, you will develop your projects with more energy and more wisdom.

We suggest a list of 15 business books that will bring you new perspectives and from which you have plenty to learn.

What these readings have in common is the fact that they are based on scientific studies and, therefore, are not part of the category of motivational books that can frustrate you with their lack of substance.

Not that we have anything against those books, it’s just that we like to verify information, or to double fact-check (a strength of our profession).

Grit by Angela Duckworth

Grit is a character trait that is hard to explain in English and even harder to translate into Romanian.

In a few words, grit is the blend of passion and an individual’s perseverance to achieve what they set out to do.

The author, who is a psychologist by training, argues that the secret to success is not talent, but precisely this mix of perseverance and passion.

Read more about Grit in this article on our blog.

Superbosses: How Exceptional Leaders Master the Flow of Talent by Sydney Finkelstein

Regardless of the industry they operate in, exceptional leaders demonstrate an ease in inspiring others.

Superbosses are those people who have a major impact on managers and the team, and who even manage to influence the evolution of the industry.

Sydney Finkelstein discovers the secret to these super-leaders’ success through 200 interviews.

How to Have a Good Day by Caroline Webb

How to have a great day, balancing personal and professional life, is what Caroline Webb, a former consultant at McKinsey, will tell you.

The author bases every piece of advice on becoming better on scientific evidence.

Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family by Bob Chapman and Raj Sisodia

Bob Chapman is the CEO of Barry-Wehmiller and is renowned for his people-centric welfare policies.

In the book, along with Raj Sisodia, he provides real-life examples to illustrate the lack of humanity in business leadership and how the human aspect itself leads to sustainable growth.

The book is a call to show that we care about each other and to have more trust in the act of doing good.

Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges by Amy Cuddy

Be yourself, even when you have to face the biggest challenges, is the idea Amy Cuddy puts forward.

Self-confidence and body language are what give you the power to overcome the most difficult situations. In this TED Talk, you can explore some of the author’s ideas.

What Works: Gender Equality by Design by Iris Bohnet

Gender biases are still part of reality, although they have been addressed in various ways.

Iris Bohnet proposes a series of research-based solutions and shows how we can do more to solve this problem of inequality.

The proposed solutions are inexpensive, actionable, and effective.

Mastering Civility: A Manifesto for the Workplace by Christine Porath

Being polite is a challenge for more and more people, who defend their opinions even at the risk of crossing the boundaries of common sense.

The book brings together results from neuroscience, medicine, and psychology to support managers and employees who want a workspace oriented toward efficiency.

Radical Candor by Kim Scott

A former director at Google and Apple, currently a CEO in Silicon Valley, Kim Scott believes that in a workspace where honesty is promoted, the team has more to gain, especially when it comes to performance.

The book will inspire you to build and lead a team that gives its best.

Leadership Lessons From a UPS Driver: Delivering a Culture of We, Not Me by Ron Wallace

Ron Wallace started as a delivery driver at UPS, only to become the president of UPS International today.

The book is not a memoir of a celebrity life, but rather a sharing of advice on how to build a dynamic team and how to grow your business.

Conscious Capitalism by John Mackey and Rajendra Sisodia

The book is part of a broader movement promoting the idea of responsible, honest, and ethical capitalism.

The authors of the book are also the leaders of the organization of the same name, Conscious Capitalism.

A case study the book explores is the acquisition of retailer Whole Foods by the giant Amazon and how its mission will be affected following this move.

Trust Factor: The Science of Creating High-Performance Companies by Paul J. Zak

Zak is the director of the Center for Neuroeconomics Studies (yes, neuroeconomics) at Claremont University.

As a specialist in this unusual field, he explains how brain chemicals influence behavior and, specifically, trust.

The examples in the book show how we can use neurochemistry to cultivate a work environment naturally built on trust.

Why Motivating People Doesn’t Work…and What Does: The New Science of Leading, Energizing, and Engaging by Susan Fowler

Susan Fowler is a leadership coach and researcher, and from these positions, she has collected data to demonstrate that the carrot-and-stick method is not exactly effective.

She offers solutions that actually work based on her experience with NASA, Microsoft, and Mattel.

The author proposes a model through which to guide employees to see their job as a means of personal fulfillment.

Are You Fully Charged?: The 3 Keys to Energizing Your Work and Life by Tom Rath

Tom Rath’s book, based on thorough research, argues that we only need three pillars to have a meaningful life: being part of something grander than ourselves, valuing experiences and people more than things, and taking care of ourselves first is the first step we can take when we want to help others.

Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone by Mark Goulston

The author of this book, Mark Goulston, is a psychiatrist, business consultant, and FBI trainer for hostage release negotiations.

The recommended techniques come precisely from his vast experience and will teach you how to deal with defiant bosses, angry employees, and how to manage a self-destructive team.

The Best Place to Work: The Art and Science of Creating an Extraordinary Workplace by Ron Friedman

What truly makes us effective at work, you can find out from Ron Friedman’s book which provides evidence in this regard by studying motivation, creativity, behavioral economics, neuroscience, and management.

The book explores more than just the purpose of work, namely what we can do to be more human, more alive, and more effective.

What do you recommend?

Some of the proposed books have already been read by our colleagues, while others are also on our future reading list.

We would love to know if you have read any of the books, if you have any recommendations, or if you know where we can find the Romanian translations.

Share your opinion with us in the comments or here, via a message.