Everyone loves a good book. This is true of executives looking to find new perspective or some level of grounding. How can they take what they have learned in any given genre and apply it to their professional lives? Some may look for practical reads that help them further develop their leadership skills, while others might simply enjoy getting lost in a captivating novel.
In D CEO’s May issue, we asked seven North Texas leaders to name the one book they think everyone should read. Here’s what they had to say:
“American Cities by Jane Jacobs stands the test of time and provides an understanding of how design and infrastructure impact urban living and quality of life. America’s future is in our cities; we need to ensure that they are rebuilt with people in mind. This is especially true in Dallas; in fewer than 15 years, our metro will be larger than Chicago’s. We have the opportunity today to create the infrastructure needed to take this growth on as a benefit and raise as many people up as possible.”
Philip Hiatt Haigh | The Loop Dallas
“The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker has helped me focus on what I’m capable of doing with my time and resources. When the need is greater than the resources available, we must be creative to be effective.”
Florencia v. Fortner, The Concilio
“With the Bark Off: A Journalist’s Memories of LBJ and a Life in the News Media by Neal Spelce. His stories are riveting and have never been told. If you love history, politics, or just Texas, you’ll love this book.”
Crayton Webb, Sunwest Communications
“Shoe Dog by Phil Knight is the story of how a small company with funny-looking running shoes became the biggest name in sports retail. The book is a must-read for small business owners who dream of growing into something great.”
Jeanette Teckman, Match Group
“The Road Less Traveled by Dr. M. Scott Peck. There is an inextricable link between pain, love, and growth. We’re hardwired to try to avoid pain; we push it away, medicate it, and will do almost anything to avoid it.”
Gene Besen, Bradley
“The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk. He teaches about the ripple effects of trauma, how the body stores trauma, and how the psychology industry is fractured in treating these issues with medicine versus therapy.”
Sana Syed, Allyn Media
“Can We Agree to Disagree? by Sabine Landolt and Agathe Laurent shares scenarios from the perspective of two different cultures and offers suggestions to both sides. It is fascinating to see the world through the eyes of someone else.”
Frank M. Castora, Eviden
