Brian Grazer's A Curious Mind is a memoir exploring the power of curiosity in Grazer's life and career as a film producer. The book details his numerous "curiosity conversations" with influential figures across diverse fields, highlighting how questioning and listening fostered both professional success and personal growth. Grazer argues that curiosity is a crucial, yet underappreciated, skill, advocating for its wider cultivation in education and workplaces. He illustrates this through anecdotes showcasing how his inquisitive nature led to unexpected collaborations and innovative approaches to filmmaking. Ultimately, the book champions curiosity as a catalyst for creativity, connection, and a richer life.

Brian Clegg's book, Game Theory: Understanding the Mathematics of Life explores game theory concepts, using various games (from simple ones like tic-tac-toe to complex ones like Go) as examples. It explains the mathematics behind game theory, including concepts like minimax and Nash equilibrium. The author applies these concepts to real-world scenarios, such as auctions and the prisoner's dilemma, illustrating their practical implications. Clegg also discusses the limitations of game theory and the role of probability and utility in decision-making.

Jonas Olofsson's The Forgotten Sense explores the science and cultural history of smell. The book examines the surprising acuity of human olfaction, challenging long-held misconceptions about its inferiority. Olofsson details how smell influences memory, emotion, and even social perceptions, while also discussing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sense of smell and its recovery. Furthermore, the text investigates the role of smell in food preferences, marketing, and cultural traditions, highlighting the interplay between olfactory perception, cognition, and individual experiences. Finally, it considers the potential of future technologies to enhance and expand our olfactory experiences.

Keith Ferrazzi's book, Leading Without Authority, advocates for a new leadership model called co-elevation. This approach emphasizes building strong relationships and collaborative teams to achieve organizational goals, regardless of formal hierarchical position. The book uses numerous anecdotes and case studies to illustrate how individuals can lead effectively without relying solely on positional power. Co-elevation involves actively building trust, giving and receiving candid feedback, and celebrating both successes and failures to foster a more engaged and productive work environment. The book also explores practical strategies for implementing co-elevation, including recontracting, collaborative problem-solving, and fostering psychological safety.

Morgan Housel's The Psychology of Money explores the intersection of personal behavior and financial success. The book uses numerous anecdotes and examples to illustrate how individual experiences, biases, and perspectives significantly shape financial decisions, often overriding rational economic principles. Housel emphasizes the importance of long-term thinking, risk management, and a survival mentality over chasing high returns. He argues that understanding one's own psychological tendencies is crucial for achieving lasting financial well-being, rather than solely focusing on financial strategies. Ultimately, the book advocates for a holistic approach to personal finance that balances rationality with emotional intelligence.

Chris Voss's Never Split the Difference details his experiences as an FBI hostage negotiator and how those techniques translate to everyday negotiations. Voss emphasizes the importance of understanding human psychology, particularly emotional responses (System 1 thinking), to influence outcomes. He introduces several key negotiation tactics, including tactical empathy, calibrated questions, labeling, and accusation audits, to build rapport and achieve favorable results. The book also explores strategies for managing deadlines, utilizing the power of "no," and identifying hidden information ("Black Swans") to gain leverage. Ultimately, the text argues that effective negotiation is about understanding and influencing the emotions of your counterpart, not just employing rational arguments.

Mark Wolynn's It Didn't Start with You explores how inherited family trauma impacts multiple generations. The book synthesizes the author's clinical experiences with current findings in neuroscience and epigenetics. Wolynn identifies inherited family patterns—fears, feelings, and behaviors—and offers methods to break these cycles of suffering. He emphasizes the importance of addressing unresolved traumas, particularly those related to parents, to achieve personal healing and improve overall well-being. The book provides tools and techniques, including creating a "core language map," to help readers understand and resolve their inherited traumas.

Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles, details the authors' research into the Japanese concept of ikigai—finding one's purpose in life—and its connection to longevity, particularly on the island of Okinawa. The book explores various aspects contributing to a long and healthy life, including diet, exercise, mindfulness, and community, drawing from Japanese traditions and Western psychological theories like logotherapy and Morita therapy.