Reading to boost wellbeing: 15 exciting book suggestions from the Emergn team
Whether you’re a dedicated bookworm, someone who’s been meaning to read more, or simply seeking your next literary adventure, we’ve got you covered. We gathered a list of 15 exciting book suggestions from avid readers within the Emergn team.
We’re sharing it because, while diving into a new and intriguing story and exploring different worlds is fun, the benefits of reading go far beyond entertainment.
Reading can have a significant positive impact on mental health. It’s a mindful activity that can help you pause, relax, and reduce stress while keeping your mind sharp. Moreover, reading it’s an excellent way of growing knowledge about the world – by introducing us to different cultures, perspectives, and ways of living – or a specific theme we want to know more about.
In addition to knowledge, reading nurtures our creativity. Our imagination grows as we visualize settings, complex characters, and events in our minds. This mental activity stimulates creativity, encourages us to think beyond our realities, and invites us to explore new ideas and possibilities.
So, whether you seek an escape from daily stresses, a chance to expand your perspectives, or boost your creativity, there’s no better way than by starting a new book. Get inspired by 15 exciting book suggestions handpicked by our team.
1. iGen: Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy – and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood by J M Twenge
“Recommend to parents worrying about their teenagers’ habits and outlook.”
FREDRIK HAGSTROEM, CTO
2. The Satsuma Complex by Bob Mortimer
“The book makes me giggle and is the perfect read to unwind. Bob Mortimer is an English comedian – quite quirky, some say surrealist, but he always makes me laugh. They say laughter is the best medicine, except if you break your leg, then a plaster cast and some paracetamol might be better. “
GILLIAN BARNES, ANALYST PRACTICE LEAD
3. Algorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Human Decisions by Brian Christian, Tom Griffiths
“Algorithms developed for computers also untangle human questions. It explains how to have better hunches, when to leave things to chance, how to deal with overwhelming choices and connect with others.”
AIVIS JANSAUSKIS, JAVA PRACTICE LEAD
4. The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni
“The book is great for anyone curious about organizational design, high-performing teams, tips on improving morale, etc.”
STACI DUBOVIK
5. Training from the Back of the Room by Sharon Bowman
“Great for anyone looking to upskill in facilitation or curious to learn communication techniques. Ways to step aside and let people learn, teaching wonderful facilitation techniques backed by science in a digestible and applicable way with concepts, benefits, one-minute reviews, activities, learning logs, and more.”
STACI DUBOVIK
6. The Culture Map by Erin Meyer
“All about how people think, lead, and get things done while decoding how cultural differences impact international business. It’s well written and dives into org design and the benefits of human networks and how to navigate company culture and connect with people in a global marketplace.”
STACI DUBOVIK
7. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
“Recommend this to anyone looking for a good summer reading or audiobook. A novel about the choices that go into a life well lived. Travel through time and follow a woman through the various parallel lives she lives based on different choices at various points in time.”
STACI DUBOVIK
8. Theory and Reality: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science by Peter Godfrey-Smith
“Originally, I listened to the audiobook just to sleep, but I ended up listening to it fully. I felt like the scientific method is quite clear, but it turns out there are many nuances and historical contexts that led us to how we conduct research today. And even today, the discussion on how to arrive at an improved method has not stopped. Valuable to read if you’re someone who pays attention to scientific research and tries to verify your sources.”
MARTIN BELTE
9. Start With Why by Simon Sinek
“The book helps to put things into perspective, helped me to think about things in a different way, to find purpose in what I do and the choices I make, and with that comes clarity.”
BRUNO COCHOFEL
10. The Phoenix Project by Gene Kim
“A must for everyone working in IT.”
BRUNO COCHOFEL
11. Eragon by Christopher Paolini
“It is a rich fantasy universe with good development of each character’s background, giving them a plausible reason for their actions and good storytelling for the whole saga.”
SAMUEL PAMPOLINI, .NET PRACTICE LEAD
12. 1984 by George Orwell
“1984 is a classic work of literature. It depicts a surveillance state, perpetual war, and the manipulation of truth, serving as a cautionary tale about the dangers of totalitarianism.”
GINTS TRUBINS, ENTERPRISE PRACTICE LEAD
13. Never Split the Difference. Negotiate as Your Life Depended On It by Chriss Voss with Tahl Raz
“We all know how to talk and listen, but improving these skills is worth it, right? The author is an ex-FBI hostage negotiator with broad experience in complicated situations. Still, the book will also be entertaining, insightful, and useful for daily life.”
LIVA ZARDA, TALENT ACQUISTION SPECIALIST
14. Artificially Human: Making Sense of Automation and AI by Robert Whiteman
“This book takes a thought provocative approach on placing the machines (not the humans) at the center of digital transformation.”
PEDRO FERNANDES, AUTOMATION PRACTICE LEAD
15. Surrounded by Idiots: The Four Types of Human Behaviour (or, How to Understand Those Who Cannot Be Understood) by Thomas Erikson
“Have you ever been talking to someone and not getting your message across? I have, and it’s not because they’re idiots; they just process the message differently. This book helps you understand how people function and why we often struggle to connect with certain types of people.”
MARLI VAN SITTERT
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