Books That Changed
Me and My Work
I read to understand people, systems, and myself. These are the books that shifted something in me - how I lead, how I see the world, and how I make sense of being human.
I return to many of them often, and I hope one finds you at the moment you need it.
Books That Changed How I Lead
The books that shaped how I think, listen and guide people through change.
Leadership and Self-Deception by The Arbinger Institute - A deceptively simple story that forces you to examine how you show up for others. Uncomfortable at times, but in the way that leads to a good place.
Dare to Lead by Brené Brown - Leadership grounded in courage and clarity. Practical, human, and refreshingly honest.
How to Be an Inclusive Leader by Jennifer Brown - A steady, accessible guide for moving inclusion from intention to action.
The Wake-Up by Michelle Mijung Kim - A clear-eyed reminder that real DEI work requires honesty, discomfort, and follow-through.
The Conversation by Robert Livingston - Research-backed, direct, and actionable. Helps leaders move beyond awareness toward actual change.
DEI Deconstructed by Lily Zheng - A rigorously honest, evidence-based roadmap for doing DEI work well… with clarity, precision, and zero tolerance for the performative fluff that derails progress.
Uncompete by Ruchika Maholtra - A fresh, practical challenge to the systems we treat as “normal.” It invites leaders to rethink competition, redesign workplaces, and build cultures where more people can thrive.
Success Mindsets by Ryan Gottfredson - A simple but powerful look at how mindset shapes behavior, growth, and leadership.
Think Again by Adam Grant - The nudge to question your convictions and stay open to unlearning.
Atomic Habits by James Clear - A reminder that lasting change comes from small, consistent choices - in life and culture.
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman - A masterclass in how people make decisions, and why understanding bias matters for anyone leading people or systems.
Books That Changed How I See People
Stories and ideas that expanded my empathy, worldview, and my understanding of identity and belonging.
The Anti-Ableist Manifesto by Tiffany Yu - A deeply human call to design with dignity in mind. Simple shifts, big impact.
The Inconvenient Indian by Thomas King - Wry, sharp, and unflinchingly honest. A necessary reframing of the stories we tell — and avoid — about Indigenous history and presence in North America.
Salt Houses by Hala Alyan - A moving, multigenerational story of displacement and identity that lingers long after the last page.
The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi - Tender, complex, and emotionally precise. A story that stays with you. I would recommend practically anything by Emezi. They are an amazing writer.
Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters - Sharp, witty, and beautifully messy. It’s an invitation into the complexities of gender, care, and chosen family.
Caste by Isabel Wilkerson - A structural, sweeping look at hierarchy and power that permanently changes how you read the world.
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates - A letter of love, grief, and truth. I have reread it annually for the last three years and each time a new door opens.
White Tears/Brown Scars by Ruby Hamad - Uncomfortable in all the necessary ways - a call to see and name what often goes unspoken.
One Day Everyone Will Have Been Against This by Omar El Akkad - A piercing look at systems, resistance, and memory. Quietly devastating and beautifully written.
Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad - Art, identity, and inherited struggle woven into a breathtaking final act.
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese - A generous, sprawling story that expands your capacity for compassion. A slow, deep shift.
Books That Changed Me
The internal re-arranging - the books that shifted how I understand myself, my work, and what matters
The Person You Mean to Be by Dolly Chugh - Gentle, honest guidance for imperfect people trying to do better.
What Happened to You? by Bruce Perry & Oprah Winfrey - A shift from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” that changes how you see everyone, including yourself.
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer - An invitation into reciprocity, gratitude, and a different way of paying attention.
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates - A book that rearranges something every time you revisit it.
Think Again by Adam Grant - A reminder that letting go of certainty is part of growing.
Atomic Habits by James Clear - Because the smallest habits often reshape the biggest patterns.
Caste by Isabel Wilkerson - Understanding systems changes how you understand yourself within them.
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese - Softens you, deepens you, and stays with you long after the final chapter.
White Tears/Brown Scars by Ruby Hamad - This one hit closer to home - naming the patterns I’d been socialized into, the ones I didn’t always see but still participated in. It sharpened my awareness and raised my accountability in ways I’m grateful for.