7 books on leadership to read this holiday

Here’s a preview of the exciting new books on work and psychology. Instead of just spouting their opinions, these authors bring us real data:

1. Presence by Amy Cuddy (December 29)

Building on her wildly popular TED talk about power posing, Cuddy explains how we can achieve greater success and sincerity by changing the way we carry ourselves. It’s a captivating, charming read on harnessing confidence and poise.

2. Unfinished Business by Anne-Marie Slaughter (September 29)

As the first woman to direct policy planning at the U.S. State Department, Slaughter ignited a national conversation with her Atlantic piece on why women still can’t have it all. Now, she boldly examines how individuals and policymakers can create equality for men and women—at work and at home.

3. Superforecasting by Philip Tetlock and Dan Gardner (September 29)

One of the giants of behavioral science reveals how to improve at predicting the future. Find out how a farmer does a better job anticipating major world events than political and intelligence experts, and how we can all become smarter and wiser.

4. Friend and Foe by Adam Galinsky and Maurice Schweitzer (September 29)

A fascinating look at cooperation and competition. Discover why we compare ourselves to our Facebook friends, many gender differences are really due to power differences, and it’s usually best to make the first offer in a negotiation.

5. Leadership BS by Jeff Pfeffer (September 15)

A provocative case that most leadership advice is baloney and the entire industry is broken. Pfeffer argues that we consistently give power to the wrong people… and even when we get it right, authenticity may be a recipe for disaster.

6. Rising Strong by Brene Brown (August 25)

The public intellectual and vulnerability icon now takes on bravery. With her signature storytelling skills, she explores how we reckon with emotions, rumble with narratives, and start revolutions in our own lives.

7. Broadcasting Happiness by Michelle Gielan (August 11)

A former news anchor shifts the conversation about happiness from finding it ourselves to spreading it to others. Gielan is a gifted storyteller, and she shares powerful evidence and practical insights for rethinking the way we communicate.

8. Take and Take: Why Selfish Jerks Succeed by Adam Grant (just kidding)

Some other new releases to check out:

• Wired to Create by Scott Barry Kaufman and Carolyn Gregoire(December 29)
• Primed to Perform by Neel Doshi and Lindsay McGregor (October 6)
• The Power of Failure by Fran Tarkenton (September 14)
• Beyond Happy by Beth Cabrera (August 24)
• Mindware by Richard Nisbett (August 18)
• Triumph of the Heart by Megan Feldman (August 11)
• Can’t Not Do by Paul Shoemaker (August 3)

Publication does not imply endorsement of views by the World Economic Forum.

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Author: Adam Grant is a Wharton professor and the New York Times bestselling author of Give and Take.

Image: A woman reads a book at her open air book store in Skopje. REUTERS/Ognen Teofilovski.