Book Recommendations
You don’t need to read another business book. You just need to get started. But if you ARE looking for recommendations, here are some of my favorites.
Non Fiction - Business and Psychology
Good to Great by Jim Collins
Hopefully whatever you’re building is built to last. Collins examines what separates great companies from simply good ones. It’s not flashy vision statements or charismatic CEOs, but disciplined leadership and focused action. The Flywheel concept alone is worth the read. Sustainable growth isn’t one big breakthrough. It’s consistent momentum, built with intention.
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Flow is about that all-consuming feeling when you’re so absorbed in what you’re doing that you lose track of time. You’re not checking your phone or second-guessing yourself. You’re just full invested. This book helped me think differently about happiness. Less as a destination and more as a journey of creation and deep engagement.
Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans
This book gives you a real sense of agency in shaping the life you want. If you’re at a crossroads, feeling stuck in your career, or mentoring someone navigating a tough economy, it offers practical exercises to prototype your next step instead of overthinking it. I read it during a sabbatical and later gave it to my niece when she graduated high school. It’s empowering to think of decisions as design choices no matter what challenges you face.
Grit by Angela Duckworth
It takes a lot of grit to change careers or start a new venture. This book makes a case for passion and persistence over pure talent when it comes to long-term success. I picked it up after seeing her TED Talk, which is also worth a watch.
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck
This one changed the way I think about feedback, failure, and growth. The idea of a fixed versus growth mindset sounds simple, but worth the read if you’re building anything new. She offers insights on persistence through challenges, seeking outside help, and being strategic. This is a foundation of my work as a creative consultant.
Emotional Agility by Susan David
Don’t believe anyone who claims growth is linear. This book is about learning how to sit with hard emotions without letting them run the show. The subtitle says it all: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive. Also,take her free Emotional Agility Insights Quiz.
Books About Creativity and Writing
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
I’m not usually drawn to self-help type books, but this one has stayed with me for a decade. Some parts are a little woo for my taste, but the central message about courage and creativity is powerful. Even if you never read it, here’s a compelling quote that may resonate:
“Because creative living is a path for the brave. We all know this. And we all know that when courage dies, creativity dies with it. We all know that fear is a desolate boneyard where our dreams go to desiccate in the hot sun.”
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
This is the only Stephen King book I’ve ever read but I enjoyed the biographical details that inform the way he writes. Listening to the audio version felt like sitting in a college lecture hall and I eagerly took pages and pages of notes.
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Not to be confused with the ancient Chinese military treatise by Sun Tzu though being a founder can feel like a constant battle. This book will have you tethinking everything you know about resistance and creativity.
"Most of us have two lives: the life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance." You might experience this as self-sabotage or imposter syndrome. Call it whatever you want, this book will call it out and help guide the way to self-confidence as a writer or artist.
Friends & Colleagues
I’m so lucky to know incredibly thoughtful writers. These are books I genuinely recommend.
Giving a $#!+: How A Willingness to Be Inconvenienced Can Transform Your Business, Work, and Life by Neal Woodson
Neal was a guest on my short-lived LinkedIn LIVE series, Actually, Ashley… and we’ve had many conversations about the “good old days” of customer-centric business. His premise is simple but powerful: if you’re willing to let go of what’s easy and choose what’s right, everyone wins.
He also wrote The Uncomplicated Coach: How a Busy Manager Learned to Lead Differently and Find Success.
Dreams Deferred: Recession, Struggle, and the Quest for a Better World by Brandolon Barnett
I stumbled upon this book from the Chronicle of Philanthropy but the message of the book resonated with me. I too graduated college during the Great Recession of 2007-2009. He offers a personal narrative to explore how we use our talents to build a life of meaning and purpose. In real life, he’s just as bright, curious, and driven as you’d expect.
He later agreed to speak on a panel discussion for Imperfect Pixels: Art & Economy in 2021.
Ignite Your Greatness: The Secret To Lighting The Fire Within by Barry Overton
Barry reminds us of our greatness through interviews, reflection prompts, practical tips on living out our full potential.
He’s one-half of the world’s most loving power couple (wife Amy is also on this list). In a world full of thought leaders popping off…
Barry is a thoughtful leader that walks the walk. He was kind enough to speak on a panel discussion for Imperfect Pixels: Art & Justice in 2021.
Calling It Off by Katherine Rose Woller
In her debut memoir, Katherine shares her hard-fought journey of growth, honest reflection, and transformation after walking away from the future she thought she wanted.
She invites readers to dance more closely with fate and reconsider relationships at a more intuitive level. Full of wit and grit, she bares it all to inspire you to trust your gut, step through fear, and choose an authentic life — no matter how messy or chaotic it may feel.
Whether you're calling off a wedding or simply moving across the country, Katherine offers insights on making bold decisions at a crossroads in pursuit of the life you've always envisioned.
Katherine and I actually went to college together at WashU, but were introduced by her publisher SJ at Landon Hail Press after I built their website in Kajabi.
So, You're In Sales: Challenges to fuel your success (and keep you sane) by Amy Reczek
Barry’s wife Amy Reczek is a keynote sales speaker and author helping professionals communicate with confidence, build trust, and drive real results.
I hired her back in 2020 for a workshop full of insurance agents working with the commercial insurance brokerage where I worked at the time. She was key in promoting the human differentiators when forging meaningful relationships with clients. Her book was so helpful in shaping the platform we were building at the time.
Amy and I used to do a LinkedIn LIVE series called The Break Room during the pandemic to chat about sales, marketing, and operations.
Destined to Fail: A Memoir of Resilience by Anas Afana and Stella Bellow
Anas’s story spans riots in Sudan, immigration to America at seventeen, and rebuilding his life multiple times over. It’s a powerful memoir about resilience, family, and personal growth. The story is unique, but the themes feel universal.
His story is unique but his personal growth story resonates with the help of co-author Stella Bellow. Stella is an artist and writer with a BFA in Illustration and Literature from Parsons and The New School.
Saving Sam by Sam Goodwin
Sam and I both studied International Affairs at WashU. He later earned his doctorate from Johns Hopkins but he is just SO humble, kind, and genuine.
In his memoir Saving Sam, he recounts his extraordinary journey of traveling to all 193 countries in the world and more notably the time in 2019 when he was taken hostage and wrongfully imprisoned in Syria. He is a model of resilience and diplomacy at a time when the world feels fractured and unpredictable. He now tours the world with his talk on “Winning Through Uncertainty.” Get the audiobook AND the physical copy!
Are You Here? by Jenny Robinson Clark
This tender story reminds me of a beautiful dreamlike Alice in Wonderland journey.
Inspired by the passing of her mother and illustrated from real childhood photos, it carries a message of love, hope, joy. A Story about the magical signs all around as, Are You Here? has become an instant classic in our home.
Children’s Books
YOLKED by Nicole Sciacca
Love Sunny Uneasy as a daring egg encased in bubble wrap that his parents fret over. The puns are funny but it’s a meaningful story about courage, growth, and exploring your limits. Strength comes from taking thoughtful chances.
Nicole works in the fitness industry, but her podcast and writing explores all sorts of topics like identity, spirituality, and mental health.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
The little boy looks so much like my son which is why it was the perfect gift from his best friend Reena. Gorgeous illustrations that were later adapted to a movie on AppleTV with many familiar voices. Favorite quotes:
"What do you want to be when you grow up?" "Kind," said the boy
"What is the bravest thing you've ever said?" "Help"
