The bookstores are packed with excellent books on various topics.  Here, Jonathan Halls selects just a few that he recommends.

Mind Set!
John Nesbait

Naisbitt brought us the 1980s best seller, Mega Trends.  In his latest book, Mind Set!, he outlines 11 mindsets that he argues are important for understanding the future.  He then offers five "pictures of the future".

One of the mindsets I like of Nesbait is his, "be in the front of the parade but not so far in front you don't look like you belong in the parade."  And I think his prediction that we're entering an era where visual communication will take a larger role.  His arguments are compelling and he provides many examples.

I like this book because it addresses how we think without being overbearing or adopting a 'pseudo intellectual' air.  I think it offers important perspectives for anyone interested in the future, or more important, anyone who wants to create the future.
 

The Luck Factor
Richard Wiseman

People often think I'm joking when I suggest luck is science rather than superstition.  They then become skeptical when I suggest they can increase their luck scientifically.

They obviously haven't read Dr Wiseman's excellent book, The Luck Factor.  A shame, because it's been out since 2003.

In this fascinating, readable and sensible book, he argues from academic research that you can increase your luck.  He cites what he calls his four principles of luck.  First, maximize your chance opportunities.  Second, listen to your hunches.  Third, expect good fortune.  And fourth, turn bad luck into good luck.

Of course it's not easy for someone who considers herself or himself a 'scientific rational' to pick this book up.  Because science and luck are more antonyms than synonyms. 

So don't take my word for it.  Exercise a skeptical mind and read his book which is based on Wiseman's academic research.  It'll powerfully challenge many of what have become today's common assumptions.

The World is Flat
Thomas L Friedman

OK, so everyone has been talking about The World is Flat and it became one of the "Must Read" books about a year and a half a go.  What interests me is I meet more Americans who have read this book than Europeans which is a shame.

Friedman covers the international beat for the New York Times and brings his incredible depth of experience and analysis to this book.  He offers an interesting paradigm for understanding the future. 

Among the many things he does in this book, he offers what I think is one of the best frameworks to understand the advantages of the dot.com bust and gives us some very interesting perspectives to understand how the world is so radically changing.
 

The Leader as Communicator
Robert Mai and Alan Akerson

This is not a light read for someone who wants a light and fluffy book on communication.  But for anyone interested in understanding organizational communication, one of the best books I've come across.  This book looks at the skills leaders must develop to achieve phenomenal communication as leaders.

I was so impressed that when I was at the BBC I had the members of my management team to buy the book and devour it as part of their own professional development.  Over a period of about 9 months, we divided the book up and took turns 'team teaching' its principles to each other. 

The authors were so effective in explaining factors that made communication fail or succeed in leadership that we were easily able to relate them to our own experiences.  Some of us used their wisdom to build a personal development plan focused on improving our communication performance as leaders. 
 

How to think Like Leonardo da Vinci
Michael J Gelb

This books examines the life of genius Leonardo da Vinci and distills seven ways you can increase your creativity and genius.

If you want to change the way you think, read this book.  It's full of ideas and suggestions you can put into practice straight away.
 

People Skills
Robert Bolton

We haven't worked out why more people aren't quoting this timeless classic.  If anyone asks us for a good book on communication and interpersonal skills, this is one of our first choices.

Bolton helps us understand communication and deal with conflict by explaining the communication process and road blocks.  He intelligently explains some of the basics of good communication.

While this book is not an academic tome, neither is it written in a vacuous style like some of the self-help books we find in airport bookstores.   
 

Influencing with Integrity
Dr Genie Laborde

When I started out in radio, my mentor at the ABC tried to convince me how powerful NLP (neuro linguistic programming) was.  That was back in the late 1980s before NLP became fashionable and earned the widespread respect it has today.

He wanted me to read more about it and Laborde's Influencing with Integrity is the book he insisted I read.  Even then, it was a hard book to get hold of.  I remember searching for Laborde's book in my university library and discovered that two out of three copies had been stolen. 

So when I did get to borrow it, I devoured it.  It made so much sense and was explained in powerful simplicity.

Laborde talks about the power of communication and how to use NLP tools such as mirroring, pacing etc to influence rather than manipulate. 

Influencing with Integrity is a practical introduction.  And like a good teacher, Laborde makes something that can seem complex, very simple.
 

Just Rewards
Jamelle Wells

Right now the biggest challenge facing Human Resource professionals and corporate leaders is the talent war.  Finding, and then keeping, good staff is hard work.

News and business editor, Jamelle Wells, talks to successful organizations and asks how they motivate and reward their staff.  Insightfully analyzing their wisdom, Wells has distilled their experience into practical advice that will power up your leadership to keep your good people.

It's Your Ship
Michael Abrashoff

I didn't need to buy the book to be impressed by Abrashoff's leadership values.  I heard him at ASTD's international conference in Washington, DC on a panel discussion.  I was so impressed I immediately ordered his book.

And the book blew me away.  This book shares his experience turning around one of the worst rated navy ships in the Pacific by valuing his staff and sharing the leadership with them.  A gutsy and practical book. 

I recommend it if you want to move beyond corporate buzzwords to real leadership.  It validated my own leadership practice at the BBC and inspired me big time!