Best of 2019’s business books

When it comes to books that cover business, the field grows ever wider: management, economics, start-up stories, tech breakthroughs and, increasingly, scandals. There are heaps of different ‘best of’ lists, each with heaps of different choices (there’s a selection at the end of this post).

As 2019 comes to an end it seems I’m not alone in needing inspiration and a hefty dollop of optimism. Here’s what’s on my wish-list/reading pile.

Make, Think, Imagine: Engineering the Future of Civilisation by John Browne, Baron Browne of Madingley. If the name sounds familiar, he was BP’s Global CEO, so probably knows a thing or two about engineering.

Equal: A story of women, pay and the BBC by Carrie Gracie. I used to enjoy The BBC’s China Editor’s pithy reports in BBC’s Business Daily podcasts and was astounded about the circumstances of her departure. I mean, the BBC, good grief. 

Loonshots: How to Nurture the Crazy Ideas That Win Wars, Cure Diseases, and Transform Industries by Safi Bahcall. As I frequently work with people who come up with crazy ideas for a living, this is high on my list. Daniel Kahneman gives it a great review, so it must be worth a look…

Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber by Mike Isaac, is very timely in the UK as the courtroom shenanigans continue; a blow has been dealt yet Uber still operates in London.

She Said: Breaking the sexual harassment story that helped ignite a movement by Jodi Cantor and Megan Twohey. I sincerely hope this turns into a block-buster film that everyone queues to see (as did ‘All the President’s Men’ many years ago).

More inspiration from these compilations:

strategy+business list their pick of 2019’s business books in 7 seven categories

Here’s the pick from The Financial Times (the overall winner of their ‘best book’ in conjunction with McKinsey has yet to be announced).

Inc has made their choice, as has Fortune

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