I can’t remember the last time I was this excited about so many fall book releases. If Dolly Parton ran an imagination library for adults, this would be an ideal place to start.
My top picks cover resilience, success, nature, emotions and well-being, technology and humanity, and connection and belonging.
RESILIENCE
1. Lump by writer-poet Allison Sweet Grant
A short, stunning memoir about breast cancer in poetry and prose, chronicling the most tragic moments in loss and celebrating the most tender moments in life. I loved it—and not just because I love her.
2. Never Say Die by actor Ke Huy Quan
A remarkable story of going from refugee to child star, and then from hitting a wall to building a door.
SUCCESS
3. Situated by psychologist Angela Duckworth
A captivating look at why willpower is overrated, and how to change your circumstances.
4. What Could Possibly Go Right? by restauranteur Danny Meyer
A warm, wise recipe for building cultures that bring out the best in people.
NATURE
5. Nature’s Last Dance by environmentalist Natalie Kyriacou
A spellbinding read on our extinction crisis—and how we can stop it.
6. Natural Intelligence & the Logic of Consciousness by neuroscientist Antonio Damasio
A bold reimagination of what makes us sentient.
EMOTIONS AND WELL-BEING
7. The Opposite of Happiness by behavioral economist George Loewenstein
A tour de force on the genesis and benefits of unpleasant emotions.
8. Worth by counseling psychologist Marisa Franco
An evidence-based antidote to insecurity and low self-esteem.
TECHNOLOGY AND HUMANITY
9. Co-Existence by management professor Ethan Mollick
A timely guide to using AI without losing human judgment in the process.
10. Artificial Intimacy by sociologist Sherry Turkle
A powerful analysis of how to prevent chatbots from hijacking our attachments.
CONNECTION AND BELONGING
11. The Art of Fighting by conflict mediator Priya Parker
An openhearted manual for having better arguments and forging tighter bonds.
12. Vibe by Some Bald Guy
I’ve had a blast exploring how to spark, strengthen, sustain, and scale connections in our lonely world. I hope to see some of you on tour this fall:
Listing wife's book at first and your book at last tells the quality of the list. Salute to you sir 🫡
Can some bald guy add a tour stop in Denver? It's only a few hours away from Kansas City, so you can do it on Nov 13th. That would make it Friday the 13th, which would be an awesome way to end the American leg. Imagine the marketing! *Cue deep announcer voice...."This fall, only in Denver, on Friday the 13th!!!!" Let's do it, Adam! Who can we tap to get this moving?