The 12 New Fall Books to Enrich Your Thinking

Key themes include success and failure, identity and connection, and leadership.

The idea books that light me up are filled with paradoxes. Some offer timely insights on timeless questions. Others glean universal wisdom from personal experiences. Many use anecdotes to illustrate and illuminate data. And most manage to challenge our opinions while affirming our values.

That’s what I hope my recommended fall readings do for you.

SUCCESS AND FAILURE

1.       Optimal Illusions by Coco Krumme (September 12)

An applied mathematician challenges the zeitgeist of optimizing everything. She reveals that always aiming for the best might well be the worst way to lead our lives and build our societies.

2.       Right Kind of Wrong by Amy Edmondson (September 5)

No skill in life is more important than learning from failure—and no one on earth knows more about it than Amy Edmondson. Drawing on her eye-opening evidence and rich practical experience, she offers a wealth of insight on how to take intelligent risks and bounce forward after setbacks.

3.       Activate Your Greatness by Alex Toussaint (October 10)

This Peloton instructor has inspired millions of people to reach new heights—not just on their bikes, but in every part of their lives. His memoir may fire you up to do better and feel better.

4.       Never Enough by Jennifer Breheny Wallace (August 22)

An award-winning journalist takes on the toxic culture of achievement in education. Her message is spot on: instead of pressuring kids to perform, parents and teachers should focus on helping them see how they matter.

IDENTITY AND CONNECTION

5.       It’s On Me by Sara Kuburic (September 19)

Instagram’s favorite Millennial therapist shows us how to recognize an overlooked form of loss: the loss of self. Using her training in existential psychotherapy, she highlights how we can regain control of our identities and take charge of our lives.

6.       Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult by Maria Bamford (September 5)

An acclaimed comedian chronicles her experiences with mental illness and her search for community. Warning: her hilarious riffs will make you feel seen.

7.       Writing for Busy Readers by Todd Rogers and Jessica Lasky-Fink (September 5)

Move over, AI: this is the ultimate guide to conjuring words that captivate people. This book won’t just make you a better writer—it will turn you into a more effective communicator.

LEADERSHIP

8.       How Not to Be a Politician by Rory Stewart (September 19)

He walked across Asia, served in British Parliament, and ran against Boris Johnson. Now he gives us his view of what’s wrong with politics, and how we can make it right.

9.       The Geek Way by Andy McAfee (November 14)

A fascinating case that the most important technological revolution of our time isn’t what companies

make, but how they’re managed. An expert provocateur offers a fresh lens on the lessons from Silicon Valley—and the lessons they still have yet to learn.

10.   Going Infinite by Michael Lewis (October 3)

The master journalist presents the inside scoop on Sam Bankman-Fried, the collapse of FTX, and the future of cryptocurrency.

11.   Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson (September 12)

The long-awaited biography of the most prominent—and most polarizing—tycoon of our time.

SHAMELESS PLUG

12.   Hidden Potential by Some Bald Guy (October 24)

I can’t stand self-promotion, but I do believe in idea-promotion. I wrote this book for everyone who’s ever been underestimated or overlooked, felt like an impostor, or grappled with a lack of talent or opportunity. It’s about the science of elevating ourselves—and others—to unexpected heights. The true measure of potential is not the peak we’ve reached, but the distance we’ve traveled to get there.

To start identifying avenues for unlocking your hidden potential, take our quiz here.