A list of books that I have found something of value or personal interest. I may not incorporate all of the lessons in each book, but they have all influenced my thinking in one way or another.
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Console Wars
By Blake J. Harris
Console Wars by Blake J. Harris tells the story of Sega’s audacious challenge to Nintendo’s dominance in the early 90s, and it’s a masterclass in what scrappy, motivated teams can accomplish against seemingly impossible odds. Harris captures how culture and leadership style can make or break a company, showing the stark contrast between Sega’s aggressive, risk-taking approach and Nintendo’s more conservative strategy. The book has shaped how I think about building underdog teams and creating environments where people feel empowered to take big swings, especially in situations where you’re up against better-resourced competitors.
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Blink
By Malcom Gladwell
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell explores the power and pitfalls of snap judgments, and it’s made me more thoughtful about when to trust my gut versus when to slow down and analyze. Gladwell’s concept of “thin-slicing” has been particularly relevant in hiring and team dynamics, where initial impressions can be both incredibly insightful and dangerously misleading. The book taught me to recognize when my quick judgments are based on genuine pattern recognition versus unconscious bias, which has been critical in building diverse, high-performing teams.
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The Tipping Point
By Malcom Gladwell
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell was another required read in college, and it completely reframed how I think about organizational change and momentum. Gladwell’s exploration of how small actions can trigger massive shifts has been invaluable when I’m trying to understand why some initiatives catch fire while others fizzle. The book taught me to pay attention to the right connectors, the right context, and the right message, which has shaped how I approach everything from product launches to team culture transformations.