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Books are one of the best and most cost-effective tools business leaders can use to encourage and empower their employees. Business books provide employees with the necessary knowledge to improve leadership, creative thinking and teamwork. One of the perks of working in the book industry is that I receive advanced copies of new titles before they are published. Here are seven new business book releases that I’m particularly excited about:

1) A Path Appears by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn (9/23)

Husband-and-wife team Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn brings to light the struggles communities around the world face today in their new book, A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity. Showcasing both individuals and institutions working to address aid effectiveness and expand opportunity, this new book includes stories about a wide variety of people who are making a real impact on the world, along with a guide for others to do the same.

2) The Innovators by Walter Isaacson (10/7)

How did a group of hackers, geniuses and geeks create a digital revolution? On the heels of his blockbuster biography of Steve Jobs, The Innovators is Walter Isaac’s latest story about the people who created the computer and the Internet. He explores the fascinating personalities that launched our current digital revolution and examines how they brought about a new era of fostering innovation, creativity and teamwork.

3) Being Mortal by Atul Gawande (10/7)

Bestselling author and practicing surgeon Atul Gawande tackles one of the hardest challenges of his profession in Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End. Addressing his profession’s ultimate limitation, Gawande argues that quality of life is the goal for patients and families. Full of riveting storytelling and eye-opening research, Being Mortal asserts that medicine can enhance our human experience throughout our entire lifespan.

4) How Google Works by Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg (9/23)

Google is an iconic global company that regularly pushes the limits of innovation. In How Google Works, Eric Schmidt, the Executive Chairman and ex-CEO of Google, and Jonathan Rosenberg, former SVP of Products, share lessons they learned while building the company. Covering a wide variety of topics including corporate culture, talent, innovation and communication, Schmidt and Rosenberg use insider anecdotes from Google’s history to show how the best way for businesses to succeed is to attract smart, creative people and provide an environment where they can thrive.

5) The Sense of Style by Steven Pinker (9/30)

Why has the quality of writing depreciated over the past few centuries? How can we make it better? Why should any of us even care? Bestselling linguist and cognitive scientist Steven Pinker answers these questions and more in The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Writing in the 21st Century. Instead of carping about the decline of language, his new book shows how writing depends on imagination, coherence, empathy and grammatical knowhow. Pinker proves that the art of writing can be a powerful form of communication and a fascinating intellectual topic in its own right.

6) Rookie Smarts by Liz Wiseman (10/14)

In a rapidly changing world, Liz Wiseman argues that experience can actually be a curse in the workplace. For today’s workers, constant learning is actually more valuable than mastery! Rookie Smarts: Why Learning Beats Knowing in the New Games of Work is leadership expert Wiseman’s essential guide to reclaiming and cultivating the flexible, youthful mindset called Rookie Smarts. Her new book isn’t just for professionals seeking renewal — the title is an indispensable resource for all kinds of leaders who need to ensure that their workforce remains competitive and vital.

7) 41: A Portrait of My Father by George W. Bush (11/11)

Though countless books have been written about the 43 men that have served as the President of the United States, never before has a president told the story of his father, another president. George W. Bush’s upcoming book 41: A Portrait of My Father is a groundbreaking and uniquely intimate biography. The book recounts the elder President Bush’s life and career, as well as his influence on his son’s life, by shining a new light on his legacy.

These seven nonfiction books all provide insight on how businesses can better themselves and be more prepared for the future. Because they are great reads for business leaders, I would also recommend them as employee gifts for the holidays. What new books are you looking forward to reading?

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