Whenever I see or hear about a book that interests me, I buy it straight away.
The $20–$40 investment is almost always worth it, whether I finish the book or not. It's not just about the hours you spend reading. It's about the ideas tucked inside the pages that have the power to change how you think, how you lead, how you make decisions and, ultimately, the direction your life takes.
Book Hero is still a relatively small start-up. We don't have unlimited cash to spend on conferences, workshops or flying a team of 20 around the country. We'll get there one day, but for now we're careful with every dollar. The money we save today can be invested back into growing the business and keeping book prices low for our customers.
So when someone suggested giving every member of the team a monthly allowance to take one book from our shelves for their own personal or professional development, it was an easy yes.
There are thousands of years of knowledge sitting on those shelves. New ideas. Old ideas. Different ways of solving problems, leading people, communicating and thinking. We wanted to make all of that freely available to our team.
The only rule is simple: choose whatever interests you. No questions. No judgement. We just hope you enjoy it and learn something useful. Usually the business benefits too.
Surrounded by Idiots
By Thomas Erikson
The Four Types of Human Behaviour and How to Effectively Communicate with Each in Business (and in Life)
The funny and practical bestseller and global phenomenon that teaches you how to improve your communication skills in relation to four distinct personality types - now fully revised and updated.
THE NUMBER 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER. OVER 10 MILLION COPIES SOLD
At the moment, several people on the team (and probably more by the time you read this) are making their way through Surrounded by Idiots.
I'll admit it — I hate the title. According to the author, that's apparently typical of someone with my personality "colour". But the ideas behind the book are excellent.
As Book Hero has grown from two people to more than twenty in less than two years, we've had to learn very quickly that different personalities aren't just inevitable — they're essential. A great business isn't built by twenty people who all think the same. It's built by people who approach problems differently and communicate differently.
Surrounded by Idiots introduces a simple colour-based personality model that helps explain why people communicate the way they do, and how understanding those differences can make working together much easier.
When I mentioned the book to my partner Alex, who works in a leadership role at a much larger organisation, he laughed and told me I was late to the party. He already knew the framework, had worked out both of our colours and seemed thoroughly unsurprised by the results.
It's a great read, and I'd recommend it to anyone who leads people or works as part of a team.
Radical Candor
By Kim Scott
Fully Revised and Updated Edition: How to Get What You Want by Saying What You Mean
Radical Candor by Kim Scott revolutionises the traditional concepts of management with a bold approach that emphasises candour and empathy in the workplace. The book draws extensively from Scott's own illustrious career at some of Silicon Valley's most successful companies, including Google, where she led major business units and teams, and Apple, where she was instrumental in developing a world-class management programme.
Another book I've encouraged everyone to read is Radical Candor. One of its central ideas is that the quality of your relationships has an enormous influence on your success as a leader.
That really resonated with me.
These days I spend a lot of time thinking about each member of our team. What's going well? Where could I support them better? Is there a conversation we've been putting off? Am I investing enough in the relationship itself?
I've become a big believer in putting the laptop away, turning the phone upside down and taking someone for a coffee or a walk. Those conversations build trust long before you need to have a difficult discussion.
Turn the Ship Around!
By L. David marquet
A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders
No matter your business or position, you can apply Marquet's radical guidelines to turn your own ship around. The payoff- a workplace where everyone around you is taking responsibility for their actions, where people are healthier and happier, where everyone is a leader.
Another favourite is Turn the Ship Around!
Its philosophy of intent-based leadership has had a huge influence on how we run Book Hero. Rather than encouraging people to wait for instructions or ask permission, we encourage them to signal their intent.
That small shift changes everything.
It pushes decision-making closer to the people doing the work, encourages deeper thinking, creates better outcomes and gives people far more ownership over what they do.
Perhaps the most rewarding part of introducing the monthly book allowance hasn't been the books themselves.
It's been watching ideas spread through the team.
Books get passed around. People recommend chapters to each other. Lunch breaks become book discussions. Someone finishes a great book and immediately lends it to someone else.
We're even talking about creating a permanent team library where all of our favourite leadership, business and personal development books live, ready for the next person to borrow.
Books don't just change individuals - they change conversations, team cultures and ultimately the direction and outcome of an entire organisation.
If you haven't already, I'd highly recommend giving your team a monthly book allowance. Or if you're reading this and it's just you - JUST BUY THE BOOK :D
