One of my most memorable and meaningful recent experiences was participating in last week’s virtual Berrett-Koehler 2022 shareholders meeting. This also marked a celebration of 30 years in business for the unique publishing company, which published my first book in 2009.
A recent Publishers Weekly article, “Berrett-Koehler Publishers Saw Growth in 2021,” provides a succinct overview of the company and some of the characteristics that differentiate it from other publishers.
Although I’m not a shareholder, I attended because I’ve been an active member of the BK community since my book was published, and have written about its activities often, most recently in my post about Becky Robinson’s new book Reach, and about the recent virtual BK Authors Nonfiction Book Marketing Workshop. In 2017, I wrote about BK’s 25th anniversary.
In honor of the 30th anniversary of the company started by the visionary Steve Piersanti (who transitioned from CEO to full-time editor a few years ago), I’ve curated a list of some of BK’s most crucial books. I did not have scientific criteria in compiling the list, but I have limited it to one title per lead author, and have used the most recent edition of the many that have gone into multiple editions.
One of the authors on the list, Joyce M. Roché, is now the Chair of the BK board of directors.
I included many titles that BK identifies as best-sellers on its website, and ones that they have considered to be particularly influential. I’ve also concentrated on books that have been out for at least several years, and many go back to BK’s early days. I’m sure I missed some important titles, and if anyone else inside or outside the company would like to compile their own, I’d love to read it!
Even though this is a long list, it only represents a small fraction of the amazing titles BK has published during the last 30 years. Taken together, they represent a curriculum for living an honorable life, and for effectiveness and leadership in institutions of all types, now and in the future.
Sharif Abdullah Creating a World That Works for All
Laurence Ackerman Identity Is Destiny: Leadership and the Roots of Value Creation
Marilee Adams Change Your Questions, Change Your Life: 12 Powerful Tools for Leadership, Coaching, and Life, 4th edition
Mark Albion True To Yourself: Leading a Values-Based Business
The Arbinger Institute Leadership and Self-Deception, 3rd edition
Dick Axelrod Terms of Engagement: New Ways of Leading and Changing Organizations, 2nd Edition
Wendy Axelrod and Jeannie Coyle Make Talent Your Business: How Exceptional Managers Develop People While Getting Results
Cheryl Bachelder Dare to Serve: How to Drive Superior Results by Serving Others, Second Edition, Updated and Expanded
Mila N. Baker Peer-to-Peer Leadership: Why the Network Is the Leader
Janelle Barlow A Complaint Is a Gift: How to Learn from Critical Feedback and Recover Customer Loyalty, 3rd Edition
Chip Bell Customers As Partners: Building Relationships That Last
Geoffrey Bellman Getting Things Done When You Are Not in Charge, 2nd Edition
Ken Blanchard and Jesse Lyn Stoner Full Steam Ahead! Unleash the Power of Vision in Your Work and Your Life, 2nd Edition
Peter Block Stewardship: Choosing Service Over Self-Interest, 2nd Edition
Noah Blumenthal Be the Hero: Three Powerful Ways to Overcome Challenges in Work and Life
Dianna Booher Creating Personal Presence: Look, Talk, Think, and Act Like a Leader
Juana Bordas Salsa, Soul, and Spirit: Leadership for a Multicultural Age, 2nd Edition
Ruma Bose and Louis Faust III Mother Teresa, CEO: Unexpected Principles for Practical Leadership
Alan Briskin The Stirring of Soul in the Workplace
Stuart H. Brody The Law of Small Things: Creating a Habit of Integrity in a Culture of Mistrust
Juanita Brown and David Isaacs The World Café: Shaping Our Futures Through Conversations That Matter
John Hope Bryant How the Poor Can Save Capitalism: Rebuilding the Path to the Middle Class
Kim Cameron Positive Leadership: Strategies for Extraordinary Performance, 2nd Edition
Kathy Caprino Breakdown Breakthrough: The Professional Woman’s Guide to Claiming a Life of Passion, Power, and Purpose
Kevin Cashman Leadership from the Inside Out: Becoming a Leader for Life
Ira Chaleff The Courageous Follower: Standing Up to and For Our Leaders, 3rd Edition
David Cooperrider and Diana Whitney Appreciative Inquiry: A Positive Revolution in Change
Taylor Cox Cultural Diversity in Organizations: Theory, Research, and Practice
Thomas Crum Three Deep Breaths: Finding Power and Purpose in a Stressed-Out World
Martin Davidson The End of Diversity As We Know It: Why Diversity Efforts Fail and How Leveraging Difference Can Succeed
Belva Davis with Vicki Haddock Never in My Wildest Dreams: A Black Woman’s Life in Journalism
Dr. Shirley Davis Living Beyond “What If?”: Release the Limits and Realize Your Dreams
John de Graaf, David Wann, and Thomas H. Naylor Affluenza: How Overconsumption Is Killing Us- and How to Fight Back, Third Mutation
Elizabeth Doty The Compromise Trap: How to Thrive at Work Without Selling Your Soul
Larry Dressler Consensus Through Conversation: How to Achieve High-Commitment Decisions
Jack Foster and Larry Corby How To Get Ideas, 2nd EditionSusan Fowler: Master Your Motivation: Three Scientific Truths for Achieving Your Goals
BJ Gallagher and Warren Schmidt A Peacock in the Land of Penguins: A Fable About Creativity and Courage, 4th Edition
Marilyn Gist The Extraordinary Power of Leader Humility
Carol Kinsey Goman The Nonverbal Advantage: Secrets and Science of Body Language at Work
Laura Goodrich Seeing Red Cars: Driving Yourself, Your Team, and Your Organization to a Positive Future
John Graham Stick Your Neck Out: A Street-Smart Guide to Creating Change in Your Community and Beyond
Danna Greenberg, Kate McKone-Sweet, and H. James Wilson The New Entrepreneurial Leader: Developing Leaders Who Shape Social and Economic Opportunity
Robert K. Greenleaf The Power of Servant-Leadership
Cliff Hakim We Are All Self-Employed: How to Take Control of Your Career, 2nd Edition
Stacey Hall Attracting Perfect Customers: The Power of Strategic Synchronicity
Vicki Halsey Brilliance by Design: Creating Learning Experiences That Connect, Inspire, and Engage
Marisa Handler Loyal To the Sky: Notes from an Activist
Gerald Harris The Art of Quantum Planning: Lessons from Quantum Physics for Breakthrough Strategy, Innovation, and Leadership
Tamara Winfrey Harris The Sisters Are Alright: Changing the Broken Narrative of Black Women in America
Thom Hartmann The Thom Hartmann Reader
Sally Helgesen and Julie Johnson The Female Vision: Women’s Real Power at Work
Dave Hemsath and Leslie Yerkes 301 Ways to Have Fun at Work
Hazel Henderson Building a Win-Win World: Life Beyond Global Economic Warfare
James Heskett, W. Earl Sasser, and Leonard Schlesinger What Great Service Leaders Know & Do: Creating Breakthroughs in Service Firms
Edward D. Hess and Katherine Ludwig Humility Is the New Smart: Rethinking Human Excellence in the Smart Machine Age
Ryan Honeyman and Tiffany Jana The B Corp Handbook: How You Can Use Business as a Force For Good, Second Edition
Sam Horn Got Your Attention? How to Create Intrigue and Connect With Anyone
David Horsager The Daily Edge: Simple Strategies to Increase Efficiency and Make an Impact Every Day
Karen Hough Be the Best Bad Presenter Ever: Break the Rules, Make Mistakes, and Win Them Over
Maya Hu-Chan Saving Face: How to Preserve Dignity and Build Trust
John Izzo The Five Secrets You Must Discover Before You Die
Robert W. (Jake) Jacobs Real Time Strategic Change: How to Involve an Entire Organization in Fast and Far-Reaching Change
Tiffany Jana Overcoming Bias: Building Authentic Relationships across Differences
Joseph Jaworski Synchronicity: The Inner Path of Leadership, 2nd Edition
Bob Johansen Leaders Make the Future: Ten New Leadership Skills for an Uncertain World, 2nd Edition
Rob Jolles How to Change Minds: The Art of Influence without Manipulation
Melanie Joy Powerarchy: Understanding the Psychology of Oppression for Social Transformation
John Kador Effective Apology: Mending Fences, Building Bridges, and Restoring Trust
Adam Kahane Solving Tough Problems: An Open Way of Talking, Listening, and Creating New Realities
Jennifer Kahnweiler The Introverted Leader: Building on Your Quiet Strength, 2nd Edition
Beverly Kaye and Sharon Jordan-Evans Love ‘Em or Lose ‘Em: Getting Good People to Stay, 6th Edition
Debbe Kennedy Putting Our Differences To Work: The Fastest Way to Innovation, Leadership, and High Performance
Karen and Henry Kimsey-House Co-Active Leadership: Five Ways to Lead, 2nd Edition
Donald L. Kirkpatrick and James D. Kirkpatrick Evaluating Training Programs: The Four Levels, 3rd Edition
David Korten Agenda for a New Economy: From Phantom Wealth to Real Wealth, 2nd Edition
Richard Leider and David Shapiro Repacking Your Bags: Lighten Your Load for the Good Life, 3rd Edition
Stewart Levine Getting to Resolution, 2nd edition
Mark Levy Accidental Genius: Using Writing to Generate Your Best Ideas, Insight, and Content, 2nd Edition
Bernard Lietaer and Jacqui Dunne Rethinking Money: How New Currencies Turn Scarcity into Prosperity
Deepak Malhotra I Moved Your Cheese: For Those Who Refuse to Live as Mice in Someone Else’s Maze
Charles Manz The Power of Failure: 27 Ways to Turn Life’s Setbacks into Success
Don Maruska and Jay Perry Take Charge of Your Talent: Three Keys to Thriving in Your Career, Organization, and Life
Barbara McAfee Full Voice: The Art and Practice of Vocal Presence
Patricia McLagan Change Is Everybody’s Business: Claim Your Change Power!
Bob Miglani Embrace the Chaos: How India Taught Me to Stop Overthinking and Start Living
Frederick A. Miller and Judith H. Katz The Inclusion Breakthrough
Mark Miller The Heart of Leadership: Becoming a Leader People Want to Follow
Henry Mintzberg Managing
Gareth Morgan Imaginization: New Mindsets for Seeing, Organizing, and Managing
Michael N. Nagler The Third Harmony: Nonviolence and the New Story of Human Nature
Craig and Patricia Neal with Cynthia Wold The Art of Convening: Authentic Engagement in Meetings, Gatherings, and Conversations
Tara-Nicholle Nelson The Transformational Consumer: Fuel a Lifelong Love Affair with Your Customers by Helping Them Get Healthier, Wealthier, and Wiser
Peter Neuwirth What’s Your Future Worth? Using Present Value to Make Better Decisions
Natalie Nixon The Creativity Leap: Unleash Curiosity, Improvisation, and Intuition at Work
Barry Oshry Seeing Systems: Unlocking the Mysteries of Organizational Life, 2nd Edition
Harrison Owen Open Space Technology: A User’s Guide, 3rd Edition
Parker J. Palmer On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity, and Getting Old
Bill Pasmore Leading Continuous Change: Navigating Churn in the Real World
Alex Pattakos Prisoners of Our Thoughts: Viktor Frankl’s Principles for Discovering Meaning in Life and Work, 3rd Edition
John Perkins The New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, 2nd Edition
Karen Phelan I’m Sorry I Broke Your Company: When Management Consultants Are the Problem, Not the Solution
Gifford & Elizabeth Pinchot The Intelligent Organization: Engaging the Talent & Initiative of Everyone in the Workplace
Paul Polak Out of Poverty: What Works When Traditional Approaches Fail
Robert Quinn The Positive Organization Breaking Free from Conventional Cultures, Constraints, and Beliefs
Chris Rabb Invisible Capital: How Unseen Forces Shape Entrepreneurial Opportunity
Michael Ray The Highest Goal: The Secret That Sustains You In Every Moment
Dennis Reina and Michelle Reina Trust and Betrayal in the Workplace: Building Effective Relationships in Your Organization, 3rd Edition
Marcia Reynolds Wander Woman: How High-Achieving Women Find Contentment and Direction
April Rinne Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change
Alan Robinson Corporate Creativity: How Innovation and Improvement Actually Happen
Joyce M. Roché with Alexander Kopleman The Empress Has No Clothes: Conquering Self-Doubt to Embrace Success
Bruce Rosenstein Living in More Than One World: How Peter Drucker’s Wisdom Can Inspire and Transform Your Life
C. Otto Scharmer Theory U: Leading from the Future as It Emerges, 2nd Edition
Edgar Schein and Peter A. Schein Humble Inquiry: The Gentle Art of Asking Instead of Telling, 2nd Edition
David Schmaltz The Blind Men and the Elephant: Mastering Project Work
John Schuster Answering Your Call: A Guide for Living Your Deepest Purpose
Joel Schwartzberg Get to the Point!: Sharpen Your Message and Make Your Words Matter
Jamie Showkeir and Maren Showkeir Authentic Conversations: Moving from Manipulation to Truth and Commitment
Al Siebert The Resiliency Advantage: Master Change, Thrive under Pressure, and Bounce Back from Setbacks
Mike Song, Vicki Halsey, and Tim Burress The Hamster Revolution: How to Manage Your Email Before It Manages You
Laura Stack What To Do When There’s Too Much To Do: Reduce Tasks, Increase Results, and Save 90 Minutes a Day
Linda Stout Collective Visioning: How Groups Can Work Together for a Just and Sustainable World
Dan Sullivan and Catherine Nomura The Laws of Lifetime Growth: Always Make Your Future Bigger than Your Past, 2nd Edition
Karl Erik Sveiby The New Organizational Wealth: Managing and Measuring Knowledge-Based Assets
Sonya Renee Taylor The Body is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love, 2nd Edition
Roosevelt Thomas World Class Diversity Management: A Strategic Approach
Bill Torbert Action Inquiry: The Secret of Timely and Transforming Leadership
Brian Tracy Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time, 3rd Edition
Bill Treasurer Courage Goes To Work: How to Build Backbones, Boost Performance, and Get Results, Tenth anniversary edition
Alan Vengel The Influence Edge: How to Persuade Others to Help You Achieve Your Goals
Cindy Ventrice Make Their Day! Employee Recognition That Works, 2nd Edition
Edgar Villanueva Decolonizing Wealth: Indigenous Wisdom to Heal Divides and Restore Balance, Second Edition
Alexandra Watkins Hello, My Name Is Awesome: How to Create Brand Names That Stick, 2nd Edition
Marvin Weisbord and Sandra Janoff Future Search: Getting the Whole System in the Room for Vision, Commitment, and Action, 3rd Edition
Margaret Wheatley Leadership and the New Science: Discovering Order in a Chaotic World, 3rd Edition
Diana Whitney & Amanda Trosten-Bloom The Power of Appreciative Inquiry: A Practical Guide to Positive Change, 2nd Edition
Mary-Frances Winters Black Fatigue: How Racism Erodes the Mind, Body, and Spirit
Monica C. Worline and Jane E. Dutton Awakening Compassion at Work: The Quiet Power That Elevates People and Organizations
Heather R. Younger The Art of Caring Leadership: How Leading with Heart Uplifts Teams and Organizations
Devora Zack Networking for People Who Hate Networking: A Field Guide for Introverts, the Overwhelmed, and the Underconnected, 2nd Edition