Faculty-authored books that came out in 2023 hit many of the notes one would expect of the quiet quitter era: Finding new paths to happiness. Thriving after failure. Building a flexible and fulfilling life that prioritizes relationships and rest.
Meanwhile, other books sought to help executives mobilize organizational change quickly, untangle digital strategy, and reflect on socially responsible leadership.
Take a look back at some of the books by Harvard Business School faculty members that hit the market this year:
Economic Growth Draws Companies to Asia. Can They Handle Its Authoritarian Regimes?
The efficiency of one-party governments might seem appealing, but leaders need a deep understanding of a country's power structure and "moral economy," says Meg Rithmire. Her book Precarious Ties: Business and the State in Authoritarian Asia explores the delicate relationship between capitalists and autocrats in the region.
Yes, You Can Radically Change Your Organization in One Week
Skip the committees and the multi-year roadmap. With the right conditions, leaders can confront even complex organizational problems in one week. Frances Frei and Anne Morriss explain how in their book Move Fast and Fix Things.
Failing Well: How Your ‘Intelligent Failure’ Unlocks Your Full Potential
We tend to avoid failure at all costs. But our smarter missteps are worthwhile because they can force us to take a different path that points us toward personal and professional success, says Amy Edmondson in her book, Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well.
Also: Thriving After Failing: How to Turn Your Setbacks Into Triumphs
Successful, But Still Feel Empty? A Happiness Scholar and Oprah Have Advice for You
So many executives spend decades reaching the pinnacles of their careers only to find themselves unfulfilled at the top. In the book Build the Life You Want, Arthur Brooks and Oprah Winfrey offer high achievers a guide to becoming better leaders—of their lives.
Digital Strategy: A Handbook for Managing a Moving Target
Digital strategy demands significant organizational energy at many companies. By the time teams have adapted to newly implemented technology, another platform has emerged to replace it. The Research Handbook on Digital Strategy, a book coedited by Feng Zhu offers a guide for executives trying to manage the chaos.
You’re More Than Your Job: 3 Tips for a Healthier Work-Life Balance
Younger workers are rejecting the idea of sticking with one employer for the long haul and are instead finding happiness by job-hopping and creating dramatically different boundaries with work. In a new book, The Portfolio Life: How to Future-Proof Your Career, Avoid Burnout, and Build a Life Bigger than Your Business Card, Christina M. Wallace maps out a step-by-step guide to building a flexible and fulfilling life that includes rest, relationships, and a rewarding career.
Two Centuries of Business Leaders Who Took a Stand on Social Issues
Executives going back to George Cadbury and J. N. Tata have been trying to improve life for their workers and communities, according to the book Deeply Responsible Business: A Global History of Values-Driven Leadership by Geoffrey Jones. He highlights three practices that deeply responsible companies share.