Recommended Reading

The Self-Management Institute strives to remain a leading repository of published literature relating to Self-Management, alternative methods of organizing, organizational behavior and systems and tools that enable effective decision making. We are constantly scouring the environment for written work--both mass published and obscure--that helps us, and our partners, better understand the complexity of the organization.

Our combined Library represents one of the most comprehensive collections of work around Self-Management. The literature represented in our Recommended Reading section will start you on your path to a better understanding of Self-Management.

Visit our Amazon partner purchase page to purchase books recommended by the SMI Library.  If you would like to check out a book from the library, please contact us.

Use the links below to sort books by topic or content.


 TitleAuthorPublisher
A Simpler WayA Simpler WayMargaret J. Wheatley and Myron Kellner-RogersBerrett-Koehler Publishers
A Spark from Heaven?: The Place of Potential in Organizational and Individual DevelopmentA Spark from Heaven?: The Place of Potential in Organizational and Individual DevelopmentAdrian W. Savage with a Forward by Marshall GoldsmithPNA Publishing
Ants at Work: How an Insect Society is OrganizedAnts at Work: How an Insect Society is OrganizedDeborah M. GordonW. W. Norton & Co.
Built to Change: How to Achieve Sustained Organizational EffectivenessBuilt to Change: How to Achieve Sustained Organizational EffectivenessEdward E. Lawler III, Christopher G. WorleyJossey-Bass
Business Process Management is a Team Sport: Play it to Win!Business Process Management is a Team Sport: Play it to Win!Andrew SpanyiAnclote Press
Business Process Management: Profiting From ProcessBusiness Process Management: Profiting From ProcessRoger T. BurltonSams
Business Process Management: The Third WaveBusiness Process Management: The Third WaveHoward Smith and Peter FingarMeghan Kiffer Press
Coaching for the New CenturyCoaching for the New CenturyLeland E. Pound, Editor, with Articles by 38 PCMA AuthorsSolutions Press
Competing by Design: The Power of Organizational ArchitectureCompeting by Design: The Power of Organizational ArchitectureDavid Nadler and Michael TushmanOxford University Press
Complex Organization: A Sociological PerspectiveComplex Organization: A Sociological PerspectiveJ. Eugene Haas and Thomas E. DrabekMacmillan
Crossing the Unknown Sea: Work as a Pilgrimage of IdentityCrossing the Unknown Sea: Work as a Pilgrimage of IdentityDavid WhyteRiverhead Trade
Cyber Rules: Strategies for Excelling at E-BusinessCyber Rules: Strategies for Excelling at E-BusinessThomas M. Siebel and Pat HouseDoubleday
Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters MostDifficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters MostDouglas Stone, Bruce Patton, Shiela Heen, and Roger FisherPenguin Putnam Inc.
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates UsDrive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates UsDaniel H. PinkRiverhead Trade
Emergence: The Connected Lives of Ants, Brains, Cities, and SoftwareEmergence: The Connected Lives of Ants, Brains, Cities, and SoftwareStephen JohnsonScribner
Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work & in Life, One Conversation at a TimeFierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work & in Life, One Conversation at a TimeSusan ScottBerkley Trade
Freedom and Accountability at Work: Applying Philosophic Insight to the Real WorldFreedom and Accountability at Work: Applying Philosophic Insight to the Real WorldPeter Koestenbaum and Peter BlockPfeiffer
Freedom, Inc: Free Your Employees and Let Them Lead Your Business to Higher Productivity, Profits and GrowthFreedom, Inc: Free Your Employees and Let Them Lead Your Business to Higher Productivity, Profits and GrowthBrian M. Carney and Isaac GetzCrown Business
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’tGood to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’tJim CollinsCollins Business
Here Comes Everybody : The Power of Organizing Without OrganizationsHere Comes Everybody : The Power of Organizing Without OrganizationsClay ShirkyPenguin Group
How to Run Any OrganizationHow to Run Any OrganizationTheodore CaplowThe Dryden Press
IT Doesn’t Matter - Business Processes Do: A Critical Analysis of Nicholas Carr’s I.T. article in the Harvard Business ReviewIT Doesn’t Matter - Business Processes Do: A Critical Analysis of Nicholas Carr’s I.T. article in the Harvard Business ReviewHoward Smith and Peter FingarMeghan Kiffer Press
Jonathan Livingston SeagullJonathan Livingston SeagullRichard BachAvon Books
Joy at Work: A Revolutionary Approach to Fun on the JobJoy at Work: A Revolutionary Approach to Fun on the JobDennis W. BakkePVG
Knowledge Management and Organizational DesignKnowledge Management and Organizational DesignPaul S. MyersButterworth-Heinemann
Leadership and the New Science: Discovering Order in a Chaotic WorldLeadership and the New Science: Discovering Order in a Chaotic WorldMargaret J. WheatleyBerrett-Koehler Publishers
Leadership Brand: Developing Customer-Focused Leaders to Drive Performance and Build Lasting ValueLeadership Brand: Developing Customer-Focused Leaders to Drive Performance and Build Lasting ValueDave Ulrich and Norm SmallwoodHarvard Business School Press
Lessons from the Window Seat: Achieving Shared Vision in the WorkplaceLessons from the Window Seat: Achieving Shared Vision in the WorkplaceDavid SpechtTelos Publications
Linked: How Everything Is Connected to Everything Else and What It MeansLinked: How Everything Is Connected to Everything Else and What It MeansAlbert-Laszlo BarabasiPlume
Maverick: The Success Story Behind the World’s Most Unusual MarketplaceMaverick: The Success Story Behind the World’s Most Unusual MarketplaceRicardo SemlerGrand Central Publishing
Maximizing the Value of 360-Degree Feedback : A Process for Successful Individual and OrganizationalMaximizing the Value of 360-Degree Feedback : A Process for Successful Individual and OrganizationalWalter W. Tornow, Manuel LondonJossey-Bass
Measure Up!: Yardsticks for Continuous ImprovementMeasure Up!: Yardsticks for Continuous ImprovementRichard Lynch and Kelvin CrossWiley
Microeconomics : Behavior, Institutions, and EvolutionMicroeconomics : Behavior, Institutions, and EvolutionSamuel BowlesCalifornia-Princeton Fulfillment Service
On the Social ContractOn the Social ContractJean-Jacques Rousseau, Translated by G.D.H. ColeDover Publications
Origin of Wealth : Evolution, Complexity, and the Radical Remaking of EconomicsOrigin of Wealth : Evolution, Complexity, and the Radical Remaking of EconomicsEric D. BeinhockerHarvard Business School Press
Outliers: The Story of SuccessOutliers: The Story of SuccessMalcolm GladwellLittle, Brown and Company
Please Understand Me: Character and Temperament TypesPlease Understand Me: Character and Temperament TypesDavid Keirsey and Marilyn BatesPrometheus Nemesis Book Company
Process Innovation: Reengineering Work Through Information TechnologyProcess Innovation: Reengineering Work Through Information TechnologyThomas DavenportHBS Press
Punished by Rewards : The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A’s, Praise, and Other BribesPunished by Rewards : The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A’s, Praise, and Other BribesAlfie KohnHoughton Mifflin Company
Sync: How Order Emerges from Chaos in the Universe, Nature, and Daily LifeSync: How Order Emerges from Chaos in the Universe, Nature, and Daily LifeSteven H. StrogatzHyperion
Telecosm: How Infinite Bandwidth Will Revolutionize Our WorldTelecosm: How Infinite Bandwidth Will Revolutionize Our WorldGeorge GilderSimon & Schuster, Inc.
The Acorn Principle: Know Yourself, Grow YourselfThe Acorn Principle: Know Yourself, Grow YourselfJim CathcartSt. Martin's Griffin
The Corporate Culture Survival GuideThe Corporate Culture Survival GuideEdgar H. ScheinJossey-Bass
The Death and Life of Great American CitiesThe Death and Life of Great American CitiesJane JacobsModern Library
The Difference : How the Power of Diversity Creates Better Groups, Firms, Schools, & SocietiesThe Difference : How the Power of Diversity Creates Better Groups, Firms, Schools, & SocietiesScott E. PagePrinceton University Press
The Essential DruckerThe Essential DruckerPeter F. DruckerCollins Business
The Future of ManagementThe Future of ManagementGary Hamel and Bill BreenHarvard Business School Press
The Game of Work: How to Enjoy Work as Much as PlayThe Game of Work: How to Enjoy Work as Much as PlayCharles CoonradtGibbs Smith
The Power of a Good FightThe Power of a Good FightLynne EisaguirreLiterary Architects
The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal RenewalThe Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal RenewalJim Loehr and Tony SchwartzFree Press
The Science of Success: How Market Based Management Built the World’s Largest Private CompanyThe Science of Success: How Market Based Management Built the World’s Largest Private CompanyCharles G. KochJohn Wiley & Sons
The Society of MindThe Society of MindMarvin MinskySimon & Schuster, Inc.
The SPEED of Trust: The One Thing That Changes EverythingThe SPEED of Trust: The One Thing That Changes EverythingStephen M. R. CoveyFree Press
The Starfish and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless OrganizationsThe Starfish and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless OrganizationsOri Brafman and Rod A. BeckstromPortfolio Trade
The Tipping Point : How Little Things Can Make a Big DifferenceThe Tipping Point : How Little Things Can Make a Big DifferenceMalcolm GladwellLittle, Brown & Company
Topgrading: How Leading Companies Win by Hiring, Coaching, and Keeping the Best PeopleTopgrading: How Leading Companies Win by Hiring, Coaching, and Keeping the Best PeopleBradford D. Smart, Ph.D.Portfolio Hardcover