You can read more and follow David Bethoney’s newsletter at The Revive.
I reached out to 7 people I’ve worked with across my career and I asked them to recommend a book they love, one that leans into the themes of the Revive: Careers, resilience, finding momentum in the chaos and staying curious. I also asked each of them to share a few sentences on why they recommend the book, to give you a sense of why it mattered to them at a particular point in their career journey. The list is short by design as I don’t believe in endless options (I get anxiety when restaurant menus are four pages long 😅).
Each one of these exceptionally accomplished people have made a big impression on my career, often not even realizing the impact (a newsletter post coming soon on this topic). As you think about what you want to read across 2026, I hope this treasure trove of a collection lights up your curiosity.
Cate Luzio - Founder of Luminary
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Shoe Dog, Phil Knight
Shoe Dog by Phil Knight doesn’t read like a leadership manual, but it quietly delivers some of the most honest lessons on what leadership actually looks like in real life. It highlights leadership as lived experience, not theory. Why I recommend it and have read it over and over as a leader is because of the attributes it covers when it comes to leadership and career pathing.
Perseverance (staying committed through times of uncertainty, rejection, and change); Comfort with ambiguity (navigating your career path without a clear roadmap but staying focused); Long-term vision (choosing belief in your path over short-term validation or approval); Trust and autonomy (as a leader, hiring passionate people and giving them ownership and accountability); Resilience (absorbing setbacks, mistakes, and changes); Learning by doing (developing your path through action, mistakes, and persistence).
Jeff Berman - CEO of WaitWhat
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The Other Side of Change, Maya Shankar
You know that rare book you literally hug when you finish it. Yeah. This is one of those. A behavioral scientist weaves data and heart-touching personal stories (those of others along with her own) into a page-turner that is many books in one. If you are setting resolutions or intentions for the year ahead, it will be hard to find a better place to start.
Toni Thompson - Chief HR Officer of Etsy
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Thanks For The Feedback, Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen
Most books focus on how to give feedback, but this one flips the script. It’s a real talk guide for how to receive feedback well. The authors break down the psychological triggers that cause us to shut down when we hear things we don’t like. Real growth happens when you ask for feedback on the big and small stuff. Whether you’re asking for feedback to vet an idea or to check your blind spots, you are both improving and demonstrating to your colleagues you value their perspective.
David Northridge - CEO of Meeting Tomorrow
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The Effective Executive, Peter Drucker
The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker is, by far, the most weathered book I own. I first read it early in my career and return to it constantly; its lessons on personal effectiveness apply to executives, individual contributors, and humans in general. My copy is marked up on nearly every page with different colored ink that reflect my evolving notes over the years. If you only have time to read one book on how to get the right things done, this is it.
Jason Fox - Head of Product for Versant (CNBC, MS - formerly MSNBC, and E!)
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Never Search Alone, The Job Seeker’s Playbook, Phyl Terry.
Terry’s book challenges the traditional, isolating and often lonely way to search for jobs and instead argues for a collaborative, community-driven strategy. He says that finding a new role shouldn’t be a solitary struggle but a team effort—one built around small groups of self-organizing job seekers who meet regularly to provide accountability, share resources, and offer mutual encouragement. As a long-time member of one of these groups, I can attest to the power of this approach. I’ve made some amazing friends who continue to mentor and support one another even after finding work.
Vivian Chen - Founder and CEO of Rise
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Endurance, Alfred Lansing
I was handed this book on the first day of business school and remember wondering why we were reading about an Antarctic expedition from a century ago. Coming back to it years later, it hit me in a completely different way. Shackleton’s story is about holding hope in the darkest moments, adapting when everything breaks, and leading with humanity when the path forward disappears. In a world shaped by AI disruption, layoffs, and constant reinvention, it’s a powerful reminder that our mindset, choices, and optimism often matter more than the plan itself.
Jennifer Ives - Founder of The JSI Group
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AI Engineering, by Chip Huyen
Most conversations focus on what AI can do. ‘AI Engineering’ shifts the conversation to what it actually takes to make AI work inside real organizations. Chip breaks down how models, data, teams, and incentives interact, and why so many AI efforts stall once you move past the hype. Real progress happens when leaders treat AI as a system, not a tool, and build it with intention. It’s a practical lens for seeing where to invest, what to manage, and how to build something that truly lasts.
