Recommendations for Additional Reading

We read tons of books on change while writing Switch. Here are some of our favorites, in no particular order:

• The Happiness Hypothesis, by Jonathan Haidt [Psychology, Philosophy, Happiness]. Haidt came up with the Elephant/Rider analogy that we use in Switch. If you want to be happier and smarter, you should read his book.
• Mindset, by Carol Dweck [Psychology, Individual change]. If you found our discussion of the growth mindset (in Chapter 7) interesting, then please go to the source. Everyone should own this book.
• The Heart of Change, by John Kotter and Dan Cohen [Business and organizational change]. Our favorite book of Kotter’s, this book will be useful if you are trying to change a big organization.
• Mindless Eating, by Brian Wansink [Dieting]. Do you want to lose a few pounds, or are you just curious about why everyone else is getting fatter? This book is filled with clever research like the popcorn study we described in the first chapter.
• Nudge, by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein [Decision making and public policy]. The authors argue that people can be “nudged” to make better decisions, and they propose some great Path solutions.
• One Small Step Can Change Your Life, by Robert Maurer [Individual and organizational change]. If you liked the chapter on shrinking the change, this is your book. Maurer shows how small steps can lead to great change.
• Divorce Busting, by Michele Weiner-Davis [Relationships]. Anyone in a relationship can benefit from this book by a practitioner of solutions-focused therapy.
• Influencer, by Kerry Patterson et al. [Societal and organizational change]. The authors behind Crucial Conversations wrote this excellent book on behavior change.
• Unleashing Change, by Steven Kelman [Government, Organizational change]. Kelman reviews his experience in leading procurement reform in the federal government. If you’re looking for a change book that’s rigorous and full of data, check out this one.