Strategic and Critical Thinking and Innovation

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The Answer to How Is Yes: Acting on What Matters by Peter Block   -   Block argues that leaders need to move from asking “How” questions around implementation of ideas to “Why” and “What” questions to determine whether the ideas should be considered in the first place.  He points to the growing tendency in business to “buy-in” to the quality of the implementation plan over the quality of the idea.

	The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb   -   A great book that introduces the fallibility of using our experience to predict the future. Taleb provides an overview of common thinking errors that can lead to erroneous conclusions.

	Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely   -   Most of us believe that we are rational decision makers. However, Ariely points out how our unconscious decision making often contradicts and overrules our conscious decisions.

	How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer   -   Lehrer argues that the gut-based versus data-based continuum is a false dichotomy for making decisions. Leaders need to learn to integrate both.

	The Invisible Gorilla by Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris   -   Many leaders are familiar with the famous video of the gorilla walking through the basketball game. Daniel Simons and Chris Chabris, the creators of that video, provide the backstory of what is going on in our brains. They also provide other examples and explanations of how our confidence in our senses often gets us in trouble.

	Why We Buy by Paco Underhill   -   Underhill explores shopping behavior and uncovers what drives customer behavior and how that often contradicts our gut-feelings about what works.