Scroll down for our current book club selection
Our partnership with the Professional Book Club Guru allows our chapter to partner with more than 40 other ATD Chapters creating an online book club for talent development professionals around the country. This group is connected exclusively online via an online forum to discuss books related to talent development, training, organizational development and much more. After a pause in 2020 the moderator of this online group, Zach Rubin, has restarted the program. Scroll down for details on the latest (and past) books.
This book club give participants the opportunity to:
Note: You can obtain your book from any bookseller in any form (paper or digital) or borrow it from your local library.
August - September 2024 Selection:
Generations by Jean Twenge
In "Generations," acclaimed author Jean Twenge provides a groundbreaking exploration of the six generations currently living in the United States: the Silents, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, Generation Z, and Generation Alpha. Using extensive data from long-running surveys and databases, Twenge reveals how these generations connect, conflict, and compete with one another, examining the impact of historical events versus the rapid evolution of technology. Through insightful analysis, she delves into the distinct beliefs and behaviors shaped by each generation’s unique experiences, offering a fresh perspective on how these differences influence relationships and societal dynamics. This revelatory book will transform your understanding of generational interactions and provide a deeper appreciation of the diverse perspectives within your own life.
Note: Support your local library or favorite independent bookstore if you can.
Online Forum (https://td.pbc.guru)
Suggested Reading Schedule:
The Conscious Workplace: Fortify Your Culture to Thrive in Any Crisis by Shaara Roman
Explore the importance of creating a conscious workplace culture and how doing so can help organizations navigate through various challenges, including crises. The author emphasizes the significance of fostering a culture that values mindfulness, empathy, and transparency to enhance employee well-being and organizational resilience. It's a compelling read for anyone interested in leadership, organizational culture, and navigating crises effectively.
Note: Support your local library or favorite independent bookstore if you can.
Online Forum (https://td.pbc.guru)
Suggested Reading Schedule:
Skills: The Common Denominator by Asha Aravindakshan
Determine your transferable skills and present them to potential employers to differentiate yourself as a job candidate. Part inspiration, part how-to, you will read stories from 25 career changers to learn how you can position yourself to make a successful switch.Note: Support your local library or favorite independent bookstore if you can.
Online Forum (https://td.pbc.guru)
Suggested Reading Schedule:
On March 15th, visit Before the Book in our forum and begin reading Skills
By March 29th, finish reading through Chapter 3
By April 5th, finish reading through Chapter 10
By April 12th, finish reading through Chapter 16
By April 26th, finish reading through Conclusion
By May 3rd, finish reading the book and join our After the Book forum discussion
January - February 2024 Selection:
The introduction promises to teach you “about what influences poor performance under pressure in myriad situations so that you can prevent failure in your own endeavors.”
A renowned cognitive scientist, Beilock has conducted extensive research on stress and performance, making Choke a must-read for anyone seeking insights into the science of underperformance.
Note: Support your local library or favorite independent bookstore if you can.
Online Forum (https://td.pbc.guru)
Suggested Reading Schedule:
October - December 2023 Selection:
Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention- and How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari
Hari learned how we can reclaim our focus--as individuals, and as a society--if we are determined to fight for it. Stolen Focus will transform the debate about attention and finally show us how to get it back.
Note: Support your local library or favorite independent bookstore if you can.
Online Forum (https://td.pbc.guru)
Suggested Reading Schedule:
August - September 2023 Selection:
Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self by Manoush Zomorodi
"It’s time to move “doing nothing” to the top of your to-do list.
In 2015, Manoush Zomorodi, host of WNYC’s popular podcast and radio show 'Note To Self' led tens of thousands of listeners through an experiment to help them unplug from their devices, get bored, jumpstart their creativity, and change their lives. Bored and Brilliant builds on that experiment to show us how to rethink our gadget use to live better and smarter in this new digital ecosystem. Manoush explains the connection between boredom and original thinking, exploring how we can harness boredom’s hidden benefits to become our most productive and creative selves without totally abandoning our gadgets in the process.
Note: Support your local library or favorite independent bookstore if you can.
Online Forum (https://td.pbc.guru)
Suggested Reading Schedule:
On August 4th, visit Before the Book in our forum and begin reading Bored and BrilliantThis book offers a fresh perspective on the science of confidence and is a fascinating read for anyone interested in applying self-belief to personal or professional growth and development.
In this book, Ian H. Robertson draws on the latest research from neuroscience and psychology to explain how confidence works and how we can cultivate it in ourselves and others.
Online Forum (https://td.pbc.guru)
Suggested Reading Schedule:
On May 26th, visit Before the Book in our forum and begin reading How Confidence WorksOnline Forum (https://td.pbc.guru)
Suggested Reading Schedule:
On March 17th, visit Before the Book in our forum and begin reading The Power of Moments
By March 31st, finish reading through “Thinking in Moments” (pg. 39)
By April 7th, finish reading through “Elevation” (pg. 92)
By April 14th, finish reading through “Insight” (pg. 136)
By April 28th, finish reading through “Pride” (pg. 199)
By May 5th, finish reading the book and join in on our After the Book forum discussion
January - March 2023 Selection:
Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek
Online Forum (https://td.pbc.guru)
Suggested Reading Schedule:
On January 6th, reply to the Before the Book question and begin reading Start with Why
By January 20th, finish reading through Part 2, Chapter 3: “The Golden Circle”
By January 27th, finish reading through Part 3, Chapter 6: “The Emergence of Trust”
By February 3rd, finish reading through Part 4: “How to Rally Those Who Believe”
By February 17th, finish reading through Part 5: “The Biggest Challenge Is Success”
By March 3rd, finish reading the book and comment in our After the Book discussion topic
October - December 2022 Selection:
Digital Body Language: How to Build Trust and Connection, No Matter the Distance by Erica Dhawan
In this practical and often amusing book, Dhawan explores how easy it is for digital communication to break down due to the lack of traditional body language in mediums like emails, Zoom calls, and texts. Whether a “digital native” or an “adapter,” our next reading journey will show you how to improve your communication style and build stronger relationships with family, friends, and co-workers.
Erica Dhawan is a leading expert on communication and innovation in digital spaces. As many of us have transitioned to working remotely due to COVID, this book could not be more timely.
A conversation with Erica Dhawan, author of Digital Body Language
Tuesday, December 13th, 2022, from 2:00-3:00 PM EST
Virtually via our webinar platform
Registering will allow you to watch the event live and receive a unique link to access the recording after the event.
Online Forum (https://td.pbc.guru)
Suggested Reading Schedule:
On October 14th, reply to the Before the Book question and begin reading Digital Body Language
By October 28th, finish reading through Chapter 2
By November 4th, finish reading through Chapter 4
By November 10th, finish reading through Chapter 6
By November 25th, finish reading through Chapter 8
By December 9th, finish reading the book and comment in our After the Book discussion topic
August - October 2022 Selection:
The Elevated Communicator: How to Master Your Style and Strengthen Well-Being at Work by Maryanne O'Brien
No matter who you are or what you do, a huge part of your life is spent communicating with others: at home, at work, at play. We communicate all the time, so why not get better at doing it? That’s what Maryanne O'Brien strives to help us achieve in her book.
Drawing on more than a decade of original research on communication tendencies and proven mindfulness and habit-formation techniques, Maryanne O’Brien has developed a proprietary model of communication styles: Expressive, Reserved, Direct, or Harmonious.
Take the Communication Style Assessment (https://conscious-company.com/the-elevated-communicator) so that you have your primary and secondary communication styles in mind as you read the book.
Livestream Author Talk with Maryanne O’Brien about The Elevated Communicator.
Tuesday, October 4, 2022, at 2:00 pm EDT
Virtually via our webinar platform
Register by clicking here!
Online Forum (https://td.pbc.guru)
Suggested Reading Schedule:
On August 5th, reply to the Before the Book question and start reading
By August 19th, finish reading through Chapter 3
By August 26th, finish reading through Chapter 5
By September 2nd, finish reading through Chapter 7
By September 16th, finish reading through Chapter 10
By September 30th, finish reading the book and visit After the Book in our forum.
May - July 2022 Selection:
Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life by Nir Eyal and Julie Li
Though the modern era is rife with digital distractions that get in the way of living a truly fulfilling and meaningful life, you no longer need to feel overwhelmed by it all. In his fascinating and insightful book, Eyal will teach us how to harness the power of technology without letting it take over our day.
In fact, Arianna Huffington went so far as to call Indistractable “the best guide I’ve read for reclaiming our attention, our focus, and our lives.”
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Live Author Talk with Nir Eyal on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, at 2:00 pm EDT
Registering will allow you to watch the event live or receive a unique link to access the recording after the event.
In what is sure to be an enlightening conversation, Nir Eyal will provide unique insights into his research, writing process, and empowering book. If you have specific questions you would like to ask him, share them in the forum by clicking here!
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Online Forum (https://td.pbc.guru)
Suggested Reading Schedule:
On May 27th, reply to our Before the Book question and start reading
By June 10th, finish reading through Chapter 8
By June 17th, finish reading through Chapter 15
By June 24th, finish reading through Chapter 21
By July 8th, finish reading through Chapter 28
By July 22nd, finish reading the book and comment in our After the Book discussion topic
March - May 2022 Selection:
High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out by Amanda Ripley
When we are baffled by the insanity of the “other side”—in our politics, at work, or at home—it’s because we aren’t seeing how the conflict itself has taken over.
That’s what “high conflict” does. It’s the invisible hand of our time. And it’s different from the useful friction of healthy conflict. That’s good conflict, and it’s a necessary force that pushes us to be better people.A Live Q&A Author Talk with Amanda Ripley, author of High Conflict!
Ripley will answer your questions about her fascinating book, her research process, and her career as a journalist.
May 11th, 2022, at 2:00 PM EDT
Register today to join the Author Talk live or to receive your unique link to view the recording later.
Online Forum (https://td.pbc.guru)
Suggested Reading Schedule:
January - March 2022 Selection:
Mine!: How the Hidden Rules of Ownership Control Our Lives by Michael A. Heller and James Salzman
In this insightful book, Heller and Salzman reveal the twisting and turning realities of ownership, attachment, and property, and take aim at six maxims that may not be as true as they appear on the surface.
Join us for an exclusive Author Talk with Michael Heller and James Salzman on Thursday, March 10 at 1:30 PM EST. Can't make the event? Then, it will make time for you. Just register for the event and save your unique link, which will house a recording of the event after it happens.
Register here for the Author Talk Now
Online Forum (https://td.pbc.guru)
Suggested Reading Schedule:
On January 6th, reply to our Before the Book question, then open the book and dive into the reading
By January 20th, finish reading Chapter 1
By January 27th, finish reading Chapters 2 - 3
By February 3rd, finish reading Chapter 4
By February 17th, finish reading Chapters 5 - 6
By March 3rd, finish reading the book and join us in our community forum to discuss final impressions and reflections
October - December 2021 Selection:
Humble Pi: When Math Goes Wrong in the Real World by Matt Parker
Our whole world is built on math, from the code running a website to the equations enabling the design of skyscrapers and bridges. Most of the time this math works quietly behind the scenes . . . until it doesn’t. All sorts of seemingly innocuous mathematical mistakes can have significant consequences.
Math is easy to ignore until a misplaced decimal point upends the stock market, a unit conversion error causes a plane to crash, or someone divides by zero and stalls a battleship in the middle of the ocean.
Exploring and explaining a litany of glitches, near misses, and mathematical mishaps involving the internet, big data, elections, street signs, lotteries, the Roman Empire, and an Olympic team, Matt Parker uncovers the bizarre ways math trips us up, and what this reveals about its essential place in our world. Getting it wrong has never been more fun.
Live Author Talk Conversation with Matt Parker, Author of Humble Pi: When Math Goes Wrong in the Real World
Tuesday, December 14, 2021 1:30pm - 2:30pm EST
Suggested Reading Schedule:
By October 28th, finish reading Chapters 1 - 3
By November 4th, finish reading Chapters 4 - 6
By November 10th, finish reading Chapters 7 - 8
By November 25th, finish reading Chapters 9 - 11
By December 9th, finish reading the book and join us in our End-of-Book Discussion in the Online Forum (https://td.pbc.guru)
August - September 2021 Selection:
Think Like a Rocket Scientist: Simple Strategies You Can Use to Make Giant Leaps in Work and Life by Ozan Varol
"When the stakes are high, the unknowns are threatening, and the problems seem insurmountable, you need a superhero -- which means you need Ozan Varol. He'll show you how to master the cognitive skills of a rocket scientist. And by the time you finish reading his endlessly fascinating book, your thinking will be bigger, better, and bolder."--Daniel H. Pink, New York Times bestselling author of When, Drive, and A Whole New Mind
On Thursday, August 5th, we will officially begin our reading and discussion of this winning book club selection. Together we’ll learn the habits, ideas, and strategies Ozan Varol perfected throughout his career as a real-life rocket scientist, as well as how we can employ nine simple strategies to tackle seemingly impossible problems.
We are thrilled to announce that Ozan Varol has agreed to join us for a special, live Author Talk on Wednesday, September 29th.
Suggested Reading Schedule:
On August 5th, we’ll begin our reading journey and dive into our Pre-Reading Question!
By August 19th, finish reading the Introduction and Chapter 1
By August 26th, finish reading Chapters 2-3
By September 2nd, finish reading Chapters 4-5
By September 16th, finish reading Chapters 6-7
By September 30th, finish reading the book and join us in our End-of-Book Discussion in the Online Forum (https://td.pbc.guru)
Upstream: The Quest to Solve Problems Before They Happen by Dan Heath
So often in life, we get stuck in a cycle of response. We put out fires. We deal with emergencies. We stay downstream, handling one problem after another, but we never make our way upstream to fix the systems that caused the problems ... [This book] probes the psychological forces that push us downstream--including 'problem blindness,' which can leave us oblivious to serious problems in our midst. And Heath introduces us to the thinkers who have overcome these obstacles and scored ... victories by switching to an upstream mindset. |
Recommended Reading Schedule By June 10th, finish reading Chapter 1 - Chapter 3 By June 17th, finish reading Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 By June 24th, finish reading Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 |
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear Ten things this book will teach you 1. Build a system for getting 1% better every day. 6. Make time for new habits (even when life gets crazy). 2. Break your bad habits and stick to good ones. 7. Design your environment to make success easier. 3. Avoid the common mistakes most people make when changing habits. 8. Make tiny, easy changes that deliver big results. 4. Overcome a lack of motivation and willpower. 9. Get back on track when you get off course 5. Develop a stronger identity and believe in yourself. 10. And most importantly, how to put these ideas into practice in real life. |
Recommended Reading Schedule
Our September to October 2020 Selection Announcement:
Start Finishing: How to Go From Idea to Done by Charlie Gilkey
Too often we look back at the end of the week and are frustrated that we didn’t make progress on our soul-deep dreams and goals that seem to remain eternally out of reach. Start Finishing presents a 9-step method for success — including identifying your genius, building a success pack of supporters, navigating multiple projects, and overcoming the challenges that come with doing the work that matters. Start Finishing features contributions from Seth Godin, Susan Piver, Jonathan Fields, James Clear, and more.
Recommended Reading Schedule
Pivot: The Only Move that Matters is Your Next One by Jenny Blake
What’s your Pivotability Index? Take this quiz from Blake’s website to find out!
http://www.pivotmethod.com/profile
Recommended Reading Schedule
Our October to December 2019 Selection Announcement:
Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. by Brené Brown
Want to learn more about this book before you decide to join the book club? getAbstract, whose mission is to provide executives worldwide with the best in business knowledge, has provided us with a book summary:
[Summary] Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.
Recommended Reading Schedule
Thursday, October 24th, official book kickoff
By November 7th, finish reading Note, Introduction, and Part One, Section Three: The Armory
By November 14th, finish reading Part Two: Living Into Our Values
By November 21st, finish reading Part Three: Braving Trust
By December 5th, finish reading Part Four: Learning to Rise
By December 12th, finish the book and get ready for our end-of-book discussion!
Our August to October 2019 Selection Announcement:
Radical Candor: Be a Kickass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity by Kim Malone Scott
Want to learn more about this book before you decide to join the book club? getAbstract, whose mission is to provide executives worldwide with the best in business knowledge, has provided us with a book summary:
[Summary] Radical Candor: Be a Kickass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity
[Article/Video] Radical Candor - The Surprising Secret to Being a Good Boss
Recommended Reading Schedule
By September 5th, finish reading the introduction and chapter 1
By September 12th, finish reading chapters 2 and 3
By September 26th, finish reading chapter 4
By October 3rd, finish reading chapters 5 and 6
By October 10th, finish reading chapters 7 and 8
By October 17th, finish the book and prepare for our end-of-book discussion!
Our June to July 2019 Selection Announcement:
Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant
Want to learn more about this book before you decide to join the book club? getAbstract, whose mission is to provide executives worldwide with the best in business knowledge, has provided us with a book summary:
[Summary] Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World
Recommended Reading Schedule
By June 20th, finish reading chapters 1 and 2
By June 27th, finish reading chapters 3 and 4
By July 11th, finish reading chapter 5
By July 18th, finish reading chapter 6
By July 25th, finish reading chapters 7 and 8
By August 1st, finish the book and get ready for our end of book discussion
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
Want to learn more about this book before you decide to join the book club? getAbstract, whose mission is to provide executives worldwide with the best in business knowledge, has provided us with a book summary:
[Summary] The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and BusinessRecommended Reading Schedule
By April 18th, finish reading chapters 1 and 2
By April 25th, finish reading chapters 3 and 4
By May 2nd, finish reading chapters 5 and 6
By May 9th, finish reading chapter 7
By May 23rd, finish reading chapters 8 and 9
By May 30th, finish the book and get ready for our end-of-book discussion!
Our February to March 2019 Selection:
Influencer: The New Science of Leading Change by Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, David Maxfield, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler
Want to learn more about this book before you decide to join the book club? getAbstract, whose mission is to provide executives worldwide with the best in business knowledge, has provided us with a book summary:
[Summary] Influencer: The New Science of Leading ChangeBy February 21st, finish reading chapters 1 and 2
By February 28th, finish reading chapters 3 and 4
By March 7th, finish reading chapters 5 and 6
By March 14th, finish reading chapters 7 and 8
By March 21st, finish reading chapter 9
By March 28th, finish the book and get ready for our end of book discussion!
Our December 2018 to January 2019 Selection:
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport
Want to learn more about this book before you decide to join the book club? getAbstract, whose mission is to provide executives worldwide with the best in business knowledge, has provided us with a book summary:
[Summary] Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
Our October to December 2018 Selection:
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck
Want to learn more about this book before you decide to join the book club? getAbstract, whose mission is to provide executives worldwide with the best in business knowledge, has provided us with a book summary:
[Summary] Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
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