Resources
Resources for Reflection, Learning, and Practice
Books, ideas, and perspectives for reflection, learning, and practice.
About These Resources
The resources gathered here reflect years of reading, study, and reflection. Many have informed, challenged, and enriched our thinking and practice. Some have shaped our work directly; others offer perspectives we have considered with care.
We seek diversity of authorship, lived experience, intellectual tradition, geography, and viewpoint, including perspectives from across Canada. No single author speaks for an entire community, and including a resource does not imply agreement with every argument it presents.
We generally select eight to ten books or other substantial resources per category to keep the collection approachable. Each resource appears in only one list, although many are relevant to more than one subject.
Books are only part of the story. Periodicals, online and audio resources, conversations, and lived experience also shape how we think and serve.
In gathering these resources, we were reminded of a reflection attributed to Isaac Newton:
I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.
Attributed to Isaac Newton, as recorded by David Brewster (1855).
We offer these selections in that spirit: curious, grateful for what others have taught us, and conscious of how much there is yet to discover.
Resource selection and editorial responsibility rest with Different Wisdom. Our lists are not exhaustive. To request additional recommendations, suggest resources or perspectives for our consideration, or enquire about updates to the collection, please contact Info@DifferentWisdom.com.
The Nine Ways We Help
- Benjamin, R. (2019). Race after technology: Abolitionist tools for the New Jim Code. Polity.
- Buolamwini, J. (2023). Unmasking AI: My mission to protect what is human in a world of machines. Random House.
- Dalio, R. (2017). Principles: Life and work. Simon & Schuster.
- Harari, Y. N. (2024). Nexus: A brief history of information networks from the Stone Age to AI. Random House.
- Meadows, D. H. (2008). Thinking in systems: A primer (D. Wright, Ed.). Chelsea Green Publishing.
- Noble, S. U. (2018). Algorithms of oppression: How search engines reinforce racism. New York University Press.
- O’Neil, C. (2017). Weapons of math destruction: How big data increases inequality and threatens democracy. Broadway Books.
- Shaw, J. (2016). The memory illusion: Remembering, forgetting, and the science of false memory. Random House Books.
- Sinek, S. (2025). Start with why: How great leaders inspire everyone to take action (15th anniversary ed.). Portfolio.
- Tetlock, P. E., & Gardner, D. (2015). Superforecasting: The art and science of prediction. Crown.
- Collins, J., & Hansen, M. T. (2011). Great by choice: Uncertainty, chaos, and luck—Why some thrive despite them all. HarperBusiness.
- Crossan, M. M., Maurer, C. C., Rowe, W. G., & Rouse, M. J. (2023). Strategic analysis and action (10th ed.). Pearson Canada.
- Lencioni, P. (2012). The advantage: Why organizational health trumps everything else in business. Jossey-Bass.
- Lewrick, M., Link, P., & Leifer, L. (2018). The design thinking playbook: Mindful digital transformation of teams, products, services, businesses and ecosystems. Wiley.
- Mintzberg, H., Ahlstrand, B. W., & Lampel, J. (2009). Strategy safari: The complete guide through the wilds of strategic management (2nd ed.). FT Prentice Hall.
- Moore, G. A. (2014). Crossing the chasm: Marketing and selling disruptive products to mainstream customers (3rd ed.). HarperBusiness.
- Riel, J., & Martin, R. L. (2017). Creating great choices: A leader’s guide to integrative thinking. Harvard Business Review Press.
- Rumelt, R. P. (2011). Good strategy/bad strategy: The difference and why it matters. Crown Business.
- Wheatley, M. J. (2006). Leadership and the new science: Discovering order in a chaotic world (3rd ed.). Berrett-Koehler.
- Wickman, G. (2012). Traction: Get a grip on your business. BenBella Books.
- Babcock, L., Peyser, B., Vesterlund, L., & Weingart, L. R. (2022). The no club: Putting a stop to women’s dead-end work. Simon & Schuster.
- Gawande, A. (2009). The checklist manifesto: How to get things right. Metropolitan Books.
- Goldratt, E. M., & Cox, J. (2014). The goal: A process of ongoing improvement (4th rev. ed.). North River Press.
- McChesney, C., Covey, S., Huling, J., Thele, S., & Walker, B. (2021). The 4 disciplines of execution: Achieving your wildly important goals (Rev. & updated 2nd ed.). Simon & Schuster.
- Moss, J. (2021). The burnout epidemic: The rise of chronic stress and how we can fix it. Harvard Business Review Press.
- Project Management Institute. (2025). A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK® guide) and the standard for project management (8th ed.).
- Schwaber, K., & Sutherland, J. (2020). The Scrum guide: The definitive guide to Scrum: The rules of the game. Scrum Guides. https://scrumguides.org/docs/scrumguide/v2020/2020-Scrum-Guide-US.pdf
- Sutton, R. I., & Rao, H. (2024). The friction project: How smart leaders make the right things easier and the wrong things harder. St. Martin’s Press.
- Bateson, N. (2023). Combining. Triarchy Press.
- Bhasin, R. (2023). We’ve got this: Unlocking the beauty of belonging. Random House Canada.
- Blanchard, K. (2019). Leading at a higher level: Blanchard on leadership and creating high performing organizations (3rd ed.). FT Press.
- brown, a. m. (2017). Emergent strategy: Shaping change, changing worlds. AK Press.
- Brown, B. (2018). Dare to lead: Brave work. Tough conversations. Whole hearts. Random House.
- Covey, S. M. R., & Merrill, R. R. (2018). The speed of trust: The one thing that changes everything (Updated ed.). Free Press.
- Covey, S. R. (2020). The 7 habits of highly effective people: Powerful lessons in personal change (30th anniversary ed.). Simon & Schuster.
- Crossan, M. M., Seijts, G. H., & Gandz, J. (2016). Developing leadership character. Routledge.
- Greenleaf, R. K. (2002). Servant leadership: A journey into the nature of legitimate power and greatness (L. C. Spears, Ed.; 25th anniversary ed.). Paulist Press.
- Heifetz, R. A., Linsky, M., & Grashow, A. (2009). The practice of adaptive leadership: Tools and tactics for changing your organization and the world. Harvard Business Press.
- Hicks, D. (2018). Leading with dignity: How to create a culture that brings out the best in people. Yale University Press.
- Rath, T., & Conchie, B. (2008). Strengths based leadership: Great leaders, teams, and why people follow. Gallup Press.
- Edmondson, A. C. (2018). The fearless organization: Creating psychological safety in the workplace for learning, innovation, and growth. Wiley.
- Kahane, A. (2025). Collaborating with the enemy: How to work with people you don’t agree with or like or trust (2nd ed.). Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
- Lencioni, P. M. (2022). The five dysfunctions of a team: A leadership fable (20th anniversary ed.). Jossey-Bass.
- Nate Folan and Friends. (2012). The hundredth monkey: Activities that inspire playful learning. Project Adventure.
- Parker, P. (2018). The art of gathering: How we meet and why it matters. Riverhead Books.
- Peters, J., & Carr, C. (2013). High performance team coaching: A comprehensive system for leaders and coaches. FriesenPress.
- Rød, A., & Fridjhon, M. (2020). Creating intelligent teams: Leading with relationship systems intelligence (2nd ed.). Independently published.
- Rohnke, K., & Butler, S. (1995). QuickSilver: Adventure games, initiative problems, trust activities, and a guide to effective leadership. Kendall/Hunt.
- Schein, E. H., & Schein, P. A. (2025). Humble inquiry: The gentle art of asking instead of telling (3rd ed.). Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
- Wheelan, S. A., Åkerlund, M., & Jacobsson, C. (2024). Creating effective teams: A guide for members and leaders (7th ed.). SAGE Publications.
