Adam Grant Picks 12 Books to Kick Off 2021

No more doomscrolling. Read these books instead.

Looking back on 2020, I wish I’d spent half my doomscrolling time reading books instead. And by half, I mean pretty much all. I would’ve been happier — and learned more. There’s no substitute for the deep engagement and insight that comes from being immersed in another person’s stories and ideas.

To give the new year a warm welcome, here’s a preview of the winter’s new books for leaders. They’re a mix of social science and memoir — the key themes are fear and courage, isolation and inclusion, tradition and transformation, adversity and resilience, and thinking and rethinking.

Fear and courage

1. Professional Troublemaker by Luvvie Ajayi Jones (March 2)

If you’ve seen her TED Talk or read her first bestseller, you know there isn’t a smarter or funnier cultural critic alive. This is the eye-opening, soul-nourishing, sidesplitting book you need to replace the anguish of 2020 with the courage to overcome your fears, master your doubts, and make good trouble in 2021.

2. Chatter by Ethan Kross (January 26)

This book might fundamentally change some of the most important conversations in your life — the ones you have with yourself. A…