The executive reading list

Books worth a hospital or health-system leader’s time, chosen for how well they translate into daily leadership. The list is reviewed each quarter.

Fall 2026

The Fearless Organization

Amy C. Edmondson. How psychological safety lets teams speak up, learn from failure and perform; essential for safety culture.

Managing the Unexpected

Karl E. Weick and Kathleen M. Sutcliffe. The principles behind high reliability organizations and how to build them.

Turn the Ship Around!

L. David Marquet. A Navy captain’s account of moving decision-making to the people closest to the work.

The Checklist Manifesto

Atul Gawande. Why simple, well-designed checklists reduce error in complex work, from surgery to construction.

Good to Great

Jim Collins. A study of what separated companies that made a lasting leap in performance; useful language for strategy and leadership discipline.

Thinking in Systems

Donella H. Meadows. An accessible introduction to systems thinking, the habit that keeps fixes from creating new problems.

Radical Candor

Kim Scott. A practical framework for giving direct feedback while caring personally, for every manager.

The Effective Executive

Peter F. Drucker. The classic on managing time, making decisions and focusing on contribution.