Summer Reading List: Rice Business Faculty Edition

Searching for some summer reading inspo? Check out these books written by our professors and get an exclusive sneak peek into the expertise driving our curriculum.

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Focus: How to Plan Strategy and Improve Execution to Achieve Growth

by Vikas Mittal and Shrihari Sridhar

Professor: Vikas Mittal, the J. Hugh Liedtke Professor of Marketing

Summary: This book assesses the challenges faced by executives in formulating strategy and driving execution. The authors present seven inhibitors of strategy effectiveness and seven actionable, research-based strategy enablers to fine-tune execution and align all stakeholders in a unified direction.

If you are looking for guidance on leading your organization’s strategy and execution for sales and profit growth, this book is a valuable resource for improving strategy formulation.

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Working Together: Practicing the Science of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

by Mikki Hebl and Eden King

Professor: Michelle "Mikki" Hebl, Martha and Henry Malcolm Lovett Chair of Psychology and professor of management – organizational behavior 

Summary: In a time when the ideals of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are vulnerable, this book details the economic, realistic and moral imperatives of DEI. It amplifies the stories and voices of diverse workers to enhance understanding and describe scientific evidence regarding when, why and how DEI efforts make a difference. The book offers strategies for change across the talent management cycle, serving as an evidence-based guide for companies, leaders and HR professionals.

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City of Gold: Dubai and the Dream of Capitalism

by Jim Krane

Professor: James Krane, Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies and lecturer in energy

Summary: Award-winning journalist Jim Krane charts the history of Dubai from its earliest days, considers the influence of the family who has ruled it since the nineteenth century and analyzes the effect of the global economic downturn on a place that many see as a blueprint for a more stable Middle East.

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 Joy at Work: Organizing Your Professional Life

by Marie Kondo and Scott Sonenshein

Professor: Scott Sonenshein, Henry Gardiner Symonds Professor of Management – Organizational Behavior

Summary: Tidying expert and bestselling author, Marie Kondo, and organizational psychologist, Scott Sonenshein, team up to bring joy to work.

Using the world-renowned KonMari Method™ and cutting-edge research, Joy at Work will help you overcome the challenges of workplace mess and enjoy the productivity, success and happiness that come with a tidy desk and mind. 

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 The Unhealthy Truth: How Our Food Is Making Us Sick - And What We Can Do About It

by Robyn O'Brien and Rachel Kranz

Professor: Robyn O'Brien, adjunct professor

Summary: O’Brien cites accredited European research that confirms the toxicity of America’s food supply. She explores the relationship between Big Food and Big Money that has ensured that the United States is one of the only developed countries in the world to allow hidden toxins in our food — toxins that can be blamed for the alarming recent increases in allergies, ADHD, cancer and asthma among our children. Featuring recipes and an action plan for weaning your family off dangerous chemicals, The Unhealthy Truth is a must-read for every parent and concerned citizen in America.

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 Stretch: Unlock the Power of Less -and Achieve More Than You Ever Imagined

by Scott Sonenshein

Professor: Scott Sonenshein, Henry Gardiner Symonds Professor of Management – Organizational Behavior

Summary: Using captivating stories to illustrate research in psychology and management, Rice University professor Scott Sonenshein examines why some people and organizations succeed with so little, while others fail with so much.

Stretch shows why everyone — from executives to entrepreneurs, professionals to parents, athletes to artists — performs better with constraints; why seeking too many resources undermines our work and well-being; and why even those with a lot benefit from making the most out of a little.

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Crossroads of Family Businesses in China: Succession and Transformation

by Yan Anthea Zhang and Jean Lee

Professor: Yan Anthea Zhang, Fayez Sarofim Vanguard Professor of Management – Strategic Management

Summary: Crossroads of Family Business in China: Succession and Transformation studies the intergenerational succession in family-owned businesses, specifically in the Chinese mainland. It explores how businesses must transform to stay relevant over time. The book offers theories, practices and models for strategic transformations during succession. Readers will gain insights into the intersection of succession and transformation and discover how different succession methods impact performance in real-life Chinese family-owned businesses.