
What to read in 2025 to stay up to date on transformations in the business world? Reputation Feed checked two well-known reading lists for business leaders and selected five recommendations. The idea is to bring together works that are related to the business world and the role of reputation in increasing the value of organizations' assets and protecting them from crises.
One such list is that of the founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, who often shares on his blog suggestions for readings with the potential to “give meaning to the world around him”, as he explained in the most recent one, published in December. The other is the one about Financial Times, which at the end of each year makes a selection of inspiring works, dealing with issues that “cross finance and economics, such as Artificial Intelligence, history, culture and social networks”.
Only the first two works have been translated into Portuguese, both of which became bestsellers in Brazil. In the following list, the first two recommendations are from Bill Gates. The other three are from the Financial Times.
The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt, Companhia das Letras, 440 p.
Jonathan Haidt demonstrates how hyperconnectivity and excessive use of smartphones and social networks are correlated with the increase in mental disorders among young people. The central idea is that early and intense exposure to these technologies contributes to the deterioration of children's mental health, resulting in a higher incidence of anxiety and depression.
Haidt also discusses the role of big tech companies and their strategies for keeping young people engaged, and proposes solutions to mitigate these negative effects. Bill Gates considers the book a must-read for anyone raising, working with, or teaching young people today: “It made me reflect on how many of my childhood years helped shape who I am today.”

The Next Wave: Artificial Intelligence, Power and the Greatest Dilemma of the 21st Century, by Mustafa Suleyman and Michael Bhaskar, Record, 420 p.
Mustafa Suleyman and Michael Bhaskar explore the major waves of technological innovation that will transform society. Suleyman, co-founder of DeepMind, believes that advances in AI and other emerging technologies could reshape entire industries, influence economies, and alter global power dynamics.
The book also discusses the ethical and social challenges that accompany these innovations, emphasizing the need for responsible governance to ensure that the benefits are widely distributed. In Bill Gates' opinion, the book provides the best explanation of how technological advances will impact society in multiple ways.

The Friction Project: How Smart Leaders Make The Right Things Easier And The Wrong Things Harder
(“The Friction Project: How Smart Leaders Make Doing the Right Things Easier and Doing the Wrong Things Harder”, in free translation), by Robert Sutton and Huggy Rao, Penguin/St Martin's Press, 304 p.
Based on seven years of research, the book demonstrates how leaders can identify and manage forces that make work difficult or easier in organizations. The authors distinguish between destructive frictions, which reduce productivity and demotivate teams, and constructive frictions, which can be beneficial. The book provides practical tools for diagnosing and solving common problems, such as excessive complexity, internal disconnections and overloaded teams. The goal is to empower leaders to become “friction solvers,” promoting a more efficient and healthy work environment.
Higher Ground: How Business Can Do The Right Thing In A Turbulent World (“Raising the Bar: How Business Can Do the Right Thing in a Turbulent World”, in free translation), by Alison Taylor, Harvard Business Review Press, 304 p.
Alison Taylor addresses the importance of business ethics in times of global uncertainty and turmoil. The author discusses how companies can navigate complex ethical dilemmas, especially when neutrality can be as damaging as taking a controversial stance. Using real-world examples, Taylor emphasizes the need to respect basic human rights and adopt responsible business practices to maintain integrity and trust in the marketplace.

Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI (“Cointelligence: Living and Working with AI”, in free translation), by Ethan Mollick, WH Allen/Portfolio, 256 p.
Ethan Mollick explores the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in everyday life, both personally and professionally. The author offers insights into how to effectively integrate AI into everyday activities, fostering harmonious collaboration between humans and machines. Mollick shares his own experiences and experiments with AI, presenting an optimistic outlook on the opportunities this technology offers, while also acknowledging the challenges and ethical considerations involved.
- Click below to access the complete lists:
GatesNotes – Bill Gates
Financial Times – Best Books of 2024: Business (for subscribers)