This holiday season will be different. Many of us are looking for safer ways to spend the upcoming weeks and replace our usual holiday networking activities. Here are some great book ideas for gifting or snuggling by the fireplace, with a cup of hot chocolate or glass of holiday cheer.

We spoke with women leaders at #teamagilus to get some best business book recommendations for you and here they are. Whether you buy them at your local bookstore or online provider as gifts, or borrow them from your public library, books are great any time of the year.

Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
Suggested by: Rose- Branch Manager
About the book: Building a circle of trust and respect. It’s about putting people before profit.
Reader’s quote: “It’s relevant in today’s circumstances when so many companies had to put their bottom line before people.”


The First 90 Days by Michael Watkins
Suggested by: Kathleen- Human Resources
About the book: A pro-active and practical guide to critical career transitions. Watkins walks the reader through self-assessment and diagnosing business challenges and opportunities, approaches to negotiating a productive boss relationship, building a team, expanding your coalition network for influence, and securing early wins to build momentum.
Reader’s quote: “I have two copies – each marked up with questions and thoughts. I used the first copy when I was promoted to lead a team of my peers, and I bought a new copy to accelerate my learning and action plan when I started at Agilus.”

Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
Suggested by: Rachelle- Branch Manager
About the book: This book discusses a variety of challenges women face in the workplace and how to overcome them. The topics discussed include leadership ambition gaps, getting a “seat at the table,” and working together towards gender equality.
Reader’s quote: “I love this book because it helped me build my confidence when I needed it starting out as a leader, especially in a male dominated environment. I learned the importance of building strong mentorships and was able to be assertive in an environment where most women tended to shy away.”

Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman
Suggested by: Siena Cox- Accounting
About the book: A Revolutionary argument that the innate goodness and cooperation of human beings has been the greatest factor in our success.
Reader’s quote: “This is not a book about workplaces or leadership in the traditional sense, but it has impacted the way I see humanity as a whole, including the humans I interact with everyday. During this intense time, this critical analysis of human history gave me a more optimistic outlook than I thought could be possible!”

The War of Art by Steven Pressman
Suggested by: Tamara- Marketing
About the book: The author of The Legend of Bagger Vance offers a practical guide to avoid the roadblocks of any creative endeavor—be it starting up a dream business venture, writing a novel, or painting a masterpiece. “Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance.” Mr. Pressfield identifies the enemy that every one of us must face, outlines a battle plan to conquer this internal foe, then pinpoints just how to achieve our greatest success.
Reader’s quote: “It’s inspiring, succinct and engaging with a no nonsense approach. It tackles Resistance, in all of its guises, to being creative head on. Each excuse (cause that’s what they are) is identified and dismissed in short one-page chapters; making it a quick read so you can get back to creating your masterpiece.”

Leading the Workforce of the Future by Brigette Hyacinth
Suggested by: Leanne- Integrated Staffing Partnerships
About the book: This book is about self-awareness. It teaches leaders how to remain relevant in the workplace through change. It gives best practices on how to hire and retain top talent. The book shows a number of ways to be the Leader you need to be. It focuses on enhancing performance of your current talent. Maintaining a positive work culture and succeeding with a purpose.
Reader’s quote: “Bridgette has written 5 Leadership books and is a strong voice on LinkedIn. I support her as an author and as a Business woman. She is engaging with her audience and a strong leader.”

Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis
Suggested by: Gillian- Operational Excellence
About the book: Many women have been taught to define themselves – Wife, Mother, Employee, etc. Rachel’s book encourages women to learn who they really are and to unapologetically own it. We are made for more than we often allow ourselves to believe.
Reader’s quote: “This book is not only informative, but funny and inspirational. It is a great reminder that if I work hard, I deserve a seat at any table and that I am the only person who can define me.”

GRIT The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
Suggested by: Sherri- Human Resources
About the book: Challenges that innate talent is not as important as the blend of passion and perseverance – grit! Focuses on the value of effort and determination with insight into curiosity, discovery and experimentation and how all of these elements create character.
Reader’s quote: “I love this book because it pays tribute to effort and not just final outcomes. In fact, Duck’s basic theory on achievement is that effort counts twice; effort in developing a skill and effort in applying the skill leads to achievement. Grit can be learned and it can grow.”

Tribe of Mentors- short life advice form the best in the world by Timothy Ferriss
Suggested by: Samantha- Technical Practice 
About the book: Small tidbits of life advice by world class performers in the world, ranging from wunderkinds in their 20s to icons in their 70s and 80s. From tech geniuses to non for profit players to artists and actors. The book asks each person 5-10 questions each regarding life goals, investments they made or wish they had made, books loved, habits, failures and advice they can give.
Reader's quote: This book contains answers to not so popular questions directed at people you may have idolized or thought were interesting. Each person's life path is different from the next. Practical and tactical advice from mentors who have found solutions to live out their goals. “Whether you want to 10x your results, get unstuck or reinvent yourself, someone else has traveled a similar path and taken notes.”

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
Suggested by: Gauri- Marketing
About the book: Although this book is not necessarily a business book, it is something that can help you improve your professional and personal life. Gretchen describes very simple and doable strategies that all of us can adopt to bring MORE happiness in our professional & personal life.
Reader's quote: "I loved the book because of it's simplicity. Feeling happier than you already are is everyone's goal and Gretchen's 12 commandments can help you with it."