Dan Cable recommends five books that can help people improve themselves and become better leaders. The books discuss developing optimism, changing one's mindset, forming good habits, and learning how small psychological changes can reshape one's perspective. Cable believes leaders must strive to better themselves through ideas in books that prompt self-reflection on improving one's character.

1. Dan Cable shortlists five books that show
you how to make change for the better.
“Leaders need to be their best possible
versions if they want people to follow
them. The ideas that fill the pages of
these books are practical and force you
to ask: am I being my best self?”
Five top reads
on human potential

2. 2
Five top reads on human potential
1
Positivity:
Groundbreaking Research to
Release Your Inner Optimist and Thrive
by Barbara Fredrickson (2011)
Can you bottle positivity? It’s more
complicated than that. In fact, it’s a life’s
work. The concept of positive
psychology has been around for more than
15 years. This self-help book empowers
people, no matter what their status, to
unleash their imagination and put
positivity centre stage.

3. 3
Five top reads on human potential
2
Redirect:
The Surprising New Science
of Psychological Change
by Timothy D. Wilson (2011)
Leading psychologist Timothy Wilson
empowers you to reshape the stories
you tell. Even the smallest changes can
significantly alter the way you see the
world around you, and even how you
see yourself. Use Wilson’s practical
interventions and start constructing your
own distinct narrative.

4. 4
Five top reads on human potential
3
Mindset:
How You Can Fulfil Your Potential
by Carol Dweck (2012)
Have you ever taken a survey one day
and finished it off the next? It’s amazing
how your mood affects your answers,
isn’t it? That’s the power of your mindset.
World-acclaimed psychologist Carol
Dweck explains why skills and talent alone
aren’t enough. Learn about the difference
between fixed and growth mindsets and
discover which you have.

5. 5
Five top reads on human potential
4
Authentic Happiness:
Using the New Positive Psychology
to Realise Your Potential for
Lasting Fulfilment
by Martin E. P. Seligman (2003)
The most common answers to the
question “What do you want most out
of life?” are health, love, wealth and
happiness. Celebrated psychologist
Martin Seligman explains how happiness
can be learned. He takes you on a tour of
24 strengths and virtues – of which you
will have at least five – and explains how
to develop more.

6. 6
Five top reads on human potential
5
The Power of Habit:
Why We Do What We Do,
and How to Change
by Charles Duhigg (2013)
Just as alcoholics can become sober,
dysfunctional companies can transform
themselves, argues award-winning
New York Times writer Charles Duhigg.
Learn to break your worst habits with
a host of case studies and scientific
evidence. If the stories don’t alter
your perspectives, they’ll no doubt
provide inspiration for dinner party
conversations.

7. Dan Cable is a Professor of Organisational
Behaviour at London Business School.
The full blog post was published on
London Business School Review online
Visit the website: www.london.edu/lbsr