By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL
The start of a new year is often accompanied by reflection, planning, and personal resolutions. Among them, one frequently stands out: reading more—and choosing what to read more carefully. In a business environment shaped by uncertainty, technological transformation, and constant shifts in leadership and decision-making, having solid recommendations can make the difference when selecting the next book.
With this in mind, the Program Directors of EGADE Business School shared the books they recommend for 2026—titles they consider valuable for broadening perspective, challenging assumptions, and reflecting on the challenges organizations and leaders face today.
Below are their recommendations:
Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI
By: Yuval Noah Harari
“This book combines the author’s signature historical narrative with an urgent warning about the existential moment humanity faces in the age of artificial intelligence. For academics and organizational leaders seeking to understand how information networks shape power, Nexus offers an indispensable conceptual framework.”
—Juan Carlos Rivera, National Director of the MBA Programs at EGADE Business School
Good to Great
By: Jim Collins
“This book offers a deep understanding of how companies can move from being good to truly great, providing strategies and practical examples that remain highly relevant for any MBA student.”
—Pablo Buitrón, Director of the EGADE MBA in Monterrey
Zero to One: Notes on Startups, Or How to Build the Future
By: Peter Thiel, Blake Masters
“Zero to One challenges the way we think about innovation and real growth—not by copying what already exists, but by creating something truly different. It is an invitation to build unique, long-term advantages.”
Raúl Montalvo, Director of the EGADE MBA in Guadalajara
The Beginning of Infinity
By: David Deutsch
“This book suggests that progress occurs through the creation of better explanations—an essential idea for developing leaders capable of questioning assumptions, innovating, and making strategic decisions in highly uncertain contexts.”
—Jatinder Jit Singh, Director of the EGADE Full-Time MBA
La inteligencia emocional
By: Daniel Goleman
“Research shows a strong correlation between high-impact leadership and self-awareness. As Goleman explains, the ability to recognize and manage our own emotions and those of others is fundamental to effective leadership, organizational performance, health, and well-being.”
—Luciana Manfredi, Director of the EGADE MBA Online
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
By: Charles Duhigg
“The book offers a fresh, innovative, and scientifically grounded perspective on how we make decisions, particularly regarding negative habits and how to change them for our own benefit and that of the people around us.”
—Eric Porras, Director of the EGADE – W. P. Carey Executive MBA
Thinking, Fast and Slow
By: Daniel Kahneman
“This book by the Nobel Prize–winning economist explores how humans make decisions and why we often act irrationally. It is closely related to behavioral finance and to any area of life where decisions are made.”
—Alicia Galindo, National Director of the Master in Finance
The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth about Extraordinary Results
By: Gary Keller, Jay Papasan
“By focusing our energy on one thing at a time, we are able to build a more fulfilling life as we develop our professional careers.”
—Pedro Carreón, Director of the Master in Business Management
Prediction Machines: The Simple Economics of Artificial Intelligence
By: Ajay Agrawal, Joshua Gans, Avi Goldfarb
“This book offers a clear and rigorous perspective on how artificial intelligence is transforming business by dramatically reducing the cost of prediction, reshaping decision-making, organizational design, and competitive advantage. It is a key read for understanding the strategic value of analytics and AI beyond the technology itself.”
—Fabiola Vásquez, Director of the Master in Business Analytics
As January unfolds—when resolutions are still fresh and time seems to be on our side—these recommendations may serve as a practical starting point for picking up and following through on that familiar goal of reading at least one book this year.
