Best Decision-Making & Problem Solving Books of 2026

The book "Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High, Third Edition" focuses on effective communication skills, especially in difficult situations. It provides readers with techniques to be persuasive instead of abrasive, navigate high-stakes conversations, and handle digital communication. Written in an engaging style, the third edition includes modern-day issues and challenges. The authors, Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, and Emily Gregory, are international corporate consultants and leaders at Crucial Learning. The book is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their communication skills and build better relationships, whether at work or home.

Start, Stay, or Leave: The Art of Decision Making is a New York Times bestseller that presents a unique framework for decision-making. The author, Trey Gowdy, shares his personal experiences and how he used this framework to make some of the most important decisions in his life. The book is filled with practical advice, surprising insights, and a lifetime's worth of storytelling. It teaches readers how to approach life-changing decisions with confidence and knowledge. Overall, this book is a great guide to help people analyze, make, and own their decisions.

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team is a leadership fable and business handbook that explores the behavioral tendencies that undermine teamwork. Author Patrick Lencioni weaves a page-turning tale that follows Kathryn Petersen, the CEO of DecisionTech, as she navigates the ultimate leadership crisis. This 20th-anniversary edition includes a new foreword from the author reflecting on the book's legacy and lessons. The book offers a powerful model and step-by-step guide to overcome team dysfunctions and get everyone rowing in the same direction. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team is a must-read for modern executives, managers, and organizations seeking to build high-performing teams.

The First 90 Days by Michael D. Watkins is a must-read for anyone who is transitioning into a new leadership role. Watkins offers proven strategies and practical tools to help conquer the challenges of transitions, no matter where you are in your career. He identifies the most common pitfalls new leaders encounter, provides the tools and strategies you need to avoid them, and teaches how to secure critical early wins. This updated and expanded version of the international bestseller is a trusted guide for anyone starting a new job or being promoted from within. Overall, it's a valuable resource for leaders who want to succeed in their new roles.

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman is a best-selling book that explores the two systems that drive the way we think. System 1 is fast, intuitive, and emotional, while System 2 is slower, more deliberative, and more logical. Kahneman explains how these systems shape our judgments and decisions, and offers practical insights into how we can use different techniques to guard against mental glitches. The book is engaging, profound, and full of intellectual surprises. It is a must-read for anyone interested in decision-making and problem-solving.

Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool (The ParentData Series) is a must-read for any new parent. Emily Oster, a trained expert and mother of two, debunks myths around breastfeeding, sleep training, potty training, language acquisition, and more, providing parents with the data they need to make their own best decisions. The book is a delightful read and a thinking parent's guide to the chaos and frequent misinformation of the early years. Overall, Cribsheet is an invaluable resource that empowers parents to make informed choices based on the latest research.

Scaling People: Tactics for Management and Company Building by Claire Hughes Johnson is a practical guide to building and scaling a company's most important resource: its people. The book offers tactical information on crafting foundational documents, strategic planning, hiring, team development, and feedback mechanisms, all of which can be applied to companies of any size and industry. The author provides dozens of pages of worksheets, templates, exercises, and example documents to help company builders create scalable operating systems and lightweight processes. Overall, Scaling People is a detailed roadmap for creating sustainable and scalable companies that are set up for long-term success.

The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon is an international bestseller that provides readers with ten secrets to approach life and work with positivity. George, the protagonist, faces challenges in his personal and professional life, but with the help of a unique bus driver and other characters, he learns the importance of positive energy, trust, optimism, and enthusiasm. The book is filled with good ideas, pithy quotes, and punchy one-liners that readers will find inspiring. Overall, The Energy Bus is a must-read for those seeking to overcome adversity and bring out the best in themselves and their team.

Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell is an insightful book that explores what sets high-achievers apart from the rest. Gladwell argues that we often overlook the cultural and environmental factors that contribute to success. This thought-provoking read offers examples from the worlds of sports, music, and business to support Gladwell's theories. The book is written in Gladwell's signature style, making it both entertaining and informative. Overall, Outliers is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the secrets of success and what makes some people stand out from the crowd.

The book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, by Greg McKeown, emphasizes the importance of doing less, but better, in every area of our lives. It is not about getting more done in less time, but about getting only the right things done. The book offers a systematic discipline for discerning what is essential and eliminating everything that is not. McKeown's lucid and smart directions make the content fresh and easy to implement. The book is a timely, essential read for anyone who feels overcommitted, overloaded, or overworked. Overall, Essentialism is a movement whose time has come.