Category Archives: Book Display

The 'Leading from the Arts & Humanities' book display in the Sainsbury Library's Lower Reading Room.

Leading from the Arts & Humanities

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To celebrate the appointment of Athol Williams as Poet Laureate of Saïd Business School, and to complement the zine produced by Renée Adams and her MBA and EMBA cohort, the Sainsbury Library is hosting a book display in the Lower Reading Room titled Leading from the Arts & Humanities.
The display highlights the influence of the arts and humanities across the library’s collection, with a particular focus on how poetry, art, theatre, and fiction can inform and inspire effective leadership.
All featured materials can be viewed via the links below (Oxford SSO required) or in person at our display in the Lower Reading Room. Synopses are drawn from https://blackwells.co.uk/.

Poetry & Fiction

  • Invitation: Athol Williams’ collection will nourish your soul. It is an invitation to journey along a path of dreams, of discovery and of love. It includes popular poems such as ‘One Finite Life’ and ‘Taking Notice of Time’.
  • Talking to a Tree: Poems of a Fragile World With the same honesty and boldness first seen in Heap of Stones, AE Ballakisten presents a collection of poems that instantly resonates with the ‘thinking-feeling’ reader. The book is appropriately dedicated to Nelson Mandela who embodies all that Talking to a Tree hopes for.
  • E-Mail from the Soul: New & Selected Leadership Poems: William Ayot’s poetry, prose and performances have helped leaders around the world to pause, reflect and occasionally re-think; to re-engage with their imaginations and refresh themselves on the journey of leadership.
  • Nice Work: When Vic Wilcox (MD of Pringle’s engineering works) meets English lecturer Dr Robyn Penrose, sparks fly as their lifestyles and ideologies collide head on. […] In time both parties make some surprising discoveries about each other’s worlds – and about themselves.
  • The Art of Rhetoric: Hugely influential upon later Western culture, the Art of Rhetoric is a fascinating consideration of the force of persuasion and sophistry, and a compelling guide to the principles behind oratorical skill.
  • The Penguin Book of Historic Speeches: Brian MacArthur brings together the words of over a hundred men and women – from Moses to Mandela – who changed the world through the sheer power of their oratory.
  • Antigone; Oedipus the King; Electra: Sophocles’ greatest innovation in the tragic medium was his development of a central tragic figure, faced with a test of will and character […] it is striking that Antigone and Electra both have a woman as their intransigent ‘hero’.

Recommended by Athol Williams

  • Dream Work: Dream Work, a collection of forty-five poems originally published in 1986, follows both chronologically and logically Mary Oliver’s American Primitive, which won her the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1983.
  • West Wind: Poems and Prose Poems: In this stunning collection of forty poems – nineteen previously unpublished – Mary Oliver writes of nature and love, of the way they transform over time. And the way they remain constant.
  • See a biography and some more poems by Mary Oliver at The Poetry Foundation.

Non-Fiction

  • Shadow & Act: On every page, Ellison reveals his idiosyncratic and often contrarian brilliance, his insistence on refuting both black and white stereotypes of what an African American writer should say or be.
  • Information is Beautiful: A visual guide to how the world really works, through stunning infographics and data visualisations […] making information meaningful, entertaining and beautiful.
  • Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All: Too often, companies and individuals assume that creativity and innovation are the domain of the ‘creative types’. But two of the foremost experts in innovation, design and creativity on the planet show us that each and every one of us is creative.
  • Crafting Strategy: Embodied Metaphors in Practice: The rationalist approach to strategizing emphasizes analytical and convergent thinking. Without denying the importance of this approach, this book argues that strategists must learn to complement it with a more creative approach to strategizing that emphasizes synthetic and divergent ways of thinking.

For more resources, see our posts about other recent book displays.

2026 Skoll World Forum: Books & Resources
The Skoll World Forum 2026 book display at Egrove Park.

2026 Skoll World Forum: Books & Resources

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The 2026 Skoll World Forum starts today! We’ve put together a book display that ties in with the theme of this year’s event – “The Ecology of Us”.

You can find the display at Egrove Park or browse the items on SOLO. Below, you can also explore an expanded list of titles from the Forum’s Inspiration Library – a collection of books authored and submitted by delegates and partners from the Skoll community, and featured at this year’s event in a physical pop-up library. This list highlights Inspiration Library titles available in our collections, with instant access to selected ebooks and audiobooks.

Books

Ebooks

Audiobooks

For more resources, see our posts about other recent book displays.

Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2026
Celebrating International Women’s Day
Sainsbury Library display featuring books about neurodiversity. On top of a wooden bookshelf are five upright books on clear stands, including titles such as Studying with Dyslexia, The Double Empathy Reader, Neurodiversity Celebration Week, How to Thrive with Adult ADHD, and The Pocket Guide to Neurodiversity. The display is set in a bright library space with round ceiling lights, tall concrete columns, bookshelves in the background, and study desks with people seated behind blue partitions. The lower shelves contain rows of academic textbooks.

Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2026

From 16-20 March, the Sainsbury Library will be marking Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2026 with a book display in the Lower Reading Room. Focusing on self-help titles and practical skills to support academic development, the display complements the neurodiversity-related books in our Wellbeing Collection, located in the Annexe.

To further celebrate this week, two drop-in crafting sessions will be held in the Annexe, where participants can create bookmarks and fidget toys using paper collage, beads, and wool. These sessions will take place on Tuesday 17th March, 1-4pm, and Thursday 19th March, 1-4pm.

Summaries of the books in the display can be found below. All featured materials can be accessed via the links below (Oxford SSO required) or in person at our display in the Lower Reading Room:

Neurodiversity:
The Pocket Guide to Neurodiversity: “In this simple guide, expert speaker and trainer Daniel Aherne provides a clear introduction to neurodiversity and the four most common neurodivergent identities of autism, ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia. Using an analogy of a cactus needing a desert to grow in, he emphasises the importance of getting the environment right for neurodivergent people, rather than expecting them to adapt to the neurotypical world.”

The Double Empathy Reader: Exploring Theory, Neurodivergent Lived Experience and Implications for Practice: “This comprehensive handbook explores Damian Milton’s ‘double empathy problem’: the breakdown in mutual understanding that can happen between any two people yet is more likely to occur when people of differing dispositions attempt to interact. It challenges the traditional view that, in exchanges between autistic and non-autistic people, this breakdown was simply the result of autistic people being inherently deficient in empathy.”

Do I Know You?: A Faceblind Reporter’s Journey into the Science of Sight, Memory, and Imagination:  “A lively blend of personal narrative and popular science, Do I Know You? is the story of one unusual mind’s attempt to understand itself – and a fascinating exploration of the remarkable breadth of human experience.”

Unmasking Leadership: Neurodivergent Leaders, Psychological Safety, and the Future of Inclusive Workplaces: “By the end of this book, you will have the language, frameworks, and confidence to design inclusive cultures, support neurodivergent teams, and lead in a way that does not cost you your wellbeing. You will understand how to unmask safely, set boundaries that support your energy, and lead from a place of honesty rather than performance. Most importantly, you will see that leadership can be more human, more sustainable, and more aligned with who you are.”

Spectrum of success: how embracing neurodiversity can revolutionize your business: “Through fascinating research and inspiring interviews with neurodiverse business leaders, mental health expert Thomas Duncan Bell uncovers how we can support and champion neurodiversity at work and beyond. Drawing upon his own experiences with ADHD and bipolar disorder, the book also offers an enlightening insight into how neurodiverse individuals can thrive in the modern world.”

Great minds think unalike : the benefits of ADHD, autism, dyslexia and OCD: “Whether you already have a diagnosis or simply feel you’re somewhere on the neuroatypical spectrum, one thing is certain: once you’ve identified your unique talents, you’ll be able to make more focused choices in your life and work. You’ll discover which jobs best showcase your talents, which colleagues complement your personality, and which environments and corporate cultures are right for you.”

Dyslexia:
Academic Writing and Dyslexia: A Visual Guide to Writing at University: “Fully revised and expanded, this book presents a unique visual approach to academic writing and composition tailored to the needs of students with dyslexia in Higher Education. It will help you to successfully structure and articulate your ideas, get to grips with critical reading, thinking and writing and fulfil your full academic potential.”

Studying with Dyslexia: “Full of practical advice and visual examples, this compact book provides learners with the tools and knowledge to work with their dyslexia. The book’s accessible layout and engaging style supports students with dyslexia and enables them to take control of their studies and learn in ways that are most effective for them.”

ADHD:
Is It My ADHD?: Navigating Life as a Neurodivergent Adult: “Darkly funny, relatable and unflinchingly honest, Is it My ADHD? gives irreverent and intersectional insight into what life is like for women living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.”

How to Thrive with Adult ADHD: 7 Pillars for Focus, Productivity and Balance: “As a leading adult ADHD psychiatrist, who himself has ADHD, Dr James Kustow passionately believes that the goal should not be to just ‘manage’ ADHD, but to thrive with it. This ground-breaking book will allow you to assess if and how the condition affects you, mapping your unique ‘ADHD signature’, before leading you through a seven-pillar plan of small but powerful habit changes.”

Autism:
University, the Autistic Guide: Everything You Need to Survive and Thrive: “Starting university is a daunting experience for any student, especially if this includes moving away from home for the first time. This helpful, informative and friendly handbook is a guide to starting university for autistic young people, covering the entire process from applying, packing and financial admin to mental health support, dealing with burnout, finding your people and experiencing new opportunities.”

Unmasking Autism: The Power of Embracing Our Hidden Neurodiversity: “Blending cutting-edge research, personal insights and practical exercises for self-expression, Dr Devon Price examines the phenomenon of ‘masking’, making a passionate argument for radical authenticity and non-conformity. A powerful call for change, Unmasking Autism gifts its readers with the tools to uncover their true selves and build a new society – one where everyone can thrive on their own terms.”

For more resources, see our posts about other recent book displays.

Celebrating International Women’s Day
LGBT+ History Month
A book display in the library for International Women’s Day (8 March 2026). The books include Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez, The Woman President, Make Your Own Map by Kathryn Bishop, and Beyond Leaning In by Melanie Ho. A central sign reads “International Women’s Day 8th March 2026” with an image of two hands reaching toward each other. The background shows bookshelves, columns, and soft indoor lighting.

Celebrating International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day takes place on Sunday 8th March 2026. To celebrate, the Sainsbury Library is hosting two book displays – one at Park End Street and Egrove Park. The 2026 International Women’s Day theme is Give to Gain, encouraging contributions to women’s advancement and promoting a collaborative environment to discuss gender equality.

Further reading can be found both on the International Women’s Day website and on the library’s Women in Business LibGuide page.

All featured materials can be accessed via the links below (Oxford SSO required) or in person at our displays in the Lower Reading Room and Egrove Park site.

Sainsbury Library: 
Beyond Leaning In
The Woman President: Leadership, Law, and Legacy for Women Based on Experiences from South and Southeast Asia
Feminine Capital: Unlocking the Power of Women Entrepreneurs
Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men
Make Work Fair: Data-Driven Design for Real Results
Make Your Own Map: Career Success Strategy for Women
Female Entrepreneurs
Mental Load

Egrove Park:
Coaching Women to Lead: Changing the World from the Inside
Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men
That’s What She Said: What Men (And Women) Need to Know About Working Together
Radical Candor: How to Get What You Want by Saying What You Mean
How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back
What Works: Gender Equality by Design
The Gifts of Imperfection
Women Don’t Ask: Negotiation and the Gender Divide
Shortchanged: Why Women Have Less Wealth and What Can Be Done About It
Make Work Fair: Data-Driven Design for Real Results
Women in Business: Navigating Career Success
The Promise That Changes Everything: I Won’t Interrupt You

For more resources, see our posts about other recent book displays.

LGBT+ History Month
New in at Sainsbury Library: Wellbeing Collection
A book display in the library. Visible titles include All Pride, No Ego by Jim Fielding, Redefining Realness by Janet Mock, and The Glass Closet by John Browne. To the right is a poster with a hanging lamp graphic and rainbow-colored lines reading “This year’s theme: Science & Innovation — LGBT+ History Month.” Bookshelves filled with books are visible in the background.

LGBT+ History Month

The Sainsbury Library will be holding a book display in the Lower Reading Room throughout February to celebrate LGBT+ History Month. With this year’s theme being Science and Innovation, the display will focus not only on literal innovations, but also innovative ways of thinking about LGBT+ history from a combination of popular and academic books.

If you are interested in learning more about LGBT+ History Month, the Schools Out! website has information on its founding and structure. Further reading can also be found on our LGBTQ+ Business Resources LibGuide.

All featured materials can be accessed via the links below (Oxford SSO required) or in person at our display in the Lower Reading Room.

Businesses 

Queer Business (2018): A timely intervention into the contemporary vitality of queer theories, Queer Business is an innovative book length exploration of how queer theory has been used in management and organisation studies, with the aim of broadening and deepening queer scholarship in this discipline.

The Queering of Corporate America (2019): Legal scholar Carlos Ball tells the overlooked story of how LGBTQ activism aimed at corporations since the Stonewall riots helped turn them from enterprises either indifferent to or openly hostile toward sexual minorities and transgender individuals into reliable allies of the queer equality movement. The Queering of Corporate America complicates the narrative of corporate conservatism and provides insights into the future legal, political, and cultural implications of this unexpected relationship.

Selling Out (2000): Is it possible to have a meaningful revolution in the middle of a capitalist spending frenzy? In a passionate, if ultimately utopian, analysis of gay politics, Chasin asserts that the creation of a gay-oriented consumer market – in tandem with the mainstreaming of a gay politic that disavows broad-based coalitions with women and people of colour – has prevented homosexuals from pursuing a more radical vision of social change.

Rainbow Trap (2025): Rainbow Trap documents how inclusive interventions have attempted to bring marginalised communities out of the shadows. Yet, as part of the bargain, LGBTQ people need to locate themselves in an ever-growing list of categories and labels to ‘make sense’ to the systems they are seeking to access. When we look beyond the veneer of inclusive interventions, we uncover sorting processes that determine what LGBTQ lives are valued.

Memoirs

Redefining Realness (2014): In 2011, Marie Claire magazine published a profile of Janet Mock in which she stepped forward for the first time as a trans woman. Those 2300 words were life-altering for the People.com editor, turning her into an influential public figure and a desperately needed voice for an often voiceless community. In these pages, she offers a bold and inspiring perspective on being young, multicultural, economically challenged, and transgender in America.

The Glass Closet (2015): Drawing on John Browne’s personal experiences and the experience of other gay and lesbian business leaders, and by investigating the research and the social contexts, The Glass Closet strives to inspire the LGBT community that despite the risks involved, self-disclosure is best for employees and for the businesses that support them.

All Pride, No Ego (2023): In an inspiring and personal roadmap to servant leadership, celebrated corporate leader James Fielding delivers an inspirational leadership story told from the perspective of an out and proud LGBTQ+ executive. In the book, you’ll explore a call-to-action for authentic servant leadership that encourages people to own their truth and bring out the best in themselves and their communities.

Technology

GaYme Changer (2021): Jens Schadendorf has traced the LGBT+ community and an increasing number of their allies from across the globe to discover the start of a revolution. It becomes clear, even in times of hostility and resistance, it is economically and ethically beneficial for companies and societies everywhere in the world, to let LGBT+ members develop into dynamic forces – rooted in new forms of cooperation for game changing results.

Trans Technologies (2025): Oliver L. Haimson, whose research into gender transition and technology has defined this area of study, draws on transgender studies and his own in-depth interviews with more than 100 creators of technology – including apps, games, health resources, extended reality systems, and supplies designed to address challenges trans people face – to explain what trans technology is and to explore its present possibilities and limitations, as well as its future prospects.

Economics 

Homo Economics (1997): Homo Economics is the first honest account of the tense relationship between gay people and the economy. This groundbreaking collection brings together a variety of voices from the worlds of journalism, activism, academia, the arts, and public policy to address issues including the recent economic history of the gay community, the community’s response to its changing economic circumstances, and the risks inherent in a narrow definition of liberation.

Queer Economics (2008): Recontextualising extracts from Homo Economics almost a decade later, this reader is an examination of and response to the effects of heteronormativity on both economic outcomes and economics as a discipline.

For more resources, see our posts about other recent book displays.

New in at Sainsbury Library: Wellbeing Collection
Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2025

Green Libraries Week: 27 October – 2 November 2025

This week marks Green Libraries Week, an event organised by CILIP to celebrate and promote sustainability initiatives in libraries across the UK. The Sainsbury Library is taking part with a new interactive display.

Our display features ‘feedback trees’ made from scrap cardboard, inviting students to pin leaves sharing their sustainability messages, requests, and goals for the library. Alongside this, we’ve curated a book display highlighting resources on climate change, environmental action, and sustainable business practices.

All featured materials can be accessed via the links below (Oxford SSO required) or by visiting the display in the Lower Reading Room. For further resources, explore our GOTO: Climate Action LibGuide.

Sustainable Business and Management
Net Positive : How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take
Runaway climate change and rampant inequality threaten humanity and are costing a fortune. Net Positive demonstrates how business can help lead us to a better future.
The Green Bundle: Pairing the Market With the Planet
Combining insights from sustainable business and behavioural economics, Delmas and Colgan show managers how to lead buyers from information to action. If you are looking to win over the convenient consumer or understand how companies can create the next tipping point in green consumption, this is the research-based, practical guide for you.
The Responsible Business: Reimagining Sustainability and Success
“The Responsible Business” outlines a framework for building a responsibility and consciousness infrastructure that applies a living systems view to the business and inspires all of its stakeholders, including shareholders.

Economics and Public Action
Heat: How to Stop the Planet Burning
We know that climate change is happening. We know that it could, if the worst predictions come true, destroy the conditions which make human life possible. Only one question is now worth asking: can it be stopped?
Don’t Even Think About it: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change
From the founder of the Climate Outreach and Information Network, a groundbreaking take on the most urgent question of our time: Why, despite overwhelming scientific evidence, do we still ignore climate change?
Saving the Planet Without the Bullshit: What They Don’t Tell You About the Climate Crisis
In this provocative manifesto, Assaad Razzouk shows that for too long our ideas about what’s best for the environment have been unfocused and distracted, trying to go in too many directions and concentrating on individual behaviour. While some of these things can be useful, they are dwarfed by one big thing that simply has to happen very soon if we’re to avoid major environmental breakdown: curtailing the activities of the fossil fuel industry.
What We Need to Do Now
Embracing Britain’s promise to become carbon neutral by 2050, Chris Goodall makes a pivotal practical plan for achieving widespread change in this engaging and inspiring volume.

Guides, Plans, and Personal Climate Action
What Can we do by Friday?: The Practical Guide to Personal Climate Action
“What Can We Do by Friday?” is written to tackle one of the most urgent crises of our time: climate change. It’s not a theoretical or academic discourse; it’s a call to action. This book breaks down the complexities of the climate crisis into simple, actionable steps that individuals and business leaders can take immediately to make a meaningful difference.
How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and The Breakthroughs We Need
In this urgent, authoritative book, Bill Gates sets out a wide-ranging, practical and accessible – plan for how the world can get to zero greenhouse gas emissions in time to avoid a climate catastrophe.

For more resources, see our posts about other recent book displays.

Understanding Artificial Intelligence
New in at Sainsbury Library: Wellbeing Collection

Understanding Artificial Intelligence


‘Can machines think?’

When Alan Turing posed this question in 1950, Artificial Intelligence was a thought experiment. Today, it’s writing our emails, moulding our search results, and occupying the centre of debates worldwide. Perhaps a more pressing question now is: Can we keep up?

Whether you are curious, sceptical, or just overwhelmed by the buzz, the Sainsbury Library invites you to consider the practical applications and unexpected consequences of AI in our new display: ‘Understanding Artificial Intelligence’.

All featured materials can be accessed via the links below (Oxford SSO required) or in person at our display in the Lower Reading Room. To explore further, visit our Business of AI LibGuide.

Video Resources

The AI Pocketbook: Video Edition
“Everything you need to know about AI to survive–and thrive–as an engineer. If you’re worried about your tech career going obsolete in a world of super-powered AI, never fear. The AI Pocket Book crams everything engineers need to know about AI into one short volume you can fit into your pocket”

Artificial You: AI and the Future of Your Mind
“Given the rapid pace of progress in AI, many predict that it could advance to human-level intelligence within the next several decades. From there, it could quickly outpace human intelligence. What do these developments mean for the future of the mind?”

The Role of AI in Business Development
“Mariusz Soltanifar, a researcher in corporate entrepreneurship and marketing lecturer at the Hanze International Business School in Groningen in the Netherlands, uses the Alexa Artificial Intelligence platform as an example to explore both artificial intelligence and the market for it”

Audio Resources

The AI-Savvy Leader: 9 Ways to Take Back Control and Make AI Work
“This book helps leaders retake control of the wildly rapid deployment of AI across organizations. It outlines cleanly and concisely nine actions leaders need to take to successfully steward a transition to a more AI-centric future that will lead to growth for all-companies and workers-and avoid the kinds of mistakes that author David De Cremer has seen many early adopters already make”

How to Think About AI: A Guide for the Perplexed
“In How to Think About AI, Richard Susskind draws on his experience of working on AI since the early 1980s. For Susskind, balancing the benefits and threats of artificial intelligence is the defining challenge of our age. He explores the history of AI and possible scenarios for its future”*

eBooks

Prediction Machines: The Simple Economics of Artificial Intelligence
“The idea of artificial intelligence–job-killing robots, self-driving cars, and self-managing organizations–captures the imagination, evoking a combination of wonder and dread for those of us who will have to deal with the consequences. But what if it’s not quite so complicated?”

The AI Ladder
“AI may be the greatest opportunity of our time, with the potential to add nearly $16 trillion to the global economy over the next decade. But so far, adoption has been much slower than anticipated, or so headlines may lead you to believe. With this practical guide, business leaders will discover where they are in their AI journey and learn the steps necessary to successfully scale AI throughout their organization”

Print Books

A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence
“From Oxford’s leading AI researcher comes a fun and accessible tour through the history and future of one of the most cutting edge and misunderstood field in science: Artificial Intelligence”

Co-Intelligence: Living and Working With AI
“Professor Ethan Mollick has become one of the most prominent and provocative explainers of AI, focusing on the practical aspects of how these new tools for thought can transform our world. In Co-Intelligence, he urges us to engage with AI as co-worker, co-teacher and coach”

The Coming Wave: AI, Power, and the 21st Century’s Greatest Dilemma
“As cofounder of DeepMind, the pioneering AI company now owned by Google, Mustafa Suleyman has witnessed firsthand just how rapidly our technology is advancing-and how flawed our approaches to grappling with these changes are. The coming decades, he argues, will be defined by a burst of innovation, an inevitable wave of powerful, fast-proliferating new technologies across fields like synthetic biology, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing”

Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right With Our AI Future
”Superagency offers a roadmap for using AI inclusively and adaptively to improve our lives and create positive change. While acknowledging challenges like disinformation and potential job changes, the book focuses on AI’s immense potential to increase individual agency and create better outcomes for society as a whole”

For more resources, see our posts about other recent book displays.

New in at Sainsbury Library: Wellbeing Collection
Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2025
The Wellbeing Collection book display in the Sainsbury Library.

New in at Sainsbury Library: Wellbeing Collection

The importance of mental wellbeing in both our personal and work lives are being increasingly recognised. Following the inclusion of the Science of Wellbeing module to Said’s MBA course, this opened the perfect opportunity for the expansion of our collection here in the Sainsbury Library.

We now have a both a loanable collection of physical books and a selection of eBooks available. Some of the topics include: self-help, psychology, workplace wellbeing, management, and neurodiversity.

Workplace Wellbeing

Why workplace wellbeing matters: the science behind employee happiness and organizational performance – Jan-Emmanuel De Neve and George Ward
“In Why Workplace Wellbeing Matters, the authors clarify what workplace wellbeing is (and is not) and offer a framework for how businesses can approach and improve it…Their research demonstrates that improving wellbeing can boost productivity, aid in talent retention and recruitment, and ultimately improve financial performance.”

HBR Guide to Better Mental Health at Work – Harvard Business Review Press
“The HBR Guide to Better Mental Health at Work contains practical tips and advice to help you bring mental health out of the shadows and into everyday conversations.”

Wellbeing: Science and Policy – Richard Layard and Jan-Emmanuel De Neve
“Written by two of the world’s leading experts on the economics of wellbeing, this book shows how wellbeing can be measured, what causes it, and how it can be improved.”

Business Management and Leadership

Mindset – Carol Dweck
“Mindset reveals what all great parents, teachers, CEOs, and athletes already know: how a simple idea about the brain can create a love of learning and a resilience that is the basis of great accomplishment in every area.”

Surrounded by bad bosses and lazy employees: or, how to deal with idiots at work – Thomas Erikson
“Drawing on the simple four-colour system that made Surrounded by Idiots… Erikson shows how understanding your boss’ behavioural tendencies, as well as your own, will lead to a more harmonious and productive workplace. He also sets out what characterises an exemplary leader type and how you can adapt your behaviour to model it.”

Slow productivity: the lost art of accomplishment without burnout – Cal Newport
“Hustle culture. Burnout. Quiet quitting. Today we’re either sacrificing ourselves on the altar of success or we’re rejecting the idea of ambition entirely. But it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. There is a way to create meaningful work as part of a balanced life, and it’s called ‘slow productivity’.”

HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Mental Toughness – Harvard Business Review
“This book will inspire you to: thrive on pressure like an Olympic athlete; manage and overcome negative emotions by acknowledging them; plan short-term goals to achieve long-term aspirations; surround yourself with the people who will push you the hardest; use challenges to become a better leader; use creativity to move past trauma; and understand the tools your mind uses to recover from setbacks.”

Personal Development

Atomic Habits: an easy & proven way to build good habits & break bad ones : tiny changes, remarkable results – James Clear
“People think that when you want to change your life, you need to think big. But world-renowned habits expert James Clear has discovered another way. He knows that real change comes from the compound effect of hundreds of small decisions…He calls them atomic habits.”

The organized mind: thinking straight in the age of information overload – Daniel J. Levitin
“Modern society is in a state of information overload. Neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin investigates how and why our brains are struggling to keep up with the demands of the digital age…In a world where information is power, The Organized Mind holds the key to harnessing that information and making it work for you.”

Surrounded by Idiots: the four types of human behavior and how to effectively communicate with each in business (and in life) – Thomas Erikson
Erikson reveals “his simple yet ground-breaking method for assessing everyone we communicate with based on four personality types: Red, Blue, Green and Yellow. From body language to conflict handling, this entertaining read will give you all the tools you need to understand and influence those around you – in and out of the office – and ensure the idiot out there isn’t you!”

The motherhood penalty: how to stop motherhood being the kiss of death for your career – Joeli Brearley
“The Motherhood Penalty is an expose of the unscrupulous work practices and antiquated systems that we’ve been conditioned to accept and a toolkit for how to challenge them. It’s full of practical advice to help you navigate systemic barriers when they slap you in the face.”

I Didn’t Do the Thing Today – Madeleine Dore
“After five years of searching for the secret to productivity, Madeleine Dore discovered there isn’t one-instead, we’re being set up to fail. I Didn’t Do the Thing Today is an inspiring call to take productivity off its pedestal, to embrace the joyful messiness and unpredictability of life.”

Stress Management

50 Ways to Manage Stress – Stella Cottrell
“This practical book will inspire and encourage students to shape new habits and make stress-management a natural part of their everyday routine…throughout, it encourages students to take charge of their wellbeing and strike a healthy study-life balance.”

Stress control – Jim White
“This accessible, jargon-free book combines clinically proven methods from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), positive psychology and mindfulness to give you the tools you need to improve your mind, your body and your life.”

Addicted to Anxiety – Owen O’Kane
“Addicted to Anxiety will help you understand your anxiety from the perspective of addiction, identifying your triggers and learning how to break your habits so you can actively replace them with new, more productive behaviours for a calmer, happier life.”

eBooks

We also have a wide range of eBooks available – below are some of our new acquisitions. For more titles, visit our Annexe room in the library to see our display of eBooks, linking to access through SOLO.

Lost connections why you’re depressed and how to find hope – Johann Hari
“Depression and anxiety are now at epidemic levels. Why? Across the world, scientists have uncovered evidence for nine different causes. Some are in our biology, but most are in the way we are living today. Lost Connections…shows that once we understand the real causes, we can turn to pioneering new solutions – ones that offer real hope.”

Succeeding with adult ADHD: daily strategies to help you achieve your goals and manage your life – Abigail Levrini and Frances Prevatt
“With her extensive experience researching and treating adults with ADHD, Levrini provides user‑friendly strategies for setting meaningful and realistic goals, developing a plan to achieve the goals, and staying on track while following the plan.”

Be well, learn well: improve your wellbeing and academic performance – Gareth Hughes.
“Gareth Hughes explores the different dimensions of student wellbeing (physical, psychological, social and academic) and helps students understand the connection between their wellbeing and academic performance.”

Beyond these books we also have multiple puzzles and origami available in the library to have a mindful break from your busy workdays.

We continue to have a recommendations box in the library – come along and give us your wellbeing and pleasure book recommendations!

For more resources, see our posts about other recent book displays.

Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2025
World BookDay 2025

Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2025

The Neurodiversity Celebration Week programme features a wide range of speakers from around the globe who are leading experts in neurodiversity and inclusion. Many of them are also well-respected authors, and Saïd Enabled would like to highlight six books written by Neurodiversity Celebration Week speakers – all of which are available electronically via the Bodleian Libraries (links below, Oxford SSO required). The Sainsbury Library is also displaying a range of titles on this theme during the week. Whether you are curious to learn more about research into the value of neurodiversity within organisations or looking for practical tips to support yourself or your neurodivergent colleagues and friends, there is something here for you!

The Neurodiversity Celebration Week Events Schedule lists webinars that you can register to attend for free. The sessions are very varied, so there is something for everyone! Even if you are unavailable to attend live, we would recommend registering to receive a copy of the recording to enable you to watch it at a more suitable time.

Neurodiversity at Work: Drive innovation, performance and productivity with a neurodiverse workforce by Amanda Kirby & Theo Smith

Amanda Kirby is chairing Event 1: Celebrating Different Minds – An Introduction to Neurodiversity and both Amanda Kirby and Theo Smith are speaking at Event 12: Shaping Neurodiversity through Innovation & Technology.

Neurodiversity at Work is a practical guide that explores the benefits of valuing those who think differently within the workforce. Drawing on research and case studies from leading organisations such as Microsoft, the authors demonstrate the importance of recognizing and harnessing the unique strengths of neurodivergent individuals in improving business outcomes and brand impact, as well as employee wellbeing. The book was the winner of the Diversity, Inclusion & Equality Book 2022 at the Business Book Awards, and features chapters on inclusive recruitment, line management conversations, and the workplace of the future.

Read this book if: you want to understand the business case for neurodiversity inclusion and catch the vision for a truly diverse workforce.

Smith, T. & Kirby, A. (2021) Neurodiversity at Work: Drive innovation, performance and productivity with a neurodiverse workforce. London: KoganPage.

Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces: Advancing sensory processing and cognitive well-being in the built environment by Kay Sargeant

Kay Sargeant is on the panel of speakers at Event 13: Neurodiversity at Work Q&A: Designing Neuro-inclusive Working Environments.

Kay Sargeant draws on her experience as a certified interior designer and Director of Thought Leadership at the global design and architecture firm HOK’s Interiors group in reimagining the workplace through a neuroinclusive lens. Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces, published in March 2025, considers the sensory and cognitive impact of the spaces in which we work, especially on those with neurodivergent conditions, and makes the case for inclusive choices at every stage of the design process to “boost productivity” and “transform high-stress environments into more welcoming and functional spaces for everyone”.

Read this book if: you want to discover how aspects of our physical environment at work can promote inclusion, productivity and wellbeing.

Sargent, K. (2025) Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces: Advancing sensory processing and cognitive well-being in the built environment. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

The Canary Code: A guide to neurodiversity, dignity, and intersectional belonging at work (also available as an audiobook) by Ludmila N. Praslova

Ludmila N. Praslova is on the panel of speakers at Event 23: Is the Business World leading society on Neuroinclusion?

The Canary Code describes how neurodivergent individuals can often be ‘canaries in the coalmine’, falling foul of psychologically unhealthy working environments before others do. However, Ludmila Praslova sets out clear inclusive principles for organisations to follow, to improve the experience of work for everyone. With simple takeaways and real-life examples, she shares practical steps to put these principles into action at every level of an organisation, from everyday changes to system-wide shifts. There are several chapters on leadership, including the challenges faced by leaders who are neurodivergent themselves, and useful appendices such as checklists for neuroinclusive hiring and running neuroinclusive meetings.

Read (or listen to) this book if: you’re looking for practical tips on improving inclusion that you can start implementing today. If you’re not sure which of the six books to pick, The Canary Code has a bit of everything!

Praslova, L. N. (2024) The Canary Code: A guide to neurodiversity, dignity, and intersectional belonging at work. Oakland, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.

The Neurodiversity Edge: The essential guide to embracing autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurological differences for any organization by Maureen Dunne

Dr. Maureen Dunne is on the panel of speakers at Event 23: Is the Business World leading society on Neuroinclusion?

The Neurodiversity Edge sets out the case for neuroinclusion as not just a positive thing for organisations to do, but vital for organisations to thrive and deal with the challenges of a rapidly changing environmental, social, political and technological landscape. Dr. Dunne argues that neurodivergent individuals bring unique skills and ways of thinking to the workplace, and organisations which overlook these are in danger of groupthink, stagnation and losing out to competition. This book builds on her experience working with the World Economic Forum where she founded the Davos Neurodiversity Summit to bring fresh thinking to the world’s greatest challenges.

Read this book if: you’re curious about how organisations can harness the strengths of neurodiverse teams to tackle big problems and adapt to changes.

Dunne, M. (2024) The Neurodiversity Edge: The essential guide to embracing autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurological differences for any organization. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Learning from Neurodivergent Leaders: How to start, survive and thrive in leadership by Nancy Doyle

Dr. Nancy Doyle is on the panel of speakers at Event 23: Is the Business World leading society on Neuroinclusion?

Drawing on her experience as founder and Chief Science Officer of Genius Within, an international B-corp focused on neurodiversity inclusion, and as a neurodivergent leader herself, Nancy Doyle has written this book as a manual for leaders and aspiring leaders who think differently. She shares personal stories from a wide variety of contributors with lived experience, exposing the ‘unwritten rules of leadership’, and giving realistic advice on navigating the strengths and challenges of the path to becoming a leader as a neurodivergent person.

Read this book if: you’re a leader or considering leadership, and you have – or think you might have – a neurodivergent condition. It’s also a great read if you want to understand the lived experience of neurodivergent leaders.

Doyle, N. (2025) Learning from Neurodivergent Leaders: How to start, survive and thrive in leadership. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Dyslexia and Me: How to survive and thrive if you’re neurodivergent by Onyinye Udokporo

Onyinye Udokporo is on the panel of speakers at Event 23: Is the Business World leading society on Neuroinclusion?

Dyslexia and Me is Onyinye Udokporo’s personal story of learning to embrace her dyslexia diagnosis and forging a path for herself as a successful entrepreneur and educator. Dealing with themes of intersectionality and representation, she aims to be the role model for others that she wished she had had whilst growing up in London as a young girl of Nigerian heritage.

Read this book if: you’re looking for inspiration and encouragement to overcome obstacles and find your strengths.

Udokporo, O. (2023) Dyslexia and Me: How to survive and thrive if you’re neurodivergent. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Podcasts

Don’t feel like reading? Check out these podcasts featuring Neurodiversity Celebration Week speakers:

Do you have any recommendations of books and resources on neurodiversity? Let us know in the comments.

World BookDay 2025

The theme of World Book Day this year is Read Your Way which “encourages everyone to let go of reading pressures and expectations”. So in keeping with the theme, do have look at our current book display, including interesting and non-business related titles. Also, we have some fun activities. Stop by the book display and let us know your favourite book and take a break to colour in your own World Book Day bookmark.