The best books of 2023

This list is part of the best books of 2023.

Join 1,707 readers and share your 3 favorite reads of the year.

My favorite read in 2023

Book cover of The Girl from Wudang: A Novel About Artificial Intelligence, Martial Arts and Immortality

Robin Landa Why did I love this book?

PJ Caldas takes us on an absorbing, surprising, and exciting ride. This story has everything I want from a novel—it transports me, holds my attention (I couldn’t stop reading it), and creates a unique world that I’ve never visited before.

Always innovative, PJ builds his interdisciplinary narrative core by merging different domains—martial arts and artificial intelligence—all building a highly imaginative story about immortality and the future of human intelligence.

If you are thinking about what AI has in store for us or if you’re a martial arts fan or practitioner, The Girl from Wudang packs a walloping good time.

By PJ Caldas,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Girl from Wudang as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From Emmy-winner, Brazilian best-seller PJ Caldas, comes a story about immortality, martial arts and AI that will make you change the way you look at life, science, and the crazy times we are living in.

My Name is Tigress and I am immortal. This is my story.

Yinyin, called Tigress, was raised in the sacred mountains of Wudang, where her life was about Tai Chi, the Dao, and trying to balance her yang with yin. Artificial intelligence and neuroscience were things she'd never even heard of. But then her overpowering yang sets her on a course to the Bay Area…


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My 2nd favorite read in 2023

Book cover of Smarter Collaboration: A New Approach to Breaking Down Barriers and Transforming Work

Robin Landa Why did I love this book?

Smarter Collaboration is the indispensable handbook I need to collaborate productively in a global business and academic landscape. If you're a forward-thinking leader or thinker seeking to revamp your organization, redefine your operational methodologies, and enhance your overall influence and achievements, I highly recommend this wise guide. 

In today's global landscape, where businesses and society grapple with increasingly intricate and significant challenges, mastering the art of smart collaboration is undeniably one of the most crucial skills. That's why this book remains on my desk. 

Gardner and Matviak, with their research, wisdom, and compelling examples, pave the way for leaders to embark on a journey that commences by genuinely appreciating the insights individuals bring to the conversation and culminates in creative solutions and innovations that surpass what any single group could achieve independently. I have enthusiastically adopted their core tenets of effective collaboration to make all my collaborations more productive and meaningful.

By Heidi K. Gardner, Ivan A. Matviak,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Smarter Collaboration as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

We need a new approach for solving tough problems in a complex world-we need to collaborate smarter.

Market volatility. Sustainability demands. Hybrid working. Opportunities and hazards of fast-changing technology and regulations. Companies and nonprofits face more daunting challenges than ever. How can we collaborate in our organizations-and with outside partners-to solve problems, innovate, and succeed?

Smarter Collaboration offers groundbreaking solutions. This indispensable new book lays out a pragmatic action plan blending rich stories, new empirical research, and loads of practical advice to help companies thrive by collaborating more effectively. As Harvard professor Heidi K. Gardner and senior executive Ivan A.…


My 3rd favorite read in 2023

Book cover of Black On Madison Avenue

Robin Landa Why did I love this book?

Finally, a book that presents stories demonstrating that multicultural marketing is far more than a thin incremental layer on top of existing consumer advertising campaigns. Robinson shows how multicultural marketing does genuine “heavy lifting” with strategic insights and breakthrough creative work that stands out.

He explains that multicultural marketing was innovative in ways that preceded the rest of the industry by over a decade. Robinson makes the case for representation personal yet universal and pulls back the curtain on how the industry’s words often do not match their actions concerning diversity, equity, and inclusion.

As an educator, I will be assigning this book and am thrilled to have a resource written by an esteemed pro who embodies all that is good in the profession.

By Mark S. Robinson,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Black On Madison Avenue as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"Black on Madison Avenue" tells the shocking truth about one of the most un-diverse white-collar professions in America.


"Black on Madison Avenue" tells the explosive stories that Madison Avenue doesn't want you to read.


"Black on Madison Avenue" reveals the incredible experiences of a Black man who has spent 40+ years on Madison Avenue at some of the advertising industry's most prestigious agencies andgives readers a rare glimpse of what it's like to be one of the very, very few Black professionals in the advertising agency business.


Advertising decides what America wants. And yet, for an industry that professes to…


Don‘t forget about my book 😀

The New Art of Ideas: Unlock Your Creative Potential

By Robin Landa, Holly Taylor (illustrator),

Book cover of The New Art of Ideas: Unlock Your Creative Potential

What is my book about?

How do you get great ideas? With a new method: “The Three Gs – Goal, Gap and Gain.”

In the pursuit of success, the Three Gs elevate your idea generation process to unlock transformative ideas: a goal is what you want to achieve, a gap, a void in a sector, discipline, or business, and a gain is a benefit for business, society, or the planet.

Generate or crystallize worthwhile ideas—ideas of value that improve our lives and consider the triple bottom line—people, the planet, and profit—rather than simply profit or novelty.

Book cover of The Girl from Wudang: A Novel About Artificial Intelligence, Martial Arts and Immortality
Book cover of Smarter Collaboration: A New Approach to Breaking Down Barriers and Transforming Work
Book cover of Black On Madison Avenue

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