Dr. Angelo Arezzi

How I Read and Why It Matters

I am not a traditional reader in the sense of sitting down with a physical book for long stretches of time.
Like many leaders operating at pace, I consume most of my books through audio.

I listen while traveling, walking, training, or between meetings. What matters to me is not the format, but whether
the ideas hold up when applied. Audio allows me to revisit concepts, pressure test them in real situations, and absorb
ideas over time rather than treating reading as a one time event.

Every book on this page earned its place because the ideas stayed with me long after I finished listening.

Why This Book Club Exists

Leadership is shaped in moments of uncertainty, when experience alone is no longer enough and judgment must be recalibrated.
Over the last five years, the books on this page have helped me do exactly that.

This is not a list of books I admire. It is a record of books I have used. Each one influenced how I lead, coach,
and design operating models because the ideas held up when applied, not just when discussed.

Most leadership reading lists focus on aspiration. This one focuses on growth that translates into better decisions,
stronger teams, clearer execution, and more durable systems.

How to Use This Page

• Start here, then open the book that best matches what you are dealing with right now.
• Read each post as a leadership lens, not a recommendation.
• Revisit books when redesigning operating models, coaching leaders, or navigating organizational friction.
• Return to this page as conditions change and your leadership context evolves.

The Leadership Book Index

Each title below links to its summary post.

Execution, Discipline, and Operating Systems

• Atomic Habits, James Clear
• Good to Great, Jim Collins
• The Checklist Manifesto, Atul Gawande

Teams, Coaching, and Culture

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Patrick Lencioni
• Radical Candor, Kim Scott
• Everyone’s a Coach, Don Shula

Change, Adaptability, and Modern Leadership

• Who Moved My Cheese, Spencer Johnson
• The Seismic Shift in Leadership, Chad Veach
• Future Proofing You, Jay Samit

Power, Incentives, and Organizational Reality

• Power, Jeffrey Pfeffer
• The Seven Rules of Power, Jeffrey Pfeffer
• Liar’s Poker, Michael Lewis

Scale, Innovation, and Decision Making Under Pressure

• The Everything Store, Brad Stone
• The New New Thing, Michael Lewis
• Make Your Bed, William H. McRaven
• The Wisdom of the Bullfrog, William H. McRaven

Sustainability, Trust, and Human Impact

• The Ride of a Lifetime, Robert Iger
• Shoe Dog, Phil Knight
• The Happiness Advantage, Shawn Achor
• Empathy in Action, Tony Bates
• Be Useful, Arnold Schwarzenegger

Closing Reflection

This page is not meant to be read once. It is meant to be revisited.

I return to these books when leadership becomes less clear, when systems start to drift,
or when judgment needs recalibration. They help strip problems back to first principles
and refocus attention on what actually drives outcomes.

I’d love to connect on LinkedIn.