The 9 Best Books for Policy Research
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Here’s my curated list of the 9 best books for policy research, in no particular order.
- The Republic by Plato — The origination of political science and a brilliant critique of government that is still important today.
- Beyond Good & Evil: Prelude to a Philosophy of the Future by Friedrich Nietzsche — Probably Nietzsche’s most cogent statement of his views: that traditional morality is subjective and that people must evolve to a higher understanding of what’s valuable and what is not.
- The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of The Learning Organization by Peter M. Senge — A foundational text on systems thinking and organizational development, emphasizing how organizations can learn and adapt.
- Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman — An insightful look into how our minds work and the dual systems of thought that drive our decision-making.
- The Culture of Trust: Building Relationships to Facilitate Change by John W. Gardner — Discusses the importance of building trust within organizations and communities to enhance collaboration and effectiveness.
- Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness by Richard H. Thaler & Cass R. Sunstein — This book delves into behavioral economics and discusses how small changes can significantly influence people's choices.
- The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries — A groundbreaking approach to managing startups that emphasizes rapid prototyping and validated learning.
- A Theory of Justice by John Rawls — A modern classic in moral and political philosophy that argues for justice as fairness in the structuring of society.
- Peak Self-Control by Said Hasyim — Focuses on building strong willpower to help individuals achieve their important goals effectively.
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