Wharton@Work

May 2025 | 

What Wharton Faculty Are Reading (and Writing) Now

What Wharton Faculty are Reading (and Writing) Now

Looking for your next great read? We asked Wharton faculty to share the books that recently captured their attention — on topics ranging from behavioral science and leadership to innovation, art, and creating a good life. We also include a couple of faculty-authored Substack newsletters that offer up-to-the minute insights on AI, supply chains, and more. Whether you're seeking a fresh business insight or an engaging diversion, these recommendations offer ideas to inform your thinking and spark new conversations.

Serguei Nettessine, senior vice dean for innovation and global initiatives, and a professor of innovation and entrepreneurship, recommends a book he says has been “indispensable when teaching innovation and venture capital classes at Wharton. In The Venture Mindset (Portfolio, 2024), Stanford professor Ilya Strebulaev and co-author Alex Dang unveil nine principles inspired by venture capitalists' strategies, offering a transformative playbook for fostering innovation and achieving significant growth in any organization. This insightful guide is essential for leaders aiming to navigate uncertainty and drive success in today's rapidly evolving business landscape.”

Management professor Tyler Wry says Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen (Penguin, 2023) is “definitely worth the read.” The book was recommended to him by Prof. Katherine Klein, who teaches a Wharton course on the topic. “There are so many family, business, and societal dynamics where people hold opposed views or need to address sensitive topics. The book provides very helpful diagnostic insights and step-by-step instructions for how to navigate these conversations and arrive at meaningful and productive outcomes. I often think about how it applies to contexts like contentious co-founder conversations — where a failure to specify and agree upon decision rights or equity splits can have catastrophic implications — as well as to sensitive family discussions and interpersonal issues.”

Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship Lori Rosenkopf recommends The Secret Lives of Color by Kassia St. Clair (Penguin, 2017). The author of Unstoppable Entrepreneurs (Penn Press, 2025) calls it a “compelling blend of art and science, filled with fascinating research. I particularly enjoyed the entries about the purple shade in between mauve and violet called heliotrope, which is Greek for the purple flowers that follow the sun across the sky, and absinthe, a pear-green color named for the aperitif made from a combination of plants and aromatics.”

Adam Grant says Life in Three Dimensions (Doubleday, 2025) “introduces a third dimension of the good life: having new and interesting experiences.” Author Shigehiro Oishi builds on his pioneering research as a psychologist to argue that embracing curiosity, exploration, and diverse experiences can lead to a fuller, more authentic life. Grant highlights the book's lively and insightful approach, noting its potential to inspire readers seeking a deeper understanding of what it means to live well. “It turns out that there’s more to life than happiness and meaning,” he says.

Associate Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions Santiago Gallino recommends The Pity of War by Niall Ferguson (Basic Books, 2000). “This book offers a fascinating and thought-provoking look at the complex and often unexpected factors that lead nations into conflict,” he says, “with a strong emphasis on the economic drivers behind war. It’s a powerful reminder of how deeply economics and geopolitics are intertwined, and how understanding these connections is essential to making sense of major global events.”

Beyond Books

Developments in AI, operations, and supply chains are moving so fast that even the best books — including Ethan Mollick’s own from last year — can’t keep up. That’s why we’re recommending two Substacks on those topics from Mollick and Gad Allon. Mollick’s One Useful Thing has become essential reading, offering real-time insights into how artificial intelligence is reshaping work, creativity, and decision making. With a voice that’s both accessible and thought-provoking, he breaks down emerging tools and trends while reflecting on their broader implications for business and society. If you want to keep pace with how AI is evolving — and what it means for your career — this is a consistently insightful, practical read.

Gad Allon’s newsletter brings a sharp lens to how systems, strategies, and people interact to shape performance. Through real-world examples and data-driven insights, Allon brings operations concepts to life, from queueing theory to platform dynamics. Whether he’s breaking down the hidden logic of everyday processes, as in Who’s Got Time for That? The Strange Economics of Line-Sitting, or examining the structure behind big-picture trends, as in When Personalization Feels Fake: Starbucks’ Cup Messages, AI, and the Quest for Genuine Connection, his writing invites readers to think more critically — and strategically — about the rapidly changing world around them.