The Design of Everyday Things, by Don Norman, is an industry classic I received as a gift from a colleague before I could buy it. In a good way, it takes the style out of design and focuses on its strictly utilitarian substance.

Die Verwandlung der Welt ins Herrliche, by Rainer Maria Rilke, is an essay that has been monumental to me. It's an almost cathartic introspection of the poet on the nature of work itself and the deep satisfaction that can only be born out of it. Unfortunately, I cannot find it translated into English language, which is not uncommon when it comes to Rilke's complex body of work.

Beyond Good and Evil and the Genealogy of Morals, by Friedrich Niezsche, urges you to think critically and fearlessly. It is a wild piece of text unafraid to challenge any divine values there may be in the process of establishing the foundations of futuristic moral landscapes rooted strictly within an individual's reality; one's own will to live.

On the Shortness of Life, by Seneca, is only one of many letter-formed essays by the Roman stoic that attached themselves to me. Its demands are as simple as they are preposterous in the 21st century; do not carelessly sacrifice the present for the gamble of a better future. I find that adopting some of stoicism's mantras is an effective way to remain grounded in business.

12 Rules for Life, by Jordan B. Peterson, aims to fortify your stance opposing the complexities of everyday in its unfolding. Interweaving psychology, philosophy, evolutionary biology, and theology, the author grounds his claims with an impressive body of knowledge and real-world experience while making the wellbeing of others a firm priority.

Stop Stealing Sheep & Find Out How Type Works, by Erik Spiekermann, taught me how to become aware of what surrounds us at virtually all times, shaping how we perceive products and spaces; typography. Through the use of great real-world examples, it also acts as a primer for typesetting and grid-based layouting best practices, which come in handy in all disciplines of design.

Damn Good Advice, by George Lois, is a book splitting crowds, largely due to what is perceived as overt boasting. It's also (visually) striking in every way, communicating as clearly as possible. It's what I envision the spirit of advertising to be, and I commend the author for being able to put it into physical form.

Manage Your Day-to-Day, by the 99U initiative, helps creatives build more sustainable lives. As anyone who's ever attempted to create something will attest, coming up with great ideas is not necessarily difficult. Executing on them, however, is where the wheat is separated from the chaff. Pragmatic and beautifully typeset, this book draws on the insights of masters to support you on your journey.

The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield, manages to give distinct shape to everyone's primary antagonist. As a book on the virtues of perseverance and professionalism in its realest sense, its author calls into present tense everything you may not ignore about the rigorous, prayer-laden process of marching towards self-actualization.

Eat That Frog!, by Brian Tracy, is a concise collection of robust time management and productivity techniques. Its a book I warmly recommend to anyone looking to sharpen-up their prioritization skills, and also the only one on the topic I regularly remind myself of.

The Laws of Human Nature, by Robert Greene, pries open your eyes so as to better see what drives people. Its laws give you a deeper look into the narcissism inherent to all minds, underlined by historic examples driving home the principles' severity. The author considers it his magnum opus, encapsulating many essential lessons purported in his previous works, and I mostly agree.

German Philosophers, by Roger Scruton, Peter Singer, Christopher Janaway, and Michael Tanner, elegantly introduces you to Kant, Hegel, Schopenhauer, and Nietzsche's marvelous feats of reasoning without leading you down an unintelligible, academic rabbit hole of tiresome hypotheticals; something particularly the former two are very good at.

Feck Perfuction, by James Victore, is, as it unabashedly proclaims, a dangerous book. The author picks a fight with you and, essentially, shames you into being less of a tool by making you remember the sensibilities of your younger, much-less-encumbered self.

Ego is the Enemy, by Ryan Holiday, aims at only one thing; to humble you. Borrowing stylistically from his mentor, Robert Greene, the author argues against the temptations of ego, on account of many historic figures, in an attempt to dispel illusions around it. A beacon in today's meritocratic society.

Skin in the Game, by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, is a book hated by many due to the author's outright refusal to be polite. It's also a book filled with highly practical advice impossible to ignore for anyone interested in more than, to paraphrase him, being an academic philistine.

Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman, by Richard P. Feynman, is an absolute must-read for anyone enthralled by the wonders of science, people, and those who themselves are on the path of becoming truly curious characters.

Mastery, by Robert Greene, is the book that catapulted me on the fierce, endless, and satisfying mission of putting my nose to the grindstone in order to execute on the things that have been living in my head for the longest time.

Inspired, by Marty Cagan, was recommended to me by my mentor, and I've since adopted it as a religious text for the practice of product management. With a no-nonsense attitude, the author gives you a detailed account of golden standards, along with the industry's best practices for moving product organizations and thought into a direction that keeps both innovation and execution in sight.