LONDON 4 MAY – Thinkers50, the global authority on management thinking, has announced its Best New Management Books for 2026, a curated selection of the most insightful and impactful titles shaping the future of business and organisations.
The 2026 list highlights fresh perspectives on platform strategy, leadership resilience, and innovation at scale, reflecting a growing emphasis on adaptability, courage, and systemic thinking, as expectations of leadership and performance shift at pace.
“Each year, the Thinkers50 Best New Management Books shine a spotlight on the ideas that matter most,” said Thinkers50 CEO, Mikko Leskelä. “These books don’t just reflect the moment we are in – they help leaders navigate it, combining rigorous thinking with practical wisdom.”
The selected titles are:
Linda Hill, Emily Tedards, Jason Wild (HBR Press, March 2026)
How to catalyse transformation through co-creation, collaboration, and connection.
Ranjay Gulati (Harper Business, October 2025)
Courage isn’t a trait confined to fearless heroes, it’s a capability that we can all cultivate.
Scott Anthony (HBR Press, September 2025)
A deep dive into the breakthroughs that sparked some of the most consequential shifts in modern history and the lessons they teach for future disruptions.
Daniel Trabucchi & Tommaso Buganza (Platform Thinking Publishing, June 2025)
Platform thinking isn’t just for startups: how to unlock platform growth from the assets, relationships, and capabilities you already have.
Nilofer Merchant (Harper Collins, 2026)
Challenges conventional assumptions of management to open up new pathways for innovation.
Steve Goldbach & Geoff Tuff (Wiley, January 2026)
Rethinks leadership for uncertain times, demonstrating how continuous alignment and small, deliberate adjustments can outperform large-scale transformations.
Ruchika T. Malhotra (Viking, November 2025)
Making the case for moving beyond competition towards collaboration to unlock greater imagination and collective success.
Eric Ries (Authors Equity, May 2026)
From the author of The Lean Startup, a timely and unflinching guide to scaling without losing integrity, purpose, or soul.
George Newman (Simon & Schuster, January 2026)
A fresh take on creativity; a practical research-backed method for discovering breakthrough ideas through exploration rather than inspiration.
Joseph Pine (HBR Press, February 2026)
The co-author of The Experience Economy sets out the next economic frontier, where businesses create value by helping customers realise their deepest aspirations.
Scott Anthony, Nilofer Merchant, and Ranjay Gulati will be speaking in the Thinkers50 Studio at the Thinkers50 London Summit on 2 November 2026, with more names to be announced soon.
Nominations for the 2026 Best New Management Booklist were invited for books that excel in the three Rs:
Relevance: does the book address a current, pressing challenge?
Rigour: is it well researched and grounded in real-world examples?
Readability: is it accessible, insightful, and inspiring?
The only rules were that books had to be published after January 2025 and participants could not nominate their own book.
Founded in 2001 by business journalists Des Dearlove and Stuart Crainer, Thinkers50 began as the first global Ranking of Management Thinkers. Over the past quarter century, it has grown into a worldwide platform and a vibrant Community. Today, Thinkers50 encompasses the Thinkers50 Distinguished Achievement Awards alongside the Hall of Fame, Radar, Coaching Legends, Leaders50, Coaches50, and curated Booklists. The Thinkers50 London Summit & Awards Gala has been described by the Financial Times as the “Oscars of management thinking.”
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Thinkers50 Limited
The Studio
Highfield Lane
Wargrave RG10 8PZ
United Kingdom
Thinkers50 Limited
The Studio
Highfield Lane
Wargrave RG10 8PZ
United Kingdom
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