• The Goal

By Eli Goldratt and Jeff Cox

An introduction to constraint based thinking about manufacturing.

• The Gold Mine

By Michael and Freddy Balle

An excellent introduction to many Lean concepts.

• Quiet Leadership

By David Rock

Outstanding model for coaching people to think better.

• Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving
  and Thriving at Work, Home, and School

By John Medina

Brain Rules makes accessible some of the theories and evidence behind why some practices work, and others hinder, efforts to learn and work. No big surprizes, but an entertainng and memorable summary with a companion DVD and a good website. I teach people how to faciliate their teams and the brain rules support and justifies good practice.

People should be moved around in training and not sit all day in the same spot.Why? Brain Rule #1 Exercise boosts brain power. Rule #4 We don't pay attention to boring things. Rule #10 is Vision trumps all other senses - so please don't put words on your powerpoint slides. Photo images please. And finally, make learning a puzzle, give people something to think about because, Rule #12, We are powerful and natural explorers.

• Gemba Kaizen: A Commonsense, Low-Cost Approach to Management

By Masaaki Imai

No one explains Lean like Imai. I met Imai in Winnipeg of all places, two years ago. But I liked this book long before that. I appreciate the way Imai, from his own experience explains the role of the supervisor, and especially the way all improvement lead to a period of instability. So the trick is to stabilize and sustain in a little cycle to hold on to gains before trying to plan or do the next thing. This is a lesson in patience and stability that so many people trying to bring about changes need, in my opinion.

• Andy & Me: Crisis And Transformation On The Lean Journey

By Pascal Dennis

Andy & Me is the companion novel to Lean Producation Simplified by the same author, and I recommend this book as a way to understand how people learn and bring about change together through learning and applying the concepts of lean, that is "the thinking way" of the Toyota way. I use this little book as a beginning story; more than once people who have been using lean tools for years have told me that they 'got' lean finally through reading Andy & Me.

• Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery

By Garr Reynolds

Banish cheesy clip art and use evocative photos and images to make your presentations memorable. This book got me into photo stock images with a purpose and helped me take my public and corporate presentations to a new level. Seeing helps understanding and remembering. Be memorable.