Apple’s former chief evangelist talks about the books that most contributed to his success.

In Against the Tide, retired rear admiral Dave Oliver examines the management techniques of Hyman G. Rickover, the father of the nuclear navy.

Thomas Koulopoulos and Dan Keldsen argue that companies should bridge gaps among various age groups, not reinforce them.

In The Reciprocity Advantage, Bob Johansen and Karl Ronn argue that the most successful partnerships start with sharing, not protecting, your intellectual capital.

High-tech blogger Nir Eyal describes a positive feedback loop for getting customers hooked on your products and services.

In The Glass Cage, Nicholas Carr reminds us that almost every business decision involves tradeoffs.

Brian Wansink explains how to help employees make healthy choices in Slim by Design.

Michael Schrage proposes a fast, cheap, experiment-driven approach to boosting the bottom line in The Innovator’s Hypothesis.

Economist Russ Roberts explores Adam Smith’s The Theory of Moral Sentiments, a 255- year-old guide to the good life.

Our annual review of the year’s best business books. See also Best Business Books 2014—in Pictures.

Richard Branson’s books demonstrate how an entrepreneur’s drive and verve can turn seemingly crazy ideas into reality.

Aligning Strategy and Sales is the best sales book of the year — and one that senior executives should read.

Modern Mercenary is a fascinating look at the free market for force and the companies that profit from it.

John Elkington and Jochen Zeitz’s new book proposes how to achieve the triple bottom line of planet, people, and profits.

Wharton marketing professor David Bell explores how the real world affects the success of internet companies.

IMD professor Mikolaj Jan Piskorski describes three concepts that can help companies craft more effective social strategies.

A new book argues that the dangers of risk aversion often outweigh the risk of making mistakes.

The couple share their secret for how to actually get work done the next time you gather your team together.

If you want to become a better deal-maker, start by examining who you are at the table.

Soccer, says Ignacio Palacios-Huerta, is a perfect laboratory for testing economic theory.

Innovation expert Scott D. Anthony has a toolkit for surviving the wreck-strewn entrepreneurial journey, from initial concept to reality.

Economist Don Thompson says a product’s value can rise if it’s accompanied by a compelling backstory, reputation, or buying experience.

Elizabeth Economy and Michael Levi argue that China’s demand for natural resources is unlikely to result in further price shocks.

Two decades after Jeremy Rifkin predicted that private sector jobs would disappear, his controversial view sounds far more likely, and far less ominous.

In The Son Also Rises, UC Davis economic historian Gregory Clark tracks surnames over hundreds of years to better understand social mobility.

The former BP policy development manager and U.N. business and human rights advisor on the nuances of promoting social responsibility and sustainability within companies.

Two new books suggest that how salespeople respond to “no” is a primary determinant in their success.

In The Craft Beer Revolution, Steve Hindy traces an industry disruption that gives beer drinkers reason to cheer.

In A More Beautiful Question, Warren Berger says that asking “why, what if, and how” can help companies become more efficient and creative.

In Reinventing American Health Care, professor Ezekiel Emanuel predicts that the benefits of reform are still years away.