Best Books Roundups
The Best Books On
Communication &
Storytelling
Nearly every idea that matters must be communicated to survive. From more than 800 books honored across a decade of the Non-Obvious Book Awards, these are the ones we most recommend on talking, writing, listening, arguing and telling stories people remember.
*This list does not include books published in 2026, which are currently under review as part of our 2026 awards program.
Talk
by Alison Wood Brooks
Harvard Business School professor Alison Wood Brooks brings the science of conversation to life, showing that talking well is a learnable skill built on topics, asking, levity and kindness.
The Future of Storytelling
by Charles Melcher
Future of StoryTelling founder Charles Melcher charts how stories are moving beyond the page and screen into immersive, interactive experiences. Our Most Entertaining Book of 2025.
Supercommunicators
by Charles Duhigg
Charles Duhigg decodes the people who can talk to anyone, revealing the matching principle behind every meaningful conversation. Our Most Shareable Book of 2024.
Negotiating While Black
by Damali Peterman
Attorney Damali Peterman delivers a masterclass in negotiation for people the classic playbooks were not written for, useful to anyone who has ever been underestimated at the table. Our Most Useful Book of 2024.
Magic Words
by Jonah Berger
Jonah Berger reveals the specific words that convince, engage and persuade, backed by natural language research on millions of interactions.
Win Every Argument
by Mehdi Hasan
Broadcaster Mehdi Hasan shares the craft behind his famously sharp interviews: how to marshal evidence, command a room, and win over an audience without losing your principles.
Good Arguments
by Bo Seo
Two-time world debate champion Bo Seo shows how the tools of competitive debate can make our everyday disagreements more productive, and even bring people closer.
I Never Thought of It That Way
by Mónica Guzmán
Journalist Mónica Guzmán offers a hopeful, practical guide to genuinely curious conversations across political divides, starting with the people you love.
How to Tell a Story
by The Moth
The team behind The Moth distills 25 years of the world’s best true stories into a warm, practical guide to finding, shaping and telling your own.
Writing to Persuade
by Trish Hall
Former New York Times op-ed editor Trish Hall spent years deciding which arguments made the cut. Here she shares exactly what makes writing change minds. Our Most Useful Book of 2019.
Talking to Strangers
by Malcolm Gladwell
Malcolm Gladwell investigates why our tools for making sense of people we do not know keep failing us, with consequences from Wall Street to the roadside stop.
Exactly What To Say
by Phil M. Jones
Phil M. Jones delivers the precise phrases that move conversations forward, from “How open-minded are you?” to “Just imagine.” Our Most Useful Book of 2017.
TED Talks
by Chris Anderson
TED curator Chris Anderson’s official guide to public speaking, drawn from the most-watched talks in the world. Our Most Useful Book of 2016.
Illuminate
by Nancy Duarte and Patti Sanchez
Nancy Duarte and Patti Sanchez show leaders how to use speeches, stories, ceremonies and symbols to guide people through change they might otherwise resist.
Everybody Writes
by Ann Handley
Ann Handley’s witty, endlessly practical handbook for creating ridiculously good content, built on the premise that in a digital world, everybody writes. Our Most Useful Book of 2014.
Pitch Perfect
by Bill McGowan
Media coach Bill McGowan shares the principles behind persuasion under pressure, from job interviews to television appearances.
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