The field of workplace equity is multi-faceted and ever-evolving — there’s always a new finding or perspective that even the most experienced HR or DE&I professional can learn from. That’s why we’ve put together a list of 52 books related to workplace equity, ranging from business books on how to improve inclusivity, accessibility, and belonging at the organizational level, to management guidance on becoming a more inclusive and inspiring leader, to psychology texts that deep dive into the mechanisms that drive unconscious bias in our work interactions.
Books are a gateway to improved empathy, deeper understanding, and a wide horizon of new ideas. Gain a new perspective by reading the stories of people who have faced discrimination and obstacles in the workplace. Get advice on how to have more open, challenging conversations and how to become a better ally and advocate. Stay up to date on the latest research about various workplace inequities, and get expert advice from academics, researchers, and business leaders.
Browse the workplace equity books below to find some to add to your reading list.
Books for building more equitable, inclusive, and accessible workplaces
The Equality Machine: Harnessing Digital Technology for a Brighter, More Inclusive Future
by Orly Lobel
Equal Pay for Equal Work: A practical guide to implementing a successful pay transparency program
by Anita Lettink
Inclusion Revolution: The Essential Guide to Dismantling Racial Inequity in the Workplace
by Daisy Auger-Domínguez
What Works: Gender Equality by Design
by Iris Bohnet
#MeToo in the Corporate World: Power, Privilege, and the Path Forward
by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
UNBIAS: Addressing Unconscious Bias at Work
by Stacey A. Gordon
Getting to Diversity: What Works and What Doesn’t
by Frank Dobbin & Alexandra Kalev
Diversity Intelligence: How to Create a Culture of Inclusion for your Business
by Heidi R. Anderson
Belonging At Work: Everyday Actions You Can Take to Cultivate an Inclusive Organization
by Rhodes Perry
The Diversity Gap: Where Good Intentions Meet True Cultural Change
by Bethaney Wilkinson
Equity: How to Design Organizations Where Everyone Thrives
by Minal Bopaiah
Alphabet Soup: The Essential Guide to LGBTQ2+ Inclusion at Work
by Michael Bach
Gender Diversity and Non-Binary Inclusion in the Workplace
by Sarah Gibson
Hidden Disabilities and Conditions: Creating an Inclusive Workplace
by Ted Smith
Success Through Diversity: Why the Most Inclusive Companies Will Win
by Carol Fulp
Pay Up: The Future of Women and Work (and Why It’s Different Than You Think)
by Reshma Saujani
The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business
by Erin Brown
Winning with Underdogs: How Hiring the Least Likely Candidates Can Spark Creativity, Improve Service, and Boost Profits for Your Business
by Gil Winch
Books on becoming inclusive and inspiring leaders and managers
Intentional Power: The 6 Essential Leadership Skills for Triple Bottom Line Impact
by Lisen Stromberg, JeanAnn Nichols & Corey Jones
Women Mean Business: Over 500 Insights from Extraordinary Leaders to Spark Your Success
by Edie Fraser, Robyn Freedman Spizman & Andi Simon
The Leader’s Guide to Unconscious Bias: How to Reframe Bias, Cultivate Connection, and Create High-Performing Teams
by Pamela Fuller & Mark Murphy with Anne Chow
Champions of Change: How CEOs and Their Companies are Mastering the Skills of Radical Change
by David A. Nadler & Mark B. Nadler
Inclusify: The Power of Uniqueness and Belonging to Build Innovative Teams
by Stefanie K. Johnson
How to Be an Inclusive Leader, Second Edition: Your Role in Creating Cultures of Belonging Where Everyone Can Thrive
by Jennifer Brown
The 7 Simple Habits of Inclusive Leaders: A Guilt-free Guide on How to Boost Innovation and Performance by Involving Others Equally
by Melissa Majors
Bridging Differences for Better Mentoring
by Lisa Z. Fain & Lois J. Zachary
We’re All in This Together: Creating a Team Culture of High Performance, Trust, and Belonging
by Mike Robbins
The Remix: How to Lead and Succeed in the Multigenerational Workplace
by Lindsey Pollak
A New Kind of Diversity: Making the Different Generations on Your Team a Competitive Advantage
by Tim Elmore
Chief Inspiration Officer: How to Lead the Team Everyone Wants to Be On
by Val Ries
Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration
by Ed Catmull & Amy Wallace
Books for exploring lived experiences of discrimination in the workplace
Nevertheless, She Persisted: True Stories of Women Leaders in Tech
by Pratima Rao Gluckman
Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century
by Alice Wong
Diversity in the Workplace: Eye-Opening Interviews to Jumpstart Conversations about Identity, Privilege, and Bias
by Bärí A. Williams .
Whistleblower: My Unlikely Journey to Silicon Valley and Speaking Out Against Injustice
by Susan Fowler
In the Land of Men: A Memoir
by Adrienne Miller
Grace and Grit: My Fight for Equal Pay and Fairness at Goodyear and Beyond
by Lilly Ledbetter & Lanier Scott Isom
Divergent Mind: Thriving in a World That Wasn’t Designed for You
by Jenara Nerenberg
The Power of Disability: 10 Lessons for Surviving, Thriving, and Changing the World
by Al Etmanski
Books for changing your thinking to overcome bias
The End of Bias: A Beginning: The Science and Practice of Overcoming Unconscious Bias
by Jessica Nordell
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking
by Malcolm Gladwell
Books for having conversations that build connections
Thrive: The Facilitator’s Guide to Radically Inclusive Meetings
by Dr. Mark Smutny
Breaking the Silence Habit: A Practical Guide to Uncomfortable Conversations in the #MeToo Workplace
by Sarah Beaulieu
I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times
by Mónica Guzmán
So You Want to Talk About Race
by Ijeoma Oluo
Belonging: The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides
by Geoffrey L. Cohen
DataStory: Explain Data and Inspire Action Through Story
by Nancy Duarte
Books for becoming better allies and advocates
Allies and Advocates: Creating an Inclusive and Equitable Culture
by Amber Cabral
Good Guys: How Men Can Be Better Allies for Women in the Workplace
by David G. Smith & W. Brad Johnson
Allies at Work: Creating a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Inclusive Work Environment
by Dr. David M. Hall
The Wake Up: Closing the Gap Between Good Intentions and Real Change
by Michelle MiJung Kim
The Savvy Ally: A Guide for Becoming a Skilled LGBTQ+ Advocate
by Jeannie Gainsburg
Better Allies: Everyday Actions to Create Inclusive, Engaging Workplaces (2nd Edition)
by Karen Catlin
Don’t stop there! Check out our history and heritage month series for more reading recommendations:
52 Books, Documentaries & Movies to Celebrate Native American Heritage Month
52 Books, Documentaries & Movies to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
52 Books, Documentaries & Movies to Celebrate Pride Month
52 Books, Documentaries & Movies to Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
52 Books, Documentaries & Movies to Celebrate Women’s History Month
52 Books, Documentaries & Movies to Celebrate Black History Month
