Our award-winning Business & Economics titles challenge, inspire and empower visionary leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators with cutting-edge insights. Bestselling authors and experts explore ground-breaking themes in business strategies, sustainability, leadership, AI and more. Shape the future on your own terms with Max Mckeown’s Superadaptability, combat burnout with Relentless by Chris Lovett or balance wealth, work and welfare with Sarah Brennand’s Balancing Act. With each and every book designed to put the reader first, the De Gruyter Brill programme is your key to staying ahead in a rapidly evolving world.
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Formula 1, I learned that every second, every stop and every setback is part of the loop. You adapt fast, you learn faster and you go again. Superadaptability captures that mindset – how to live, learn and lead the loop when everything is on the line.”
Marc
Superadaptability
How to Transcend in an Age of Overwhelm
Superadaptability by Max Mckeown reveals the powerful RUN loop – Recognise, Understand, Necessary Action – a unique framework for navigating uncertainty. Blending storytelling with real-world business insights, it shows leaders how to adapt faster, turn change into opportunity and shape resilient, purposeful success.
Dr Max Mckeown is a strategic psychologist, bestselling author of The Strategy Book and coach to Fortune 100 leaders. A global keynote speaker, he helps organisations unite strategy, innovation and culture to adapt and succeed.
“Some books fill your head, some your heart, some educate, some set you alight; Jean’s book does all of these.”
Jon Foster-Pedley, Dean and Director, Henley Business School, Africa
The Dao of Complexity Making Sense and Making Waves in Turbulent Times
Understand, adapt and act. Process complexity, informed by science, philosophy and Daoism, provides a fresh lens on turbulent times, helping readers navigate interconnected systems, deepen their worldview and create meaningful impact in a complex, fast-moving world.
Jean Boulton, PhD, MBA, FInstP, is a complexity theorist, consultant and visiting academic at the universities of Cranfield and Bath. She applies science and social insights to strategy, change, sustainability and leadership worldwide.
Priestley, Former McLaren Formula 1 Pit Crew and Host of the Pitlane Life Lessons Podcast
“A unique approach not only aimed at readers with a political and sociological interest in oligarchs but also at readers who want to improve their own skills and career opportunities.”
Jonas Montenarh, University of Portsmouth
Games Without Thrones
8 Leadership Lessons from Oligarchs
Master uncertainty like the world’s most powerful leaders. Eight actionable lessons show how to anticipate disruption, turn chaos into opportunity and make bold, strategic decisions – equipping readers to lead confidently and thrive in a fast-changing, unpredictable world.
David Lingelbach, PhD, Professor of Entrepreneurship, Merrick School of Business, University of Baltimore, and Valentina Rodríguez Guerra, researcher, strategist and policy consultant, co-founders of The Center for the Study of Oligarchs and co-authors of The Oligarchs’ Grip, are leading experts on wealth, power and leadership, combining global research to decode uncertainty and strategy.
“The simple manifesto every overworked employee needs.”
Simon Alexander Ong, Award-Winning Entrepreneur, Coach and Author of Energize: Make the Most of Every Moment
Relentless
The Power of Doing Less in a Workplace that Demands More
Relentless exposes the deadly toll of modern workplace culture, revealing how busyness fuels burnout and overwork. With practical, research-backed strategies, this guide empowers professionals to reclaim focus, work smarter and achieve more by doing less – no fluff, all impact.
Chris Lovett, TEDx speaker, executive coach and author of Discovery of Less, is a UK thought-leader in professional minimalism, empowering individuals and organisations to boost wellbeing, productivity and impact through simplicity.
Age Against the Machine
New Rules for Working in an Ageist World!
A timely examination of ageing, work and retirement, this book shows why older workers are being failed by outdated systems and assumptions – and how they can navigate change, reclaim purpose and become part of the movement for a fairer working world.
Lucy Standing is a Chartered Psychologist specialising in midcareer development and founder of Brave Starts CIC.
Dr Maggi Evans is a Chartered Occupational Psychologist who helps individuals and organisations navigate change and thrive at work.
Martin Hyde is Professor of Management at the University of Leicester and an expert on work, retirement and inequality.
The future will not be predictable, but it will reward the adaptable
The competitive advantage of the future will be human capability not technology
Futureshift
Business Success Strategies for a Rapidly Changing World
Twenty-five top leaders share strategies for navigating accelerating change. This forward-focused guide shows executives how to anticipate disruption, align priorities and make decisions that ensure organisational resilience and success in an unpredictable world.
Andy Milligan, award-winning author and founder of consultancy Caffeine, guides leadership teams worldwide. His books, including Bold and Brand It Like Beckham, provide insights on bravery, strategy and brand success.
Louisa Clarke, author of Catalyst and The Work Smarter Guide to Presenting, advises leaders globally on strategy, communication and personal impact, helping organisations win customers, engage employees and drive meaningful business growth.
Real
women.
Real stories. A toolkit to position that non-linear career.
The world of work is shifting faster than anyone predicted. AI is redrawing the map. And women – who have always had to reframe, reimagine and find new angles of light – are more prepared for this moment than anyone is giving them credit for.
This Kaleidoscope Career
Empowering Women to Build Unconventional Careers and Redefine Success
Showcases women turning challenges into wins. Learn how to connect your journey, share your story and harness your skills, passion and resilience to create a meaningful, successful and authentic career.
Helen Jonsen, journalist, entrepreneur and founder of Helen Jonsen Media, explores women’s non-linear careers in her This Kaleidoscope Career podcast. She advises leaders on strategic communications and has authored books for both children and adults.
Leadership strategies for introverts, neurodivergent professionals and nontraditional thinkers
A blend of personal insight, research and practical tools you can apply immediately
Lead Anyway
10 Rules for Leading When You Break the Mold
Challenging traditional leadership norms, this book provides 10 practical strategies for leading from the margins.
Laurence Paquette demonstrates how embracing neurodiversity, authenticity and unique perspectives can transform perceived differences into powerful tools for influence and lasting impact.
Laurence Paquette, VP of Marketing at Vestas, is a neurodivergent executive, keynote speaker and advocate for non-traditional leadership, helping introverts and atypical leaders thrive with authenticity, inclusion and impactful influence globally.
“So many books focus on how to succeed at work – this one ensures you can succeed in life as well, and THIS is success! Balancing Act recognises that real success has to include wellbeing, family and purpose as much as performance. It’s practical, sustainable and refreshingly honest about what it takes to build a life that actually works.”
Sarah Willingham, Entrepreneur, Investor and Former Dragon on BBC’s Dragons’ Den
Balancing Act
Mastering Work, Wealth and Wellbeing
A strategic guide for ambitious professionals, offering practical tools and real-world stories from leaders and high performers. Learn to navigate work, wealth and wellbeing pressures, perform with clarity and build long-term, sustainable success under pressure.
Sarah Brennand, executive coach and international speaker, helps leaders and organisations strengthen performance sustainably. Founder of L7 Executive Coaching, she combines emotional intelligence, communication and resilience through her globally used Balancing Act Calibration Model.
“This is the book I wish I’d had by my side when I returned to work after having my children. A helpful mix of practical advice and science-based evidence with a bit of positive cheerleading thrown in, all designed to help parents ‘return well’.”
Rebecca Birkbeck, Director of Community & Membership Participation, Co-op
Returning Well
A Guide for Working Parents and Their Managers
A practical, evidence-based guide for returning parents and their managers. Offers tools, strategies and checklists to navigate career gaps, manage expectations and support successful reintegration, fostering shared responsibility and confidence in the post-parental leave workplace.
Kirstie Sneyd, organisational psychologist and executive coach, draws on her psychology research at Birkbeck, University of London, and extensive coaching of parental returners and managers to help navigate transitions, maintain careers and balance work and family successfully.
“From foundation models to agentic systems, this book offers a strategic framework leaders need to harness AI’s transformative potential.”
Shirin Mojarad, Senior Product Manager, Google
Artificial Intelligence
Shaping the Future of Innovation
Demystifies artificial intelligence for leaders and innovators. Covers key concepts, practical uses and its role in driving innovation, giving readers the clarity to understand and apply AI across industries and organisations.
Alfred Essa has led AI and analytics teams in academia and industry, including at Carnegie Mellon, McGraw Hill and MIT Sloan, bridging research and practical implementation in AI, data analytics and advanced learning systems.
New Series
“In this short, crisp and surprisingly deep book, MartínRetortillo draws from a rare range: boardrooms, classrooms, C-suites and consulting. This is strategy writing at its best, and her frameworks around knowns and unknowns apply beyond business. They hint at human shifts we do not yet fully understand but that any serious leader will need to grapple with in the age of AI.”
Artificial Intelligence
Rethinking Business Strategy
A practical guide for leaders facing AI-driven change. Learn to spot opportunities, plan for the future and make smart decisions using real examples and simple strategies for business, technology and global uncertainty.
Teresa Martín-Retortillo, senior executive and thought-leader, has global experience in strategy, innovation and digital business models. She advises corporations and serves as Non-Executive President at IE University after roles at Goldman Sachs and Bain.
Carin-Isabel Knoop, Executive Director, Harvard Business School
“This is more than a book about technology; it is a call to action for how we lead in this new era... a roadmap for ensuring that AI amplifies human potential rather than diminishes it... for leaders who want to innovate with purpose.”
Shelley Zalis, CEO and Founder, The Female Quotient
Creativity in the Age of AI
Toolkits for the Modern Mind
A practical guide for anyone looking to boost creativity. Learn proven techniques and AI tools to solve problems, spark new ideas and build a personalised toolkit for personal, professional and organisational innovation.
Jerry Wind, Wharton Professor Emeritus, innovation expert and author, created the MBA creativity course, bridging academia, consulting and non-profit leadership.
Mukul Pandya, Oxford Associate Fellow and Knowledge@ Wharton founder, is an award-winning journalist and author with decades of global experience.
Deborah Yao, award-winning journalist and editor-in-chief of The AI Innovator has experience at Amazon, Wharton and the Associated Press.
“At last, a fresh approach for today’s fast-changing world. Speedy results in every task: plan – implement –get to the point –and persuade!”
Katie
Page, Content Director, GlobalData
October 2025
£ 20.00 / € 21.95 / US $ 24.99
Paperback
ISBN 978-3-11-169810-6
Which4Words
Business Writing for Humans
A practical guide to mastering communication in a fast-changing world. Learn to write authentically, creatively and effectively using the Which4Words framework, while leveraging AI to enhance your unique talents and gain a lasting career advantage.
Fiona Talbot is an internationally acclaimed business writing author and founder of the #wordpowerskills four-step business writing system. She works in the UK and internationally, training and advising on how to deliver premier written corporate communication in today’s digital, global economy.
Alexander Talbot is a Big Business alumnus and Product Innovation specialist. A dual English and German citizen, he has international experience, including at VP level, across finance, operations, production, project management, engineering and innovation/R&D in the fast-moving FMCG sector.
“The need for creative problem solvers is greater than ever. Clive brings such humanity and warmth to this subject. It shouldn’t just be on all designers’ reading lists – it should be part of the school curriculum.”
Minnie Moll, Former CEO of the Design Council
Redesigning Thinking
How Service Design is Solving Our 21st Century Challenges
Learn how to design better experiences for customers and users. This guide shows how creativity, research and understanding context can solve problems, improve services and help businesses, governments and organisations succeed more effectively.
Clive Grinyer, internationally renowned designer, has led global teams at Samsung, Cisco and Barclays, co-founded consultancy Tangerine and pioneered service design for social impact. He now delivers executive training to leading organisations worldwide.
June 2025
£ 27.50 / € 29.95 /
32.99
Paperback
“This book belongs on every leader’s bookshelf. It presents the personal stories of FDNY responders, on the ground, during 9/11 and what followed. Moving and inspiring, it is a story of crisis, endurance and healing. It is also a story of transformation and how to transform even the most elite of organisations. Any leader navigating stormy seas or facing the daunting task of organisational renewal should read Rising from Ground Zero – carefully.”
Rising from Ground Zero
9/11 and the FDNY’s Path Through Crisis to Transformation
Through extensive interviews with New York City firefighters, the authors compile a rich oral history of how the FDNY responded to 9/11, navigated crisis and transformed the organisation. The book offers practical lessons in leadership, crisis management and guiding organisations through profound change.
Gregory P. Shea, PhD, is Adjunct Professor and Senior Fellow at the Wharton Center for Leadership and Change Management, UPenn. Paul Brown, retired FDNY captain and educator, served 30 years as a first responder and was deployed to incidents nationwide, participating in incident management operations. Andre Kotze, CEO of AirtimeBA and senior partner at Teamworks Training and Development, is a performance coach, veteran and former South African mountain rescue responder.
Admiral James Stavridis, 16th Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and author of 2084: A Novel of Future War
Excellence recognised.
We are incredibly proud of our exceptional, award-winning authors, whose books invite, inspire and arm researchers, leaders and innovators with the cutting-edge insights needed to shape tomorrow.
“Any leader navigating stormy seas or facing the daunting task of organisational renewal should read Rising from Ground Zero –carefully.”
Admiral James
Stavridis,
16th Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and author of 2084: A Novel of Future War
The FDNY didn’t just recover after 9/11 – they actively chose to rebuild and reinvent themselves. A powerful story of healing, leadership and transformation within America’s premier fire department. Discover how the FDNY chose to heal, adapt and lead after unimaginable loss.
