The CEO's New Reading List

The economic downturn has brought even the most arrogant CEOs to their knees, and it has created a potentially valuable teaching moment for those would-be masters of the universe. To help them begin the new year in the proper spirit, here are five books to peruse in 2009. They'll help you avoid the seduction of easy answers and appreciate why a little well-placed skepticism can go a long way.

The Halo Effect, by Phil Rosenzweig
Systematically discrediting a whole genre of management advice books.

Expert Political Judgment, by Philip E. Tetlock
Revealing why the best experts can't look into the future any better than you can.

Thinking in Time, by Richard E. Neustadt and Ernest R. May
Applying the lessons of history is not as easy as it sounds.

Fooled by Randomness, by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
We all allow ourselves to be deceived by chance. Nassim Taleb points out just where and how we get fooled.

appy Accidents, by Morton A. Meyers, M.D.
Fundamental advances in scientific understanding drive medical progress, right? Not quite, as Dr. Meyers explains.