Culture First

What separates elite teams from average ones isn't talent, resources, or strategy. It's culture. In Culture First, Jon B. Becker draws on four decades working alongside the world's most high-performing units — from special operations forces to elite law enforcement teams — to reveal the nine leadership practices that build cultures where people give everything they have.

Can anyone really own a culture? This magnificent account argues that the story of global civilisations is one of mixing, sharing, and borrowing. It shows how art forms have crisscrossed continents over centuries to produce masterpieces. From Nefertiti's lost city and the Islamic Golden Age to twentieth century Nigerian theatre and Modernist poetry, Martin Puchner explores how contact between different peoples has driven artistic innovation in every era - whilst cultural policing and purism have more often undermined the very societies they tried to protect.

When people think of ancient Greece, images of philosophers such as Plato or Socrates often come to mind, as do great warriors like Pericles and Alexander the Great. But hundreds of years before Athens became a city, a Greek culture flourished and spread its tentacles throughout the Western Mediterranean region via trade and warfare. Scholars have termed this preclassical Greek culture the Mycenaean culture.

When we picture the first Advent, we see Mary and Joseph huddled by a manger. We picture Gabriel, magi, and shepherds tending their flocks. A shining star against a midnight sky. But this harmonized version has lifted the Advent story out of its context--those who experienced the first Advent had to travel through great darkness to reach the hope that shining star announced. Trusted scholar and community organizer Kelley Nikondeha takes us back, to where the landscape of Palestine is once again the geographic, socioeconomic, and political backdrop for the Advent story.

Joey Havens breaks through the limiting barriers of common culture theory and shows, with great transparency, the real human emotions that elevate a culture to one that is genuine, enduring, and magnetic. Joey shares insights, failures, low points, lessons learned, and growth from his experience of helping lead the successful transformation of HORNE LLP’s good culture to a magnetic, people-first culture based on the Christian principles of caring and service.

You may know of Pocahontas, but there is more to her story. Learn about life in the time that Pocahontas lived, and how she impacted the First Colonies.

You may know of many Native American tribes, but there is more to their story. Learn about life in the time that the First Americans lived.

In the world of entrepreneurship, three pillars stand as the foundation for success: passion, risk tolerance, and vision. In Invaluably Different, Bony Dawood, CEO of Dawood Engineering, delves into the essence of what it takes to turn a vision into reality. Fueled by the infectious drive and determination of a seasoned entrepreneur, this book recounts a personal journey through the trials and triumphs of building a large and diverse organization from the ground up.

In the hospitality space, Three and Jackie Carpenter know full well the importance of leading teams who are loyal, engaged, and happy. Working in an industry where customer expectations are at an extreme, Three and Jackie have applied a mindset of treating employees like customers. They've developed a five-step roadmap to creating positive employee experiences and company cultures where connection is the crux of the team's success.  

Who wore the first pants? Who painted the first masterpiece? Who first rode the horse? This madcap adventure across ancient history uses everything from modern genetics to archaeology to uncover the geniuses behind these and other world-changing innovations. In this book, writer Cody Cassidy...

Advertising veterans Mike Sullivan and Michael Tuggle unpack the poorly understood and grossly underleveraged connection between brand and culture. Filled with fascinating case studies, entertaining stories, and engaging insights, the book examines the true essence of what makes a company a challenger brand, unveils how successful challengers of all sizes use culture to create extraordinary brand distinction, and finishes with a detailed blueprint for building your own transcendent culture.

When smart-aleck, down-on-his-luck bounty hunter Anderson Gunn snags his next job, he’s just happy to get the gig. The target he’s chasing may be wanted for murder, but his bills aren’t going to pay themselves. As it turns out, he probably should've been more selective. When he tracks down Cameron Kovak, the wanted man turns out to be no man at all. Gunn finds himself face to face with a tentacled creature out of Ridley Scott’s worst nightmare - a baby Cthulhu, wearing his target's skin like a onesie. And that's just the start of it.

Most leaders believe they have to choose between driving results and supporting their people. Expect a Lot, Care a Lot shows how the best leaders do both at the same time. From the team behind The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The 4 Disciplines of Execution, this next-generation...

Jamestown by Marshall W. Fishwick delves into the fascinating story of America's first permanent English settlement. Blending history, culture, and myth, the book examines Jamestown's pivotal role in shaping American identity and its lasting influence on the nation's heritage. Fishwick brings to life the struggles, achievements, and enduring legacy of the settlers who laid the foundation for modern America.

“I am a big fan of Women and Children First . . . Alina Grabowski is an astute and limber narrative artist and I could read her prose all day long and never grow weary.”―Lorrie Moore, author of A Gate at the Stairs A gripping literary puzzle that unwinds the private lives of ten women as...

In Good Comes First, S. Chris Edmonds and Mark S. Babbitt go beyond theoretical advice, using their combined 50 years of experience to present proven strategies for creating purposeful, positive, and productive work cultures. Cultures where good comes first for employees, customers, leaders, and stakeholders - and where improved business outcomes quickly follow.

Death in the Everglades chronicles the demise of one of 20th-century Florida's most enduring folk heroes. The murder of Guy Bradley represents a milestone not only in the saga of the Everglades, but also in the broader history of American environmentalism. This fascinating biography of his abbreviated but eventful life is emblematic of the struggle to tame the Florida frontier without destroying it.

This enlightening book reframes the history of hip-hop—and this time, women are given credit for all their trailblazing achievements that have left an undeniable impact on music. FIRST THINGS FIRST, hip-hop is not just the music, and women have played a big role in shaping the way it looks...

In this insightful book, former director of the World Business Forum Eduardo Braun introduces a new vision of leadership: the new CEO - someone who puts people, cultures, and emotions first. Through thousands of hours of conversations with world-class leaders, Braun has identified five key roles leaders can use to inspire people to strive for greater success, and in turn change the world for good. 

“This wonderful book is a compass, a blueprint, a mirror, and a friend. Kohli gives language to what many of us feel but can’t yet articulate.”—Erika L. Sánchez, New York Times bestselling author of I am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter “Loving, culturally informed, and holistic...