RECOMMENDATIONS
The SLP Bookshelf
A curated reading list from a licensed speech-language pathologist and MBA — for professionals working on how they communicate, lead, and show up. Every link goes to Bookshop.org, which supports independent bookstores instead of major corporations.
Powered by
Why I send you to Bookshop.org instead of Amazon
SUPPORT
Amazon is often the easiest option. We understand why people use it, and we use it ourselves when convenience is the deciding factor. But when we are recommending books through this website, we want the purchasing path to align with the values behind the recommendation. Independent bookstores play an important role in local communities, and many have been under increasing pressure for years.
Bookshop.org offers a practical alternative. When you purchase through these links, 25% of the sale supports a fund for independent bookstores across the United States, and you also have the option to choose a specific bookstore to support. The buying process is still simple, the pricing is generally comparable, and the key difference is where more of the money goes after the purchase.
We do receive a small affiliate commission when you buy through these links. We want to be transparent about that. If you prefer to buy elsewhere, that is completely fine. But if you already plan to purchase one of these books, Bookshop.org is the option we feel most comfortable recommending.
ABOUT OUR PARTNER
2,200+
Independent bookstores supported
Goes to independent bookstores
25%
OF PURCHASE
$45M+
RAISED
For indie bookstores since 2020
THIS MONTH’S PICK
The Power of Habit
If you’ve ever known exactly what you should do differently in your communication but still found yourself repeating the same patterns, this is the book. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg is a clear, practical look at how habits form, why they persist, and how they can be reshaped with more intention. What we appreciate most is that it does not frame change as willpower alone; it shows how behavior is built through cues, routines, and rewards. We recommend it for professionals working on communication habits like interrupting, overexplaining, avoiding difficult conversations, or losing structure under pressure. It pairs well with the Frame of Mind pillar of The Resonant Communication Method because strong communication often starts with understanding the patterns driving your response before you try to change the words.
EVIDENCE-BASED
The Full Bookshelf
SHOP BY NEED
books to Meet your Communication Goals
Organized around the 5 pillars of The Resonant Communication Method™ — the framework we use with every client. Pick the pillar where you feel the friction most, and start there.
01
Frame of Mind
For when the meeting hasn't started and you're already in your head.
The Confidence Gap by Russ Harris
We recommend The Confidence Gap because it reframes confidence as something built through action, not something you need to feel before speaking, leading, or showing up in high-stakes communication.
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, MD
The Body Keeps the Score explains how stress and trauma can live in the body, which matters deeply for communication work because confidence, voice, presence, and connection are not just cognitive skills.
Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
Emotional Intelligence makes a strong case that self-awareness, emotional regulation, empathy, and relationship management are essential communication skills, especially for professionals who want to lead, collaborate, and respond well under pressure.
02
Active Listening
For when you want to stop performing and start hearing.
You’re Not Listening by Kate Murphy
You’re Not Listening is a strong reminder that listening is not the quiet part before your turn to talk; it is one of the most important skills for building trust, connection, and better communication.
Just Listen by Mark Goulston
We recommend Just Listen because it gives professionals practical ways to lower defensiveness, build trust quickly, and make difficult conversations feel less like verbal dodgeball with better shoes.
Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg
For anyone who wants to communicate with more precision, Supercommunicators offers a useful framework for recognizing what kind of conversation is actually happening and adjusting with more clarity and empathy.
03
Cultural & Social Factors
For when the room reads differently than you do.
The Business of Race by Margaret H. Greenberg & Gina Greenlee
The Business of Race belongs on this list because it connects racial equity to leadership, culture, communication, and measurable business outcomes rather than treating inclusion as a side conversation.
Better Allies by Karen Catlin
For professionals who want to communicate support through action, Better Allies offers practical ways to interrupt bias, advocate more effectively, and build workplaces where people do not have to do all the explaining alone.
You Should Smile More by The Band of Sisters
We recommend You Should Smile More because it names the subtle, exhausting workplace patterns women often navigate and gives language for recognizing bias without minimizing its impact.
04
Content
For when you have the answer but lose the thread.
Planet Funny by Ken Jennings
Planet Funny earns a spot because humor shapes how we connect, signal belonging, and soften difficult moments, which makes it highly relevant for anyone working on timing, audience awareness, and more flexible communication.
The Organized Mind by Daniel Levitin
We recommend The Organized Mind because it explains how attention, memory, and mental load affect how clearly we think and communicate, especially when pressure, complexity, or too much information enters the room.
How Minds Change by David McRaney
For this one, we’re treating it as McRaney’s work on belief, persuasion, and changing minds; we recommend it because it shows how people process information, defend ideas, and become more open through better conversation rather than louder argument.
05
Delivery
For when the room hears the wrong version of you.
The Art of Public Speaking by Dale Carnegie
This book remains a foundational resource for understanding audience connection, message structure, and the timeless mechanics of speaking with clarity and conviction.
Ted Talks by Chris Anderson
TED Talks is especially useful for professionals who want to make complex ideas feel clear, memorable, and worth listening to without burying the audience under every detail they know.
You’ve Got This by Lisa Kleiman
For anyone building confidence in front of a room, You’ve Got This offers a practical, encouraging approach to public speaking that supports preparation, presence, and authentic delivery.
Want Our next book recommendation when it goes live?
IN YOUR INBOX
Join my newsletter. One email a month, no fluff.
(You can unsubscribe with one click.)
Or more free recommendations like this? Check out our Communication Strengths Quiz or our Public Speaking Pump-Up Playlists.
LET’S TALK
Ready when You are.
Tell us a little about what you’re working toward. We’ll be in touch within one business day.