Here's  partial list of books that have influenced me:

I. Business
•       In search of Excellence – Peters and Waterman: a documentation of how excellent companies operate humanly
•       Built to Last – Collins and Porras: documentation of how visionary companies operate beyond a quest for profits with a purpose of benefitting society
•       Borderless Business – Mann & Goetz: Essays on working effectively in the global society includes the social process triangle & corporate process triangle

II. Society
•       The End of American Exceptionalism – Bechovich (sp?): The challenge to become one in the world of nations rather than THE one.
•       Riding the Waves of Culture – Trompenaars & Hampden/Turner: Identifying the characteristics of different cultures, both national and company.
•       The Nature of Prejudice – Gordon Allport: Somewhat old, but a classic on the dynamics of social and racial prejudice
•       The Secular City – Harvey Cox: the urban revolution has happened and is worth celebrating

III. Theology
•       Radical Monotheism and Western Culture – H. Richard Niebuhr: Spells out the paradox of monotheism: All is unworthy and all is good!
•       The History of Christian Thought – Paul Tillich: A fantastic and readable story of how and why theology developed the way it has (transcribed lectures)
•       The Noise of Solemn Assemblies – Peter Berger: The Church’s sociological reality belies its theological intents
•       Christ Without Myth – Schubert Ogden: Getting beyond the stories to the reality that the Christ story communicates
•       Bending History, I & II -- J.W. Mathews: Joe’s classic theological and sociological talks.

IV. Fiction
•       The George Smiley Trilogy (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; The Honorable Schoolboy; Smiley’s People) – John LeCarre: The hero was personally inept but professionally outstanding in serving a cause higher than the immediate circumstances. We’re sort of undercover agents for the Other World, and I’ve found George to be an inspiring role model.
•       The Harry Potter Series (1-7) – J.K. Rowlings: She sets up 2 parallel universes, one “normal” and the other wondrous (but they are actually the same universe); the business of wizards is to protect us “muggles” from perceiving the wonders that are present. Our mission, on the other hand, is to help our clients and colleagues to perceive and appreciate this wondrous universe.

John Epps