Four books that might interest you
Communication, sustainability, energy, and learning are facing profound changes. Anyone who wants to persuade people, shape transformation, and develop future-ready skills needs new perspectives and practical guidance. In collaboration with getAbstract, we’re highlighting four recent books that offer important insights into communication, sustainable business practices, social change, and AI-powered learning.
In collaboration with GetAbstract, we’re highlighting four books in the fields of marketing and communications. This time: Persuading People and Countering Manipulation, A Quick Guide to Materiality Analysis, Under the Spotlight, and Workplace Learning – Next Generation.
Persuading People and Countering Manipulation
Learn from the communication strengths and weaknesses of prominent politicians.
Adem Mulamustafić and Till Hopfe
Publisher: Schäffer-Poeschel
Year of publication: 2025
Pages: 234
ISBN: 9783791063041
Most people are familiar with the feeling of having been manipulated during a conversation. They get annoyed about it afterward, but in the heat of the moment, they couldn’t find the right words. In their book, communication consultants Adem Mulamustafić and Till Hopfe offer an excellent guide to recognizing manipulative techniques and responding to them in a timely manner. Using examples from current political speeches and debates, they clearly demonstrate how to argue persuasively and confidently fend off manipulation. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to keep a clear head even in heated discussions.
getAbstract rating: 8
Qualities:
- Practical Examples
- Entertaining
- Inspiring
A Quick Start Guide to Materiality Analysis
Get off to a practical and reliable start in corporate sustainability.
Marie-Lucie Linde and Antje Meyer
Publisher: Haufe
Publication year: 2026
Pages: 173
ISBN: 9783648191712
A complex term: materiality analysis. It refers to a tool that is helpful for many companies when it comes to focusing their sustainability efforts, taking effective measures, and implementing them in a targeted manner. Marie-Lucie Linde and Antje Meyer explain in a clear and well-structured manner how the analysis process should proceed and the wide range of benefits companies can derive from the results—even if they are not required to report under EU law. A worthwhile read for anyone who wants to approach sustainability systematically.
getAbstract rating: 8
Qualities:
- Systematically
- For Beginners
- Feasible
Under power
How Energy Shapes Society.
Katja Müller
Publisher: oekom
Publication year: 2026
Pages: 225
ISBN: 9783987265099
Electricity doesn’t just come out of the outlet. This book makes it clear that energy supply is also a social and political system. It shows how coal shapes identity, why wind and solar projects face resistance, and what power lies in networks, data, and algorithms. The scholarly analysis of the situation in eastern Germany combines technical background and facts with social and geopolitical issues. The big picture makes it clear that the energy transition will only succeed if issues of participation, responsibility, and justice are taken into account.
getAbstract rating: 8
Qualities:
- Practical Examples
- Background
- Analytical
Workplace Learning – Next Generation
Dialogic learning with an AI learning partner.
Dominik Birgelen and Werner Sauter
Publisher: Haufe
Publication year: 2026
Pages: 306
ISBN: 978364819322
By 2025, 85 percent of executives were using generative AI. Yet only a few companies succeed in turning the time saved into real productivity gains. This is exactly where this book comes in. The authors show, step by step, how L&D departments can use AI not merely as an automation tool, but as a digital sparring partner—one that designs scenarios and, through dialogue, draws creative solutions out of learners. While the book is repetitive in places and heavy on tables, it offers real added value to anyone who wants to consistently future-proof their company.
getAbstract rating: 8
Qualities:
- Inspiring
- Comprehensive
- Feasible
