I’ve recommend to many former business students assuming leadership roles in their organizations.
“A central premise is that successful individuals and firms can never forget the importance of people, their emotions, the culture of the organization, and what cannot be measured. I refer to this as the Soul of a Company.”
The soul of a company is defined by the stories humans in an organization share.
Consider the following
Written language emerged only 7000 years ago.
Most Western cultures began to read and write, en masse, only a few hundred years ago.
Before that (150,000 years) oral stories were the dominant form through which history, knowledge, values and culture were passed on from person to person and from generation to generation.
Extensive research has shown that , because of this eons-long dependence on story , human brains are literally hardwired to:
I was fortunate to have Rishad's inspiring book in 2020 and it has helped me tremendously in my career and personal relationships. I also share Rishad's concerns about our short-term focus on numbers which is destroying the long-term health of business, countries, and people. With the rapidly growing use of AI agents, cutting-edge technologies are indeed seeping into all aspects of our lives and we must work harder than ever to strengthen our values, especially integrity, empathy, and compassion.
My friend Rishad Tobaccowala is a truly smart and worldly thinker whose work has reshaped how we approach brand marketing, data science, and—most importantly—humanity. His first book, Restoring the Soul of Business: Staying Human in the Age of Data, is a must-read that balances practical wisdom with cultural insights. It’s rare to find a business book that can reference the “turd on the table” alongside François Truffaut’s The 400 Blows and Joan Didion, but Rishad does it effortlessly.
Five years ago, on January 28, 2020, this book hit the shelves. Despite launching right before the world was shut down by COVID-19, it has stood the test of time, selling tens of thousands of copies and continuing to inspire leaders around the globe. Why? Because its insights have aged like fine Japanese whisky, only getting more relevant with time.
Rishad’s predictions about AI, distributed work cultures, and continuous learning weren’t just ahead of their time—they’ve become the playbook for navigating today’s transformative era. The Economist called it “perhaps the best of the books” on leadership, praising its focus on marrying “the math and the magic” of business. And, as Marketing+Strategy Magazine noted, it’s as lively and engaging as it is practical.
Whether you’re seeking strategies for upgrading your operating system (personally or professionally), managing change, or building a meaningful company culture, this book has become a trusted guide for leaders navigating the complexities of today’s AI-augmented, data-driven world.
If you haven’t already read it, I encourage you to pick up a copy—not just because it’s a great holiday gift (and currently available for just $8!), but because it’s a timeless reminder that in a world obsessed with data, we can never lose sight of humanity.
👉 Buy on Amazon
👉 Buy on Walmart
And if you’re excited about what’s next, keep an eye out for Rishad’s upcoming book, Rethinking Work, launching February 4. Pre-order it here: Rethinking Work.
More on Rishad’s incredible journey and transformative ideas here: rishadtobaccowala.com
Rishad’s work is proof that in a world of constant change, focusing on what doesn’t change—our humanity—might just be the secret to long-term success.
I find myself revisiting your book often Rishad.
I’ve recommend to many former business students assuming leadership roles in their organizations.
“A central premise is that successful individuals and firms can never forget the importance of people, their emotions, the culture of the organization, and what cannot be measured. I refer to this as the Soul of a Company.”
The soul of a company is defined by the stories humans in an organization share.
Consider the following
Written language emerged only 7000 years ago.
Most Western cultures began to read and write, en masse, only a few hundred years ago.
Before that (150,000 years) oral stories were the dominant form through which history, knowledge, values and culture were passed on from person to person and from generation to generation.
Extensive research has shown that , because of this eons-long dependence on story , human brains are literally hardwired to:
Make sense
To think
To understand
And to remember
In specific story terms and structure
I was fortunate to have Rishad's inspiring book in 2020 and it has helped me tremendously in my career and personal relationships. I also share Rishad's concerns about our short-term focus on numbers which is destroying the long-term health of business, countries, and people. With the rapidly growing use of AI agents, cutting-edge technologies are indeed seeping into all aspects of our lives and we must work harder than ever to strengthen our values, especially integrity, empathy, and compassion.
My friend Rishad Tobaccowala is a truly smart and worldly thinker whose work has reshaped how we approach brand marketing, data science, and—most importantly—humanity. His first book, Restoring the Soul of Business: Staying Human in the Age of Data, is a must-read that balances practical wisdom with cultural insights. It’s rare to find a business book that can reference the “turd on the table” alongside François Truffaut’s The 400 Blows and Joan Didion, but Rishad does it effortlessly.
Five years ago, on January 28, 2020, this book hit the shelves. Despite launching right before the world was shut down by COVID-19, it has stood the test of time, selling tens of thousands of copies and continuing to inspire leaders around the globe. Why? Because its insights have aged like fine Japanese whisky, only getting more relevant with time.
Rishad’s predictions about AI, distributed work cultures, and continuous learning weren’t just ahead of their time—they’ve become the playbook for navigating today’s transformative era. The Economist called it “perhaps the best of the books” on leadership, praising its focus on marrying “the math and the magic” of business. And, as Marketing+Strategy Magazine noted, it’s as lively and engaging as it is practical.
Whether you’re seeking strategies for upgrading your operating system (personally or professionally), managing change, or building a meaningful company culture, this book has become a trusted guide for leaders navigating the complexities of today’s AI-augmented, data-driven world.
If you haven’t already read it, I encourage you to pick up a copy—not just because it’s a great holiday gift (and currently available for just $8!), but because it’s a timeless reminder that in a world obsessed with data, we can never lose sight of humanity.
👉 Buy on Amazon
👉 Buy on Walmart
And if you’re excited about what’s next, keep an eye out for Rishad’s upcoming book, Rethinking Work, launching February 4. Pre-order it here: Rethinking Work.
More on Rishad’s incredible journey and transformative ideas here: rishadtobaccowala.com
Rishad’s work is proof that in a world of constant change, focusing on what doesn’t change—our humanity—might just be the secret to long-term success.