My 2024 Favorites – Books & Reports That Shaped My Year
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As the year draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the resources that have left a lasting impression on me in 2024.
These books and research reports didn’t just add to my knowledge—they challenged my assumptions, sparked new ideas, and shifted how I approach work and life. From rethinking innovation and leadership to diving deep into consumer behavior and AI ethics a few standouts have left a lasting impression.
I hope they inspire and challenge you as much as they did for me!
This book opened my eyes to the creativity and resilience of global entrepreneurs—the unsung heroes operating outside Silicon Valley. This is really a story of how innovation thrives even in resource-constrained environments. Some takeaways…
Innovation flourishes in unexpected places.
Constraints are the mother of invention, driving creativity and unique solutions.
Global startups tend to prioritize sustainability over speed—there’s a non-SIlicon Valley way to do it
Adapting to local environments presents big opportunity.
Decentralized innovation may be redefining the future of business.
Quitting isn’t failure—it’s a strategic choice to focus on what matters most. This helped me reframe in my mind a professional decision I had previously considered to be a setback. It also empowered me to consider quitting as an option to stay on task and focus on what’s most important to my business. A few takeaways…
Sunk costs should not dictate future decisions.
Knowing when to quit is an undervalued skill—and the timing of quitting can determine long-term success.
Emotional detachment is key in assessing outcomes of quitting vs. not quitting.
Letting go makes space for new opportunities.
As a market researcher, I tell my clients often that data alone isn’t enough—it’s how we interpret and tell its story that creates value. The quote in this book that “Data is a tool, not the answer” is absolutely correct. I haven’t found a ton of books/authors that truly get this, and explain it so clearly. This book reminded me that…
Good data requires curiosity and skepticism.
Patterns reveal more than numbers, and understanding context prevents misleading interpretations.
Effective communication brings data to life.
Everyone can learn to use data thoughtfully, because as a quote from this book says, “A good question is worth more than a thousand charts.”
I love any book that celebrates bold, unconventional thinkers who see the world differently and challenge us to embrace risk and think more creatively. Here are some takeaways from this gem:
Success comes from relentless curiosity. The best ideas often come from unexpected places.
Visionaries prioritize impact over perfection.
Creative risks lead to breakthroughs.
“Be curious, not cautious” is the quote to remember here. Beautiful story to remind us of this, because, as Pompliano writes, “The world needs more rebels with a cause.”
I never thought about how the small, hidden stressors sap my energy without me realizing it:
Microstressors compound to create big strain in your life.
Small adjustments in routines have big impacts.
Building a support network and mindfulness practice helps combat the cumulative effect of microstress.
"Should We Blame Social Media and Recommendation Algorithms for the Mental Health Crisis?" by Wendy W. Moe and David Godes
There’s a lurking influencer you may not be aware of on social media—the algorithms themselves. Algorithms act as invisible curators. As you scroll, they analyze every time you like, click, pause, watch, or re-watch something. They use this data to determine what content they think you’ll engage with most—and while this sounds helpful in a world where we need to sift through billions of possible pieces of content, these systems are designed to maximize engagement… NOT to serve your best interests.
This research report out of the University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business shows that people tend to interact more with content that’s “angry and anxiety-inducing”. It’s just human nature. Now imagine that a recommendation algorithm is observing our behavior and trying to predict what it thinks our interests might be so it can show more of that. If the system observes that we engage with “angry and anxiety-inducing” content, it thinks we’re interested in that type of content, and will proceed to show us more of that. The result is a stream of emotionally charged content, particularly posts that stir anger or anxiety.
As a result, our social media feeds often become saturated with negative or divisive material, which can amplify feelings of stress and isolation—especially for teens and young adults. In this study, the proportion of anxiety-inducing content rises significantly, which helps explain why the rise of social media has coincided with increased rates of depression among adolescents.
So the takeaways:
Social media is here to stay. It’s not going anywhere, and pretending it will is kind of like covering your ears and shouting, “I can’t hear you!”
Realistically, we can't ban or block all social media (even though Australia is trying!)
We've got to figure out a balance, how to harness the good, recognize the bad, and be aware of the reality that falls somewhere in between.
Regulation and awareness are both necessary. Understanding what’s going on in your brain when you’re on social media, and how the algorithms work, is crucial to regaining control.
Closing Thoughts
Each of these works brought something new to the table for me this year—whether it was a sharper focus on mental health, deeper insights into consumer behavior, or tools to make better decisions in work and life. As we head into 2025, I’m carrying these lessons forward, knowing they’ll shape how I grow personally and professionally.
What were your standout reads this year? Email me your recommendations at hello@bixaresearch.com.
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