As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Introductory Books
Practical Appreciative Inquiry: How to Use This Leading-Edge Coaching Method Confidently with Teams and Small Groups by Andy Smith
The Thin Book of Appreciative Inquiry by Sue Annis Hammond
Appreciative Inquiry: A Positive Revolution In Change by David L Cooperrider and Diana Whitney
Conversations Worth Having: Using Appreciative Inquiry to Fuel Productive and Meaningful Engagement by Jackie Stavros and Cheri Torres – very accessible book including ways to apply AI beyond the traditional 4D model
The Essentials Of Appreciative Inquiry – brief and readable introduction by Bernard Mohr and Jane Magruder Watkins. Can be downloaded as a free PDF (uploaded by the author as far as I can tell).
‘Heavyweight’ books about Appreciative Inquiry
Practical Appreciative Inquiry: A Toolkit for Applying Appreciative Inquiry to Organisational Challenges, Opportunities, and Aspirations by Sarah Lewis – this has instantly become my go-to book about using Appreciative Inquiry for organisational change. As well as outlining the principles and theory of Appreciative Inquiry, it’s packed with examples, case studies, and (refreshingly) practical tips drawn from the author’s extensive experience of applying Appreciative Inquiry in the real world. Whether you want to promote psychological safety, make DEI more effective, improve your leadership skills, build resilience, make project management more effective, or apply Appreciative Inquiry to remote and hybrid working, you will find practical and actionable steps here. This book is destined to become a classic in the Appreciative Inquiry field.
Appreciative Inquiry Handbook: for Leaders of Change by David L Cooperrider, Diana Whitney and Jacqueline M Stavros
The Power Of Appreciative Inquiry: A Practical Guide To Positive Change by Diana Whitney & Amanda Trosten-Bloom
Appreciative Inquiry: Change at the Speed of Imagination by Jane Magruder Watkins and Bernard J Mohr
Appreciative Inquiry for Change Management: Using AI to Facilitate Organizational Development by Sarah Lewis, Jonathan Passmore and Stefan Cantore
Specialist applications of AI
Appreciative Team Building: Positive Questions to Bring Out the Best of Your Team by Diana Whitney, Amanda Trosten Bloom, Jay Cherney and Ron Fry (reviewed here)
Appreciative Coaching: A Positive Process For Change by Sara L Orem, Jacqueline Blinkert and Ann L Clancy
Appreciative Inquiry for Collaborative Solutions: 21 Strength-Based Workshops by Robyn Stratton-Berkessel
The Thin Book of SOAR: Building Strengths-Based Strategy by Jacqueline M Stavros and Gina Hinrichs (reviewed here)
Appreciative Inquiry: Research For Change by Jan Reed
Solution Focus and scaling
The Solutions Focus: Making Coaching and Change SIMPLE by Paul Z Jackson and Mark McKergow (reviewed here)
Solutions Focus Working by Mark McKergow and Jenny Clarke
Positive Approaches To Change by Mark McKergow and Jenny Clarke
Words Were Originally Magic by Steve de Shazer
Other strength-based approaches to change
First, Break All The Rules: What The World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman
Now, Discover Your Strengths: How To Develop Your Talents And Those Of The People You Manage by Marcus Buckingham and Donald O Clifton
