“Books That Rewire You” – A BARDO Reading List for Inclusion Nerds, NeuroFans, and Culture Hackers

Let’s face it: most EDI reading lists are drier than a stale oatcake! But inclusion is a juicy, electrifying, mind-expanding journey. At BARDO, we believe learning should light up your synapses, not send you to sleep.

So we’ve curated a library of brilliance for anyone who wants to go beyond buzzwords and start rewiring behaviour, culture, and brains. Whether you’re leading change, designing strategy, mentoring rebels, or just really like a good neurochemical metaphor—this list is for you.

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Neuroscience & Behaviour Change

1. Behave – Robert Sapolsky

💥 “Biology isn’t destiny, but it sets the stage.”A monster of a book, but worth every neuron. Sapolsky takes you from milliseconds to millennia to explain why humans behave the way we do—including our more problematic tendencies.

NIMM Link: Understanding the hormonal and neurological basis of bias and power. Perfect if you're tired of “awareness training” that skips the science.

2. Livewired – David Eagleman

“The brain is a dynamic system, not a hardwired machine.”This is neuroplasticity with a capital W-O-W. Eagleman’s storytelling makes you believe that change is not only possible—it’s inevitable (if we build the right environments).

NIMM Link: Gives you the biological backing for every inclusive nudge and cultural habit shift we love.

3. The Body Keeps the Score – Bessel van der Kolk

"Trauma is not the story of something that happened back then. It’s the current imprint of that pain.”This one should be required reading for anyone working in inclusion. Trauma is carried in the body, and so are exclusion, shame, and silence.

NIMM Link: You can’t build safety if you don’t understand where fear lives—in the nervous system, not the diary room.

Bias, Decision-Making & Influence

4. Thinking, Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman

“Nothing in life is as important as you think it is while you are thinking about it.”System 1 and System 2 thinking—aka Fast Brain, Slow Bias. The OG neuroscience of bias. A chunky read, but brilliant if you're designing inclusive systems or policies.

NIMM Link: Essential for understanding how bias is not a choice—it’s an energy-saving default.

5. Nudge – Richard Thaler & Cass Sunstein

“If you want to encourage people to do something, make it easy.”Simple changes. Big shifts. This is about behaviour architecture—ideal for those who want to stop banging the awareness drum and start changing environments.

NIMM Link: NeuroNudges in action. Inclusion via design, not demand.

Identity, Belonging & Power

6. Caste – Isabel Wilkerson

"Caste is the infrastructure of our divisions.”A jaw-droppingly clear lens on how invisible hierarchies shape society. Wilkerson’s writing is scalpel-sharp and soul-deep.

NIMM Link: Explains why belonging isn’t just about cupcakes and lanyards—it’s about dismantling centuries-old social architecture.

7. The Sum of Us – Heather McGhee

"The zero-sum story is a lie.”McGhee shows how racial injustice hurts everyone—economically, socially, psychologically. It’s a hopeful book, and god knows we need more of those.

NIMM Link: Useful for leaders afraid to “lose” something through inclusion—this reframes it as collective gain.

8. Untamed – Glennon Doyle

"You are not crazy. You are a goddamn cheetah.”Less research, more roar. But still vital reading for anyone leading culture change. Doyle’s personal revolution is a reminder that most cages are internalised.

NIMM Link: Useful for challenging learned helplessness and shame-based leadership.

Spirituality, Consciousness & Inner Rewiring

9. No Self, No Problem – Chris Niebauer

“The self is a story we tell ourselves. And then believe.”This is one of those books that makes you stop mid-page and stare out the window. If you've ever wanted to explain the ego with a whiteboard and a brain scan, this is your book.

NIMM Link: Explains why our ideas about “us” and “them” are fragile—and how to transcend them.

10. Waking Up – Sam Harris

"A deeper understanding of ourselves can help us lead more compassionate lives.”Mindfulness meets neuroscience. Harris explores the illusion of self and the gift of attention. Useful if you want to build presence, not just presence workshops.

NIMM Link: Presence is not a performance. It’s a neural state.

Culture Change, Psychological Safety & Inclusive Leadership

11. The Fearless Organization – Amy Edmondson

“Fear is not a motivator. It’s a silencer.”If you want people to speak up, take risks, and collaborate—start here. Psychological safety is the new KPI.

NIMM Link: Supports serotonin-driven confidence. Elevates safety from ‘soft’ to structural.

12. Rebel Ideas – Matthew Syed

“Diversity is not about how we look—it’s about how we think.”Perfect for leaders who still think “we’ve got one of those” means job done. This book makes a watertight case for cognitive diversity as strategy, not charity.

NIMM Link: Neurodiversity, novelty and dopamine-driven learning at its finest.

13. Primed to Perform – Neel Doshi & Lindsay McGregor

“The secret to high performance is the motive behind it.”This book breaks down what really motivates people: play, purpose, and potential—not fear, pressure, or guilt.

NIMM Link: Aligns beautifully with neuroscience of motivation and inclusive, high-trust cultures.

Honorable Mention:

14. Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself – Dr. Joe Dispenza

“Your personality creates your personal reality.”

A bit woo, a lot wonderful. It’s quantum meets cognitive. And for those stuck in identity loops, it can be a powerful reminder that change is not just possible, it’s inevitable. Read my full review on this book here.

NIMM Link: Repetition, reward, and emotional activation are the ingredients for deep rewiring.

Final Word

This isn’t just a book list, it’s a neural rewiring awakening starter pack.

At BARDO, we build inclusion into the brain, not just the branding. And these books? They’re brain food for those of you who believe EDI should be more than a policy.

It should be a felt, fired, and wired experience.

So grab a book, spark a synapse, and remember: You’re not just learning, you’re reprogramming for freedom.