2025 Winter Reading Guide
Cozy up this winter with our curated reading list, featuring 12 essential books for logistics and supply chain professionals. Whether you’re navigating the complexities of global trade, exploring GenAI, or optimizing last-mile delivery, these titles are packed with the insights you need.
Dynamics of Disasters — From Natural Phenomena to Human Activity
Edited by Ilias S. Kotsireas, Anna Nagurney, Panos M. Pardalos, Stefan Wolfgang Pickl, and Chrysafis Vogiatzis
Diving into the complex interplay between natural disasters and human response, this book offers multidisciplinary insights into disaster dynamics and management, exploring the impact of disasters on supply chain, logistics, and optimization strategies. It highlights innovative approaches to disaster modeling, preparedness, and mitigation, with applications across industries and scenarios. Readers will come away with tools for enhancing resilience in the face of unpredictable crises.
Lowe’s Transport Manager’s and Operator’s Handbook 2025
By David Lowe with Ashley Rimmer
Take this one off the shelf if you need a comprehensive guide covering all aspects of transport management and operations. This essential resource offers the latest insights into the legal, operational, and compliance aspects of transport management. Packed with practical advice and updated with current legislation, it covers key topics such as driver regulations, fleet management, licensing, and environmental considerations.
The Launch of the Century: A Supply Chain Novel
By Richard Markoff and Florian Magnani
This fun take on the supply chain implications of product launches centers on fictional company Wistful Cosmetics, prepping for the debut of a groundbreaking haircare product. Written by two former supply chain executives, the novel gives readers a glimpse into the world of operations and supply chain. Blending fiction with real-world insights, Markoff and Magnani weave a narrative that highlights the intricacies of modern supply chains. Perfect for professionals and enthusiasts, the page-turner offers an entertaining yet educational look at the critical role supply chains play in business success.
Air Freight: Navigating Environmental Challenges
By Peter Wretzky
This in-depth analysis of the environmental, economic, and technological hurdles confronting the industry helps airfreight professionals who are seeking to balance operational demands with environmental sustainability in aviation. The book explores issues such as carbon emissions and noise pollution, emphasizing the need for sustainable practices within global airfreight operations. Wretzky outlines air cargo solutions and logistics strategies aimed at mitigating environmental impacts while maintaining transportation efficiency.
Navigating the Supply Chain Maze: A Comprehensive Guide to Optimize Operations and Drive Success
By Michael E. Kirshteyn, PhD
Not sure how to best optimize supply chain operations in a complex, fast-evolving business environment? Kirshteyn provides an in-depth guide to doing exactly that. The book covers concepts, strategies, and best practices that enable companies to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and achieve long-term success. It emphasizes the importance of innovation, technology, and data-driven decision-making in overcoming supply chain challenges, and offers practical insights for navigating the intricacies of modern supply chain management.
Women in Logistics, Transport and Commodity Sector: Gender Equality, Recent Trends and Key Challenges
Edited by Nor Aida Abdul Rahman, Emilia Vann Yaroson, Norlin Khalid and Fathien Azuien Yusriza
Exploring the evolving role of women in traditionally male-dominated industries, this book examines the progress made toward gender equality. It also looks at the barriers and obstacles that persist for women in the logistics, transport, and commodity sectors. Through research and case studies, the editors highlight recent trends, practices, and strategies for fostering inclusivity and empowering women in these fields. Advocates of workplace diversity and equality will value this comprehensive look at an important issue.
The Supply Chain Revolution: Unlocking the Sustainable Profit Chain
By Art Koch
Converting supply chains from cost centers to profit and value drivers—while also addressing the problem of “inventory obesity”—is top of mind for supply chain leaders. Koch shares a system to unlock the power of inventory velocity, which helps companies build better supply chain fundamentals that ultimately drive long-term business success and sustainable profitability. The book offers Koch’s helpful strategies for process optimization, team engagement, and corporate valuation.
The Complete Guide to First Mile and Last Mile Logistics
By Jai San
The crucial “first mile” of the supply chain sets the foundation for the entire logistics process. Likewise, the last mile is also key to successful supply chain management. This book offers advice on mastering both. Learn about strategies for optimization, including the adoption of advanced technologies like autonomous vehicles, drones, and AI-based route planning, which are expected to revolutionize first- and last-mile delivery in the near future.
Pivoting as a Way of Life: A New Startup and Product Operating Model
By Joseph Hanna with Christy Petrosso, PhD
New challenges and disruptions pop up all the time in supply chain management, making the ability to adapt to change absolutely necessary for a career in logistics. If you love a good pivot—or you want to get better at embracing change—this book is for you. The author advocates for the Pivoting Life Operating Model (PLOM), a framework that emphasizes continuous innovation and adaptability in the dynamic business landscape. The book provides 10 robust frameworks, five pivoting disciplines, and 50 metrics designed to help you learn PLOM and stay ahead of the curve.
The Magic Conveyor Belt: Supply Chains, AI, and the Future of Work
By Yossi Sheffi
Notable supply chain expert and MIT professor Yossi Sheffi shares practical explanations for the intricate workings of global supply chains and their evolution in the context of advancing artificial intelligence. The book addresses contemporary challenges such as outsourcing, reshoring, sustainability, resilience, and regulatory impacts, while exploring the symbiotic relationship between human labor and AI technologies. Sheffi’s perspective on how AI can augment supply chain operations emphasizes the importance of human oversight and adaptability in an increasingly automated world. This comprehensive analysis sheds light on the future landscape of supply chain management and the role of AI within it.
Robotic Process Automation Technology in Supply Chain Management: Practical Applications for Simplifying Workflows
By Barbara Galińska and Mateusz Stachura
This book brings together experts from research and practice to explore the design of innovative Robotic Process Automation (RPA) concepts, from the management and technological aspects of RPA to its practical applications across various industries. The authors help supply chain professionals better understand and implement RPA solutions to enhance efficiency and productivity in business processes.
Reinventing the Supply Chain: A 21st-Century Covenant With America
By Jack Buffington
Traditional supply chain models have become outdated in the face of 21st-century challenges like global disruptions and shifting consumer expectations. How should today’s supply chain leaders respond? Buffington presents his framework for reinventing supply chains, emphasizing sustainability, adaptability, and localized manufacturing. Through practical insights and innovative strategies, the book provides a roadmap for supply chain leaders to build resilient systems that align with today’s economic, environmental, and technological realities.