Material World

Across thirty nations, sixteen photographers each spent a week living with a family that was statistically average for each country. At the end of each stay, photographer and family worked together on a portrait taken outside the home, with the family surrounded by everything they owned: a few jars and jugs in some cases, piles of electronics in others. Peter Menzel, Charles C. Mann and Paul Kennedy use the resulting portraits to put a human face on population, the environment, social justice and consumption. Set side by side, the photographs raise the question of whether all six billion people on Earth can have everything they want. The book became a best seller that drew acclaim around the world.

DateFyx founder Meenakshi Sharma, speaking as a female first-time entrepreneur, recommends it alongside Lean In and The Lean Startup.