Michael Earls’ first book lands on Tim Hughes’ Executive Bookshelf

Michael Earls’ debut, Finding Direction in the Age of AI, was selected for Tim Hughes’ Executive Bookshelf, a curated list of ten titles on leadership, AI, culture and resilience. The nod underscores Earls’ broader message that organizations need clarity and human judgment as technology speeds up.

Why it matters: - The selection puts Michael Earls’ first book alongside a curated group of titles aimed at leaders navigating artificial intelligence, culture, resilience and change. - The recognition reinforces Earls’ core argument that speed from AI only matters when leaders know where they are going. - The honor also gives added visibility to Earls’ broader body of work on leadership and the human side of technology.

What happened: - Finding Direction in the Age of AI was named to Tim Hughes’ Executive Bookshelf, a collection of ten books. - The bookshelf features authors from different backgrounds and disciplines. - Earls is a Cincinnati-based author and enterprise technology leader. - The selection includes work from Charlene Li and Dr. Katia Walsh, Brady Pyle, Ramón "CZ" Colón-López, Kevin Dias, James W. Clement, Max van der Klis-Busink, Erika Alessandrini, Danura Miriyagalla, and Timothy Hughes, Adam Gray and Hugo Whicher.

The details: - Earls said the book was the first he wrote, before he knew whether anyone would read it or whether there would be another one. - Earls said seeing the book alongside writers he has learned from for years carries special meaning. - Finding Direction in the Age of AI is part of a three-book arc focused on clarity and human direction as technology accelerates. - Earls’ experience spans more than two decades across infrastructure, cloud, enterprise transformation and artificial intelligence. - He built the book around the idea that technology can move faster than organizations develop clarity about their goals. - Earls describes Finding Direction in the Age of AI as the map, Wired for Purpose as the practice and The Digital Compass as the compass. - Earls said the three books together explore leadership, clarity and the human side of technology. - Earls argues that leaders should value judgment, trust, empathy, intuition, presence and genuine connection over trying to compete with machines at being machines.

Between the lines: - The Executive Bookshelf is not a ranking; it is a signal that the book fits a broader conversation about leadership in a changing workplace. - Earls’ message lands in a moment when many companies are focused on AI productivity gains, but fewer have settled on the human and strategic direction for that speed. - The book’s inclusion suggests Earls’ work is resonating with readers looking for practical framing, not just technical commentary.

What's next: - Earls expects his ideas to keep expanding through writing on how people and leaders can remain human in a digital world. - Earls said the main measure of success is whether the right people are reading the work and whether it changes anything. - His broader catalog now includes Finding Direction in the Age of AI, Wired for Purpose and The Digital Compass. - Readers can find more information at Michael Earls.