2 Life-Changing Books by Montreal Authors You Wish You Read Sooner

Living abroad for the last 5 years, far from my hometown of Montreal, has come with its own set of challenges. Yet, nothing compares to the excitement of unexpectedly meeting a fellow Canadian—especially a Montrealer. These encounters always leave me with a warm sense of familiarity and comfort.

So you can imagine my excitement when I stumbled upon a book by a Montreal author I hadn’t heard of before while scrolling through my Kindle. Even more thrilling was discovering that this book featured stories straight from the lips of some of the world’s highest achievers—individuals I already admired and followed. It was the kind of book I desperately wanted to devour but simultaneously didn’t want to finish.

Lately, my Instagram feed, the books I’ve been reading, and the articles I’ve come across have all seemed to emphasize the same point: communication matters. Clear and concise communication is invaluable in every facet of life—personal, professional, or family-related. Overlooking it can lead to missed business opportunities, strained friendships, unresolved family issues—the list is endless. Conversely, the potential of strong communication is limitless and should never be underestimated.

These thoughts have led me to realize that if I want to succeed, I must prioritize mastering my communication skills—whether through reading, writing, or even workshops. With that in mind, here are 2 life-changing books by Montreal authors, you wish you read sooner which have become indispensable tools in my journey.

1. GETTING THERE BY Gillian Zoe Segal

I’ve always loved learning through the personal experiences of others. When I discovered Getting There, it felt like I was sitting down for intimate conversations with some of the world’s most successful high achievers. The book offers honest and relatable insights into their challenges and triumphs.

Even when the featured achievers came from industries I knew little about—or cared little for—I still managed to extract valuable lessons from their stories. If you’re in need of inspiration to rise from a setback or push through a difficult obstacle, this book is for you.

Packed with wisdom, actionable advice, and positivity, it’s a powerful reminder that resilience, ambition, and hard work can break down any barrier. If these 35 mentors could achieve their incredible successes, there’s no reason you can’t do the same—and more!

2. NONFLICT: The Art of Everyday Peacemaking by Amir Kfir & Stephen Hecht

Five years ago, I had the privilege of meeting Stephen Hecht at a YPO event in Montreal. Our conversation about our backgrounds and experiences in fashion led him to invite me to participate in a Nonflict workshop over Zoom. Though I’d never heard the term before, I thought, Why not?

Stephen has had a fascinating career that eventually led him to co-found Million Peacemakers with Amir Kfir, PhD, an organizational psychologist. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to promoting peace through a simple yet powerful method that can be applied to everyday conflicts as well as more complex issues.

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to retake the Million Peacemakers workshop in Paris, this time led by Million Peacemakers' Executive Director and certified coach, Jon Moyal. The workshop was incredibly relevant to my personal and professional life, offering practical tools for effective communication, conflict resolution styles, and actionable exercises to improve these skills.

Initially, I thought the techniques I learned would be most applicable to personal challenges. I was wrong. While role-playing as a real estate agent with a client, I found myself actively listening and mirroring my client’s concerns. These techniques helped me better understand his needs, avoid misunderstandings, and validate his feelings and concerns—leading to a highly successful meeting.

If you’re looking to elevate your communication skills and master the art of everyday peacemaking, I can’t recommend this book enough.

To succeed, you must be able to communicate clearly, solve problems effectively, and navigate conflicts with confidence. These two books complement each other beautifully in helping you achieve these goals. And maybe I’m biased, but there has to be something special about Montreal that produces such impactful authors, right?

I’ve had the honor of meeting Stephen Hecht and hope to one day meet Gillian Zoe Segal to learn more about her motivations for writing Getting There and to delve deeper into her journey.

Until then, let’s keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible—one conversation at a time.