It’s an indispensable part of our lives, from the long hours we work to the products and services we buy—and yet business seems divorced from the full expression of our humanity. For many of us, something is missing, something both essential and immeasurable that lets us see the world with fresh eyes every day: romance.

In this smart, playful, and provocative book, Tim Leberecht, one of today’s most original business thinkers, argues that we underestimate the importance of romance in our lives and that we can find it in products, experiences and organizations that connect us with something greater than ourselves. In the face of eroding trust in capitalism, pervasive technology, and the desire to quantify our behaviors, The Business Romantic reveals the power of business to elevate us above mere rationality and self-interest toward deep, passionate exchanges that honor our most complete selves. From strategy to the workplace, from product innovation to branding, customer relationships, and sales, Leberecht presents ten “Rules of Enchantment” that illustrate the value of choosing intimacy over transparency, mystery over clarity, devotion over data, vulnerability over control, delight over satisfaction, and love over liking.

A data analyst who is enamored with the intrinsic beauty of spreadsheets; the “voice” of Twitter; an Argentinian couple who reinvent shoelaces in a quest to reimagine the obvious; a performer who helps innovators through fake corporate seminars; rebels-in-residence who challenge their company’s conventions; a pop-up magazine that exists for just one night; a legacy brand built on absence; a secret society that catalyzes organizational change—these are some of the fascinating characters and groups you will meet in this witty and rousing ramble through the world of Business Romanticism. 

Whether a consumer or producer, employee or entrepreneur, The Business Romantic urges you to start the most sublime of revolutions: Expect more. Give more of yourself. Fall back in love with business and your life.