The best 60 Career Progress books

1
Fierce Conversations

Fierce Conversations

Susan Scott
Achieving Success at Work and in Life One Conversation at a Time
4.1 (26 ratings)

What's Fierce Conversations about?

Fierce Conversations (2002) is a practical guide to having authentic, powerful conversations that can change the trajectory of your life. It uses anecdotes, practical techniques, and assignments to illustrate how conversations are the cornerstone of relationships.

Who should read Fierce Conversations?

  • Managers, people leaders, and employers
  • People looking to improve their communication skills
  • Anyone trying to repair a relationship

2
The Gap and the Gain

The Gap and the Gain

Dan Sullivan with Benjamin Hardy
The High Achievers' Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success
4.6 (1,632 ratings)

What's The Gap and the Gain about?

The Gap and the Gain (2021) is a guide to finding happiness and fulfillment inside yourself, instead of constantly hunting for external affirmation. By learning to define your own standards of success, and by measuring your achievement backward, you’ll appreciate how much progress you’ve actually made, and experience renewed motivation in every area of your life.

Who should read The Gap and the Gain?

  • Undermotivated entrepreneurs 
  • Successful but unfulfilled business people
  • Persistent ruminators who want to learn how to think positively

3
Maximum Achievement

Maximum Achievement

Brian Tracy
Strategies and Skills that Will Unlock Your Hidden Powers to Succeed
4.7 (637 ratings)

What's Maximum Achievement about?

Maximum Achievement (2011) is a step-by-step guide to unlocking your potential and achieving your personal idea of success. Based on a self-improvement seminar program, it uses practical exercises to demonstrate how you can transform your self-esteem, boost your performance, and set goals to take control over every aspect of your personal and professional life. 

Who should read Maximum Achievement?

  • People seeking professional growth
  • Anyone who wants to improve self-esteem
  • Those interested in personal self-improvement

4
How Successful People Think

How Successful People Think

John C. Maxwell
Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life
4.3 (606 ratings)

What's How Successful People Think about?

How Successful People Think (2009) argues that success is about attitude. More than just staying positive, John C. Maxwell suggests that if you want to make it, it’s time to start thinking realistically and empathetically. Full of fascinating historical examples and practical advice gleaned from today’s most successful people, this detailed roadmap will help you achieve your goals while avoiding the most common mental pitfalls.

Who should read How Successful People Think?

  • Those interested in organizational psychology
  • Leaders and businesspeople
  • People looking for a fresh perspective on success

5
The Success Principles

The Success Principles

Jack Canfield
How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
4.5 (202 ratings)

What's The Success Principles about?

The Success Principles offers practical and detailed principles to help anyone lead a more successful and fulfilling life. Author Jack Canfield draws upon stories and anecdotes from people who have achieved ambitious goals and experienced what it’s like to be highly successful.

Who should read The Success Principles?

  • Anyone who wants to learn proven principles for success
  • Anyone aspiring to lead a more meaningful and fulfilling life
  • Anyone who’s ready to change their routine and pursue their dreams

6
Smarter Faster Better

Smarter Faster Better

Charles Duhigg
The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business
4.1 (369 ratings)

What's Smarter Faster Better about?

Smarter Faster Better (2016) combines personal stories and business research to show that being productive isn’t just about managing your to-do list, but about making the right choices and maintaining the right mindset. These blinks offer advice on how to stay motivated, keep yourself on track and work in teams effectively to maximize your creativity, productivity and success.

Who should read Smarter Faster Better?

  • Leaders looking to motivate a team
  • Business people who want to energize a company or employees
  • Anyone with a serious, long-term goal

7
The Long View

The Long View

Brian Fetherstonhaugh
Career Strategies to Start Strong, Reach High, and Go Far
4.4 (99 ratings)

What's The Long View about?

The Long View (2016) is a solid guide to building a lasting and meaningful career. Put yourself on the right path by assembling a useful skill set, developing a dynamite personal network and, most importantly, finding a good work-life balance. Work doesn’t have to be miserable and it’s not too late to find a career that can be both emotionally and financially rewarding.

Who should read The Long View?

  • Readers who want to plan for a prosperous future
  • Young and middle-aged professionals looking to take the next step in their career
  • Anyone approaching their retirement years

8
So Good They Can't Ignore You

So Good They Can't Ignore You

Cal Newport
Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love
4.4 (423 ratings)

What's So Good They Can't Ignore You about?

How can you find a job that you are good at and enjoy? This book advocates the "craftsman mind-set" of patiently developing skills instead of the typical "follow-your-passion" advice, and offers practical solutions to acquiring and maintaining job satisfaction.

Who should read So Good They Can't Ignore You?

  • Anyone who wants to know why “follow your passion” is bad advice
  • Anyone interested in alternative routes to job satisfaction and success

9
The Lemonade Life

The Lemonade Life

Zack Friedman
How to Fuel Success, Create Happiness, and Conquer Anything
4.6 (497 ratings)

What's The Lemonade Life about?

The Lemonade Life (2019) is a hands-on guide to living life by design. It argues that most people settle for drudgery in their work, and make excuses for why things aren’t going to plan. But, in the end, the only person who can turn things around is you. If you’re willing to be authentic and bold in pursuit of your goals, you can live a life of fulfillment and adventure. The Lemonade Life demonstrates how to take practical steps to turn your dreams into reality.

Who should read The Lemonade Life?

  • Entrepreneurs itching for new tools to achieve their dreams
  • Anyone who hates their job and wants to make a change but doesn’t know how
  • Lifelong learners interested in new strategies for improving their lives

10
The Pursuit of Excellence

The Pursuit of Excellence

Ryan Hawk
The Uncommon Behaviors of the World's Most Productive Achievers
4.7 (861 ratings)

What's The Pursuit of Excellence about?

The Pursuit of Excellence (2022) offers a thoughtful approach on how to become the best, most excellent version of yourself. Compiling wisdom from hundreds of interviews with world renowned experts and entrepreneurs, the author lays out the best habits and practices that anyone can use to improve their career and their lives.

Who should read The Pursuit of Excellence?

  • Anyone eager to raise their game and find more satisfaction in life
  • People looking for tips on how to achieve more in their career
  • Leaders and entrepreneurs eager to perform better

11
Never Finished

Never Finished

David Goggins
Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within
4.5 (1,005 ratings)

What's Never Finished about?

Never Finished (2022) is your guide to transforming into the person you never imagined you could be. It shares stories of setbacks and lessons learned that you can use to power through life's unending challenges.

Who should read Never Finished?

  • Injured athletes looking for motivation
  • Midlifers seeking a challenge
  • Anyone seeking to maximize their potential

12
Reinvent Yourself

Reinvent Yourself

James Altucher
Change is the only constant
4.3 (343 ratings)

What's Reinvent Yourself about?

Reinvent Yourself (2016) shares practical techniques on how to continually reevaluate and readjust your approach to life and to business in order to forge your own path to success. Author James Altucher illustrates how to do this using inspirational stories drawn from the religious leaders, artists and billionaire entrepreneurs from whom he learned the art of self-reinvention.

Who should read Reinvent Yourself?

  • Unfulfilled professionals who want to start a new career but are too afraid to begin
  • Self-starters who want to learn how to master new skills
  • Aspiring entrepreneurs who are broke and want to find financial freedom

13
Start, Stay, or Leave

Start, Stay, or Leave

Trey Gowdy
The Art of Decision Making
4.3 (59 ratings)

What's Start, Stay, or Leave about?

Start, Stay, or Leave (2023) provides practical advice for individuals at any stage of their career who are seeking guidance on how to make informed and fulfilling career decisions. Doing so relies on the importance of self-awareness, defining one's purpose and values, and creating a clear plan for achieving one's goals. 

Who should read Start, Stay, or Leave?

  • People looking to start a new career
  • Workaholics trying to adjust their priorities
  • Anyone looking for advice on how to make life’s big decisions

14
Never Eat Alone

Never Eat Alone

Keith Ferrazzi
And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time
4.4 (239 ratings)

What's Never Eat Alone about?

In Never Eat Alone, Keith Ferrazzi, a successful businessman and marketing expert, takes us through the secrets to successful networking. He focuses on building lasting relationships rather than merely exchanging business cards, which seems to be many people’s idea of networking today. He summarizes his findings in a system of tried and tested methods. 

Who should read Never Eat Alone?

  • Anyone who wants to know what really constitutes good networking
  • Anyone who wants to know how to best achieve their goals
  • Anyone with a general interest in career advice and soft skills

15
The Squiggly Career

The Squiggly Career

Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis
Ditch the Ladder, Embrace Opportunity and Carve Your Own Path Through the Squiggly World of Work
4.5 (160 ratings)

What's The Squiggly Career about?

The Squiggly Career (2020) covers research and tips on how to best navigate a career full of frequent transitions and modern-day challenges. If we learn to identify our own strengths, values, goals, and motivations, we can apply them more often at work – and notice when they’re being neglected. The authors reveal how to network by helping others, the merits of starting a side project, and how to make the most of the newfound control we have over our careers.

Who should read The Squiggly Career?

  • Job-hoppers looking for direction
  • College grads wondering what the next step is 
  • Anyone seeking insight into the new job market

16
Strategize to Win

Strategize to Win

Carla A. Harris
The New Way to Start Out, Step Up, or Start Over in Your Career
4.3 (59 ratings)

What's Strategize to Win about?

Strategize to Win (2014) is a step-by-step guide for early to mid-level employees trying to plot a successful career trajectory in the modern workplace. It reimagines the professional life cycle as a marathon – where everyone takes responsibility to acquire the skills and experiences that prepare them for multiple roles, with each role treated as a natural progression toward their dream job.

Who should read Strategize to Win?

  • Anyone at the start of their professional career
  • Midlife professionals trying to reassess and transform their careers
  • Professionals trying to start over and change their career trajectory

17
Make Change Work for You

Make Change Work for You

Scott Steinberg
Ten Ways to Future-Proof Yourself, Innovate Fearlessly and Succeed Despite Uncertainty
4.1 (65 ratings)

What's Make Change Work for You about?

Make Change Work for You offers a searching exploration of why we resist change and why we should instead see it as an opportunity. In examining some of America’s most successful companies and entrepreneurs, the book offers several case studies on how to successfully adapt to change – as an employee, team leader, or even CEO.

Who should read Make Change Work for You?

  • Anyone who wants to improve their situation at work
  • Anyone who isn’t perfectly happy with their company’s trajectory
  • Anyone interested in learning how to embrace change

18
Impact Players

Impact Players

Liz Wiseman
How to Take the Lead, Play Bigger, and Multiply Your Impact
4.2 (287 ratings)

What's Impact Players about?

Impact Players (2021) uncovers the qualities of the most indispensable players in a team or organization, and breaks down the mindset that sets these influential individuals apart from the rest. Drawing on insights from top industry leaders, it shows how to leverage the approaches used by influential professionals to multiply your own impact in the workplace.

Who should read Impact Players?

  • Aspiring leaders
  • Business owners and entrepreneurs
  • Organization development professionals

19
The Success Trap

The Success Trap

Amina Aitsi-Selmi
Why Good People Stay in Jobs They Don't Like and How to Break Free
4.2 (272 ratings)

What's The Success Trap about?

The Success Trap (2020) explains why so many talented, high-achieving people feel stuck in their jobs, despite their success. It also explains how to break out of this trap and embrace the many opportunities that the modern world of work has to offer.

Who should read The Success Trap?

  • Successful people who still feel unfulfilled
  • Professionals heading down a path they’re not sure about
  • Freethinkers stuck in predictable jobs

20
Range

Range

David Epstein
Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World
4.3 (493 ratings)

What's Range about?

At a time when many see specialization as the route to success, Range (2019) shows that having broad interests and taking your time to find your focus in life lead to excellence and innovation. Drawing on examples from business, sports, science and human psychology, Range urges us all to stay open-minded and curious.

Who should read Range?

  • Individuals searching for a purpose in life
  • The intellectually curious
  • Those seeking an unconventional path to success

21
Make No Small Plans

Make No Small Plans

Elliott Bisnow
Lessons on Thinking Big, Chasing Dreams, and Building Community
4.1 (289 ratings)

What's Make No Small Plans about?

Make No Small Plans (2022) is the inside story of how a group of young entrepreneurs created one of the world’s most exciting platforms for global events and conferences – the Summit Series. This isn’t just a chance for them to recount their company’s history, though. Packed with actionable takeaways and business wisdom, this is a book designed to inspire readers on their own entrepreneurial journeys.

Who should read Make No Small Plans?

  • Recent graduates unsure which path they should follow
  • Entrepreneurs and self-starters looking for inspiration
  • Anyone interested in building better business relationships

22
Late Bloomers

Late Bloomers

Rich Karlgaard
The Power of Patience in a World Obsessed with Early Achievement
4.6 (249 ratings)

What's Late Bloomers about?

Late Bloomers (2019) explores why modern society is obsessed with early achievement. It explains the damaging effects a super-charged education can have on young people’s mental health, as well as how our family, our peers, and the media influence the life paths we take. Drawing on his own experiences, author Rich Karlgaard suggests that blooming later in life is not something to be ashamed of, but something to be celebrated instead.

Who should read Late Bloomers?

  • Anyone feeling stuck in their life and career
  • Parents concerned about the pace of their children’s development
  • Graduates unsure about what to do next

23
Managing Oneself

Managing Oneself

Peter F. Drucker
The Key to Success
4.1 (390 ratings)

What's Managing Oneself about?

Managing Oneself (1999) was originally published in Harvard Business Review. It’s a guide to identifying your strengths and weaknesses, understanding how you perform, and recognizing your values. In doing so, you can transform yourself from an ordinary worker into an outstanding performer.

Who should read Managing Oneself?

  • Drucker devotees
  • Career optimizers
  • Anyone who wants to capitalize on their strengths

24
The First-Time Manager

The First-Time Manager

Loren B. Belker
The go-to guide with trusted best practices for new managers
4.5 (229 ratings)

What's The First-Time Manager about?

The First-Time Manager (1981) is the go-to guide for new managers in any field. Spanning topics from delegation and motivation to hiring and firing, these blinks will equip you with the skills to navigate the realities of managing people so that you can avoid common pitfalls and maximize your success in your new leadership role. 

Who should read The First-Time Manager?

  • New or aspiring managers
  • Young professionals
  • Management consultants

25
The Buddha and the Badass

The Buddha and the Badass

Vishen Lakhiani
The Secret Spiritual Art of Succeeding at Work
4.4 (389 ratings)

What's The Buddha and the Badass about?

The Buddha and the Badass (2020) breaks down how to master work and life by drawing on a deep awareness of self and learning how to make an impact. These blinks provide practical steps for bringing real meaning to your work, accomplishing bold missions alongside others, and designing and living your ideal life.

Who should read The Buddha and the Badass?

  • People who want their work to have meaning and impact
  • Leaders who want to inspire their teams
  • Anyone who wants to transform their personal and professional life

26
You Coach You

You Coach You

Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis
How to Overcome Challenges at Work and Take Control of Your Career
4.5 (338 ratings)

What's You Coach You about?

You Coach You (2022) is a guide to being your own coach for maximum career success and happiness. With practical guides, questions that help you think about who you are at work, and fun exercises, the authors show you how you can be your own best cheerleader and guide. 

Who should read You Coach You?

  • Anyone who is looking to improve their happiness at work
  • Anyone who is stuck in their career and looking for growth
  • Anyone who wants to change gears at work

27
Quit

Quit

Annie Duke
The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away
4.5 (237 ratings)

What's Quit about?

Quit (2022) makes the case for an undervalued and important skill that can lead to success: knowing when to bow out. It lends nuance to the old-school advice that grit and perseverance are necessary to achieve goals – and offers a manual on how to quit, even when it’s difficult. 

Who should read Quit?

  • People facing a big decision or planning ahead for a major life change 
  • Highly motivated people who find the prospect of quitting appalling
  • Those stuck in a career or project that feels like a dead end

28
Self-Help That Works

Self-Help That Works

John C. Norcross et al.
Resources to Improve Emotional Health and Strengthen Relationships
4.2 (58 ratings)

What's Self-Help That Works about?

Self-Help That Works (2013, Fourth Edition) offers the valuable service of taking the top recommendations from mental health professionals in the US and compiling the results in one handy volume. You’ll find which self-help resources the experts recommend on over 40 of the most popular topics.

Who should read Self-Help That Works?

  • Anyone wondering what the best self-help books are
  • People looking for tips on better living
  • Couples and parents seeking advice

29
What Color is Your Parachute?

What Color is Your Parachute?

Richard N. Bolles
A Practical Manual For Job-Hunters And Career-Changers
3.8 (67 ratings)

What's What Color is Your Parachute? about?

What Color is Your Parachute? (2017) is a practical guide to help you land the job you’re looking for and change your career. Since it was first published in 1970, this book has been a go-to guide for any job hunter, complete with tips on how to sharpen your interview skills and negotiate a solid salary. This newest edition also has invaluable suggestions for how to succeed in today’s digital world.

Who should read What Color is Your Parachute??

  • Unemployed people struggling to find a job
  • HR managers who want to better understand today’s job market
  • Readers looking for a better job

30
The Career Playbook

The Career Playbook

James M. Citrin
Essential Advice for Today's Aspiring Young Professional
3.9 (62 ratings)

What's The Career Playbook about?

The Career Playbook (2015) is based on interviews with top professionals as well as a survey of thousands of graduates and young professionals. It offers valuable advice for launching and building a strong career; by acquiring the right skills, building the right network and presenting yourself well, you’ll be on your way in no time.

Who should read The Career Playbook?

  • People hoping to launch their career
  • Seekers of new job experience and skills
  • Those wanting to stand out among other job candidates

31
Catalyst

Catalyst

Chandramouli Venkatesan
The Ultimate Strategies on How to Win at Work and in Life
4.1 (96 ratings)

What's Catalyst about?

Catalyst (2018) is the ultimate A to Z guide to navigating one of life’s trickiest journeys: your career. Jam-packed with actionable insights rooted in author Chandramouli Venkatesan’s years of first-hand experience with today’s most successful corporate go-getters, these blinks shed light on key topics from picking the right boss to the value of taking it slow and becoming an effective leader.

Who should read Catalyst?

  • Ambitious professionals
  • Executives and managers
  • Coaches and work psychologists

32
The Burnout Fix

The Burnout Fix

Jacinta M. Jiménez
Overcome Overwhelm, Beat Busy, and Sustain Success in the New World of Work
4.4 (257 ratings)

What's The Burnout Fix about?

The Burnout Fix (2021) is a practical guide to thriving in the modern workplace. Today’s world of work is characterized by uncertainty, change, and a blurring of lines between home and the office. That’s why it’s essential that employees learn to set healthy boundaries, develop core skills, and make choices that prioritize their well-being. 

Who should read The Burnout Fix?

  • Innovative leaders who want to create thriving workplaces
  • Exhausted executives looking to regain passion and pleasure in their work
  • Psychology buffs striving to understand the causes of burnout

33
Grit to Great

Grit to Great

Linda Kaplan Thaler & Robin Koval
How Perseverance, Passion, and Pluck Take You from Ordinary to Extraordinary
4.4 (107 ratings)

What's Grit to Great about?

Many people have talent, but few become stars in their chosen profession. In Grit to Great (2015), two women at the top of the advertising business offer their guide to developing the resilience and hard graft that will help you succeed.

Who should read Grit to Great?

  • Anyone who wants to improve themselves and reach their goals
  • People interested in the psychology of success
  • Entrepreneurs and anyone interested in breaking out on their own

34
Betting on You

Betting on You

Laurie Ruettimann
How to Put Yourself First and (Finally) Take Control of Your Career
4.2 (231 ratings)

What's Betting on You about?

Betting on You (2021) is a hands-on guide to navigating the modern workplace. If you’re an employee in a big corporation, it can feel like you have no agency over your work life. But by putting yourself first and changing your mindset about work, you can make big changes right where you are. And if you need to leave your job, you can plan strategically for the next chapter.

Who should read Betting on You?

  • People looking for more autonomy and purpose in their careers
  • HR departments wanting to up their game
  • Burnt-out entrepreneurs looking to change their work habits

35
Maximize Your Potential

Maximize Your Potential

Jocelyn K. Glei
Grow Your Expertise, Take Bold Risks & Build an Incredible Career
4.1 (78 ratings)

What's Maximize Your Potential about?

Maximize Your Potential (2013) is about making the most of your skills, talents and ambition. It offers action-oriented tips and tools that will help you execute your ideas and create an amazing career. Discover the traits and mind-sets of the most productive people and how to unlock your maximum potential.

Who should read Maximize Your Potential?

  • Entrepreneurs and company owners
  • Career-minded individuals
  • Creative professionals of all kinds

36
Becoming the Boss

Becoming the Boss

Lindsey Pollak
New Rules for the Next Generation of Leaders
3.6 (31 ratings)

What's Becoming the Boss about?

Becoming the Boss presents the potential hurdles for leaders in our modern era and some useful tips on how to tackle them. Pollak explains some fundamental principles that will help anyone to, not only become a leader, but to excel in their new role. Pollak also summarizes some new best practices for managing employees and advises on professional networking and personal growth.

Who should read Becoming the Boss?

  • Anyone interested in startups
  • Young people in leadership roles
  • Anyone studying business

37
Best Job Ever

Best Job Ever

C. K. Bray
Rethink Your Career, Redefine Rich, Revolutionize Your Life
4.0 (34 ratings)

What's Best Job Ever about?

Best Job Ever (2016) is a guide to making the career change you need to be happy with your professional life. These blinks walk you through the difficult process of switching jobs, changing fields and trying something you’ve always wanted to do, but didn’t know how to start.

Who should read Best Job Ever?

  • People who want a job that overlaps with their passion and personal goals
  • Anyone who feels the need to make drastic changes to their career path

38
Pivot

Pivot

Jenny Blake
The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One
4.2 (69 ratings)

What's Pivot about?

Pivot (2016) defines the four-step approach for navigating personal career changes and growth. In addition to demonstrating the basic elements of this method, author Jenny Blake shows how it can also be incorporated by managers into their day-to-day business practices.

Who should read Pivot?

  • Entrepreneurs or artists planning on making a career change
  • Anyone who feels stuck in their current job
  • Recent graduates trying to make the right career choices

39
The Lost Art of Connecting

The Lost Art of Connecting

Susan McPherson
The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Business Relationships
4.3 (78 ratings)

What's The Lost Art of Connecting about?

The Lost Art of Connection (2021) is about building more authentic relationships at work and in life. It shows how professional networking doesn’t always have to be transactional, and offers the three-step Gather, Ask, Do method for building meaningful relationships and breaking down the technological barriers to deeper human connection.

Who should read The Lost Art of Connecting?

  • Professionals who want to expand their network
  • People who want to improve their interpersonal skills
  • Anyone who wants to deepen their relationships with others

40
Twelve and a Half

Twelve and a Half

Gary Vaynerchuk
Leveraging the Emotional Ingredients Necessary for Business Success
4.3 (291 ratings)

What's Twelve and a Half about?

Twelve and a Half (2021) is a frank, straight-talking guide to the twelve emotional skills that will bring you success in business and in life. Combining anecdotes from the author’s experience as well as typical business scenarios, it shows how, in the grand scheme of things, “soft” skills can actually be more important than the oft-prioritized “hard” skills. With a strong foundation in emotional intelligence, executives, founders, and entrepreneurs can navigate even the most difficult of situations with poise and confidence.

Who should read Twelve and a Half?

  • Aspiring entrepreneurs, founders, and executives
  • Employees dissatisfied with their jobs, employers, or lines of work
  • Anyone seeking a quick and dirty guide to emotional intelligence

41
The Purpose Myth

The Purpose Myth

Charlotte Cramer
Change the World, Not Your Job
4.4 (217 ratings)

What's The Purpose Myth about?

The Purpose Myth (2020) dispels the idea that what you do to earn a living should also be your life’s driving purpose. Although many job offers are posted as fulfilling opportunities, the reality of office life remains banal. This book offers clear guidance on how to find the joy and satisfaction that’s too often lacking at work. 

Who should read The Purpose Myth?

  • People looking to put some purpose back into their lives
  • Aspiring entrepreneurs on the hunt for inspiration
  • Anyone who finds their day job unfulfilling

42
The Journey Beyond Fear

The Journey Beyond Fear

John Hagel III
Leverage the Three Pillars of Positivity to Build Your Success
4.1 (289 ratings)

What's The Journey Beyond Fear about?

The Journey Beyond Fear (2021) is a guide to overcoming fear and reaching your full potential. During his 40-year career in Silicon Valley, Hagel has identified three practical tools that anyone can benefit from. Here, he explains exactly how to use them, so you can make the most of exciting new opportunities in your professional and personal life.

Who should read The Journey Beyond Fear?

  • Business people looking for motivation, inspiration or direction
  • People who want to overcome fear to achieve their full potential
  • Anyone interested in the opportunities offered by learning platforms

43
The Execution Factor

The Execution Factor

Kim Perell
The One Skill that Drives Success
4.5 (52 ratings)

What's The Execution Factor about?

The Execution Factor (2018) identifies five traits shared by people who know how to effectively accomplish their dreams and goals. By sharing general principles and specific tips on how to cultivate them, Kim Perell demonstrates how to transform yourself into just such a person.

Who should read The Execution Factor?

  • Professionals wanting to take their effectiveness to the next level
  • Quarter-life and mid-life crisis experiencers wanting to gain a sense of direction   
  • Dreamers wanting to turn their ideas into realities

44
Choose Possibility

Choose Possibility

Sukhinder Singh Cassidy
Seek Change, Take Risk, and Thrive (Even When You Fail)
4.5 (102 ratings)

What's Choose Possibility about?

Choose Possibility (2021) provides a roadmap to building the smarts and courage it takes to become a master of risk. Drawn from tech leader Sukhinder Singh Cassidy’s winding path through business, it debunks the myth that risk is all about singular, life-altering choices. Instead, it shows how risk-taking is a process, a practice and a skill that can unlock your professional potential.

Who should read Choose Possibility?

  • Entrepreneurs, business leaders, and investors
  • People daunted by the unknowns of their work life 
  • Anyone who fears they’ve been too timid or reckless in taking professional risks

45
Do Over

Do Over

Jon Acuff
Rescue Monday, Reinvent Your Work, and Never Get Stuck
3.7 (51 ratings)

What's Do Over about?

Do Over (2015) explains why drastic change in your career is hardly something to be afraid of – that is, as long as you’ve got the tools you need. These blinks guide you through building up your own Career Savings Account filled with tips and tricks to turn your dead-end job into an opportunity to do something totally new.

Who should read Do Over?

  • People feeling stuck in their career
  • Those wary of big changes
  • Anyone ready to create a new life for themselves

46
You're Invited

You're Invited

Jon Levy
The Art and Science of Cultivating Influence
4.5 (280 ratings)

What's You're Invited about?

You’re Invited (2021) is your guide to creating connections and building communities around what personally matters most. It reveals the key things you need to know about behavioral psychology in order to design events that best fit your business and values – and shows how you can make a real difference in the world.

Who should read You're Invited?

  • Business leaders looking to create a more supportive company culture
  • Introverts craving connection without the social pressure
  • Social justice activists looking to increase engagement

47
Stretch

Stretch

Karie Willyerd and Barbara Mistick
How to Future-Proof Yourself for Tomorrow’s Workplace
3.9 (67 ratings)

What's Stretch about?

Stretch (2015) is about the art of growing your career in ways that will make you an in-demand force in an increasingly unpredictable economy. There’s very little you can take for granted in these chaotic times, but there are reliable methods you can use today to help ensure work for you tomorrow. No one wants to be left behind. Be proactive and make yourself indispensable no matter what the future has in store.

Who should read Stretch?

  • Anyone preparing for the future
  • Entrepreneurs who want to be more adaptable
  • Unemployed people hoping to find new purpose in their work

48
The 10 Laws of Career Reinvention

The 10 Laws of Career Reinvention

Pamela Mitchell
Essential Survival Skills for Any Economy
4.3 (36 ratings)

What's The 10 Laws of Career Reinvention about?

The 10 Laws of Career Reinvention (2010) teaches you the career survival skills you need for the twenty-first century economy. No matter what industry you’re trying to break into, this book will help you create a successful roadmap to your goal.

Who should read The 10 Laws of Career Reinvention?

  • People who dread Monday mornings because they want a new job
  • Those who feel they might have missed their vocation
  • Anyone interested in how job security might look in the twenty-first century

49
Career Fear (and how to beat it)

Career Fear (and how to beat it)

Somi Arian
Get the Perspective, Mindset and Skills You Need to Futureproof Your Work Life
4.0 (68 ratings)

What's Career Fear (and how to beat it) about?

Career Fear (and how to beat it) (2020) sounds the alarm on how jobs are rapidly changing due to technological advancements. Taking a historical perspective on the evolution of work cultures, it brings to light the necessary mindset and uniquely human skills to thrive in a future defined by artificial intelligence. 

Who should read Career Fear (and how to beat it)?

  • Professionals seeking a new career 
  • People interested in the future of work
  • Anyone worrying about their career path

50
Disrupting the Game

Disrupting the Game

Reggie Fils-Aimé
From the Bronx to the Top of Nintendo
4.4 (183 ratings)

What's Disrupting the Game about?

Disrupting the Game (2022) tells the inspiring story of Reggie Fils-Aimé’s unlikely rise to the top of the video game industry – charting his journey from growing up as a kid in the Bronx to becoming president and COO of Nintendo of America. Along the way, it shares the lessons he learned about leadership and charting a career path.

Who should read Disrupting the Game?

  • Leaders and professionals feeling stuck in the wrong roles
  • Business students and recent graduates
  • Anyone wanting inspiration to level up their career

51
Future Fit

Future Fit

Andrea Clarke
How to Stay Relevant and Competitive in the Future of Work
4.4 (109 ratings)

What's Future Fit about?

Future Fit (2019) is a guide to remaining relevant and employable in the future. As technological change and new employment models shape the workplace in often unpredictable ways, we risk being left behind if we don’t keep up. This book provides key insights into what the employees and leaders of the future must do to stay ahead.

Who should read Future Fit?

  • Those keen to prepare themselves for the future
  • CEOs and leaders looking for a head start
  • Anyone interested in tech, business, and science

52
The Job-Ready Guide

The Job-Ready Guide

Anastasia de Waal
Employability Skills and Strategies for Career Success
4.0 (31 ratings)

What's The Job-Ready Guide about?

The Job-Ready Guide (2019) is a helpful roadmap for anyone seeking to get themselves on the first rung of the career ladder. In addition to offering advice on job-searching, writing a compelling resume, and performing well in interviews, it provides insight into what modern employers are really looking for.

Who should read The Job-Ready Guide?

  • Students leaving college
  • Teachers or mentors wishing to give young people up-to-date career advice
  • Young professionals seeking a change in career

53
Remarkable

Remarkable

David Kronfeld
Proven Insights to Accelerate Your Career
4.2 (210 ratings)

What's Remarkable about?

Remarkable (2021) is a playbook for professionals looking to advance their careers. It’s not about getting ahead by any means, though. Covering topics like self-promotion, mistakes, and disagreements, it makes a compelling case that the best way to move forward is by staying humble and working with – and for – your team. 

Who should read Remarkable?

  • Managers and leaders
  • Entrepreneurs and self-starters 
  • Team players

54
The New Rules of Work

The New Rules of Work

Alexandra Cavoulacos & Kathryn Minshew
The Modern Playbook for Navigating Your Career
4.5 (38 ratings)

What's The New Rules of Work about?

The New Rules of Work (2017) is the definitive handbook for navigating the modern workplace. Authors Cavoulacos and Minshew recognize that the way we work has changed in tandem with the advancement of technology and that the way we think about career paths has evolved accordingly. Modern workers expect a job to do more than just pay the bills – work has to be fulfilling, too. Their New Rules will help you discover the career that fits you best and give you the tools to succeed in the modern job market – from application to promotion.

Who should read The New Rules of Work?

  • Students and graduates still unsure of their career path
  • Anybody stuck in a career rut
  • Employees who started their careers under the “old rules” looking to understand the current landscape

55
Mastering the Game

Mastering the Game

Sharon E. Jones with Sudheer R. Poluru
Strategies for Career Success
4.2 (54 ratings)

What's Mastering the Game about?

Mastering the Game (2018) aims to level the playing field for women and people of color in the world of business – the traditional purview of white men. This book lays bare the unwritten rules of the game and outlines strategies diverse professionals can use to get unstuck at work.

Who should read Mastering the Game?

  • People who have felt marginalized at work
  • Social activists who want to create a fairer and more inclusive world
  • Allies who want to be even more empathetic

56
The Power of Choice

The Power of Choice

Michael C. Hyter
Embracing Efficacy to Drive Your Career
4.3 (167 ratings)

What's The Power of Choice about?

The Power of Choice (2020) is a guide for professionals who are underrepresented in their fields or who are struggling to fit into their workplace cultures. Drawing on a practical set of principles, it shows how anyone can navigate setbacks at work by embracing personal responsibility. It also includes tips on how to improve self-confidence and mobilize professional relationships for long-term career growth.

Who should read The Power of Choice?

  • Professionals with underrepresented identities and backgrounds
  • Managers and leaders seeking to become more influential
  • Career-driven individuals who are interested in self-improvement

57
Be Where Your Feet Are

Be Where Your Feet Are

Scott O'Neil
Seven Principles to Keep You Present, Grounded, and Thriving
4.1 (254 ratings)

What's Be Where Your Feet Are about?

Be Where Your Feet Are (2021) is the distillation of the wisdom that Scott O’Neill has accumulated over the years – as one of America's most successful sports executives, as a husband, and as a father. With advice ranging from failing productively to living in the moment, it presents a few simple tips designed to help you live a richer, happier, and more successful life.

Who should read Be Where Your Feet Are?

  • Anyone who wants to live a more focused life
  • All-rounders interested in bettering themselves both at work and at home
  • Ambitious movers and shakers who don’t want to sacrifice peace of mind for success

58
Illogical

Illogical

Emmanuel Acho
Saying Yes to a Life Without Limits
3.8 (220 ratings)

What's Illogical about?

Illogical (2022) is the story of how Emmanuel Acho, former pro football player turned media star, decided to take the illogical path to fulfill his potential and his dreams. Instead of following society’s rules, expectations, and constraints, he decided to break all of them –⁠ and in doing so, he became what he is today. And guess what? You can do the same.

Who should read Illogical?

  • Dreamers looking for advice on how to achieve their goals
  • People who want to change careers but feel nervous about taking the next step
  • Anyone feeling a little lost in life

59
Flux

Flux

April Rinne
8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change
4.0 (168 ratings)

What's Flux about?

Flux (2021) offers a mindset to transform your relationship with change from fear to hope. Whether you’re overwhelmed by the pandemic, facing the end of a relationship, or anxious about climate change, these blinks detail eight essential practices for navigating change both personally and professionally.

Who should read Flux?

  • People whose lives have been upended by the pandemic
  • Anyone who struggles with anxiety
  • Professionals who want to learn flexibility

60
Stretch

Stretch

Scott Sonenshein
Unlock The Power of Less and Achieve More Than You Ever Imagined
4.1 (35 ratings)

What's Stretch about?

Stretch (2017) is your guide to discovering your true creative potential. These blinks will teach you how to identify the resources, both internal and external, that you need to unlock new possibilities, reach for the stars and excel at life.  

Who should read Stretch?

  • Entrepreneurs in search of new strategic approaches
  • People who think that more is always better
  • Business people stuck in a creative rut

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