The best 43 Networking books

The Start-Up of You (2012) is a guide to how you can leverage strategies used by start-ups in your own career: being adaptable, building relationships and pursuing breakout opportunities.

In a world where entire industries are being ravaged by global competition and traditional career paths are fast becoming dead-ends, everyone needs to hustle like an entrepreneur.

Give and Take offers a breath of fresh air to traditional theories of what it takes to be successful. Backed by ground-breaking research, Give and Take demonstrates how giving more to others, rather than competing against them, may be the secret to profound success and fulfillment.

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. 

Trust Agents describes how anyone can use the web to become a trust agent – meaning someone who is well-versed in the tools of the web and who is very influential and trusted because of this.

Click (2010) delves into the miraculous topic of quick-set intimacy and explores what’s at work when we’re instantly drawn to some person or thing. It examines how and why clicking makes our life more meaningful and outlines the (very ordinary) factors that can make such “magical” connections more likely.

Secrets of Dynamic Communication explains how to prepare and present a speech effectively. Through the author’s own SCORRE-method, we are guided through the six key components of a successful speech: subject, central theme, objective, rationale, resources and evaluation.

Coffee Lunch Coffee (2012) is a practical guide to networking. Using her personal and professional experience, along with tips and exercises, author Alana Muller demonstrates how to develop networking skills and build lasting relationships that can help us in our personal and professional lives. A must-have for anyone who wants to succeed professionally.

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.

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.

In Mastermind Dinners (2015), author Jayson Gaignard introduces an innovative way to build networks that last, by inviting influencers and high-level executives to dinner. As a mastermind dinner host, you open up a whole new world of networking possibilities through gathering interesting people around a table to share a meal and connect meaningfully with each other.

Strategic Connections (2015) offers practical tips on developing the skills to become an effective networker. In an increasingly connected world, networking has never been more important. Find out which skills and knowledge you need to succeed in the new collaborative workplace.

Brief (2014) is a guide to having more impact and influence by saying less. These blinks show the reader the power of brevity in the information age, explain the barriers to being brief and give helpful instructions on how to improve your communication while saving your own time and everybody else’s.

In StrengthsFinder 2.0 (2007) you’ll learn how to identify your skills and develop them to your advantage. Tom Rath presents a powerful framework to both cultivate your potential and match your strengths to your profession.

Love Is the Killer App (2003) is a guide to career success in changing times. The secret? Love and compassion. These blinks explain how love – in the business sense – can help you be smart, generous and compassionate while achieving your goals in both life and work.

How to Be a Power Connector (2014) offers a hands-on introduction to networking in the modern business world. By laying out the theory behind strong networking and providing practical tips for turning theory into practice, this book sets you on your way to achieving your career goals.

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.

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.

Radical Collaboration (2004) offers invaluable methods to help you build effective and high-functioning collaborative relationships, as well as strategies to manage any kind of conflict that you might run into. At the heart of these methods are five skills that can turn anyone into a better teammate and turn any organization into an efficient and productive partnership.

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.  

Communicate to Influence (2015) is a detailed guide to being an effective communicator. This covers everything from choosing the right voice to knowing how to structure and deliver your message. Gain a better understanding of the pitfalls of public speaking so that you know what to avoid, and discover some fantastic tools that will help turn your information dump into an inspiring call to action.

Friend of a Friend (2018) shows how networks around us can be put to use and taken advantage of. Networking is, of course, a crucial skill for professional success – but networks themselves go even deeper and aren’t just about making new contacts. Innovation, career development and business success all have their part to play, too.

In The Art of Gathering (2018), Priya Parker argues that the gatherings in our lives – from business meetings to dinner parties – are lackluster, routine and lacking in purpose. Parker sets out a bold new approach to gathering that focuses on distinctiveness, purpose and real human connection, and shows how simple steps can invigorate any gathering of people.

How To Talk to Anyone (1998) is an indispensable guide to improving your conversations and becoming more graceful and effective in your social interactions – no matter the situation. Leil Lowndes offers readers a treasure trove of techniques and tips that will help any socially awkward individual gain more confidence in workplace environments, meetings, their private lives and at parties.

Five Stars (2018) provides a practical guide to improving your communication skills. Drawing on examples from both scientific research and great communicators throughout history, these blinks explore how you can get people to listen to, understand and support your ideas by communicating them in the best possible way.

Reach Out (2017) by Molly Beck is a simple manual that helps you further your career goals through reaching out to people and expanding your network. In this book, Beck leads the reader through the dos and don’ts of reaching out, providing helpful examples of how to best make use of this strategy.

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.

The Proximity Principle (2019) presents a proven plan for landing your dream job and turning your career dial from humdrum to awesome. Every bit as actionable as it is original, Ken Coleman’s strategy dispenses with shopworn myths about résumés and networking events and tells it like it is. At the heart of his argument is a simple but effective equation: get to know the right people and put yourself in the right places, and the opportunities will start presenting themselves. 

The Introvert’s Complete Career Guide (2019) is a toolkit for reserved, less assertive people who wish to gain confidence and progress their careers. Its practical, supportive advice will help introverts draw on their strengths in order to not only hold their own, but flourish in the workplace.

Business Chemistry (2018) examines the tensions and pitfalls involved in our working relationships. Packed with tips and tricks for clicking with even the most challenging coworkers, these blinks are your essential guide to making meaningful workplace connections. 

The Bullseye Principle (2018) is a practical guide to confident, clear communication in contemporary business settings. Covering everything from personal branding to inspiring others and running meetings effectively, these blinks will show you how to deliver your lines with style and win over your audience.

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.

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.

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.

The Serendipity Mindset (2020) offers a practical guide to welcoming more positive and fortuitous outcomes in your life. It explains how subtle shifts in your attitude and perception can lead to dramatic differences in your ability to persevere and get positive results.

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.

Digital Body Language (2021) is your rulebook to clear online communication. Combining cutting-edge research with personal know-how, it demystifies the digital signals that so often stand in for traditional body language.

Social Chemistry (2020) is a fresh research-based approach to something that many professionals regard as a necessary evil: networking. The author demystifies how we network and explains the different networking modes available to us. The result is a convincing argument for the transformative power of good networking.

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.

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.

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.

Cues (2022) is about the signals we send unconsciously and how they affect the way others perceive us. The book is geared toward improving your professional life by managing the cues you send and responding appropriately to the ones you receive. 

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.

How to Work with (Almost) Anyone (2023) is a compelling guide to mastering workplace dynamics and nurturing professional relationships. It shows how you can enable more effective collaboration by facilitating open dialogue, nurturing curiosity, and fostering trust.