Looking to further your career? Whether you hate networking or you struggle with concentrating, these seven authors have been where you are—and are now at the top of their game. Check out these tried-and-true bestselling books for career advice you’ll carry with you.
See also: 12 Books You Should Be Reading in 2017
Cal Newport: So Good They Can’t Ignore You
If you’re tired of the cliched career advice to ‘follow your dreams’ or ‘do what you love’, then this is the book for you. Cal Newport makes a case for throwing passion out of the window and placing skills at the forefront of your job search. Newport’s book is the blueprint to help you achieve job satisfaction, by falling in love with your career and not the other way around.
Adam Grant: Give and Take
Social psychologist and Wharton professor Adam Grant examines why hard work isn’t enough anymore in the competitive business world. Today, it’s all about relationships. The New York Times bestseller focuses on improving social interactions, and Grant makes pointed suggestions on why helping others might be the key to helping yourself.
Michal Stawicki: 99 Perseverance Success Stories
Stories of other people’s success—and more importantly, the lows that preceded the highs—can be incredibly inspiring. This collection of short tales from every continent, of men and women from different faiths, backgrounds and industries, is a great way to learn how you can write your own success story.
Patrick King: Conversation Tactics
You’ve heard it before: it’s all about who you know, not what you know. But if your conversational art is—well, less than artful—you might not be making the right impression. Offering tactics to ‘charm, befriend, and defend’, Patrick King gives incredible insight into how to make social connections that matter, with easy to follow advice that you can start using immediately. What you know will improve who you know—don’t leave it to chance.
Dominic Mann: Get Stuff Done
With social media, instant messaging and constant news updates, it’s easy to get distracted. We’ve all whiled away hours on our Facebook newsfeeds instead of settling down to the task, but Dominic Mann has a few solutions to focus your attention, spark your motivation and increase your productivity. If you’ve been meaning to get started on that great idea or creative masterpiece, then this is the book for you.
Devora Zack: Networking for People Who Hate Networking
Networking is the magic word in the corporate world, but if you’re not much of a people person it can be intimidating trying to work a room. This book isn’t going to teach you hard and fast rules, or tell you to fake it. Devora Zack’s careful and personal advice taps into what makes introverts tick, and explains how to network, on your terms.
Timothy Ferriss: The 4-Hour Workweek
This is an old one, but a good one: Tim Ferriss’ platinum-selling book spent four years on the New York Times bestseller list, and the new extended version offers an additional 100 pages of top tips and advice. The entrepreneur shares the story of how he traded his 80-hour working week for just four—while earning 10 times as much. If that sounds appealing (we can’t imagine anyone saying no), then this step-by-step guide might be the next big step in your career.
See also: 9 Books Every Ambitious Woman Should Read
