To ask if you’ve ever read a ‘work’ book that was useful?!

[Heretochill]

I’m at a bit of a cross roads career-wise, and have been working my way through ‘work’ related books. A real mix from best sellers liked Lean In, to self published ones related to my specialism (change / transformation).

Normally I devour a good book in a few days, but I’ve really struggled to ‘get into’ any of these.

So whilst I may be U for asking this here, I’m doing it anyway - have you ever read a book related to your career that you actually got something from??

What kind of things make you want to spend money and actually buy these books / what immediately would make you think it’s a load of tosh (for me it’s saccharine sweet ‘you go girl’ sentiments)?

These books where methods can be applied to any industry

How to win friends and influence people by dale Carnegie

Then 48 laws of power
33 strategies of war
Both by Robert Greene

Spy: A Handbook by Harry Ferguson

That one too

@Hawkins001 - I’ve only heard of How to Win Friends, which funnily enough was my next one to order tonight before I thought I’d ask here! £10 -£15 a week and not even getting half way through some of them was becoming a pricey hobby!

I’ll definitely check out the others, thanks!

“Nice Girls Don't Get The Corner Office” - found this useful in my mid-twenties for self-awareness about things I did. It’s fun and very easy to read, can take it or leave it. I didn’t agree with everything but it did help me, and I give it to others who can’t see why they’re not seen as management or leadership despite working their butt off. www.amazon.co.uk/Nice-Girls-Dont-Corner-Office/dp/1455558893/ref=asc_df_1455558893/ A more current one that I haven’t read which sounds similar is “How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back” www.amazon.co.uk/How-Women-Rise-Habits-Holding/dp/1847942245

Career direction wise I loved this “Winning Through Redundancy: Six steps to navigate your way to a brighter future”, lots of work sheets and case studies to get you thinking www.amazon.co.uk/Winning-Through-Redundancy-navigate-brighter-ebook/dp/B01BEC0IUE

Actual job wise, this is excellent “First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at All Levels” www.amazon.co.uk/First-Days-Updated-Expanded-Strategies/dp/1422188612

general soft skills wise I second the Carnegie book, and loved this one as well “Friend & Foe: When to Cooperate, When to Compete, and How to Succeed at Both” www.amazon.co.uk/Friend-Foe-Cooperate-Compete-Succeed/dp/0307720217

What do you need or want? Career change, promotion, professional relationship skills, knowledge about a new area?

This is a great and free course for communication skills acumenacademy.org/course/storytelling-change/

You might be better off initially with a subscription to HBR to get into it and find out what kind of business articles you like

Wow thanks so much for such thoughtful responses! Off to order some you’ve mentioned, once I’ve looked at a subscription service - great shout, hadn’t thought of that!

EBay second hand is usually the method I use, as can get some quite cheap. It varies really.

More of a psychological perspectives. The Lucifer effect by Philip zimbardo

Then the rules of management by Richard templar

Playing Big by Tara Mohr

Actually a bit embarrassed I didn’t think of eBay!! I tend to read reviews then Amazon is my go to - some great suggestions here!

Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahnemann was great too

World of books is my usual second hand seller for most books

Who moved my cheese?

Also don’t forget the library!! They are free and have audiobooks too!

Not a ‘how to’ book but I thought Lucy Kellaway’s Re-Educated book (her account of retraining as a teacher at age 57, after decades as a Financial Times columnist) was inspirational. Never too late to change careers, and in fact in her 40s, with school-age kids and elderly parents, she was ‘too young’ and too time-poor to consider a complete rethink. A super read.

The One Thing is pretty good. It's really helped me pinpoint things I want to achieve and focus my energy accordingly

Feel the fear and do it anyway prompted me to go for it in my 20s

Nice girls don’t get the corner office galvanised me to step up later on

I liked lean in too. I’m reading leaders eat last just now, my coach gave it to me, and finding sinek engaging and thought provoking. Sorry too late to format properly on my phone 😬😴

The Phoenix Project is interesting, worth a read and highly relatable to many organisations.

No, they all seem a bit common sense at my age. Nothing particular helpful gained, for me personally.

I guess for some intriguing philosophy, Machiavelli, the prince.

The Work We Were Born to Do: Find the Work You Love, Love the Work You Do
Nick Williams

Culture Map by Erin Meyer.

A must for anyone who works internationally or with people from different nationalities. It's a really interesting read.

How Brands Grow by Byron Sharp
If you work in marketing, it's a must-read.

I have almost finished writing my first book of which 8 skeleton chapters are free to read online. I really need some reviews from mum friends who can be honest and tell me whether they find it relatable, good, bad. It's Women's fiction, so light hearted but with some realistic issues around schools, teenagers, husbands etc. It is humorous though. I won't post the link as its not a promotion post, but I would live to hear from some mums (or dads) who might be interested to read a few chapters for me.