“Find something you love to do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” – Harvey MacKay
This is a list of my favorite and noteworthy career books on career development, finding jobs, work-life balance, and workplace effectiveness.
I put the bulk of the career books list in A-Z so that you can easily compare with your own library of career books.
This is a powerful collection of the best career books for work that will help you find your path, achieve career success, master work-life balance, work less to achieve more, play to your strengths, follow your passion, bring out your best, and flourish in any arena.
10 Great Books on Career Development
- Getting Ahead: Three Steps to Take Your Career to the Next Level by Joel A. Garfinkle
- Go Put Your Strengths to Work by Marcus Buckingham
- Overachievement: The New Science of Working Less to Accomplish More by John Eliot
- Positive Intelligence: Why Only 20% of Teams and Individuals Achieve Their True Potential AND HOW YOU CAN ACHIEVE YOURS, by Shirzad Chamine
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
- The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness by Stephen R. Covey
- The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick) by Seth Godin
- The First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at All Levels by Michael Watkins
- Unlimited Power : The New Science Of Personal Achievement by Tony Robbins
- Work from the Inside Out: Seven Steps to Loving What You Do by Nancy O’Hara
Brand, Reputation
- Career Distinction: Stand Out by Building Your Brand, by William Arruda and Kirsten Dixson
- Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?, by Seth Godin
- Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success, by Dan Schawbel
- Wild West 2.0: How to Protect and Restore Your Reputation on the Untamed Social Frontier, by David Thompson
Careers, Career Paths
- 150 Best Recession-Proof Jobs, by Laurence Shatkin
- Career Match: Connecting Who You Are with What You’ll Love to Do, by Shoya Zichy
- Get The Job You Want, Even When No One’s Hiring: Take Charge of Your Career, Find a Job You Love, and Earn What You Deserve, by Ford Myers
- Getting Ahead: Three Steps to Take Your Career to the Next Level, Joel A. Garfinkle
- I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was: How to Discover What You Really Want and How to Get It, by Barbara Sher
- Making a Living Without a Job: Winning Ways For Creating Work That You Love, Barbara J. Winter
- Refuse to Choose!: Use All of Your Interests, Passions, and Hobbies to Create the Life and Career of Your Dreams, by Barbara Sher
- The 5 Patterns of Extraordinary Careers: The Guide for Achieving Success and Satisfaction, by James Citrin and Richard Smith
- The 80/20 Individual: How to Build on the 20% of What You do Best, by Richard Koch
- The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You’ll Ever Need, by Daniel Pink and Rob Ten Pas
- The Career Chronicles: An Insider’s Guide to What Jobs Are Really Like – the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from Over 750 Professionals, by Michael Gregory
- The Career Guide for Creative and Unconventional People, by Carol Eikleberry
- The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick), by Seth Godin
- The Pathfinder: How to Choose or Change Your Career for a Lifetime of Satisfaction and Success, by Nicholas Lore
- The Six-Figure Second Income: How To Start and Grow A Successful Online Business Without Quitting Your Day Job, by David Lindahl and Jonathan Rozek
- What Color Is Your Parachute? 2013: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers, by Richard Nelson Bolles
- You Majored in What?: Mapping Your Path from Chaos to Career, by Katherine Brooks
- Your Road Map for Success: You Can Get There from Here, by John C. Maxwell
Change, Changing Careers
- Changing Course: Navigating Life after Fifty, by William A. Sadler
- Getting from College to Career: Your Essential Guide to Succeeding in the Real World, by Lindsey Pollak
- The 5 Patterns of Extraordinary Careers: The Guide for Achieving Success and Satisfaction, by James Citrin and Richard Smith
- The Bliss List: The Ultimate Guide to Living the Dream at Work and Beyond!, by J.P. Hansen
- The First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at All Levels, by Michael Watkins
- What Color Is Your Parachute? 2013: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers, by Richard Nelson Bolles
- Who Moved My Cheese?, by Spencer Johnson
- You Majored in What?: Mapping Your Path from Chaos to Career, by Katherine Brooks
- Your Next Move: The Leader’s Guide to Navigating Major Career Transitions, by Michael Watkins
Consulting
- Flawless Consulting: A Guide to Getting Your Expertise Used, by Peter Block
- Getting Started in Consulting, by Alan Weiss
- Million Dollar Consulting, by Alan Weiss
- Secrets of Consulting: A Guide to Giving and Getting Advice Successfully, by Gerald Weinberg
- The Consulting Bible: Everything You Need to Know to Create and Expand a Seven-Figure Consulting Practice, by Alan Weiss
- The McKinsey Engagement: A Powerful Toolkit For More Efficient and Effective Team Problem Solving, by Ph.D., Paul N. Friga
- Value-Based Fees: How to Charge – and Get – What You’re Worth, by Alan Weiss
Creative Expression, Artists at Work
- Career Renegade: How to Make a Great Living Doing What You Love, by Jonathan Fields
- Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?, by Seth Godin
- The Artist’s Way at Work: Riding the Dragon, by Mark Bryan
- The Career Guide for Creative and Unconventional People, by Carol Eikleberry
- Zen and the Art of Making a Living: A Practical Guide to Creative Career Design, by Laurence G. Boldt
Effectiveness
- Be the Hero: Three Powerful Ways to Overcome Challenges in Work and Life, by Noah Blumenthal
- Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School, by John Medina
- Effective Immediately: How to Fit In, Stand Out, and Move Up at Your First Real Job, by Emily Bennington
- Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, by Daniel Goleman
- Equipping 101: What Every Leader Needs to Knob, by John C. Maxwell
- Getting Results the Agile Way, by J.D. Meier
- How to Be a Business Superhero: Prepare for Everything, Train with the Best, Make your Own Destiny at Work, by Sean Wise
- Mentored by a Millionaire, by Steven Scott
- Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office: 101 Unconscious Mistakes Women Make That Sabotage Their Careers, by Lois P. Frankel
- Personal Development for Smart People, by Steve Pavlina
- Positive Intelligence: Why Only 20% of Teams and Individuals Achieve Their True Potential AND HOW YOU CAN ACHIEVE YOURS, by Shirzad Chamine
- Talent Is Never Enough: Discover the Choices That Will Take You Beyond Your Talent, by John C. Maxwell
- The 5 Patterns of Extraordinary Careers: The Guide for Achieving Success and Satisfaction, by James Citrin and Richard Smith
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey
- The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness, by Stephen R. Covey
- The 80/20 Individual: How to Build on the 20% of What You do Best, by Richard Koch
- The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Success by Achieving More with Less, by Richard Koch
- The Power of Focus, by Jack Canfield
- Trump: The Way to the Top: The Best Business Advice I Ever Receivedby Donal Trump
- Unlimited Power : The New Science Of Personal Achievement, by Tony Robbins
- What Would Machiavelli Do? The Ends Justify the Meanness, by Stanley Bing
Engagement, Energy
- Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, by Daniel H. Pink
- Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
- Mojo: How to Get It, How to Keep It, How to Get It Back if You Lose It, by Marshall Goldsmith
- Overachievement: The New Science of Working Less to Accomplish More, by John Eliot
- Positive Intelligence: Why Only 20% of Teams and Individuals Achieve Their True Potential AND HOW YOU CAN ACHIEVE YOURS, by Shirzad Chamine
- Refuse to Choose!: Use All of Your Interests, Passions, and Hobbies to Create the Life and Career of Your Dreams, by Barbara Sher
- The 80/20 Individual: How to Build on the 20% of What You do Best, by Richard Koch
- The Bliss List: The Ultimate Guide to Living the Dream at Work and Beyond!, by J.P. Hansen
- The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy, by Jon Gordon
- The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You’ll Ever Need, by Daniel Pink and Rob Ten Pas
- The Charge: Activating the 10 Human Drives That Make You Feel Alive, by Brendon Burchard
- The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal, by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz
- Unlimited Power : The New Science Of Personal Achievement, by Tony Robbins
- Zengage, by David Zinger
Fear, Failure, Setbacks
- Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success, by John C. Maxwell
- Mentored by a Millionaire, by Steven Scott
- Overachievement: The New Science of Working Less to Accomplish More, by John Eliot
- Positive Intelligence: Why Only 20% of Teams and Individuals Achieve Their True Potential AND HOW YOU CAN ACHIEVE YOURS, by Shirzad Chamine
- The Charge: Activating the 10 Human Drives That Make You Feel Alive, by Brendon Burchard
- The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick), by Seth Godin
Interpersonal Relationships
- Crucial Confrontations, by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler
- Crucial Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler
- Dealing with People You Can’t Stand: How to Bring Out the Best in People at Their Worst, by Dr. Rick Brinkman and Dr. Rick Kirschner
- How to Click with People: The Secret to Better Relationships in Business and in Life, by Dr. Rick Kirshner
- How To Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie
- Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time, by Tahl Raz
- Personal Village, How to Have People in Your Life by Choice, Not Chance, by Marvin Thomas
- Positive Intelligence: Why Only 20% of Teams and Individuals Achieve Their True Potential AND HOW YOU CAN ACHIEVE YOURS, by Shirzad Chamine
- The Likeability Factor: How to Boost Your L-Factor and Achieve Your Life’s Dreams, by Tim Sanders
- The SPEED of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything, by Stephen Covey
- What Would Machiavelli Do? The Ends Justify the Meanness, by Stanley Bing
Interviews
- Boost Your Interview IQ, by Carole Martin
- Case Interview Secrets: A Former McKinsey Interviewer Reveals How to Get Multiple Job Offers in Consulting, by Victor Cheng
- Fearless Interviewing: How to Win the Job by Communicating with Confidence, by Marky Stein
- How Would You Move Mount Fuji? Microsoft’s Cult of the Puzzle – How the World’s Smartest Company Selects the Most Creative Thinkers, by William Poundstone
- Programming Interviews Exposed: Secrets to Landing Your Next Job, by John Mongan and Noah Suojanen
Job Hunting and Job Search
- Get The Job You Want, Even When No One’s Hiring: Take Charge of Your Career, Find a Job You Love, and Earn What You Deserve, by Ford Myers
- How to Get Any Job: Life Launch and Re-Launch for Everyone Under 30 (or How to Avoid Living in Your Parents’ Basement), 2nd Edition, by Donald Asher
- Knock ’em Dead 2012: The Ultimate Job Search Guide, by Yate Martin
- Refuse to Choose!: Use All of Your Interests, Passions, and Hobbies to Create the Life and Career of Your Dreams, by Barbara Sher
- Rick Gillis: Really Useful Job Search Tactics: A Handbook of Contemporary Job Hunting Techniques, by Rick Gillis
- The Job Search Solution: The Ultimate System for Finding a Great Job Now!, by Tony Beshara
- The Unwritten Rules of the Highly Effective Job Search: The Proven Program Used by the Worlds Leading Career Services Company, by Orville Pierson
Lifestyle, Career Design
- Career Renegade: How to Make a Great Living Doing What You Love, by Jonathan Fields
- Laptop Lifestyle – How to Quit Your Job and Make a Good Living on the Internet (Volume 1 – Quick Start Guide to Making Money Online), by Christopher King
- Living The 80/20 Way: Work Less, Worry Less, Succeed More, Enjoy More, by Richard Koch
- Making a Living Without a Job: Winning Ways For Creating Work That You Love, Barbara J. Winter
- Overachievement: The New Science of Working Less to Accomplish More, by John Eliot
- Refuse to Choose!: Use All of Your Interests, Passions, and Hobbies to Create the Life and Career of Your Dreams, by Barbara Sher
- The 4-Hour work Week: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich, by Tim Ferris
- The 5 Patterns of Extraordinary Careers: The Guide for Achieving Success and Satisfaction, by James Citrin and Richard Smith
- The Art of Non-Conformity: Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want, and Change the World, by Chris Guillebeau
- The Career Guide for Creative and Unconventional People, by Carol Eikleberry
- The Power of Less, by Leo Babauta
- Zen and the Art of Making a Living: A Practical Guide to Creative Career Design, by Laurence G. Boldt
Networking
- How to Click with People: The Secret to Better Relationships in Business and in Life, by Dr. Rick Kirshner
- How To Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie
- Masters of Networking: Building Relationships for Your Pocketbook and Soul, by Ivan R. Misner
- Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time, by Tahl Raz
- Personal Village, How to Have People in Your Life by Choice, Not Chance, by Marvin Thomas
- The 29% Solution: 52 Weekly Networking Success Strategies, by Ivan R. Misner
Passion, Purpose, Motivation
- Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose, by Tony Hsieh
- Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, by Daniel H. Pink
- Getting Results the Agile Way, by J.D. Meier
- Go Put Your Strengths to Work, by Marcus Buckingham
- I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was: How to Discover What You Really Want and How to Get It, by Barbara Sher
- Overachievement: The New Science of Working Less to Accomplish More, by John Eliot
- Put Your Dream to the Test: 10 Questions that Will Help You See It and Seize It, by John C. Maxwell
- Refuse to Choose!: Use All of Your Interests, Passions, and Hobbies to Create the Life and Career of Your Dreams, by Barbara Sher
- The 80/20 Individual: How to Build on the 20% of What You do Best, by Richard Koch
- The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You’ll Ever Need, by Daniel Pink and Rob Ten Pas
- The Bliss List: The Ultimate Guide to Living the Dream at Work and Beyond!, by J.P. Hansen
- The Career Guide for Creative and Unconventional People, by Carol Eikleberry
- The Charge: Activating the 10 Human Drives That Make You Feel Alive, by Brendon Burchard
- Unlimited Power : The New Science Of Personal Achievement, by Tony Robbins
- Who Are You and What Do You Want?, by Mick Ukleja
- Work from the Inside Out: Seven Steps to Loving What You Do, by Nancy O’Hara
- You Majored in What?: Mapping Your Path from Chaos to Career, by Katherine Brooks
Resumes
- Asher’s Bible of Executive Resumes and How to Write Them, by Donald Asher
- How to Say It on Your Resume: A Top Recruiting Director’s Guide to Writing the Perfect Resume for Every Job, by Brad Karsh
- The Google Resume: How to Prepare for a Career and Land a Job at Apple, Microsoft, Google, or any Top Tech Company, by Gayle Laakmann McDowell
- The Perfect Resume: Today’s Ultimate Job Search Tool, by Tom Jackson
Self-Employed
- Career Renegade: How to Make a Great Living Doing What You Love, by Jonathan Fields
- KaChing: How to Run an Online Business that Pays and Pays, by Joel Comm
- Laptop Lifestyle – How to Quit Your Job and Make a Good Living on the Internet (Volume 1 – Quick Start Guide to Making Money Online), by Christopher King
- Secrets of Self-Employment (Working from Home), by Paul Edwards
- The Six-Figure Second Income: How To Start and Grow A Successful Online Business Without Quitting Your Day Job, by David Lindahl and Jonathan Rozek
Strengths
- Character Strengths and Virtues, by Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman
- Getting Results the Agile Way, by J.D. Meier
- Go Put Your Strengths to Work, by Marcus Buckingham
- Now, Discover Your Strengths, by Marcus Buckingham
- Refuse to Choose!: Use All of Your Interests, Passions, and Hobbies to Create the Life and Career of Your Dreams, by Barbara Sher
- StrengthsFinder 2.0, by Tom Rath
- The Charge: Activating the 10 Human Drives That Make You Feel Alive, by Brendon Burchard
Transition
- Changing Course: Navigating Life after Fifty, by William A. Sadler
- The First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at All Levels, by Michael Watkins
- What Color Is Your Parachute? 2013: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers, by Richard Nelson Bolles
- What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, by Marshall Goldsmith
Work Less, Achieve More
- Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, by Daniel H. Pink
- Go Put Your Strengths to Work, by Marcus Buckingham
- Living The 80/20 Way: Work Less, Worry Less, Succeed More, Enjoy More, by Richard Koch
- Mentored by a Millionaire, by Steven Scott
- Overachievement: The New Science of Working Less to Accomplish More, by John Eliot
- The 4-Hour work Week: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich, by Tim Ferris
- The 80/20 Individual: How to Build on the 20% of What You do Best, by Richard Koch
- The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Success by Achieving More with Less, by Richard Koch
- The Charge: Activating the 10 Human Drives That Make You Feel Alive, by Brendon Burchard
- The Power of Focus, by Jack Canfield
- The Power of Less, by Leo Babauta
- Unlimited Power : The New Science Of Personal Achievement, by Tony Robbins
Work-life Balance
- Getting Results the Agile Way, by J.D. Meier
- How Full Is Your Bucket? Positive Strategies for Work and Life, by Tom Rath
- Overachievement: The New Science of Working Less to Accomplish More, by John Eliot
- Positive Intelligence: Why Only 20% of Teams and Individuals Achieve Their True Potential AND HOW YOU CAN ACHIEVE YOURS, by Shirzad Chamine
- The Power of Focus, by Jack Canfield
- Work from the Inside Out: Seven Steps to Loving What You Do, by Nancy O’Hara
Zen at Work
- Work from the Inside Out: Seven Steps to Loving What You Do, by Nancy O’Hara
- Zen and the Art of Making a Living: A Practical Guide to Creative Career Design, by Laurence G. Boldt
- Zengage, by David Zinger
