The Best Books on Career Development

“Find something you love to do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” – Harvey MacKay

This is a list of the best books on career development, finding jobs, work-life balance, and workplace effectiveness.

This is a powerful collection of the best career development books 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.

The Top 10 Books on Career Development

1. Getting Ahead: Three Steps to Take Your Career to the Next Level by Joel A. Garfinkle
2. Go Put Your Strengths to Work by Marcus Buckingham
3. Overachievement: The New Science of Working Less to Accomplish More by John Eliot
4. Positive Intelligence: Why Only 20% of Teams and Individuals Achieve Their True Potential AND HOW YOU CAN ACHIEVE YOURS, by Shirzad Chamine
5. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
6. The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness by Stephen R. Covey
7. The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick) by Seth Godin
8. The First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at All Levels by Michael Watkins
9. Unlimited Power : The New Science Of Personal Achievement by Tony Robbins
10. Work from the Inside Out: Seven Steps to Loving What You Do by Nancy O’Hara

The Best Books on Career Development by Category

Here is a list of the best books on career development sorted by category to help you master your career development skills…

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