<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These are must reads.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n By Shana Lebowitz at Business Insider and Richard Feloni at Business Insider<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your 20s are the time when you lay the foundation for your career and finances, which means there\u2019s plenty to learn along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To help you figure out how to navigate the professional world and set yourself on the right trajectory, we\u2019ve rounded up some of our favorite business books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They include career guides, business memoirs, and academic research on how to maximize your time and network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are the business books we think every professional should read before turning 30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drake Baer contributed to this post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of the most common advice you\u2019ll hear when you\u2019re starting out is that if you pursue your passion, the money will follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But there\u2019s a big caveat to that, argues Newport, an author and a professor. For most people, he says, mastery of a certain skill can lead to finding your passion, since it can open new doors and allow you to progress in your career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He\u2019s not suggesting you give up on your dreams. Rather, ensure that you pair them with a dose of reality and make yourself valuable in the marketplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n People love the illusion of certainty provided by predictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In \u201cThe Black Swan,\u201d investor-philosopher Taleb diagnoses the way people misguidedly lean on prediction as a way of moving through the world, and reveals how the most structured of systems are the most vulnerable to collapse \u2014 like the financial system in 2007.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s rare to find a book that will change the way you think about the world. This is one such book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regardless of whether you agree with Sandberg\u2019s theories on gender and society, \u201cLean In\u201d is a must-read for anyone looking to join the conversation around women and leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the book, she combines compelling research with moving personal stories to examine how women can sometimes unintentionally undermine their professional progress. Moreover, she offers guidance for women and men looking to promote women\u2019s career success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a work that will make readers of any gender question their assumptions about what it really takes to succeed \u2014 and be satisfied \u2014 at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hoffman, the billionaire cofounder of LinkedIn, is rethinking the relationship between managers and employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In \u201cThe Alliance,\u201d he and his co-authors argue that we\u2019re long past the age of spending an entire career at a single company. But, they say, our workplaces haven\u2019t adapted to the change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They explain that by establishing an alliance between the company and its employees through \u201ctours of duty,\u201d tailored to what the employee wants to get from his or her time at a company, it can \u201cinvest in the long-term future without sacrificing adaptability,\u201d much the way a dominant professional sports team operates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Something in our culture tells us we need to be manipulative and backstabbing to grow professionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But in \u201cGive and Take,\u201d Grant, a Wharton organizational psychologist, outlines why that view is dead wrong. The research indicates that people who create the most value for others are the ones who end up at the top of their fields. And Grant shows you how.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today\u2019s 20-somethings live in a world where startups turn young entrepreneurs into billionaires, and tech founders have replaced Wall Street hotshots as what Tom Wolfe called \u201cMasters of the Universe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thiel, a billionaire investor and entrepreneur, pulls back the curtain on this world. It\u2019s an enjoyable and concise guide to how game-changing businesses are built and managed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Amoruso, founder of online retailer Nasty Gal, isn\u2019t afraid to get personal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In \u201c#GirlBoss,\u201d she shares stories from her wayward youth, including stealing and dumpster diving, and how it paved the way for her tremendous success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The book is chock-full of practical advice that will inspire you to follow your passion and forge your own professional path. The bottom line? It won\u2019t be easy, but it will definitely be worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow to Win Friends & Influence People\u201d has remained a bestselling book since the Great Depression for its timeless wisdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Carnegie\u2019s book, a favorite of legendary investor Warren Buffett\u2019s, is more focused on the psychology behind daily interactions and how to analyze human behavior to emerge as a leader and influencer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Carnegie\u2019s language and references can be charmingly dated, but the core lessons on how to overcome conflict and inspire people to open up to you are just as valuable today as they were decades ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pink is the bestselling author of some of the past decade\u2019s most popular and insightful career guides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His 2011 book \u201cDrive\u201d argues that the typical rewards-based approach to motivating yourself is insufficient, and instead needs to tap into the values of autonomy, mastery, and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The philosophy behind \u201cStrengthsFinder 2.0\u201d is that we should spend less time focusing on our flaws and weaknesses and more time on what we do well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Based on a 2001 book published by Gallup, this second edition features a strengths assessment as well as techniques for putting those strengths into action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you consider what career your personality and skill set are best suited for, this book will help you find your professional niche and figure out how you can best contribute to society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Success in the workplace is ultimately about understanding the psychology behind human interaction. There are few better places to start than \u201cFriend and Foe,\u201d in which two professors make the case that business relationships are about competition andcooperation \u2014 and knowing how to balance the two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The book takes scientific research and turns it into practical tricks you can apply in your daily life. Readers learn how to gain power and wield it effectively, how to build trust among peers and clients, and how to negotiate and get what you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While a book about the science of habit change might sound like it\u2019ll put you to sleep, \u201cThe Power of Habit\u201d is anything but.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead, it\u2019s a useful and entertaining book for young professionals looking to set themselves up for a lifetime of health and happiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Duhigg, an investigative reporter for The New York Times, explains how the road to success \u2014 whether that means quitting smoking or procrastinating \u2014 is paved with tiny behavior tweaks you can implement today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thirteen years after its first publication, productivity guru Allen released the second edition of \u201cGetting Things Done.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The book is a must-read for anyone relatively new in his or her career because it teaches you the basics of time management at work and at home. The idea is to come up with an organizing system for daily to-dos so that you free up mental space for focusing on big-picture goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Case in point: the \u201ctwo-minute rule\u201d to keep an overflowing inbox in control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Godin is a serial entrepreneur, marketing expert, and the successful author of 22 books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His 2010 book \u201cLinchpin\u201d was his fastest-selling book yet. It\u2019s a guide to becoming a linchpin at your company \u2014 that is, how to differentiate yourself from other \u201ccogs in the machine\u201d to become truly indispensable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to juggling work and family, there are no easy answers \u2014 and the sooner you realize that, the less stressed and frustrated you\u2019ll be later in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnfinished Business,\u201d a follow-up to Slaughter\u2019s 2012 article in The Atlantic, \u201cWhy Women Still Can\u2019t Have It All,\u201d says that no one can really have it all today. Slaughter, the former director of policy planning for the US State Department under Hillary Clinton, makes the case for policy and cultural changes that will lay the ground for gender equality and help all workers lead more meaningful lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Proposals for change are juxtaposed with anecdotes from Slaughter\u2019s own life, in particular the conflict she faced between pursuing a high-octane career in foreign policy and taking care of her family. It\u2019s an incredibly thought-provoking read and a helpful guide to setting yourself up for success at work and at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ferrazzi attributes much of his professional success to the personal relationships he\u2019s forged and diligently maintained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Years before he attended Yale or Harvard Business School, and before he was selected as one of Crain\u2019s 40 under 40, Ferrazzi grew up in a small town, the son of a steelworker and a housekeeper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the book, Ferrazzi lays out the easy-to-follow strategies he used as a young professional to reach out to people he admired, and you can use them to start becoming an effective networker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most leadership books are warmly inspirational, but Pfeffer is a Stanford Business School professor who has made it part of his mission to push back against feel-good philosophies he considers more idealistic than practical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His 2010 book is a study of power, and how some of the world\u2019s most influential people use tactics like acting and bravado to enhance others\u2019 perceptions of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ferriss\u2019 first book has sold well over a million copies worldwide since it was published in 2007, establishing Ferriss as a premier \u201clife hacker.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The title, not meant to be taken literally, reflects Ferriss\u2019 goal of finding the workflows andtricks like \u201cfear setting\u201d that can maximize your efficiency and make the approach to your professional and personal lives as effective as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Dweck, a Stanford University psychologist, the key driver of success in our personal and professional lives is the belief that we cansucceed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the book, Dweck describes research that illuminates the difference between a \u201cfixed\u201d mindset (believing your talents and abilities are innate) and a \u201cgrowth\u201d mindset (believing you can learn and improve).<\/p>\n\n\n\n By adopting the latter mentality in your 20s, you can set yourself up for decades of achievement, no matter what field you find yourself in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re naturally introverted, don\u2019t feel like you need to fundamentally change who you are if you want to rise up the corporate ladder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cain wrote \u201cQuiet,\u201d the bestselling defense of introverts, because she was tired of seeing introverts treated as \u201csecond-class citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you\u2019re an extrovert or introvert, Cain\u2019s research will help dispel the socially ingrained idea that to be successful you need to be loud, outgoing, and aggressively competitive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you\u2019re hoping to launch a company or corporate career, you\u2019ll need to understand the complexities of human behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And there\u2019s no better place to start than this book by one of the world\u2019s leading behavioral economists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In \u201cPredictably Irrational,\u201d Ariely presents scientific research that helps explain everything from why we procrastinate to how we determine what a product is worth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not understanding how powerful people work makes you vulnerable to their will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is why \u201cThe Power Broker,\u201d Caro\u2019s immense biography of New York urban planner Robert Moses, is so essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to see Machiavellian principles in action, read this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since its publication in 1989, this book has remained a business and self-help classic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you\u2019re an aspiring politician or CEO, it will inspire and empower you to achieve your professional goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every chapter explores a crucial habit, including finding synergy and being proactive. Each one is geared toward helping you become a more effective and compassionate leader and team member.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For those of you who can become exhausted by the dramatic optimism in some entrepreneur\u2019s biographies, \u201cThe Hard Thing About Hard Things\u201d is a welcome change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Horowitz is the cofounder of renowned venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz \u2014 whose investments include Business Insider \u2014 and his book drives home that there is no magical recipe to success as some would have you believe. The only way to make it as an entrepreneur is through sheer determination and paying attention to what worked and what didn\u2019t work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow Will You Measure Your Life?\u201d is a philosophical meditation disguised as a business book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s a mystery at the center: When Christensen graduated from Harvard Business School in 1979, he and his classmates were on top of the world. But by their 25-year reunion, many of his peers were in crisis \u2014 whether it be private, in the case of estranged children, or public, in the case of Jeffrey Skilling, the head of Enron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The book investigates why some of those incredibly privileged people leave their lives in ruins while others flourish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you develop your career, you may find that your job has killed the creativity that you\u2019d previously held precious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pixar cofounder Catmull tells the story of building the computer animation giant, arguing along the way that everyone is inherently creative, but most people stymie their creativity because of a variety of social forces and personal inhibitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerbergrecently selected it for his book club because he wants Catmull\u2019s story to inspire people to let their creativity free, whether you\u2019re a programmer or a banker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Billionaire investor Bill Ackman is one of countless Wall Street power players who cite \u201cThe Intelligent Investor\u201d as a book that changed their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Written by Warren Buffett\u2019s mentor and published in 1949, it\u2019s an in-depth introduction to value investing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if the industry you work in is far removed from finance, Graham\u2019s advice will help you make the most of your money in the long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s relatively little quality writing about the place of work in our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s why Whyte\u2019s \u201cCrossing the Unknown Sea: Work as a Pilgrimage of Identity\u201d is like an oasis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In it, Whyte, a British poet now living in the US, frames a career not as a quarry to be captured but as an ongoing conversation one has with the world and one\u2019s self.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The late Apple cofounder and CEO Steve Jobs has become a mythical figure who still looms over Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Isaacson\u2019s biography is the best way to understand what made Jobs tick, and offers a look at the two most notable sides of the man: the powerfully inspirational visionary and the ruthless and difficult businessman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jobs\u2019 story of being cast away from the company he created, only to return to transform it into one of the world\u2019s most successful businesses, shows the value of rebounding from one\u2019s mistakes and tapping into unyielding determination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The early stages of your career are the ideal time to develop your personal definition of leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And \u201cAct Like a Leader\u201d will help you do that. Ibarra, a business professor and leadership expert, offers advice on everything from expanding your professional network to being open to new ideas. Her basic philosophy is that there is no one way to lead \u2014 it all comes down to what\u2019s working well for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The opposite of a traditional guidebook, the book will inspire you to achieve success and satisfaction in a fast-evolving workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Altucher is a hedge fund manager, entrepreneur, and outspoken writer \u2014 as well as a contributor to Business Insider. In his signature fearless and deeply personal voice, he writes \u201cChoose Yourself\u201d as a guide to professional liberation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may have no inclination to quit your day job and start a business, but Altucher\u2019s message is that even those who work for someone else need to be more self-reliant than at any other point in history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through his own story and the stories of other entrepreneurs, Altucher illustrates why the only way to achieve success on a large scale is by choosing yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today\u2019s 20-somethings have grown up with social media, but they\u2019re tapping into a timeless form of communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gladwell is a master of using data and reporting to illustrate society\u2019s mechanics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His debut book, \u201cThe Tipping Point,\u201d came out 15 years ago, but its insights into how and why people distribute ideas and information until they become an \u201cepidemic\u201d is just as relevant and interesting today, especially since the idea of \u201cgoing viral\u201d continues to fascinate us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After growing up hearing so much about the pursuit of happiness, one of the weirdnesses of adulthood is the discovery that so little empirical research has gone into uncovering its mechanics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thus the necessity of Csikszentmihalyi, whose \u201cFlow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience\u201d is the distillation of decades of research into how happiness works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Csikszentmihalyi, happiness is a product of a life lived at its frontiers, where one is constantly expanding and exploring the sense of self.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Originally published on Business Insider.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" These are must reads. By Shana Lebowitz at Business Insider and Richard Feloni at Business Insider Your 20s are the time when you lay the foundation for your career and finances, which means there\u2019s plenty…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3767,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[9],"tags":[927],"class_list":["post-3766","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","tag-books"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n