So how do you keep your spirits up while you are in job search mode? I recently asked people on LinkedIn for books that can be recommended to job seekers in this tough economic climate. I was overwhelmed with the response.
I heard from more than 80 people. Some took the time to write out thoughtful and heartfelt sentiments for my friend who is like so many people today facing foreclosure on her home. Thank you for your kindness. I will be sure she knows of your encouraging words.
Some people went beyond sharing books and shared essays, poems, movies, historical documents and practices. It has taken me a couple of weeks to digest the information. Your thoughtful replies are inspiration unto themselves.
I weighed how to share with you, my fellow LinkedIn members, the books that were recommended to me. I sorted through the comments and pulled out the books as best as I could. I admit I did not check the accuracy of the titles. I took your word for it. I did fill in some authors where they were missing.
Since the request was specifically for books I am providing you the recommended books as they were presented to me. Many you will recognize. I was reminded of books I had forgotten and went back and dusted a couple off to reread them. There are real gems on this list.
I hope that like me you will be reminded of some old favorites and learn about some that may become your new favorite(s).
I was not surprised that the most recommended happened to be the books of the Bible. Where specifics were mentioned I included them.
If a book was recommended more than once I just included it once. At the end is a list of authors. These authors were listed as “ready anything by …” so I included them accordingly.
It is clear that these books and authors have moved people and may provide inspiration and encouragement in this down economy.
“Anatomy of Peace” by the Arbinger Institute
“Anthem” by Ayn Rand
“The Art of Possibility, Transforming Professional and Personal Life” by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander
“Art of War” by Sun Tzu
“The Automatic Millionaire” by David Bach
“Awaken the Giant” by Tony Robbins
“A Whole New Mind” by Daniel Pink
“Benjamin Franklin: An American Life” by Walter Isaacson
“Between Trapezes” by Gail Blanke
“Bible,”
Specifically mentioned:
Old Testament stories of The Bible
The story of Job (book of Job) and the story of Joseph (Genisus)
The book of John (New Testament in the Bible)
The book of James
The book of Psalms (Old Testament in the Bible)
Psalm 23
“The Big Five for Life” by John P. Strelecky
“Blue Ocean Strategy” by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne
“Born Rich” by Bob Proctor
“The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” by John Boyne
“The Call of the Wild” by Jack London
“Change the Way You See Everything” by Kathryn Cramer and Hank Wasiak
“Choose Hope” by Richard Hill
“The Cookie Never Crumbles” by Wally Amos
“The Dip” by Seth Godin
“Do You! 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success” by Russell Simmons
“Dragon Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” by Alan Cohen
“The Eighth Habit” by Steven Covey
“Endurance–Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage” by Alfred Lansing.
“Escape from the Box- The Wonder of Human Potential” Col Ed Hubbard’s
“Even Eagles Need a Push” by Lou Holtz, Head Football Coach, University of Notre Dame
“Facing your Giants” by Max Lucado
“Failing Forward” by John Maxwell.
“Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway” by Susan Jeffers, Ph.D.
“Finding Your Greater Yes: Living a Life That Echoes in Eternity” by Dan Erickson.
“The Fountainhead” by Ayn Rand
“The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz (Author),
“Get Clear. Get Connected. Get a Job” by Lin Morel, MA, DDS.
“The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement” (Eliyahu M. Goldratt, Jeff Cox)
“The Greatest Salesman in the World” by Og Mandino
“How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie
“Improvise. Adapt. Overcome” By Ken Keller
“Is It Too Late to Run Away and Join the Circus?” by Marti Smythe, PH.D.
“The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch
“The Last Lion” by Winston Spencer Churchill
“Laugh Again- Experience Outrageous Joy” by Charles R. Swindoll
“Leadership and Self Deception: Getting Out of the Box” by Arbinger Institute
“Leadership for Life” by Douglas Gehrman
“Life Tune Ups” by Loren Slocum
“The Magic of Thinking Big” by David Schwartz
“Many Miles to Go” by Brian Tracy.
“Meatball Sundae: Is Your Marketing out of Sync?” by Seth Godin
“Never Eat Alone” by Keith Ferrazzi
“Now, Discover Your Strengths” by Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton
“Only the Paranoid Survive” by Andrew Grove
“Peaks and Valleys” by Spencer Johnson
“Power of Full Engagement” by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz
“Power of Intention, Inspiration and Excuses” by Dr. Wayne Dyers
“The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle
“The Power of Positive Thinking” by Norman Vincent Peale
“The Power of Who” by Bob Beaudine
“The Present” by Ken Blanchard
“The Purpose Driven Life (What on earth am I here for)” by Rick Warren
“Quest for the Best” by Stanley Marcus
“Screw It Lets Do It” by Richard Branson
“The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne
“See You at the Top” by Zig Ziglar
“Seven Spiritual Laws of Success” by Deepak Chopra
“The Shack” by William P. Young
“Sometimes a Great Notion” by Ken Kesey
“South: The ‘Endurance’ Expedition” by Ernest Shackelton” –
“The Story of My Experiments with Truth” by Mohandas Gandhi’s life story in his own words
“The Success Principles” by Jack Canfield
“Sweet Pea the Bumblebee” by Gabrielle and Tiffany Corbet and Courtney Noelle
“Tough Times Never Last But Tough People Do” by Dr. Robert Schuller.
“The Travelers Gift — Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success” by Andy Andrews
“This is Not the Life I Ordered” by Deborah Stephens, Jackie Speier, Jan Yanehiro and Michealene Risley.
”Walden” by Thoreau.
”We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance” by David Howarth and Stephen E. Ambrose
“What Color Is Your Parachute? 2009: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers” by Richard N. Bolles
“When Bad Things Happen to Good People” by Harold S. Kushner
“Who Moved My Cheese?” by Spencer Johnson, M.D.
“Who’s Got Your Back” by Keith Ferrazzi
“You Can Heal Your Life” by Louise L. Hay
Anything by
Deepak Chopra
Jim Collins
Wayne Dyer
Eduardo Galeano
Louise Hay
Napoleon Hill
Rob Rabbin
Ayn Rand
Tony Robbins
I printed this list off and put it in my car. This way when I go to yard sales I can look for these books. Yard sales are great places to pick up books. I like to carry books I am reading with me and give them away to people I meet along the way. I believe books are meant to be re-gifted through their life rather than sitting on a shelf or, worse yet, in a box.
Thanks again for all of your inspiring suggestions and thoughtful responses.
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