Top Career books recommended by experts

At MentorCruise, we are all about making the most out of the experience of others. As part of that, we've connected and asked dozens of experts and professionals about their favourite Career books – and here are the answers.

Table of Contents

Fundamentals of Career

Understanding the concepts of Career starts with understanding the fundamentals. On your way to mastery, it's crucial for you to understand how certain concepts were derived, and why things work like they do. Starting with these resources is the best way to do so.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, first published in 1989, is a business and self-help book written by Stephen R. Covey.Covey defines effectiveness as the balance of obtaining desirable results with caring for that which produces those results.

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The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance---What Women Should Know

Following the success of Lean In and Why Women Should Rule the World, the authors of the bestselling Womenomics provide an informative and practical guide to understanding the importance of confidence—and ...

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From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life

Many of us assume that the more successful we are, the less susceptible we become to the sense of professional and social irrelevance that often accompanies aging. But the truth is, the greater our achievements and our attachment to them, the more we notice our decline, and the more painful it is when it occurs.
What can we do, starting now, to make our older years a time of happiness, purp…

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Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving--every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results. If you're having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn't you. The probl…

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Designing Your Life

Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life is a book by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans that aims to help readers organize themselves through journaling and design thinking.

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Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action is a book by Simon Sinek.

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Additional Career Reading

These books are not required for you to learn Career, but they are highly recommended for you to deepen your knowledge.

The First 90 Days, Updated and Expanded: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter

Transitions are a critical time for leaders. In fact, most agree that moving into a new role is the biggest challenge a manager will face. While transitions offer a chance to start fresh and make needed changes in an organization, they also place leaders in a position of acute vulnerability. Missteps made during the crucial first three months in a new role can jeopardize or even derail your su…

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I Could Do Anything if I Only Knew What It Was: How to Discover What You Really Want and How to Get It

Isn't It Time You Followed Your Real Dreams? This extraordinary book is designed to help you achieve them. In it, Barbara Sher goes beyond the groundbreaking principles introduced in her phenomenal number one best seller, Wishcraft. ...

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So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love

Cal Newport's clearly-written manifesto flies in the face of conventional wisdom by suggesting that it should be a person's talent and skill - and not necessarily their passion - that determines their career path. ...

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Deep Work

One of the most valuable skills in our economy is becoming increasingly rare. If you master this skill, you'll achieve extraordinary results.Deep Work is an indispensable guide to anyone seeking focused ...

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Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One

What's next? is a question we all have to ask and answer more frequently in an economy where the average job tenure is only four years, roles change constantly even within that time, and smart, motivated people find themselves hitting professional plateaus. ...

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The 4-Hour Workweek

The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9–5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich is a self-help book by Timothy Ferriss, an American writer, educational activist, and entrepreneur.

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Specializations and Deeper Career Knowledge

You've got your basics in order – time to move on to some advanced and specialized concepts. Career is evolving every day, these books can help you master it.

Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication

What makes someone charismatic? Why do some people captivate a room, while others have trouble managing a small meeting? What makes some ideas spread, while other good ones fall by the wayside?
Cues - the tiny signals we send to others 24/7 through our body language, facial expressions, word choices and vocal inflection - have a massive impact on how we, and our ideas, come across. Our cues…

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This list is curated by MentorCruise and can include Amazon affiliate links. Have any other suggestions? Add here.

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I'm a Senior Product Manager at Lyft, with 5 YOE of experience managing ML/AI products, data, search features, and web applications. I've worked in the consulting, startup, and large tech space, and am a career transitioner with no technical background in coding or data. I am living proof of someone …

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Hello! For over 14 years, I've been immersed in the Cyber Security field, honing my skills in Detection Engineering and Incident Response. I'm passionate about helping others crack the code to their dream career. My journey in this ever-evolving field has equipped me with the expertise to guide you through …

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Hi there! My name is Sebastiano, and I'm an experienced engineering leader with a passion for helping others grow in their careers. I'm currently a Director of Engineering at Upwork, and over the years, I've led multiple teams at companies like Pinterest, Paypal, Snap, and Spotify in domains ranging from …

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Hi, I'm Rick! With over 10 years as a Software Engineer at FAANG companies and startups, I specialize in Backend Distributed Systems and have a broad skill set in various technologies. I've also founded two startups. In the past, I mentored many engineers/non-engineers through work, volunteering, and bootcamps, focusing on …

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Unlock your potential with a seasoned and multi-faceted leader! Hey, I'm Federico! With 10+ years of experience in biz ops, program management, and strategic leadership, I’ve built and led teams across Finance, Operations, CX, and Strategy at Amazon and AWS. Now, as COO at The Collecting Group, I oversee scalable …

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I’ve been on an 18-year journey, starting as a Professional Photographer turned Educator driven to solve my own problems with programming. I then became a full-time Developer, a Product Designer, and, ultimately, a Product Manager. Now, with 11 years in Product, I've worked in consulting, co-founded a Food Tech startup, …

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