In February, we introduced you to some of our favorite books we’ve read for fun. And while we love reading for pleasure here at Rivetica, we believe in the value of continuous professional development.
To help you decide what to add to your list, we asked some of our team members to share their recommendations for great professional development reads.
Insight by Tasha Eurich
“I’m hoping this book will be a powerful wake-up call to three simple facts: that self-awareness is the exquisite foundation to a life well-lived, that it is possible to make the journey, and that the courage and effort it takes to get there are well worth it.” -Dr. Tasha Eurich, Organizational Psychologist, Researcher, and New York Times Bestselling Author
In Insight, you’ll learn about
- the seven types of self-knowledge that separate the aware from the unaware
- the invisible roadblocks to self-awareness
- why introspection doesn’t always lead to insight
- why common approaches to self-awareness like therapy and journaling have hidden pitfalls
- the surprising habits that dramatically increase self-awareness
- why few people know how other people see them and how to learn the truth on your own terms
- how to hear feedback without fighting or fleeing
- how to deal with the delusional people in your life
- and more*
Rivetica Review: “I found Dr. Eurich’s Insight to be a thought-provoking, valuable tool for those on the path to understanding the importance of being self-aware. It was a great read and one that I wish I would have read years ago when I first began my career. I definitely have a new perspective on being more self-aware.”
Barking Up the Wrong Tree by Eric Barker
According to Eric Barker, most of the advice we’ve been told about achievement is wrong. Barking Up the Wrong Tree reveals the “science behind what actually determines success and most importantly, how anyone can achieve it.”
Barking Up the Wrong Tree offers interesting insight on:
- Why valedictorians rarely become millionaires, and how your biggest weakness might actually be your greatest strength
- Whether nice guys finish last and why the best lessons about cooperation come from gang members, pirates, and serial killers
- Why trying to increase confidence fails and how Buddhist philosophy holds a superior solution
- The secret ingredient to “grit” that Navy SEALs and disaster survivors leverage to keep going
- How to find work-life balance using the strategy of Genghis Khan, the errors of Albert Einstein, and a little lesson from Spider-Man
By analyzing what distinguishes those who are extremely successful from those who may not be, readers learn what we can do to become more successful and begin living the life we want to live.**
Rivetica Review: “Barking Up the Wrong Tree was eye-opening for me. I am fascinated with the science behind why some people succeed and others don’t, and this book offered clever and realistic insight about how anyone can achieve success. Great read!”
Contagious by Jonah Berger
“Some products, ideas, services, and behaviors catch on and become popular while others falter. Why do some things get more word of mouth than others, and how, by understanding that science, can we make our own stuff more successful?
Contagious reveals the secret science behind word-of-mouth and social transmission. Discover how six basic principles drive all sorts of things to become popular. From consumer products and policy initiatives to B2B services and ideas and initiatives within organizations. If you’ve ever wondered why certain ideas get shared, brands get more word of mouth, or videos go viral, this book explains why. It provides a set of specific, actionable techniques for helping information spread—for designing messages, advertisements, and information that people will share. Whether you’re a manager at a big company, a small business owner trying to boost awareness, or a health official trying to get the word out, this book will show you how to make anything more contagious.”***
Rivetica Review: “I thoroughly enjoyed Contagious and have read it multiple times. I use the insight I gained from reading the book to not only assist me in my own daily activities but as a tool to train others on how to be more effective in their roles. Jonah breaks down the mechanics behind why things catch on into six easy-to-understand principles and provides lots of great techniques for anyone in a role that involves selling, consulting, or influencing.”
The Science of Getting Started by Patrick King
“The Science of Getting Started is a deep dive into our tendency to push things until the last minute possible. It uncovers the biological and evolutionary science behind procrastination, and how we can beat these instinctual drives to triumph in our career and personal life.”
The Science of Getting Started offers scientific solutions that can be used in everyday life. Patrick King’s book offers:
- A scientific and biological view of your procrastination habit
- Warning signs to monitor your work ethic
- Psychological tactics to trigger your brain to productivity
- How to structure and schedule your life to safeguard against procrastination
- Simple yet effective tactics to get off your butt and into action
- How to beat analysis paralysis and other causes of mental freezing**
Rivetica Review: “I wish I would have read The Science of Getting Started during my college years. I epitomized procrastination when I was younger and even in the early years of my career. Patrick King offers interesting and easy-to-understand insight about why we procrastinate as well as tactics that simple and easy to implement to avoid procrastination. This is a great book for anyone who thinks they work best under pressure and routinely procrastinates.”
Check Out Our Favorite Fun Recommendations
Now that you have a few recommendations for your professional development reading list, be sure to check out our recently published review of some of our favorite novels we’ve read for fun!
**Amazon
***Jonah Berger