As young professionals, our lives can be chaotic. We continually strive to balance professional success while maintaining a sense of normality in our personal lives.

Maybe this is why it can be hard to find time to read. And, when we do find time, reading professional books often isn’t our first choice. However, reading career development literature can help you gain a new perspective on your professional life, reinvigorate your drive for success, and allow you to stay current on topics relevant to your profession.

Here are three professional development books you should add your collection right now:

1. So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love by Cal Newport

This book debunked some beliefs I have held since I was a child. I’ve always strived to find a job I am passionate about – a similar goal to many millennials. I thought I needed to find the perfect fit, and when that happened, I would be working for a cause and love going to work every day. When I first started to read this book, I became a little confused and angry. After all, we’re all striving to find jobs we’re passionate about, right?

This book quickly proved to me that many of us have it completely backwards. Newport focuses on the thought that if we work to become excellent at what we do, we will then, in turn, find passion in our work. Putting pressure on ourselves to find a job we’re passionate about can lead to job-hopping and the constant disappointment of not feeling driven by our current job. But, by putting in hard work and becoming valuable, passion will reveal itself. This book completely changed my outlook on my professional life and has become my favorite professional read.

2. Feminist Fight Club: An Office Survival Manual for a Sexist Workplace by Jessica Bennett

I know what you are thinking: “Oh no, here we are talking about sexism in the workplace. This should be good.” Hear me out.

One of the reasons I enjoyed this book is because it makes a claim that the majority of people don’t intend to be sexist. The blatant sexism that existed in years past is easy to identify, report, and stop.

Instead, this book largely focuses on the type of sexism that is ingrained in all of us from a very young age. It is much harder to identify and even harder to battle because, as I mentioned previously, most of the time, it isn’t intentional. Feminist Fight Club helps both men and women more easily recognize these instances, and gives tips to battle it in a professional and productive manner. It offers advice to men on how to be supportive of women in your profession and gives women the confidence to be more vocal.

Bonus: The book contains a “negotiation cheat sheet” which can help anyone successfully negotiate for more money or ask for a raise. The tips I read resonated with me, and I will be using its suggestions regularly.

3. Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink



Have you ever tried to motivate yourself or someone else with a tangible award (like money or gifts)?

In this book, Pink reveals the three reasons that motivate people: Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose. Research has revealed that people work harder for a company if they are independent, feel they are working towards being better at what they do, and are working towards something bigger than themselves.

Unfortunately, many businesses do not foster this motivating flexibility and creativity. However, most employees would work for less if they feel they have these three things from their employers. This book made me think about what motivates me and how to find a job that will support and enhance those elements.

Do you have a favorite professional development book? Be sure to list suggestions in the comments on this post!

Like what you're reading- Subscribe!