Ready to get lost in a new book? Whether you’re looking for a boost of inspiration, some practical, outside-of-the-box tips on career success in 2023 or you simply want to try on a different outlook for size, a good book is a great way to give your work life the injection of energy it needs.

Upskilling has never been more important. As every industry moves faster and faster and becomes increasingly competitive, keeping your knowledge and skills fresh is vital if you want to stay ahead of the curve, rather than playing catch-up.

We’ve compiled a list of some of the most innovative new career books by inspiring women. We know you’ll fall in love with each of their authentic voices and, by the time you reach the final page, you’ll be looking at your career through a brand new pair of eyes.

Rebel Talent by Francesca Gino

In Rebel Talent, Harvard Business School professor Francesca Gino encourages us to rethink what is for many a fundamental belief: that if we follow the rules, we’ll get ahead. Instead, she suggests that being a rule breaker at work can open up new opportunities, while also reinjecting some joy back into our jobs.

“In truth, rebels are also those among us who change the world for the better with their unconventional outlooks,” reads the description. “Instead of clinging to what is safe and familiar, and falling back on routines and tradition, rebels defy the status quo. They are masters of innovation and reinvention, and they have a lot to teach us.”

This is one of those books that takes you on a mental journey and leaves you with a whole new outlook on how we should approach the workplace.

The How Of Happiness by Sonja Lyubomirsky

We all want to be happy. It’s one of the main reasons we go to work in the first place – whether we love our jobs or not, our goal is, probably, to make our lives more comfortable, stable and secure. However, as research psychologist and University of California professor of psychology Sonja Lyubomirsky has found in her research, we don’t always go about getting happiness in the right ways – especially when it comes to our approach to work.

In The How Of Happiness, Lyubomirsky gives us a guide to building a life that will leave us a little happier. She uses a method of ‘happiness strategies’ throughout the book that work towards an actionable happiness plan. While this book is about your day-to-day life, a lot of the focus is on how adjusting our attitudes towards our work lives can lead to long-term happiness – and who wouldn’t want that?

Grit: The Power Of Passion And Perseverance by Angela Duckworth 

Grit – we all want to have some when we’re at work. In Angela Duckworth’s book, it is, she claims, about holding onto a long-term goal with passion, commitment and determination. People with grit, Duckworth says, are willing to work long and hard towards their goal. 

Duckworth is a psychologist who shares both research and interviews with some of the ‘grittiest’ people in the business world. “Grit is a book about what goes through your head when you fall down, and how that – not talent or luck – makes all the difference,” the description reads. If you’re looking for a motivational boost in your pursuit of your goals, Grit is sure to provide it.

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love, is back with another inspiring book. In Big Magic, Gilbert explores the limitations that hold us back from living creatively. 

Our lives, she explains, are often designed to stifle creative thinking. If we wish to express our full creative potential, we need to uncover “the strange jewels” of creativity that we each have locked inside of us by rediscovering what inspires us and what gives us that magic, creative feeling. For people in a career rut, Big Magic is sure to snap you right out of it.

The Art Of Asking (How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Let People Help) by Amanda Palmer

Have you ever shied away from an opportunity because you were simply too embarrassed or scared to ask for what you wanted? According to musician Amanda Palmer, to get what you want, you need to go out and ask for it. 

In a 2013 Ted Talk that later turned into the book The Art Of Asking, Palmer explained that after graduating from college, she worked as a living statue. Part of her job was wordlessly asking people on the street to interact with her and pay her. It taught her that asking for help isn’t shameful, but rather a beautiful way to find “random closeness” with strangers. Throughout her career as a musician, she perfected the art of asking for help and used social media to get what she needed to succeed.

Regardless of your industry, Palmer’s book will inspire you to rethink your own attitude to asking for help, transforming it from an awkward moment of weakness into a beautiful art form. 

The Art Of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander & Benjamin Zander

Written by husband and wife duo, family therapist Rosamund Stone Zander and conductor Benjamin Zander, The Art Of Possibility encourages us to look at life as a thing filled with endless possibilities rather than endless limitations. New opportunities can open up. Although Rosamund and Benjamin may have vastly different careers, they have mastered the art of possibility, giving up self-judgment and comparing themselves to others. 

The book will leave you with a new focus: you’ll be left looking for ways to contribute to the world in a more positive way while also nurturing a more accepting mindset when it comes to your own achievements and place in your career.

The Pivot Year by Brianna Wiest

In the past few years, we’ve seen massive upheaval in the workplace as millions of UK workers look to change jobs. In fact, in May 2022, it was reported that one in five people were planning to change jobs within the next year.

Brianna Wiest’s The Pivot Year is the perfect companion book for anyone looking to make a big change in their careers, whether it be changing jobs, industries, or even mindsets. 

This practical book serves as a daily guide to creating lasting, meaningful change. Each day, you’ll be treated to a new lesson or exercise that helps you set goals, take action, let go of fear and learn self-awareness.

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Images: courtesy of publishers