Amy Lindgren

It doesn’t seem to matter how many years pass, the weeks between mid-December and early January still feel like a winter break to me. Once the holidays slow down, I’m strongly inclined toward a cup of cocoa and a book to pass some winter hours.

When it comes to reading, my colleague, Paul Sears, doesn’t need a seasonal prompt. A long-time career coach and job search strategist in the Twin Cities, Paul curates career-related books for a monthly book club he leads. I asked for recommendations, which I’m happily passing forward.

I only had space to review three myself, but I’m including others from Paul’s list at the end of this column, in case you’d like to dive in for more.

Do This (Not That) Career: What to do and not do in 75+ workplace situations: by Jenny Foss, Adams Media, 2023. This is one of my favorite kinds of books — the all-purpose reference with advice that can be instantly implemented. Foss has a long pedigree in the career consulting arena, which you can find for yourself at JobJenny.com.

In the meantime, you can peruse her book for solutions to awkward career situations, such as receiving impossible assignments or dealing with co-workers who miss deadlines. Each problem is presented in a two-page format, along with five areas of advice, including sections for “Do This” and “Not That.” Under “Here’s How,” she provides the self-talk needed to get in the right mindset, then a script for managing the problem. It’s a quick read and a fun look at solutions to problems you may not even have yet.

15 Lies Women Are Told at Work…and the truth we need to succeed: by Bonnie Hammer, Simon & Schuster, 2024. If you’re someone who has faithfully followed career advice aimed at women, this book might be refreshing or annoying, or both. Hammer has curated what must have been a huge list of oft-repeated mantras into 15 she’d like women to ignore.

For example, she advises ditching the recommendation to “Follow your dreams” in favor of “Follow the opportunities.” If that sounds gender neutral, you’ve hit on why some readers will be annoyed with this book. Advice like that is solid no matter what your gender or career path.

Even so, Hammer makes a credible case that women often receive flowery adages when what they really is need straightforward information to build their careers. This is a challenging but worthwhile read.

Moving the Needle: Get clear, get free, and get going in your career, business, and life: by Joe Sweeney, Wiley, 2015.

If you like your motivational books with a side of strategic planning, not to mention plenty of follow-up resources, this one’s for you. Sweeney, a former investment banker, entrepreneur, and NFL players’ agent, based his book on his 52-week program for helping people reach their goals.

While Sweeney’s concepts are simple and perhaps old-fashioned, they are also effective. For example, when clients discuss a goal they’d like to meet, he asks: “Why is that important to you?” That short but insightful query is enough to launch the process of getting clear, which he advocates as essential for moving forward.

Sweeney’s book leans toward the business realm but can be easily re-interpreted for the personal. If you’re feeling stuck, his clarifying questions might be what you need. And if not, the list of 50 resources at the end might do the trick instead.

Speaking of lists — here are the other books from Paul’s list for you to consider.

• Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier, by Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey, Penguin, 2023.

• Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life, by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles, Penguin, 2016.

• Is Your Work Worth It? How to think about meaningful work, by Christopher Wong Michaelson and Jennifer Tosti-Kharas, Hachette Book Group, 2024.

• Fifty-five, Unemployed, and Faking Normal: Your guide to a better retirement life, by Elizabeth White, 2016.

• The Proximity Principle: The proven strategy that will lead to the career you love, by Ken Coleman, Ramsey Press, 2019.

• The Second Mountain: The quest for a moral life, by David Brooks, Random House, 2019.

• Workplace Poker: Are you playing the game, or just getting played? by Dan Rust, HarperCollins, 2016.

So there you have it, a bevy of books to choose from while you decide how many marshmallows to drop into that cup of cocoa. Happy reading.

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Amy Lindgren owns a career consulting firm in St. Paul. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecareerservice.com.