Personal Development Library: Our Must-read Books

In our opinion, owning your own personal development library is a crucial step towards becoming a happy manager. An effective personal development strategy is based on access to information. Of course, there are many sources for this information including websites such as ours, but there are times when only a book will do!

Some quiet, contemplative reading before bed? A quick reminder of principles or thoughts on the train to work? Some down-time on the beach, reading about that paradigm shift in management thinking? The added value of reading a treasured book, given to you on a special occasion?



The web might give you volume, but for many people there is still nothing like a book. And we couldn't agree more! For us, a personal development library is essential. Of course, we're not just talking about any books! We think there are certain titles which should be on every happy manager's bookshelf.

Below you'll find our list of must-read books. We've carefully read and researched these and they form the bedrock of some of our articles.

Each book is either a classic or is quite likely to become one. From the timeless foundations of Peter Drucker's: On the Profession of Management to Bob Sutton's: No Asshole Rule, each of these books is a must-read.

• have stood the test of time (classics);
• provide the "sense" before it became "common";
• can give you an edge in how you manage;
• and which can help shape your future.

Your Personal Development Library: Our Must-read Books

7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Stephen Covey)

7 habits is a classic self-development book by Stephen Covey. If you want to take control of your own development, influence others, balance your priorties and build a purposeful life, start here!

Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential (Martin Seligman)

Seligman challenges traditional psychology's tendency to focus on the negative side of our nature. He asks questions about how we can reach our full potential, using our strengths, and whether happiness be lastingly increased.

Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community (Robert Putnam)

In this seminal book, Putnam chronicles critical social changes in the US. He concludes that we're becoming more disconnected from family, friends, and neighbours. Time to re-build?

Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement With Everyday Life (Mihalyi Csíkszentmihályi)

Everyone is capable of reaching a state of effortless concentration and enjoyment. How can we increase the "flow" experiences in our lives, and can "flow" apply at work?

First Break All The Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently (Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman)

A radical look at what great managers do differently. Be prepared to have your management practice challenged!

Getting Things Done. How to Achieve Stress-Free Productivity (David Allen)

Is work overwhelming you? Have you more to do than there is time to do it - read on! David Allen's deserving best seller can help.

Happiness: The Science Behind Your Smile (Daniel Nettle)

A happiness study combining results from the latest psychological studies, Nettle asks: what is happiness, and what makes us happy or unhappy?

In Search of Excellence (Tom Peters and Robert Waterman)

One of the best selling business books ever published, still has much to teach the managers of today.

Peter Drucker on The Profession of Management (Peter Drucker)

Peter Drucker is widely regarded as the father of modern-day management. This book is a collection of his landmark articles with the Harvard Business Review.

The 80-20 Principle: The Secret of Achieving More with Less (Richard Koch)

What if we could all achieve a lot more by doing a lot less? Is this just wishful thinking, or is it possible that we could be missing something?

The Daily Drucker: 366 Days of Insight and Motivation for Getting the Right Things Done (Peter Drucker)

An essential desktop companion for every manager. An inspirational thought or idea for every day, followed by an action point. "The Daily Drucker is for anyone who seeks to understand and put to use Drucker's powerful words and ideas."?

The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of The Learning Organisation (Peter Senge)

This book popularised a whole new way of thinking about the way organisations function. Peter Senge's ideas still profer powerful challenges to this day.

The Happiness Hypothesis (Jonathan Haidt)

The Happiness Hypothesis blends ancient wisdom with modern science: "superbly argued, crystal clear and intelligent... and...reading it did actually make this reviewer happier." Well worth adding to your books on happiness.

The Hungry Spirit (Charles Handy)

Places business and capitalism in context and asks important questions about the way we live. "Can capitalism be made more decent and its instrument, business, work more obviously for the good of all, everywhere?" An inspiring book, provocative and controversial, but ultimately full of hope.

The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't (Robert Sutton)

A timely rebuff to the mean-spirited of today's working world. How do you identify assholes at work? How do you get rid of them? How can you cope with them if you can't?

The One Minute Manager (Ken Blanchard & Spencer Johnson)

Already a classic, this short, readable book applies simple but powerful ideas to management.

The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be (Jack Canfield)

Jack Canfield's "The Success Principles" is a classic self-help book: "become the happy, successful person you know you are meant to be - without burning out."

Building Your Personal Development Library

If you've not found what you're looking for here, try the Happy Manager bookshop. Click here for access to thousands of books on happiness and management. Once inside you can surf'n'search the Amazon categories for related books or a huge range of other resources. Whatever you do, our bookshop is designed to help you build your personal development library as easily, and a cheaply, as possible. Especially as many of these books on happiness and management can be bought for over 30% off list price!!

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