Careers Books

This book is awesome and very readable. Being so clearly written and straight to the point, it makes for a quick read and serves as a great reference.

While geared towards a business environment, the survival guide is written from a unique perspective which gives deep insight into the psychology of managers and coworkers.

I truly wish I had "Sink or Swim" for my first job. That would have helped me to avoid so many small mistakes which I was totaly oblivious to. It's just jam packed full of useful tips which coworkers usually won't tell you.

Even after two years in my current position, I found that reading this book gave ideas to naturally improve my professional image without any major effort or changes!

Definitely recommended for any professional employee - regardless of rank.

Within the first week of starting my new job at a startup internet company, I came across this book and it made all the difference. Working at a startup can often be disjointed, especially since we didn't have an office to call our own. By incorporating some of the advice in my weekly routines, I created a structure for myself that I continue to follow. The advice was clear, concise and right on.

This is definitely a must-read for anyone starting a new job.

Pay no attention to Jeffnc, the bitter reviewer from SC! I live in SF and have no idea who the Sidells are, but this book is fascinating! Follow everything they say week by week,a nd you'll get that "This is going very well" at your 90-day review just like me! What's more, you look not only super organized with this book on your desk, but also super-conscientious....I brought this book into a one on one with the boss, and I cracked the book and said "I'd like to talk about my career goals.." she asked me what the book was...she was impressed!

"Sink or Swim" is the book that I wish I had when I started in the working world over 18 years ago! It is a simple, step-by-step tool that shows new hires how to "get it right in 12 weeks". The week-by-week approach gives individuals the opportunity to set good habits and strategies that can be applied throughout one's career. This book has been very helpful to me as an HR professional in getting my recent college graduate new hires to better engage with the company and job they accepted within it! I would highly recommend this book.

This book is perfect for new college graduates or inexperienced employees starting new jobs. Milo and Thuy Sindell provide a wealth of information about proper business conduct and etiquette, including a checklist for recommended activities during your first 12 weeks on the job. Although the material is basic and somewhat repetitive (just like a start-up job), we think the book would make a great gift for anyone who is just beginning to learn the workplace ropes.

This is the best book of it's kind I have ever read. I sat down and read it, cover to cover, in one sitting. And then I read it a second time a week later to pick up anything I missed. I suggest any pre-med student does the same!

This book covers everything a pre-med student needs to do in his/her undergraduate years to prepare for and be accepted into medical school. It also completely explains the process of applying to medical school and how medical school works. I have read several books of its type, and it is the only one that would recommend so strongly. The pre-med student will be able to refer to this book again and again during the undergraduate years, and probably, even during in medical school.

Like I said...worth every penny, and then some.

This is a great resource for those who want to go into medicine but don't want to sacrifice balance in their daily lives and relationships. Medical school and a career in medicine can cause a lot of stress, and the author shares some practical advice for making the experience more positive, focused, and productive. The valuable inside tips on the how to's of the application and school search procedure are a must for anyone seriously considering applying to med school.

The quality of the hat is very good and it is sewn very well.

I am a senior in high school planning to do pre med at a four year university. This is would be considered an excellent read if you have no idea about the basic requirements and challenges of medical school. On the other hand, if you already have a solid background on what it takes to become a physician then the material is very repititive.

Personally, I had a thorough knowledge of medicine before I read this book. But the timeline that is provided in the book that suggests a courseload seemed to be very useful. I am definitely going to use this book as a reference when I am ready to apply to medical school.

This is a great little tool for those seeking a career in the field of international affairs. The book is geared toward those entering the job market for the first time, recent college graduates, but it is also helpful for those returning to the job market or those changing fields. This has been an enlightening read.

this book is a great guide to 1- students planning to study IR and 2- IR graduates who are loking for a career in this field and 3- IR graduates who don't know what to do with their diploma !!!

I expected this book to be an overview of the international affairs field, but it proved to be much more. The careers and paths available are well-written and -described, and there are a number of careers that, although not obvious, suit people with an interest in international affairs well. In addition, companies, government organizations, and NGO's that employ people in international affairs are listed along with contact information. It's a well-rounded book that is honest about both the upsides and downsides of each career.

I found all the answers about the different jobs available in a career in International Relations. What's great is that I not only got descriptions of the different jobs, but I also got listings of all the companies involved. Now when I graduate with my master's, I am going straight to this book for the companies I wish to send my resume to. Great read and reference!

I bought this book to explore the different options i had as far as careers in IR are concerned. Granted this isnt neccessarily for people who are looking for jobs that include international travel (though a good amount of these jobs do) but only those who seek careers (most of them business or gov related) with int'l dimensions. That being said it was an excellent place to start and had a lot of good ideas. It also has a good amount of contact information about places and tips on getting the job once you've found it. I found the book to be exactly what I was looking for, a great tool for looking at all my options without being too broad.

It is almost a month today, I have not yet received the book.

I noticed in reading the reviews that the only person that seems to have a negative view of this book was talking about the lack of modern digital information. Digital changes by the day so I don't expect anyone to keep up with it in a book, but that is not the point here anyway. Stock photography is pictures that photographers have taken and sell to buyers. Buyers generally care less whether it is digital or film. What I liked about this book was some of the simple things he talks about that you can shoot for stock that you might pass over, thinking you need to get 3 people together doing something. For example, he had a shot of a hand with a credit card (I think) which can be used for illustrating people using too much credit or the ease of use of a credit card. You could shoot a sizzors cutting up a credit card showing how to kick the habit. Pills on a table could be used for taking too many pills or the cost of medicine now days. If you can get one idea from this book that makes you a sale, than the book has paid for itself. I was impressed. Ric.

This is an amazing book full of good tips and beautiful photos. The text is very clear and concise. The author is an amazing photographer.

When I get discouraged and feel I don't have what it takes as a photographer, I turn to this book. The information is simple and shows you that any quality shot can find the right buyer. I have reread this book over and over and its the most valuable tool in my arsenal of books.

There's nothing new in this book that haven't already been said. I was fairly disappointed, as I was hoping for a book that explained to the point what people want to spend money on, and how to technically go about to get those images. Instead, I get "advice" that is nothing more than common sense.

In my opinion, you can skip this book entirely.

This book is extremely outdated. I was written before the internet was popular, thus, it is not helpful at all.

I purchased "The Lawyer's Career Change Handbook" along with other books written for people who have (or will soon have) law degrees, but are not sure they want to practice law. This book has been an invaluable tool in helping me realize where I want to go with my life. What I like most about it is that it includes exercises to make its readers think critically about their own skills, interests, and requirements in the workplace. I find that the book is very practical, and although I am just begining my job search, it has been helpful as a tool to prioritize what I'm looking for in an employer.

When considering whether to purchase this book, I read some highly critical reviews, but bought the book anyway. If you are serious about looking for a job which is more suited to you, I would encourage you to buy it too - and read it with a pencil and pad of paper close at hand.

For those of you who, like me, are very frustrated with law - whether you are already practicing or not, I want to share this passage, which summed up everything I feel about my experiences in the field of law. On page 12, Hindi Greenberg writes:

"One of my clients recently wrote a stinging evaluation of law practice, listing the things he dislikes. In his words: 'I disilke (1) the interpersonal nastiness of litigation, (2) the combatitiveness of litigation, (3) the win-at-all-cost attitude of litigation, (4) the crisis mentality of litigation, (5) that my goal is to defeat my opponent and my opponent's goal is to defeat me, (6) the pressure of being expected to do work that my oponent can never criticize - an absolutely unrealistic expectation, (7) that I am always around people who are angry at someone, (8) that I cannot be fair or reasonable, as I see fairness and reason, but have to fight for every advantage I can get out of a situation, (9) that I cannot spend my life working with a group of dedicated people to achieve a common goal but instead must constantly fight other people to achieve success.'"

Particularly with respect to number 7, this has been my experience over two summers of clerking for law firms.

The afternoon before I began reading this book, I went out for coffee with a fellow law student. I tried to explain to her all of the reasons that I am uninterested in a career as a lawyer - but no matter what I said, she was adamant that I will be able to find a fulfilling legal career, telling me, "not all law firms are like the ones you have worked for. There are plenty of areas of law where you never have to fight at all. There are better lawyers to work for. There are better areas of law to practice in." This book made me realize that I'm not being subborn or overly emotional, or closed-minded about career options. I am grateful to Hindi Greenberg for showing me that I am not alone, and that, frankly, there is nothing wrong with me for not wanting to spend the next 30 or 40 years of my life fighting for a living, or trying to do perfect work which can never be criticized.

In addition to giving me much-needed affirmation that I am not being an idiot, because being a lawyer is not for everyone, this book provides many practical tools for developing a job search, and for finding a career which suits my personality.

Another great resource in this book is the resume writing guide. As a first year law student, Career Services held a (mandatory) resume-writing workshop, teaching us how to make legal resumes - which are vastly different from non-legal resumes. On the brink of looking for a non-legal job, I found myself perplexed as to what a non-legal resume was supposed to look like. This book has examples of functional resumes versus legal resumes, as well as interviewing tips which I found to be infinetly more helpful than the tips provided by Career Services over the past few years.

I was very happy with this book, and would highly recommend it to anyone who is unhappy with his or her legal career, and definetly to law students who find themselves wondering whether there might be more worthwhile careers out there.

I practiced law for 32 years and disliked it greatly much of the time. I would estimate that 90% of the lawyers that I know dislike the practice of law. I hated law school and only finished it because everyone told me that I didn't have to be a lawyer, that a law degree was very helpful in getting other jobs. The subtitle of this book would lead one to believe that the book will provide information about those jobs. In that sense the book is misleading.

There really aren't many jobs where a law degree, as such, is helpful. The author mostly lists every job that lawyers have ever taken outside of the law and obvious jobs in law related fields.

However, this book is a must read for anyone considering law school or who is greatly dissatisfied with the practice of the law. It has excellent assessment tools and practical advice as to what to look for to find greater satisfaction in one's career, whatever it might be. Many lawyers, myself included, went to law school because we didn't know what else to do and thought a law degree would be useful. With Law School costs being what they are that is NOT a good enough reason. The book explains the almost universal concerns that lawyers have with the practice of law, and also emphasizes that for the average practitioner the practice of law does NOT make them wealthy. So, if making money is one's sole motivation, other fields provide greater opportunities to do so.

This is a book like the dozens of other career change ones out there - you can find this information in publications from years ago, and with much better advice. No new information, and would only help lawyers who would lack the imagination to think of "legal publishing" or "in-house counsel" as career options. Truly unhelpul.

When I picked up this book I knew that I had always had an interest in law, but was unsure if I wanted to work for a law firm. Before going to law school I wanted an idea of exactly what my options might be after school.

This book helped me a lot. I have not made a final decision, but I am definitely closer than when I picked up the book. The two most helpful sections to me were the assessment exercises that helped me think about what skills I have and the last 2 sections on actual jobs available.

If you just want someone to tell you what job is right for you then don't choose this book. If you want/need to think about yourself, your life, your skills, and what you want your job and your life to be then this book is a tool that will help you on your journey.

This book was a great choice to get for our employees to share. It covers a variety of situations and workplaces and answered many common business etiquette questions that have arisen.

This book is a must read for anyone graduating from school and headed into business. It gives outstanding advice on everything from cell phone etiquette, e-mail etiquette, cubicle farm etiquette, table manners, the interview process, thank you's, etc. It's a good read, and an outstanding reference book to have in one's library.

Ever have that 1 question on 'how to' conduct yourself in a business situation? This book has the answers and the guidance on 'what to do.' Even the most experienced professional comes across a business situation question ... it's nice to have the answer before the situation occurs!

This is wonderful book explaining what etiquette is really about. One will learn everything -- from how to dress, table manners, office setup, how to print business cards to how to prepare resume. I would recommend to everyone to read it regardless if they are working or not. While I do not agree with some of the rules regarding "who pays for lunch" - I would say that this is a book everyone should read and understand because it will improve their interactions with others.

Covered all of the bases in today's professional enviornment

Easy to read. Packed with info. The CD NCLEX mock test has been very helpful to me in identifying my weakness. I'm an RT in a bridge program to nursing. I just started the program. I took 150 questions of the CD mock test so far. I got about 70% correct. My weakness seemed to be mostly in non respiratory pharmacology. I'm hitting that topic hard now.

This book has a totally different approach to the NCLEX than any of the other books. It does not consist of endless questions and long comprehensive explanations...it focuses on the NCLEX Exam itself and how to dissect a nursing question quickly and accurately. I would definately recommend this to anyone that wants another perspective on the NCLEX!

This book provided information that no other review book has provided. It answered my questions about the NCLEX and now I have a better idea of what is to come! The review questions covered all the different areas without separating them. This book is a must have for your NCLEX prep collection.

I took a chance when buying this book 2 weeks before final exams and it helped my pass my exam. Although I'm just a 1st year nursing student I love this book and have found it easy to use and easy to understand, it helps break everything down. This book is a MUST have for Nursing students and I'm glad I took a chance!!

This NCLEX-RN review book by Patrick Coonan, simply put, is written from the test taker's perspective. I have looked through many other review books that I considered "good" until I came across this book; this book gives you more than questions, answers and rationales; it provides tips and strategies to decode NCLEX-style questions; done in a fun way too! Lots of comic relief; don't be surprised, if you find yourself smiling through the pages while mastering your most dreaded topics.
Patrick Coonan's approach carefully tackles the feelings (fear, nervousness) even misconceptions that the test taker has and offers ways of overcoming them. He breaks core concepts down to rules and tips that are easy to remember. In addition, QUESTIONS, ANSWERS, RATIONALES, and CD-ROM are included! Also includes information for registration (fees and requirements), foreign nurses, and more- the entire NCLEX prep package.

This book is also a guide to acing in-school-NCLEX-style exams.
The content is fun and easy to study. Get it, you'll be glad you did!!!

Older versions had more illustrations. What happened to them? They were so much more informative. I was disappointed as I got this for my daughter. Otherwise, the advice presented is very accurate and up-to-date.

Good overall message about dressing professional but, the clothing styles he writes about are from the 1980's.

I appreciate John Molloy's research into business clothing; however, this book is only helpful if you work in a company where clothing is not too casual, or if you need to figure out what to wear for job interviews. If every day is "business casual" at your job, this book will help you figure out the best colors and quality, but it won't help you understand what to wear. John advocates always wearing a business-like skirt when possible, and always having a jacket on hand. In my job as a computer programmer, where most men where slacks and polo shirts, this would be too formal.

The book is somewhat repetitive, but it helps to drill the right attitude into your mind - clothes are important, quality is very important, and navy blue is always a good choice. There are a few black-and-white illustrations, but they seem outdated to me.

[...]

I think this book is great. I am a young (under 30), short girl. Do you know how hard it is to be taken seriously in an all-male manufacturing environment? These are classy ways to still be a woman and taken like the professional I am. I notice the difference in obeying the rules and then sometimes just wearing whatever I want. This book is valid to my career. I am a Finance Manager, the financial consultant to the business.

I was never a fan of Malloy's books when I first read them in the 1980s and 1990s. But I must admit that his basic principles hold true today. Classic attire is best for interviews and companies (such as pharmaceutical sales) that are still traditional suits-only fields. He is also correct when he says that the fashion industry works against professional attire for women, and that if you are excessively stylish in a corporate setting, you will lose credibility. Changing fashion styles are an incredible waste of money. However, you should disregard the outdated suits, rigid hairstyles and hard attache case in favor of more contemporary classic styles. A better book for that is "Dressing Smart" by Chic Simple Author Kim Johnson-Gross. Moreover, if you work in a creative field, you must not follow the navy & white starched formula of dressing--this could get you demoted. Malloy does mention this point, but doesn't really advise for creative jobs.

Not a great book. Pictures aren't that great and the storyline is rather boring.

This is a favorite in our house. The chorus of "Dump it in, smash it down, drive around the trashy town!" will probably get stuck in your head too. Don't miss this one!

My three year old son loves this book. He likes the repetitive nature of the writing because he can help me "read" it. The illustrations are sweet and the verbage rhymes. Great for kids who love the garbage truck.

What a gem for boys and girls! My daughter has the whole book memorized and when she wants the book she just yells "Dump it in smash it down drive around the trashy town" It has great repetition and if you do it right its interactive as well! Great find!

This was a family favorite and a regular check out from the library. When we moved to a new town and the new library didn't have a copy to borrow we bought them one. It's charming.

Stanley draws a very clear line in the sand that we should not be willing to cross for the sake of our families. We're never done with work or family, so one of them is going to get cheated. It's important for you to make the choice of which one so it is not made for you. This book is tremendously motivational and practical.

Andy Stanley writes, "Following the principles of God results in the blessings of God." The author's dad, Charles Stanley, says, "God doesn't reveal His will for our consideration. He reveals it for our participation." This may be your most important book purchase of the year--for yourself or your team members.

Do you pledge allegiance to your boss? Andy Stanley says that "your Creator does not define your life by your career achievements or the neatness of your pantry." Writing to both stay-at-home parents and spouses in the workplace, Stanley says you must cheat on your work if you're going to win at home. (Read the book for his definition on "cheating.") He once admonished a struggling fast track executive, "the problem is, you love your family in your heart, but you don't love them in your schedule. And they can't see your heart."

When you read this book, you'll never, ever think of Daniel without recalling Stanley's commentary. "Daniel's choice of diet was an indication of where he placed his loyalty. For us, the chief indicator is time. Daniel's loyalty was tested by what he ate. Ours is tested by what we put on our calendars. Where you spend your time is an indication of where your loyalties lie. In effect, you pledge your allegiance to the person or thing that receives your time."

There are lots of books on balancing work and family. This one is different. It's not a guilt trip. Instead, it's a simple, thoughtful, Christ-centered process to help couples dig deep and ask themselves two or three really tough questions.

Stanley adds, "No where in Scripture are you commanded to lay down your life for your stock options. Or to love your career like Christ loved the church. We are instructed to do our jobs and love our families (see Colossians 3:23). When you love your job and do your family, you've not only stepped outside the bounds of family life, you have stepped outside the will of God."

I read this book as part of an Introduction to Christian Ministries class. I found it to be a quick read but a profound one. As part of my assignment, I had to choose quotes that were meaningful to me. I highlighted over thirty! As a direct result of the impact the principles in this book had in my life, I made a commitment to be more available to my wife and growing family. This is a must-have title for anyone looking for good resources on practical, godly living. I share ideas from it with many of my friends and I must say that the choice of title is a nice touch, as it has prompted several discussions because it has a certain amount of "shock value".

Andy Stanley is the senior pastor at North Point Community Church in suburban Atlanta. From his years of shepherding God's people in Atlanta and from his own life, he realizes that workaholism is a serious and growing problem among many American men (and not a few women as well). The effects of workaholism that Stanley primarily concerns himself with is its effect on the family. Loneliness, tears, strained relationships, the rebellion of children, arguments, and divorce are just some of the negative impacts excessive working can have on a family. In "Choosing to Cheat," Stanley shows the reader the dangers of keeping constantly excessive work hours, then provides encouragement and advice for changing this habit.

In the first part of this book, Stanley's focus is on diagnosing the problem. His main arguments are that a) every person is limited to 24 hours in a day and must daily choose how to invest that time b) many men, out of a sense of obligation and attracted by the admiration of co-workers, choose to invest an excessive amount of their time working, c) all those vying for a person's attention directly correlate the amount of time spent with them to the amount he cares about them (e.g. if I spend a lot of time with my dog, it shows that my dog is very important to me; if I spend just a little time with my child, it shows my child is comparatively unimportant), d) because a man's family deeply desires his acceptance, they are willing to put up with great stress so that he can pursue work, and e) there will come a point in time when the individual members of the family can no longer take the stress of an absent father and will simply give up on him; while this shift occurs suddenly, it is preceded by many warning signs. The tone of this section is emotional as Stanley attempts to shock the reader into WANTING to change.

The second part of this book provides advice and encouragement for cutting down on the hours at work and spending more time with the family. Using the Biblical account of Daniel as a model, Stanley advises the reader to 1) figure out what concrete things are non-negotiable and devise a new work schedule to honor those non-negotiable points, 2) calmly ask your employer if your job could accommodate these points, 3) prepare yourself to endure potential consequences of this request, 4) be prepared for God to be active in the midst of this change.

The book contains an appendix of discussion questions based on each chapter.

Stanley certainly provides sound secular advice. He correctly analyzes and presents a societal/cultural problem. He is further correct in his urging men and women to allow their primary (yet not sole) loyalty be to their family. He states truth when he points out that there exist thousands of people who can do your job better than you, but there is nobody who can take your place in your family. Stanley understands the positive benefits the family will enjoy if the family members are each dedicated to one another, and he gives sound advice for approaching your employer about changing your schedule. If he would have stuck with these points, his book would have been much better.

But Stanley goes too far. A major premise of Stanley's book is that God promises to bless a person who re-prioritizes his life in such a way that family takes precedence over work. Nowhere does God make such a promise. Although Stanley relies heavily upon the account of Daniel, but the Bible's account of Daniel is DESCRIPTIVE, not PRESCRIPTIVE. In truth, Stanley buys into the popular (on television at least) "health, wealth, and prosperity gospel." That is to say, Stanley argues that if a person aligns his life to conform with God's will, he will enjoy earthly blessings. To be more specific to this book, Stanley argues that if you give up wealth and career advancement for the sake of your family, God will bless you with MORE wealth and a BETTER career than that which was given up. There is no Biblical support for this--in Scripture or in "Choosing to Cheat." Aside from that, even assuming that his (false) premise is true, why would he want to focus on the "fringe benefits" of Christian living as opposed to the ultimate reward for faith? The true reward God gives us for the gift of faith, is forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation; a promotion at work pales in comparison.

In short, Stanley presents good a good paradigm for aligning values (e.g. family above career) and assists the reader in lining up his life with those values. This book is especially helpful for those caught in workaholism and is primarily geared toward men. However, the underlying premise, that God will materially bless you for realigning your priorities is not necessarily true; He may or He may not. Neither recommended nor not recommended.

Andy Stanley has chosen a rather provocative title for this book in which he challenges folks to choose to cheat their employers rather than their families when it comes to priorities and time. I'm hard-pressed to disagree with this general principle, and I think that he offers a compelling case against the workaholism that has plagued generations of American families. And as one can always expect from Stanley, his writing is engaging and easy to read, so this one can be tackled in one or two sittings.

My apprehension about this book stems from its misapplication that I've already observed in some of my peers. As a 29-year-old, I'll be quite frank in declaring that the potential plague of my generation is not workaholism but sloth. I see a generation of my peers who were raised in a world of entertainment and pleasure, who get into the working world and try to find ways to be uncommitted, lazy, irresponsible employees so they can spend their time and money buying and playing with their toys. Within that context, I've seen young singles use the "Choosing to Cheat" concept to avoid hard work, cheat their employers, and invest their energies in self-gratification. This obviously misses Stanley's whole point, but I've seen it happen.

My critique is not so much about the book, then, but about the intended audience. For the 40+ generation who maybe struggles more with the dangers of workaholism, I think this book could be perfect. It's certainly a challenging and interesting book to read. But I won't be sending this to my twenty-something friends, who instead need a book that challenges us to work hard in whatever we do as a means to glorify God.