Here’s what’s been flying off the shelves of our “analog library” of career development books:

The Slow Professor: Challenging the Culture of Speed in the Academy
The perfect way to start your summer!  The authors fight back against “the time poverty engendered by corporatization” of the university by encouraging a rededication to community and strong social support “so vital to the intellectual and educational mission of the university.” Read an article they wrote based on the book.

13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do
Increase your resilience and “train your brain for happiness and success.”  Amy Morin’s Thou Shalt Not commandments are pulled from her experience as a psychotherapist and psychology instructor. Check out her TED talk on the topic (the genesis of this book) and related reflections by Motivated Mentor.

Networking for People Who Hate Networking
Some of those introvert traits that make it difficult to network in the usual manner can make you a total badass if you approach it the right way. Read our review.

Send: Why People Email So Badly and How to Do It Better
A few years old, but still the essential guide to email, a medium fraught with the possibility for missteps and misunderstandings.  We’ve got not one but two reviews on the site from folks who found it helpful.

Hardwiring Excellence: Purpose, Worthwhile Work, Making a Difference
Lead your research group to excellence with this how-to guide.  As our reviewer said, “it gives you concrete steps for forming and growing positive relationships with members of your team or area of interest.  These are simple to implement steps that you can use right now without purchasing a thing or getting another app on your phone.”

Getting to Yes and Getting Past No
Perennial classics of negotiation, these books turn negotiation from a competition to a way to work toward mutual gain.  Read our review of Getting to Yes.

You are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life
If traditional self-help books leave you rolling your eyes, this one might make you sit up and take notice.  At least, you’ll laugh all the way through.

The Professor Is In: The Essential Guide to Turning Your PhD into a Job
Karen Kelsky’s The Professor Is In advice column/website is hugely popular, so it’s only natural she also wrote a book.  This one distills her advice for new PhDs, including sections on publishing, grant applications, your CV, job talks, and more.  Read this before going on the job market.

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
Another classic, Getting Things Done has adherents across our campus and probably yours too. Put the to-dos you’ve been struggling to keep in active memory into your in-basket and get started on this tried and true organizational method.

What’s on your summer reading list?

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