The 5 Best Books to give to Young Professionals
When I give gifts, I love to give books. As a software builder for over 25 years, I have done plenty to encourage people to look at…
When I give gifts, I love to give books. As a software builder for over 25 years, I have done plenty to encourage people to look at screens. That’s why I enjoy encouraging interaction with paper books for down time that can still be useful to the modern product manager. I believe all people should embrace a lifetime of learning and a key component of that can be reading regularly. A commitment to cracking the books regularly will make you an informed, happier, and more thoughtful person — especially if you read the right books.
After a talk I gave to the team at Atgeir Solutions last month, I shared my picks for the product management books they just had to read. But I also mentioned the five books below, which I love to give away to young business people looking to build skills as they progress in their careers. I’ve picked shorter and actionable books, and only one that is a bit scholarly because it is so important. The last two are even small enough to stuff into a stocking.
1. Lynchpin by Seth Godin — Godin’s non-marketing masterpiece is a book I want to give everyone who works with me. This is an inspiring tome about rising to the occasion that the work world presents to all of us and is a must for young people entering the work world.
2. Smart Cuts by Shane Snow — Snow is a storyteller almost on Godin’s level, but his brilliant debut was all about divergent (or lateral) thinking in your life and business. I loved this so much, I paid my kids to read it. Give this book to every twentysomething in your life.
3. Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman — I read a lot of books on psychology to help me with my work at psyML, but this is one book that I think even casual readers should get into their stack. The discussion of Level One and Level Two thinking changed my life and helped me build focus in all I do. I want everyone to read this important book and discover the gold within.
4. The Dip by Seth Godin — Yes, another Godin. He’s that good. I find about 50% of his books essential reading. This is the other of his titles that I give out to people regularly. I only wish I’d had this book ten years ago when I hit my own Dip. Read it ahead of time so you’ll be ready when you need that grit to keep going or the wisdom to call the whole thing off.
5. The Algebra of Happiness by Scott Galloway — Prof Galloway is something of an iconoclast for big tech but he’s also a wise man who has learned a lot about what is truly important in life. His goal with this book is simple — help younger people find the path to happiness at a time when so much is pushing Gen Z and even Millennials the wrong way. Read this slim volume in one sitting and make changes if you need them.
While I would encourage everyone to get on Goodreads and make themselves a commitment to read a certain number of books every year, I hope this short reading list will help get some great titles into the hands of young professionals who can use them to kickstart their lifetime of learning once again.
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