Our 5 Favorite Book Picks for Personal & Professional Growth & Development

With New Year's Resolutions on our minds as we start a fresh chapter in 2022, we love to immerse ourselves in media that supports our dreams and goals. This January, we are excited to feature a new series on our blog highlighting some of our favorite books, podcasts, TED Talks, and more that encourage us to dream bigger, lead with strength and empathy, and achieve the goals we have set for ourselves.

1. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain

This book takes an in-depth look at how introverts and extroverts stack up in the workplace, founded on extensive research of human biology, psychology, and evolution. Cain examines the historical context of personality type and how differences in temperament position us for success in different settings. In a world where extroverts are generally perceived with more favor, this book provides practical examples of how your quiet leadership can shine even though the voices of others may be louder.

Perfect for: The quiet leader doubting their power and presence in the workplace.

2. Power Moves: How Women Can Pivot, Reboot, and Build a Career of Purpose by Lauren McGoodwin

A handbook for the woman in the workplace who feel misunderstood, this pick offers actionable steps towards making your own "power moves" in the professional world. Maybe your role doesn't look like you thought it might, maybe you find yourself desirous of a change in career path, or maybe you're ready to take on a role in a leadership position; McGoodwin's book gives you practical strategies to break through the pain of comparison, imposter syndrome, and other fallacies facing the modern working woman.

Perfect for: The woman ready for a change in their life, whether that means changing industries, getting a promotion, or stepping up to the plate in a boardroom full of men.

3. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth

Duckworth leverages popular culture and other relatable references to teach readers how to pick themselves up when they fall down on the job. As we move into 2022, in a continuously changing and unprecedented workplace environment and amid an unpredictable economy, the average employee will likely run into pain points, frustrations, reorganizations, and more. This book offers the motivation you need to keep moving forward even when you feel like you're in a rut.

Perfect for: Someone in the midst of a toxic work environment, someone navigating a global pandemic, or someone struggling to balance work, life, and everything in between.

4. The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter - And How to Make the Most of Them Now by Dr. Meg Jay

This was a book that meant a lot to me as I set out into the working world after graduate school and is more important now than ever, with the workforce increasingly being comprised of young millennials and Generation Z-ers. Your twenties are some of the most critical years in terms of professional growth, and Dr. Jay's words offer an intelligent look at what it means to be a young professional and how to make the most of these challenging and often overlooked years.

Perfect for: The new graduate, trying to find their footing in their first full-time job.

5. The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

As we see the rise of the start-up in our increasingly entrepreneurial society, Ben Horowitz offers advice on how to build, scale, and run your own business from the ground up. One of the foremost entrepreneurs to come out of Silicon Valley, he frankly discusses the challenges facing entrepreneurs today with a tough-love approach comprised of equal parts lessons learned from his experience and anecdotes from some of the largest start-ups operating in the United States today, sprinkled with rap lyrics to fortify business lessons.

Perfect for: The one who wants to scale their side hustle.