Growing up, I always loved to read books and enjoyed visiting the library with my parents. My favorite genre of books is non-fiction books, especially professional and career development ones.

Here is a list of my all-time favorite non-fiction books:

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Published in 1936, this is a timeless classic. I read this book in middle school and I learned how to better develop authentic relationships with people. This book showed me how to be a better friend. I feel everyone should at least read it once. I liked to refer back to the book every now and then.

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini

Robert Cialdini is a well-known psychologist and professor. I read this book in my Persuasion and Social Influence class and enjoyed it. My grandfather also read this book and lent it to his friend, since he liked it so much. Cialdini describes how marketing and advertising are so influential and how to become more persuasive in your daily life.

Leave Your Mark: Land Your Dream Job. Kill It in Your Career. Rock Social Media by Aliza Licht

For anyone who is in college, a recent graduate, or someone in need of inspiration, this is an excellent book. Aliza gives honest advice about how to chase your passion and to get your dream job. She is well-versed in personal branding and social media and is well-known in the fashion and marketing world. This is a great book to go back to when you are in need of some inspiration. You can also check out her inspiring Ted Talk, The Power of Being Real.

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth

I read this book in high school and was inspired by the stories of perseverance. Angela Duckworth is a popular psychologist and professor. She describes how grit is a great indicator of a person’s success and how to become more resilient in our daily lives. I also recommend her Ted Talk, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance.

How Women Rise Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back from Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job by Marshall Goldsmith and Sally Helgesen

As someone who cares about female empowerment, this book really helped me see the way the way women hold themselves back sometimes. Marshall Goldsmith and Sally Helgesen discuss how to break these bad habits and replace them with ones that will aid in professional success. I was first introduced to this book in college and would recommend it for any female professionals.

Dare to Lead by Brene Brown

Brene Brown, a professor and social worker, is best known for her Ted Talk, The Power of Vulnerability. In her book, she describes how to best build your leadership skills and how to be an authentic leader. Overall, I found the book to be very helpful for working professionals.

Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman

I was first introduced to this book in college by my rhetoric professor. Daniel Goleman is a psychologist and researcher. I was very surprised to find that emotional intelligence (EQ) can be a great predictor of professional and personal success. The world seems to be catching on to his research as well, with more companies starting to understand the importance of EQ in the workplace. Hopefully, schools will start to implement EQ in their curriculum, which will make the world a kinder place.

Girl Stop Apologizing by Rachael Hollis

I read this book in college and it opened my eyes to how women often over apologize, which sets them back both personally and professionally. Rachel Hollis is a motivational speaker and blogger. Hollis gives honest advice about how to overcome shame and lead a fearless life.

Do you have any good reading recommendations? I would love to hear about them in the comments.