Books have the power to transport you to another world. Books can provide valuable knowledge for your profession or specific topics. Authors can take you back into history or the lives of others. Books have the ability to entertain you, which is always good for the spirit. Books are an essential tool to expanding your mind.
I would like to share a few books which I find very useful and I hope that you find some value as well.
Books for Work
As a project manager, no PMP should ever be without a copy of the PMBoK. This book has been essential to me throughout my career. When you are stuck on a project at work or home, go back to the basics.
- The Art and Science of Project Management Warbuton & Kanabar
This is an academic book on the balance between hard and soft skills in project management. In project management, it is easy to default to the hard skills like gnatt charts and earned value, the soft skills of communications and stakeholder management are just as important.
- A Fierce Domain: Conflict in Cyberspace, 1986-2012 Healy & Grindal
As a practitioner in IT Project Management with a focus on Cyber Security, this book provides some great insights into the history of viruses, hacking, and other incidents in cyberspace. This book provides specific examples of why cyber security is important to every IT Project.
This is a quick read on how to improve your public speaking. Public speaking is an essential tool for every project manager. This book gives a great overview to improve your public speaking.
Books for Leisure (Leadership Fables)
Every time I read this book, I am reminded of the importance of being positive and not letting negative people into the core of my life. It is a wonderful tale about a man who realizes that life is a matter of perspective.
This book from the author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, provides the traits that he looks for in all of his staff. I have been using this formula for the past year when hiring my staff and it has transformed my department.
- The Dream Manager Kelly
Matthew Kelly provides a road map on how managers can enable and empower their employees. The premise is that people work for their dreams and it is up to leaders to assist staff with understanding how their role assists them as people to reach their dreams.
Books for Entertainment
Mel Kelly uses a witty Irish humor to share his adventures living in Germany. This book is a pleasure to read and will have you laughing out loud. Slightly risque.
- Simon’s Cat in Kitten Chaos Tofield
Simon Tofield has a popularYoutube series and the books are just as entertaining. If you just need a few minutes to laugh and you enjoy cat humor, this book is for you. There are multiple books from Tofield and they are all family friendly.
Life can be stressful and this is a reason way coloring books for adults have become popular. Unplug from the screen and keyboard. Coloring offers a tactile why to reconnect to your inner child.
