Read any good books lately? 10

[bradpa77]

I like to read self-help type books that are related to my career. I'm trying to find a good book that will help motivate me at work. I'm happy at my job but I just feel like I need a good 'pick-me up' because I've gotten kind of lazy and frustrated lately. Any of the career books I've found are about changing careers or finding a good job but that's not really what I'm looking for.

Can anyone recommend a good book that will help me re-ignite my enthusiasm about my job?

 

[wes616]

I just read, and can't say enough good about the book, The Millionaire Next Door. It may not be "career" in the way you are thinking, but it's quite an eye-opener! Trust me, read it... it's worth the $12.00 investment.

Wes C.
------------------------------
Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

 

[HVACctrl]

I am reading Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People" It is great so far and VERY applicable to work.

Ed

http://www.engineerboards.com

 

[Guest0527211403]

Read The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupéry. If you've already read it, read it again. I've read it at least 5 times in the last 10 years, always during rough times.

The friend who gave it to me wrote a message in the front cover, part of which will never leave me: "...when all I could see was darkness around me, this book was my only light..."

Sure it has nothing to do with work, but it resets my overall outlook on life, and I stop taking things so seriously, which is usually the problem in the first place.

 

[CanuckMiner]

I have found "The Fountainhead" and "Atlas Shrugged", both by Ayn Rand, to be major motivators. Rand's writing changed my outlook on life.

Cheers,
CanuckMiner

 

[sms]

I'm reading The Inferno by Dante Alighieri right now.... Hows that for motivation!

-The future's so bright I gotta wear shades!

 

[Theophilus]

Atlas Shrugged, definitely. Almost depressingly prophetic, however.

I like Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance--great questions of philosophy with a challenging question of purpose and significance of living. In my friend's copy of the book I found the following inscription:

Not in college for a diploma. Not in college for grades. Not in college for an education. In college to learn to think. In college to understand what you believe and why you believe it. If you achieve that, you will not need the college for an education. You will be able to educate yourself for the rest of your life! Role of Common Sense in Education.

What Should I Do With My Life, Po Bronson.

Orthodoxy, Chesterton (not what I expected)

Shantaram, Roberts (fun fiction)

Jeff Mowry

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

Reason trumps all. And awe trumps reason.

 

[UcfSE]

I'm working on the A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin. I just finished up The Coldifre Trilogy by C. S. Freidman. Both are ecellent choices but the Martin series is not yet finished so it will be a while before you can read the entire story. With a break in between the Martin books, I'm reading one called Dhampir by Hendee.

Are there any Brooks fans or Dragonlance fans out there?

 

[bradpa77]

I'm working on the A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin. I just finished up The Coldifre Trilogy by C. S. Freidman. Both are ecellent choices but the Martin series is not yet finished so it will be a while before you can read the entire story. With a break in between the Martin books, I'm reading one called Dhampir by Hendee.

I'm kind of looking for inspirational self-help type books. I'm not sure these quite fit the bill but thanks anyways.

Are there any Brooks fans or Dragonlance fans out there?

I used to be a pretty big dragonlance fan back in the day. I just recently re-read "Dragons of Autumn Twilight" for old times sake. I was planning on reading the whole "Chronicles" trilogy over again but ran out of steam after the first one. I really loved the "Legends" trilogy with Caramon and Raistlin. I might try to read them again someday soon. I never really got too thrilled with any of the other dragonlance books beyond those 2 trilogies though. I bought lots of other ones but they never really were even in the same ballpark if you ask me.

 

[UcfSE]

I see now that I jumped the gun about the topic of your thread. Sorry for that, I wasn't trying to take it on a tangent.

A new job would probably work to re-ignite your enthusiasm. You've posted quite a bit about job problems and such. If it's that bad that you need to talk about it constantly or read self-help books, does that tell you anything about your job? I mean this with all due respect and do not intend any negativity to come through the post.

I notice you have only one post in the technical fora. Posting in the technical fora here at Eng-Tips and helping others by answering questions or providing your own insight will probably help your feelings in general and may even help you other ways with your job or feelings toward it.

 

[SomptingGuy]

I've mentioned it elsewhere in eng-tips, but "The Skeptical Environmentalist" really make you think and forces you to get off the fence one way or another. This month's read is "Critical Mass" by Philip Ball. Another thinker of a book.

 

[looksatstars]

I would like to keep this thread alive.
I read the first two books off the top since reading this thread and enjoyed both of them.
Millionaire next door
and
Dale Carnegie's book.

Most of the rest are philosphy book that I'm not too interested in.
Anyone else with any to recommend?

 

[HVACctrl]

I just bought Max Lucado's "How to Cure the Common Life" or something like that.

The theme is to find a job that matches God's plan for you. I am hoping that it will help me to figure out what I really want to do.

I'll try to let you know how it goes.

Ed

http://www.engineerboards.com

 

[ivymike]

...does the book offer guidelines on how exactly to go about that, or are you to evaluate your every career decision retrospectively and draw your own conclusions?

 

[HVACctrl]

I haven't read it yet, but today I saw an article about it in a magazine and then I went and bought it at lunch.

There appear to be guidelines that try to get you to determine your God-given strengths, likes dislikes, etc...

The book focuses on helping you find your "sweet spot".

I am looking forward to it. I have not really been overly excited in my career thus far. I hope this helps me to find some direction.

Ed

http://www.engineerboards.com

 

[SomptingGuy]

I'd like to read "Is it just me or is everything shit?". And it's my birthday soon, so hopefully my Mum will buy it for me. Not many book shops stock it.

 

[HVACctrl]

Nice! My birthday's coming up too! When's yours?

Ed

http://www.engineerboards.com

 

[quark]

Three books I read recently that prompted good introspection were

1. Who moved my cheese
2. The Secret
3. The Alchemist

Fortunately all are like children story books but with a strong statement.

 

[FIF99]

The seven habits of highly effective people.
Steven Covey.

Success!

 

[HVACctrl]

Update:
The book I mentioned is called "Cure for the Common Life" by Max Lucado. I orginally messed up the title a bit. I am a few pages into it and it looks good so far. I'll try to update you guys.

Ed

http://www.engineerboards.com