Believe it or not, landing a job is most likely not the hardest thing you'll ever do. Staying motivated in the job and building a successful career, on the other hand, requires long-term commitment and hard work.

Reading about the strategies for career development will help you in career growth and achieve your goals faster. In this article, we introduce to you few books that you should read that will help you in your personal and career development.

1. Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

Author: Simon Sinek

Year of publication: 2009

No. of pages: 256

Many of us have watched and re-watched author and inspirational speaker Simon Sinek’s popular TED talks on leadership, which is also the third most popular video of all time. In this 2009 book titled ‘Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action,’ Simon writes about a question that most of us are curious to know: why are certain leaders and organizations more successful than others? In an attempt to motivate people to be inspired by the work they do, this book explains that world leaders and some of the most successful minds who inspire people think and act in the same way. The key takeaway from this book is how we should focus on ‘why’ some companies are able to make a greater impact, rather than ‘what’ they do.

2. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

Author: James Clear

Year of publication: 2018

No. of pages: 320

A New York Times bestseller, this book talks about the benefits of habit formation and how it can drive personal growth and success. As the title suggests, the book gives a framework for the readers to build new habits and break old ones so that their everyday lives are focused on attaining personal goals. Clear demonstrates how Olympic gold medalists, award-winning artists and business leaders benefit from building small habits that later helped them be at the top of their respective fields. This book might just be the one that you need to successfully start habits that drive you to success!

3. Can’t Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation

Author: Anne Helen Petersen

Year of publication: 2020

No. of pages: 288

This book talks about modern workplaces, its work culture and how millennials turned out to be the ‘burnout generation’. In quite a descriptive manner, ‘Can't Even’ shows up a mirror against the modern work culture that almost often drains its workforce, creating a generation of professionals who are perpetually exhausted and constantly hustling. For at least some of us, Peterson’s words might seem like it is straight out of our own lives and if that’s the case with you, you ought to definitely pick up this book.

4. Grit: The Power Of Passion and Perseverance

Author: Angela Duckworth

Year of publication: 2016

No. of pages: 353

Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a successful person? If your answer was always talent, then this book will help you look at things differently. In this book, author and researcher Angela Duckworth says that the secret to being successful is not talent; but a combination of passion and perseverance. She calls this ‘grit’ and emphasizes that it is something that can be learned in order to achieve goals.

5. Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead

Author: Sheryl Sandberg

Year of publication: 2013

No. of pages: 240

Dealing with the topic of women at the workplace, ‘Lean In’ is a popular and widely read book. Sandberg writes about how women unintentionally hold themselves back in their careers and aims to give them a wake-up call to demand what they truly deserve. A combination of data, personal anecdotes and research, the book gives inputs to working women on a variety of subjects including negotiation techniques, mentorship, and building a fulfilling career.

6. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change

Author: Stephen R. Covey

Year of publication: 1989

No. of pages: 432

One of the best books on personal and career development, this one is also considered a classic. This book continues to be read widely even today, and presents a powerful approach to solving both personal and professional problems by developing habits that automatically drive results.

While this is in no way an exhaustive list of books you should read, we hope this article helps you get started in the process of constant learning and development!