We offer you these books — all available through Amazon — as some last minute gift ideas. While they all have different topics and slants, they’re all appropriate as office gifts:
Your Brain At Work by David Rock
A good catch-all gift. It discusses how to best use your time to optimize your brain function, how not to fly off the handle in tense work situations and other useful work/brain issues.
Succeed by Heidi Grant Halvorson
A psychology researcher at Columbia University, Ms. Halvorson talks about studies’ findings that impact how we meet our goals: what mind frame is most effective, why people give up and the best types of goals to set. Not at all technical — very readable.
Spark by John J. Ratey and Eric Hagerman
Discusses the profound impact of exercise on the brain. Good for the exercise fiend in the office — or someone looking for the inspiration to become one!
Execution: the Discipline of Getting Things Done by Larry Bossidy, Ram Charan and Charles Burck
Good for the CEO on your list. Discusses the importance of C-level executives knowing about and following through on the details, not just creating a vision from on high.
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
The book form of the final lecture Professor Pausch gave at Carnegie Mellon to his computer science class. many professors give a “last lecture” as a theoretical exercise, but Pausch gave this one having been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Inspiring, heartbreaking and about living fully and enabling your dreams and those of others.
Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office: 101 Unconscious Mistakes Women Make That Sabotage Their Careers by Lois P. Frankel
The title says it all. Includes a quiz at the beginning to determine the chapters that are most applicable to you.
Giving books can be a great way to build a relationship. It says something about you, what you choose, and it provides an opportunity to discuss it with them after they’ve read it.
Enjoy these books! Let us know what your other favorites are with a comment below.
Merry Christmas!
~ Maren