Amy Lindgren
The holidays already? Or, as the Grinch might say, “Again??”
Luckily, the Grinch isn’t writing my column today, so I can share the joy of books that might give you a lift over the dark days of winter. These aren’t specifically about jobs or careers; rather, they’re a short, curated group of books I’ve found interesting or helpful this year.
Maybe you’ll find one here to keep your spirits bright as we start our journey back to sunny days:
“There’s Nothing Like This: The strategic genius of Taylor Swift,” by Kevin Evers, Harvard Business Review Press, 2025. Here’s a book I didn’t expect to enjoy. I’m not a very musical person and I’m hard-pressed to whip up excitement about pop stars and cultural icons. So reading about Taylor Swift’s path to success? Um.
What sold me on cracking the cover was the credibility of the author, Kevin Evers, a senior editor at Harvard Business Review. That, and a quick scan of the 32 pages of end-notes, which convinced me this wasn’t an elaborate fandoration tome.
As a business writer and editor, Evers approaches Swift’s story from a perspective that is rarely presented with any depth. Where others dismiss Swift as lucky or gifted, Evers delves into the strategic mindset she has displayed in her 20 years of “overnight” success.
The results of his research are integrated into a storytelling style of writing that makes the pages fly by. A good choice for business-minded readers who appreciate a different model of success and for the fans who crave a different look at their idol.
“Master Your Mindset: Live a meaningful life,” by Michael Pilarczyk, Wiley, 2025. Some days it’s barely feasible for me to master my morning routine, much less my mindset – and the problem feels like it’s worsening. Our lives are so complex on every level, it feels inevitable that our minds would be pinging around like a pinball.
Author Pilarczyk knows this from both personal experience and from his profession as a “teacher in self-development, awareness and personal success.” We all know it, too, but somehow the solutions can be elusive.
I think that’s why I like this book so much – Pilarczyk acknowledges the problem but doesn’t stop there. He’s less interested in naming outside causes for our distraction and more committed to helping others find individual solutions.
Although this is not a huge book, neither is it a quick read. To get the bigger benefit of your own self-reflection and insight, you’ll want to approach the chapters with perhaps your phone turned off or the office door closed. With that head start, you’ll be able to focus on the questions he poses about the beliefs and values that shape your daily choices. There’s a lot here, but even the small takeaways are worth the effort.
“The Portable MFA in Creative Writing,” by the New York Writers Workshop, Writer’s Digest Books, 2006. Raise your hand if you’ve ever considered writing short stories or penning your memoir. One way to scratch that itch is through classes, or even a Master of Fine Arts degree (MFA).
For those not inclined to invest so much time or money, this book offers a different option: Learn about different aspects of creative writing from masters of the craft. Each of the book’s five disciplines – fiction, personal essay and memoir, magazine writing, poetry and playwriting – is given 60 or more pages of attention that includes exercises, examples and resources for further information.
It’s a terrific way to immerse yourself in key areas of creative writing while also refining your own skills. Although this is an older volume, the content is solid. If you’re craving more up-to-date websites and resources, pair this book with something newer in your favorite writing discipline.
“A Quaker Book of Wisdom: Life lessons in simplicity, service, and common sense,” by Robert Lawrence Smith, William Morrow & Co., 1998. You don’t need to attend Quaker meetings or be descended from nine generations of Quakers, as this author does and is, in order to absorb the deep wisdom of this classic book.
Using chapter titles such as “Silence,” “Conscience,” “Family” and “Business,” Smith presents relatable stories of his own journey smoothly blended with snippets of Quaker history and thought-provoking challenges for the reader.
Smith’s writing serves up dozens of memorable lines, ready for quotation. I’ll give him the last word in this review of books for winter reading:
“Every time we punch a time clock, write a paycheck, or use a credit card, we have an opportunity to let our life speak. What do we want to say?”
Amy Lindgren owns a career consulting firm in St. Paul. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecareerservice.com.
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