Reads

.:: Last Update :: July 31, 2010::..
	The following book reviews have been featured in the WiPM SIG News Brief, publications or suggested by our members.
	There's No Crying in Business: How Women Can Succeed in Male-Dominated Industries by Roxanne Rivera "There’s No Crying In Business is for women who aspire to top positions in companies and industries where men traditionally have held those positions. Based on interviews with women academics, engineers, politicians, mathematicians, neurologists and others in male dominated organizations as well as the author's own experiences in the construction industry, this book will offer insights and advice about how women can succeed in these environments." Order online.
	Womenomics: Write Your Own Rules for Success by Claire Shipman and Katty Kay This collaboration between broadcasting powerhouses Shipman and Kay gives career women explicit permission to demand the balance that's been missing in their lives. The authors assert that after decades of trying to outdo men or fighting the Mommy Wars in the office trenches of the 1980s and 1990s, women have gained enough corporate clout to start changing the workplace to suit their needs. Read on.
	Why Women Mean Business: Understanding the Emergence of our next Economic Revolution by Avivah Wittenberg-Cox and Alison Maitland "Why Women Mean Business takes the economic arguments for change to the heart of the corporate world. This powerful new book analyses the opportunities available to companies that really understand what motivates women in the workplace and the marketplace. Find out how companies that learn to adapt to women will be better able to respond to the challenge of an aging workforce and the demands of the next generation of knowledge workers. The authors compare policies and approaches in countries around the world, that offer surprising and envious results."
	Do-Over! How Women Are Reinventing Their Lives by Ann Daly, PhD "Is it time for a Do-Over? Whether you're yearning for a full-scale transformation or a minor readjustment, Ann Daly's new audiobook will inspire you with real-life stories and strategies. Part memoir, part self-help manual, part girl talk, Do-Over! features 13 personal essays about women who are reaching something more. You'll hear all about the rocket-scientist-turned-entrepreneur, the restless retiree, and my own mom." Listen to a sample track and pre-order the book.
	Winning in a Man’s World, Advice for Women Who Want to Succeed by Renee Weisman "Men and women do not think alike. It’s genetic, it’s environmental, it’s inevitable. These differences can present tough, frustrating situations for women working in a male-dominated environment, but it is also what makes companies more successful and life more interesting. In her newest book, Winning in a Man’s World, Advice for Women Who Want to Succeed and the Men Who Work with Them, Renee Weisman demonstrates how to make gender differences an opportunity rather than a problem." Read the complete review.
	How to Say It For Women: Communicating with Confidence and Power Using the Language of Success by Phyllis Mindell "Phyllis Mindell, an acclaimed expert on professional communications, shows women how to transform themselves by transforming their language; shed weak words, phrases, and gestures; empower themselves to win attention and respect; and get their ideas across with confidence and power." - Amazon.com
	Becoming Leaders: A Practical Handbook for Women in Engineering, Science, and Technology by F. Mary Williams & Carolyn J. Emerson (ASCE Press, ASME Press, Society of Women Engineers) You are a woman pursuing a successful career in engineering, science, or technology, and you are prepared to work hard for this. But you must also work smart . Becoming Leaders is about working smart and about making the choices that are right for you, your talents, and your life, wherever you are in your career. Williams and Emerson consulted the best research on a wide range of topics of interest to women in different stages of their careers. They present important, timely information alongside practical tips. Chapters can be read in any order, with roadmaps for students, career women, faculty, and managers. Written both to support career success and to encourage leadership self-awareness, Becoming Leaders is a book you ll turn to again and again, for advice, for information, and most of all for inspiration. Read a review of this book> Learn more>
	What Color Is Your Parachute? 2009: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers by Richard Nelson Bolles Still the best-selling job-hunting book in the world, WHAT COLOR IS YOUR PARACHUTE? is the most complete guide for first-time job seekers as well as second and encore careers changers. For more than three decades, it remains a mainstay on best-seller lists, from to Business Week to the New York Times, where it has spent more than six years, and it has been translated into 20 languages. The 2009 edition is an even more useful book, with its updated, inspiring, and detailed plan for changing readers' lives. With new examples, instructions, and cautionary advice, PARACHUTE is, to quote Fortune magazine, "the gold standard of career guides. Learn more>
	Giving Back "Giving Feedback" is part of Harvard Business Publishing's series offering immediate solutions to common job challenges. Help employees know when they are meeting or exceeding expectations and when they need to get back on track. Order this practical guide in hard copy or electronic download.
	Why Women Mean Business: Understanding the Emergence of Our New Economic Revolution byAvivah Wittenberg-Cox Comparing policies and approaches in countries around the world, this book analyzes the opportunities available to companies that really understand what motivates women in the workplace and the marketplace. Learn more>
	On Becoming Fearless...in Love, Work, and Life by Arianna Huffington In her entry into the overstuffed semi-autobiographic inspirational self-help genre, Huffington's main message is more or less unassailable: "Women have so much potential, yet we hold ourselves back. If my daughters, and women of all ages, are to take their rightful place in society, they must become fearless." Huffington ruminates on the cultivation of fearlessness in all aspects of a woman's life: body image, love, motherhood, work, money, illness and aging, with contributions from other fearless females like Nora Ephron and Diane Keaton. Though the author's common-sense feminism is welcome in a sea of women's books dedicated solely to snagging a man, it can at times be overly simplistic; regarding the reason women stay in physically abusive relationships, Huffington states that "if you understand women's deep fear of being alone, it's not a huge mystery." But generalizations such as this are one of the pitfalls of picking a motif-"fearlessness"-and using it as a litmus test for any given situation. Still, Huffington's strident voice and populist sympathies make this an encouraging, if not particularly inspiring, call to arms against the forces that would keep women "sacrificing our personal truth to go along, be approved of, or just plain be 'nice.'" Learn more>
	Standing at the Crossroads: Next Steps for High-Achieving Women by Marian N. Ruderman and Patricia J. Ohlott Although this book focuses on women in leadership positions, the issues and insights in the book are relevant for every woman who finds herself trying to balance the many different roles in her life. Standing at the Crossroads focuses on women who are at a critical crossroad and looking at choosing the path for their next steps in both career and in life. The book is based on a study of high achieving women conducted by the Center for Creative Leadership which highlighted five key development themes in women's lives. Learn more>
	The Girls Guide to being a boss (without being a b....) by Caitlin Friedman and Kimberly Yorio Valuable Lessons, Smart Suggestions, and True Stories for Succeeding as the Chick-in-Charge. Learn more>
	The Art of War for Women by Chin-Ning Chu Sun Tzu's Ancient Strategies and Wisdom for Winning at Work. Learn more>
	OUCH! That Stereotype Hurts by Leslie Aguilar Communicating Respectfully in a Diverse World; the Six-Step Communication Recovery model for what to do when things go wrong and you have your foot in your mouth. Learn more>
	See Jane Lead: 99 Ways for Women to Take Charge at Work by Lois Frankel, Ph.D. The author's stated reason for writing this book is the author's desire to share something with others, in this case the premise that in today's business world women's leadership and influence are not only needed, but required. The book provides some insight into what you may have in common with some of our most notable leaders. Learn more>
	Fast Forward MBA in Project Management by Eric Verzuh The author focuses on a key points-- businesses are reorganizing to focus on "projects", project management become a popular career track, and greater change=more innovations=more projects. The book also discusses five factors that make a project successful. Originally published in 2005, now in its 2nd edition. Learn more>
	It's Not a Glass Ceiling, It's a Sticky Floor by Rebecca Shambaugh, CEO of SHAMBAUGH Leadership The author's premise: A lack of forward motion is due more substantially to women's own career-inhibiting behavior than to cultural impediments, Shambaugh claims. Women are more likely than men to shy away from leadership roles, to get bogged down in perfectionism and to avoid career-boosting changes out of a misplaced sense of loyalty. Learn more>
	The Velvet Hammer: Business Ideas for Women Who Don't Golf by Elaine Allison The Velvet Hammer challenges women leaders to explore why and how they must lead differently than men. Using real life stories, examples and assessments, this fascinating book shows women how to be decisive and diplomatic, confident and compassionate, strong and supportive in any leadership role Learn more>
	She Wins, You Win by Gail Evans Once again, Gail Evans has written a book that will resonate with every thoughtful woman both in and out of the workplace. Learn more>
	Climbing the Corporate Ladder in High Heels by Kathleen Archambeau Favoring neither the “in-your-face” tactics of the “break-through-the-glass-ceiling” school of thought, nor the “sugar-and-spice-and-everything-nice” approach, this practical book shows women how to achieve both a rewarding career and a fulfilling life. Learn more>
	Trade Up! 5 Steps for Redesigning Your Leadership and Life from the Inside Out byRayona Sharpnack Trade Up! draws on the authori's experience, as well as stories of successful leaders she has worked with, to reveal how leaders limit themselves by holding on to ideas or assumptions about ourselves—what she calls your “context” —that are no longer valid. Trade Up! outlines the 5 steps to help leaders gain awareness of these assumptions and trade up from limiting beliefs and behaviors to those that will help them change the world. Learn more>
	Absolute Beginner's Guide to Project Management byGreg Horine Based on a look-see at the Table of Contents and it's 5-star rating, this handy reference with provided you with project management basics. Learn more>
	Project Management in the Real World byElizabeth Harrin A 4-star rating on Amazon.com makes this book worth checking out. Project Management in the Real World is Presented in a quick and easy to read format, it contains a wealth of knowledge that can be practically applied in a short period of time. Anecdotes, how-to tips and ideas are backed up with theory and references, along with case studies from the US, Holland, France, Australia as well as the UK. Learn more>
	Trillion-Dollars Moms: Marketing to a New Generation of Mothers by Maria Bailey and Bonnie Ulman "How can you think like a mom if you're not a mom? You can't, unless you're willing to research.That's where Bailey and Ulman's book comes in. They've done all the work for you. From cover to cover, you'll read hundreds of case studies and research examples that prove the authors' expertise in the field of marketing to mothers." Learn more>
	How to Say It When You Don't Know What to Say: The Right Words for Difficult Times by Robbie Kaplan The author covers a variety of situations and experiences--ranging from death to job loss to divorce to natural disasters. Learn more>
	Project Management: The CommonSense Approach by Lee R. Lambert and Erin Lambert Solid guidance on earned value management for the novice and veteran PM, a layman's level without losing the technical edge. Learn more>
	Personal Brilliance: Mastering The Everyday Habits That Create A Lifetime Of Success by Jim Canterucci Mastering the everyday habits that create a lifetime of success; the author discusses the capacity to "think on your feet" and tap intoyour talents and abilities at home, at work, and at play. Learn more>
	Alpha Project Managers: What the Top 2% Know That Everyone Else Does Not by Andy Crowe Debunking misconceptions surrounding successful project managers, this source builds upon a landmark survey of more than 800 project managers from around the world to highlight the traits that make them stand out in the minds of their teams, senior managers, customers, and stakeholders. Through in-depth interviews and discussions, the common attributes of these elite project managers—from character and beliefs to organizational approaches—are uncovered and help to explain their achievements. Learn more>
	Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi and Tahl Raz Fewer than 20% of all working Americans found employment through a friend, relative, old school chum, or other personal connection. However, at the managerial level, it’s 72% ! This networking guide can perhaps help you enhance your life both personally and professionally through effective networking. Learn more>
	Integrated Project Management by Chris Edgelow This booklet explores the 10 essentials for effective project management. It focuses on how project management needs to be integrated more completely into the organization to ensure complex change is successfully initiated and sustained. Project management must thoroughly integrate the current strategic reality into every project to ensure success; this booklet tells you how to do that. A very useful resource for anyone involved in project management! Downloadable version available.
	Bait and Switch: The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream by Barbara Enhenreich Interesting, disturbing and sometimes humorous read about one woman’s “pretend" job hunt during the recent downsizings of corporate America. The part I found both funny and disturbing at the same time was her sendup of the coaching industry and networking workshops. Now I'm sure if she ran into some quality coaches and workshops, it wouldn't make for as interesting a read (and she might have found a job in the first few months). But, even I had to laugh when she pointed out that they use acronyms for everything and sometimes their enthusiasm makes you want to seriously slap them back into reality. Learn more>
	Naked in the Boardroom - A CEO Bares Her Secrets So You Can Transform Your Career by Robin Wolaner This quick read is about how women should handle the men who dominate their business environment, covering everything from business ethics to office attire to raising funds for new ventures. The author’s target audience is young women just beginning to ascend the career ladder. Learn more>
	Token Chick: A Woman's Guide to Golfing with the Boys by Cheryl Ladd Cheryl Ladd, a former Charlie's Angels TV star, sheds some insight on this traditional man’s game, noting that golf gives women an opportunity to observe someone's character: Temper? Bad language? Cheat? Too helpful? Not helpful enough? Big tip, "Be gracious in victory because men can be a little sensitive when you beat them." Learn more>
	10 Easy Ways to Use Technology in the English Classroom by Hilve Filek That girls drift away from scientific and technological pursuits during the middle and high school years is a well-documented phenomenon. Ms. Firek's book provides a way to increase girls' exposure to technology by bringing it into the language arts classroom, a place girls feel more comfortable, thus increasing the chances that technology itself will not remain a foreign language for female students. Learn more>
	Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office: 101 Unconscious Mistakes Women Make that Sabotage Their Careers by Lolis P. Frankel If you work nonstop without a break…back down too often and too easily…check with friends and colleagues before making decisions…you’re in self-sabotage mode.
	She Wins, You Win - The Most Important Rule Every Businesswoman Needs to Know by Gail Evans The premise is that women are more like to succeed in the workplace when they support and nurture each other--which is what women do best. The book outlines team-building strategies such as knowing who to work closely with and who to avoid. The author is a former CNN executive. Learn more>
	Women Who Think Too Much: How to Break Free of Over thinking and Reclaim Your Life by Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, Ph.D. The premise is that women, especially, have a tendency to over think, or constantly rehash events for no real gain. She cites a statistics that over thinkers are three times as likely to have drinking problems, as are people who know when to quite worrying, and such behavior also contributes to anxiety and depression. The author is a psychology professor at the University of Michigan. Learn more>