The Best HR Book of 2017

There are many nominees for the best HR books of 2017 but only one winner.

The best HR book of the year is “Barking Up the Wrong Tree: The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Success is Wrong” by Eric Barker.

Motivational Advice Is Everywhere

You may know Barker’s work from Time magazine. He writes about an evidence-based approach to trendy topics such as “happiness” and “time management.” Barker deconstructs myths while offering practical and science-based advice to help you achieve your personal best.

“Barking Up the Wrong Tree” asks and answers fundamental questions about success. What produces it? Should we play it safe and do what we’re told if we want to succeed? Do nice guys finish last? Do quitters never win and winners never quit?

I won’t spoil it for you, but nice people aren’t asking themselves if they finish last. That’s part of the formula for being a decent human being.

Why You Should Get This Book

Barker also covers topics like negotiating, networking, confidence and work-life balance. Those are topics that are discussed in every HR staff meeting. At the end of this book, he addresses the ultimate existential question: What makes a successful life?

I recommend “Barking Up the Wrong Tree” for anybody who is skeptical about motivational gurus but wants to learn the science behind having a more fulfilling life. It’s endorsed by Adam Grant and Robert Sutton, two smart guys with a ton of followers in the HR community, so I’m not alone in loving this book.

Read More Books Like This

Not every motivational book is great, and it’s my goal to help you consumer better content in 2018. If you’re looking to achieve your personal best, you can try Gary Vaynerchuk or Mel Robbins.

But start with “Barking Up the Wrong Tree” before you read anything else. It’s my 2017 book of the year, and it’s never too late to read an outstanding book. Good advice has no expiration date.