Six Best Business Books to Read for Your Career in 2010

1. "Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us," by Daniel Pink ($26.95) -- Pink makes the case that there's much more to motivation than money -- autonomy, improvement and a deeper sense of purpose push people more strongly.

Drawing on scientific research, Pink profiles companies and entrepreneurs who are taking a nontraditional approach to lighting fires under their workers.

2. "Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?," by Seth Godin ($25.95, released January 26) -- The title is pretty explanatory in the latest from Godin, a powerhouse marketer/author known for books like "Purple Cow" and "Tribes." Godin argues that the best and most coveted employees connect coworkers, catalyze deals and see opportunities that others don't. He also tries to lay out a roadmap for how to become such an uber-pro. If Godin's advice for building a personal brand is as popular as his material on corporate brands and customer demographics, "Linchpin" will be well-received.

3. "Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard," by Chip Heath and Dan Heath ($26.00, released February 16) -- Weaving psychology and sociology through a number of anecdotes, the Heaths show that some of the most transformative managers follow a pattern of change. They argue that the trick to making things happen quickly on a large scale is to sync emotional thinking with rationale thinking. That sounds wishy-washy, but neither of these guys are on the New-Age circuit. Chip Heath is a business professor at Stanford University and Dan is a consultant at The Aspen Institute.

4. "Louder Than Words: Take Your Career from Average to Exceptional with the Hidden Power of Nonverbal Intelligence," by Joe Navarro ($24.99, released February 16) -- In poker, reading an opponent's gestures, or "tells," can make all the difference. The same is true in an office, according to Navarro. He breaks down body language, bad habits and behavioral ticks as essential to understanding what is really going on in a company, a business meeting or even a phone call. Navarro also advises how to use these intangible forces to get ahead on the job.

5. "The Little Big Things: 163 Ways to Pursue EXCELLENCE," by Thomas J. Peters ($24.99, released March 9) -- Peters, most known for his 1982 "In Search of Excellence," cranks out some more counterintuitive management advice in his latest offering -- encouraging bosses to cherish "weirdness," focus on common sense and step away from their computers. We're wondering if writing "excellence" in capital letters is one of the 163 suggestions.

6. "Rework," by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson ($22.00, released March 9) -- Dubbed as "inspirational" and a "mini manifesto," "Rework" comprises hundreds of simple rules for success. The little tome also plays the counterintuitive card heavily with advice ranging from "fire the workaholics" to "planning is guessing." More detailed descriptions have been scarce, but "Rework" has career counselors gushing.

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