Books

These are some of the best books I have found for building the nontechnical skills that will help you prosper in both science and life, with a few fun titles sprinkled in.

Increasing Your EQ and Soft Skills

The timeless classic: How to Win Friends and Influence People

An advanced course on building rapport and relationships: The Like Switch: An Ex-FBI Agent’s Guide to Influencing, Attracting, and Winning People Over

Learn how to handle life’s negotiations, both big and small: Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It

Building Financial Prosperity

A classic of basic personal finance: The Richest Man in Babylon

A modern take on the same material: I Will Teach You To Be Rich

The advanced course: Rich Dad Poor Dad

Leadership and Management

A high quality and relatable introduction to sound leadership practices by a long time university president: The Contrarian’s Guide to Leadership

Why is it that teams of technically gifted individuals often fail to accomplish their goal? Here are the reasons why presented in a fictional story about a software startup: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable

The fundamentals of strategy from a NASA engineer turned consultant and business school professor: Good Strategy Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why It Matters

Physics History

Spaceships powered by atomic bombs? Yes, that was a real project and a fascinating story: Project Orion: The True Story of the Atomic Spaceship

For the Little Ones

Sick of reading the kids Good Night Moon at bedtime? Try Goodnight Lab: A Scientific Parody

Additional Resources

More resource to help you build your prosperity:

APS Industry Mentoring for Physicists

APS Professional Guidebook

Physics Today Jobs: Career Advice from Alaina G. Levine

Physics Forums Career Guidance Section

A PhD is Not Enough! by Peter J. Feibelman

Note that the above hyperlinks are affiliate links. That means the Prosperous Physicist will receive a small commission from the retailer if you use them to buy these books. Thank you for your support!