There were times I couldn't remember the last time I read a book. I wasn't happy, I felt stuck. Sometimes I was mad at other people for no reason.

I had problems I didn't know how to solve. And I was stuck without an idea to spark my creativity.

Starting to read again seems like a huge task. A whole book? "That will take hours and days", I thought. I was right.

But each time I made the investment it moved me away from the pain. That's the place we have to find, when it hurts less to try something new.

Start reading, read just 1 page a day. Maybe after a few days you can read 2 pages?

Start small and move slow.

Just start.

1. The Greatest Salesman In The World
Author: Og Mandino

5 Second Summary: It's one of the best stories I have read. People think recruiting is a slimey profession, the same is true of sales. This book teaches you how to become the greatest salesman and recruiter in the world.

Favorite Quote: "I will persist until I succeed."

Note: if you need to convince candidates to talk to you, I publish a free weekly newsletter where I critique your recruiting messages for free. The free newsletter also gives you a heads up of new blog posts (like this) that I've written on my blog.

2. Never Eat Alone
Author: Keith Ferrazzi and Tahl Raz

5 Second Summary: Keith Ferrazzi teaches you how to stop sitting in your cube and fitting in. Learn how to meet new people and add value to peoples lives, to build what matters most: relationships. Why not be a super connector?

Favorite Quote: "Who's going to be more passionate and more informed than you? You're the expert on what you do."

3. The 4 Hour Work Week
Author: Timothy Ferriss

5 Second Summary: This book will challenge everything you believe about work. It might lead you towards starting your own thing at some point. It's OK to have ideas. Learn how to test them, validate, and actually do something besides talking.

Favorite Quote: "Be bold and don't worry about what people think. They don't do it that often anyway."

4. The Rules of Work
Author: Richard Templar

5 Second Summary: Have you ever wondered how some people made it? Do you think it was dumb luck or accident? I assure you it wasn't. The author teaches powerful rules that will help you advance your career (recruiting or otherwise).

Favorite Quote: "What ever job you are doing you must have your eye on the next position up."

5. This Book Will Teach You How To Write Better
Author: Neville Medhora

5 Second Summary: A fast moving no b.s. approach to writing. Neville is a skilled copywriter (he writes words for a living) copy is the words on a webpage or ad that get you interested and lead you towards buying. This isn't snake oil, it's a short no fluff read that will have you thinking seriously about what you say and how you say it, when you write.

Favorite Quote: "Nobody cares about you. They only care about themselves."

6. Motivation For Recruiters
Author: Clinton Buelter

5 Second Summary: There aren't many books that talk about motivation (how to find it and keep it) for recruiters, or from a recruiters perspective. Recruiting is one of the hardest jobs you can have. This book is filled with experiences and techniques that have helped me and countless others perform at a higher level.

Favorite Quote: "Stay motivated, don't sweat it. Remember to talk yourself through the tough times."

7. Choose Yourself
Author: James Altucher

5 Second Summary: We are quick to find reasons why we can't do something. Or blame other people for our problems. James Altucher systematically defeats each and every excuse by giving you detailed plans on how to succeed and re-take control of your destiny.

Favorite Quote: "If you want to be successful, you need to study success, not hate it or be envious of it."

8. The 50th Law
Author: Robert Greene

5 Second Summary: You need someone in your corner. Life is hard. Being a drug dealer and a successful rapper is harder. Learn to think smart and use the techniques and strategies that 50 Cent used to become successful. There are few books this powerful.

Favorite Quote: "When I reached the top in business, I adjusted to my new position - I became bolder and crazier than before. And I listened even less to the people who tried to slow me down."

9. Do The Work
Author: Steven Pressfield

5 Second Summary: If you've ever felt like you were wrestling with another person or fighting yourself to get things done, this book is for you. Steven Pressfield teaches you how to understand and defeat resistance.

Favorite Quote: "That was when I realized I had become a pro. I had not yet had a success. But I had a real failure."

10. The Non Technical Guide To Web Technologies
Author: Tommy Chheng

5 Second Summary: A practical guide to understanding web technologies. Anyone can quickly pick up the concepts in this book. There is no reason to say "I don't speak tech" after reading this book.

- - -

These are not the latest books, you have seen them before. Because you know where a tool is does not mean you picked it up and used it to win.

Go further than looking at the cover (this time) and find the things I didn't mention.

I hope you take yourself to a new level.

These books are timeless and push me to think and create. I come back to them often.

I'm not the same person I was last year.

Who are you?

Clinton Buelter is the founder of ColdEmailForRecruiters. He’s a tech recruiter turned entrepreneur. With more than six years of recruiting experience, starting at a staffing agency and working his way into technical recruitment for software companies like VMware and Glassdoor.

(Images courtesy of Amazon)

(Photo by @buelter)