If you want to get ahead, you have to hit the books. That’s true in school, and probably even more so once you’ve graduated and nobody’s holding your hand anymore, telling you what to read and giving you good grades for it. Every endeavor or profession has its requisite reading material, but here’s a list of must-reads for success at anything.

1. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie – It’s best to go ahead and get this one out of the way up front. Especially if you’re trying to make your foray into the business world, chances are this book has influenced anyone you’re trying to befriend or influence. It’s really intended to help people in sales and marketing, but these days a big part of success in anything, whether you’re an artist or a web programmer, is being able to promote yourself. It used to be called putting your best foot forward. Now it’s called “building your personal brand.” Whatever it is, this book will help you figure out how to do it.

2. The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho – This is a really great read, and quick, too. This fictional story of a young shepherd’s quest for his destiny isn’t written for professional success, but the personal inspiration you’ll feel after reading it could certainly be applied to your career. Achieving one’s personal best is a major theme of this book, as is the notion that what we want and what we need is not always the same thing. Americans put this book in the realm of literature, but the author is regarded as more of a self-help writer in his native Brazil. Po-tay-to/Po-tah-to. Whatever. I just know it’ll make you feel like you can do anything.

3. Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey – Another old favorite, this book has been in print for nearly twenty years, with a sequel published in 2004. Many of the habits are not actual, physical actions, but rather a way of approaching situations. So it’s more about getting in the habit of in thinking certain ways than about, say, calling a certain number of people per week or doing something in particular with your hair. Habit #6: Synergize. Habit #7: Sharpen the Saw. Come on, you know you’re curious.

4. Elements of Style by Strunk & White – Okay, this is actually a reference book, not something you’d sit down and read, but you need to have this. It’s basically the answer to all those little grammar questions you have and that you might have learned in school had you been paying attention. Also, once again, it’s a book that everybody uses, which means if you take the suggestions in this book (short clear sentences, how to use a colon correctly, etc.) then most people will be on board with you.

You really need this if you consider yourself a budding writer. No matter what job you have, you’re probably going to have to write something to somebody – somebody who you don’t want thinking English is your second language. And if it is, even more reason to pick up this book, because English don’t make no kinda sense when you really look at it real good. (That was supposed to be a joke. Haha!) This skinny little book will give you the basics.

5. Anything from Oprah’s book club – No, all of her books aren’t about “success,” but the woman is, like, America’s guru. Millions of people read what she reads, so it’ll give you something to talk about and help you connect with people when you’ve got little else in common.

6. How to Become an Exceptionally Successful Young Person by Bahman Ghorashi – Okay, this book doesn’t have quite the reputation the others have. It’s a lot newer, and the reviews are mixed. Actually, they’re not mixed, it’s either that people love it or hate it. Meaning, they REALLY love it, or REALLY hate it. It probably boils down to what stage you’re at in life, but it’s worth at least checking out of the library. It’s included on this list because, well, that’s what many of us want: to be feel like success is right around the corner, not decades away at the end of a long career. The guy on the cover looks pretty pleased with himself. There’s a chance you might be, too, after 178 pages.

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