Thinking of giving a gift this holiday season that could fine-tune career prospects for a friend or family member? For the 11th straight year, Dr. Ronald Krannich, CEO of Impact Publications, the nation's top online bookstore specializing in careers, joins me in presenting the cream of this year's crop.

Here's the Kennedy-Krannich list of the 10 best career books of 2007.

1. "What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful" by Marshall Goldsmith (Hyperion).
   
   You're doing well in your field. But something is standing between you and the next level of achievement -- maybe one of your own annoying habits, a behavior you barely recognize. A major-league executive coach shows how to climb the last rungs of the corporate ladder.

2. "Change Your Thoughts -- Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao" by Wayne W. Dyer (Hay House Inc.)
   
   One of America's foremost inspirational writers and motivational thinkers applies the ancient Chinese wisdom of Lao-tzu to today's world. Savor each short chapter based on the 81 verses of the Tao to achieve inner peace in today's chaotic and busy world.

3. "I'm on LinkedIn -- Now What??? A guide to getting the most OUT of LinkedIn" by Jason Alba (Happy About)
   
   This nuts-and-bolts tutorial on finding jobs and expanding business relationships using the new tool of online social networking is applicable to a number of networking services beyond the book's namesake, LinkedIn.

4. "The Baby Boomer's Guide to the New Workplace" by Richard Fein (Taylor Trade Publishing)
   
   A prominent career expert thoughtfully advises the AARP crowd on how to profitably deal with retirement years, from job interviewing to what to do when you're the new kid on the block and you have gray hair.

5. "Who Gets Promoted, Who Doesn't and Why" by Donald Asher (Ten Speed Press)
   
   A brilliant book by a top career consultant offers startling new conclusions -- timing is more important than talent, for example -- based on interviews with hundreds of fast-track careerists who reveal how corporations really make promotion decisions.

6. "Latino Talent: Effective Strategies to Recruit, Retain and Develop Hispanic Professionals" by Robert Rodriguez (Wiley)
   
   As Latino purchasing power increases and businesses try to gain access to this growing market, employers need a better understanding of Latino culture. This diversity guide discusses where to find and how to evaluate Hispanic professional employees, who can also use the book to see what employers seek.

7. "From Difficult to Disturbed: Understanding and Managing Dysfunctional Employees" by Laurence Miller (Amacom)
   
   What's a manager to do when faced with unproductive, angry and uncooperative employees? A psychologist with expertise in personality disorders and interpersonal dynamics suggests solutions for issues such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety and panic, and alcohol and substance abuse.

8. "Fit In! The Unofficial Guide to Corporate Culture" by Mark A. Williams (Capital Books)
   
   This book is a slender parable written by a successful consultant and speaker who learned about "fit" in corporate trenches. His background as a diversity candidate and employee is inspirational as he drills down to the details of mastering the overt and subtle factors affecting hiring, retention and promotion practices in today's marketplace.

9. "Strengthsfinder 2.0: A New and Upgraded Edition of the Online Test from Gallup's Now, Discover Your Strengths" by Tom Rath (Gallup Press)
   
   Identify your strengths so you can better understand how you can best fit into the world of work. Loaded with hundreds of strategies for applying your strengths, this book and its Web site will change the way you look at yourself.

10. "The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography" by Sidney Poitier (HarperCollins)
    
    An American icon looks back on his celebrated life and career and especially on the power and influence of his morally significant cinematic work.

Source: Virginian - Pilot. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. Powered by Yellowbrix.

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