RECOMMENDED READING

A continuously updated list and short review of books, periodicals, web-based resources, and other materials I have found useful in the context of PM. I'm a bookstore hound, whether its Powell's here in Portland (what a great place!), airport bookstores, B&N/Borders, or Amazon.com.

A search for "project management" today on Amazon yields 176,041 titles, and the majority are obscure, dated, or just plain crap. More mainstream, general business titles on management are also useful depending on your needs and tastes.

GENERAL BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT TITLES

It's All Politics - Winning in a World Where Hard Work and Talent Aren't Enough, Kathleen Kelley Reardon, Currency Doubleday, 2005. The title snagged me in an airport bookstore browsing before a long flight back to Portland. Reardon's premise that one's talent and hard work is not enough, you have to be politcally savvy in the workplace to succeed and she shows you what to say, how to say it, and to whom and when. PMs should take note that being politcally-savvy at work doesn't mean being devious, nasty, or unethical. But there's a game being played every day in the workplace, and refusing to play doesn't mean that the games aren't being played on you, to your detriement. Highly recommended.

All Marketers Are Liars, Seth Godin, Portfolio, 2005. A master marketer talks a lot about, well, marketing...but he does it in the context where you can insert just about anything as a replacement for marketing, such as project management and resume'. The essence of its message boils down to how well we tell stories to customers and stakeholders, and what they believe based upon their view of the world. Must reading for insights on how to deal with sponsors and stakeholders effectively.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT-SPECIFIC TITLES

Update soon

OTHER RESOURCES

Update soon