Publisher: Penguin Press
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 04/12/2012
ISBN-13: 9781594203329
ISBN-10: 1594203326

What does it take to be good at sales? Plenty of books can teach you the "rules" of effective salesmanship, but this one addresses the "art." Introducing readers to successful salespeople (such as infomercial pitchman Tony Sullivan and art seller Larry Gagosian), bestselling author Philip Delves Broughton analyzes the personal skills that successful selling requires, such as patience, an understanding of human psychology, and the ability to tell a story. But his analysis ranges broadly -- he includes not only his sons' lemonade stand but also Nelson Mandela's efforts to end apartheid -- to argue that persuasion happens everywhere and that everyone's selling something. This thought-provoking book is a must-read for those in sales or anyone who realizes its ubiquity.

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Publisher: Dutton
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 04/12/2012
ISBN-13: 9780525952664
ISBN-10: 0525952667

Written by well-known economist Tyler Cowen, this fascinating book combines the economic, the environmental, and the tasty to challenge popular conceptions about eating. Answering questions like where the best barbecue can be found (small towns) or how to find the best restaurants in D.C. (it's not by googling "best restaurants in D.C."), the author demonstrates how to eat well -- and responsibly -- by using the rules of economics. Noting that markups are much higher on soda and alcohol than on food, Cowen points out that those drinking water are taking advantage of a pricing structure that supports them, making this combination of economic practice and foodie how-to "mouth-watering food for thought" (Publishers Weekly).

Publisher: An Inc. Original
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 03/01/2012
ISBN-13: 9780983934004
ISBN-10: 0983934002

For those of you who are starting a business alongside raising a family, the lessons learned (sometimes the hard way) by Meg Cadoux Hirshberg and shared within this book might save you some heartache. In addition to her own experiences, Hirshberg draws on the thoughts of some 200 entrepreneurs and their spouses to address questions common to those balancing work and family life. Worried about having enough energy to give each the attention it needs? With suggestions like "turn off your smartphone" and "don't act like the boss at home," For Better or for Work might help you "navigate the dangerous pitfalls of allowing a business to come and squat in the midst of a family" (Financial Times).

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Publisher: Portfolio/Penguin
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 03/01/2012
ISBN-13: 9781591844570
ISBN-10: 1591844576

Can money buy happiness? Possibly, if you really think about your priorities and choose to spend money where it brings you the most joy. No one has all the money in the world, but what you do have can -- used judiciously -- bring you greater satisfaction. Of the many enlightening stories author Laura Vanderkam includes, consider the $5,000 that the average couple spends on engagement and wedding rings. If jewelry doesn't bring you happiness, buy something cheaper, and spend the money on what does (a babysitter for nights out, perhaps?). For more on prudent decision-making, try Vanderkam's 168 Hours, which considers the resource of time the same way.

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Publisher: John Wiley
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 06/07/2011
ISBN-13: 9780470911389
ISBN-10: 0470911387

You've likely heard of eating and buying locally, but what if you've got more than just your grocery budget to spend? And what of small, locally owned businesses looking for loans? Consider the local investing movement (or "locavesting"), whereby investors and local businesses connect while building healthy, self-reliant communities. Former BusinessWeek editor Amy Cortese introduces the ideas and pioneers behind the movement, discusses various types of funding methods (including cooperatives, credit unions, and local stock exchanges), and offers investment strategies in an informative book that might change the way you think about finance.

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Publisher: Three Rivers Press
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 03/02/2010
ISBN-13: 9780307453662
ISBN-10: 0307453669

Sharing practical and comprehensive strategies for managing your money (both its accumulation and its outflow) when working non-traditional jobs with not-so-regular hours, authors Joseph D'Agnese and Denise Kiernan -- freelancers themselves -- offer lessons on everything from tracking systems to saving for retirement. And because most non-full-time employees don't have employer-provided insurance or a 401(k), and taxes aren't automatically deducted from their paychecks, these are some of the many issues that make this an indispensable guide for part-timers, freelancers, and the self-employed.

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Publisher: Wiley
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 01/26/2010
ISBN-13: 9780470484241
ISBN-10: 0470484241

Feel like you're drowning in debt? From negotiating new terms to cleaning up your credit report, Master Your Debt offers advice about how to deal with existing debt and secure your financial future. In addition to providing detailed explanations of recent government guidelines and policies on borrowing and avoiding foreclosure, author Jordan Goodman tackles all the major sources of debt, from housing to cars to student loans. While full of helpful information, this book nevertheless has a narrow scope: it's very much about dealing with the current economic landscape. For general budgeting advice, you'll want to pick up a book by Suze Orman or Dave Ramsey.

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Publisher: Perigee Book
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 12/27/2011
ISBN-13: 9780399537219
ISBN-10: 039953721X

In this addition to his popular series on money management, investment advisor and financial blogger Daniel Solin provides a simple, straightforward guide to "growing, spending, and enjoying your money." In short chapters that end in one-sentence summaries, Solin suggests ways to handle home buying, insurance, and taxes, and offers advice on managing health care premiums and retiring early. Solin's ultimate goal is the achievement of financial independence; if you're just beginning to reach for that same goal, this will be an excellent, practical source for help.

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Publisher: Penguin Group
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 12/28/2010
ISBN-13: 9780399536441
ISBN-10: 0399536442

Like Laura Vanderkam's All the Money in the World, Carmen Ulrich's The Real Cost of Living examines the place where priorities and financial planning meet. But Ulrich takes a slightly different tack, by discussing the real costs -- financial, emotional, and practical -- of a number of personal (and financial) decisions, such as pre-paying a mortgage, paying off student loans, and even marrying, divorcing, and raising a family. And the real costs of credit card debt, driving recklessly, and eating junk food? That's all covered here, too.

Publisher: Broadway Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 06/08/2010
ISBN-13: 9780767931328
ISBN-10: 0767931327

If buying more stuff doesn't really satisfy you, but you aren't certain you can actually stop the flow of money leaving your wallet, you'll want to meet the proud cheapskates featured in this book -- not much could make them happier than buying less stuff and focusing more on what really matters to them. In his second book, Jeff Yeager begins by tackling the difference between needing and wanting an item and explains the benefits of living beneath your means; he then introduces people -- individuals, married couples, families of all sizes -- who are successfully, happily, proudly, doing exactly that. To learn their secrets, start by borrowing this book -- for free! -- from your library!

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