From Unemployed to Overworked: Best Book Gifts

Dec. 3, 2009 — -- Now that we're knee-deep in the season of scouring the mall and Web for the best deals on cashmere and consumer electronics, I have some news:

Your unemployed BFF doesn't need a new iWhatever, she needs a job.

Likewise, your overworked S.O. doesn't need a new sweater, he needs a way to cope with the Everest-like workload that last round of layoffs saddled him with.

For this reason, I've compiled a collection of gift books that can help disgruntled job seekers, downtrodden employees and those pining to work from home.

Besides being cheaper than a Wii or a Designer Snuggie, a book offers a painless way to tell a loved one that their resume is about as impressive as last year's fruitcake or their management skills are sadly lacking -- and what they can do about it.

So herewith, some of the most helpful books for working stiffs published this year.

"The Grammar Devotional: Daily Tips for Successful Writing from Grammar Girl"

Is your sweetie constantly confusing "who" with "whom" or dangling his participles? If so, you're right to be concerned about the quality of his cover letters. No one's going to hire him if he can't write a coherent e-mail. Fortunately, Grammar Girl podcast sensation Mignon Fogarty can rectify this situation. Always humorous and never condescending, Fogarty's breezy offering should have your S.O. eliminating those errant commas and properly placing his apostrophes in no time.

"Self-Promotion for Introverts: The Quiet Guide to Getting Ahead"

For some job hunters, written communication isn't the problem. Sounding confident in interviews or networking with other industry professionals is. If you have a friend who would rather eat paint chips than toot her own horn (however modestly), I recommend this practical guide from business communication coach Nancy Ancowitz. If Ancowitz can't teach your wallflower pal to dazzle a colleague or hiring manager without sounding like an infomercial pitchman, no one can.

"The Job-Hunter's Survival Guide: How to Find Hope and Rewarding Work, Even When 'There Are No Jobs'"

Judging from the number of press releases in my inbox, there have been about 9,000 "how to get a job" books published in the past five minutes. I honed in on this survival guide not because it was written by famed "What Color Is Your Parachute?" author Richard Bolles and loaded with proven advice, but because it's a slim 96 pages -- perfect for those who act too busy (or too proud) to read a full-length career tome. If you have a relative who got the heave-ho six months ago and has made zero headway on their job hunt, this might be the perfect stocking stuffer.