Making a Living Archives - Awful Library Books

Polish Your Image

May 19, 2022 Mary Kelly Be Pretty, Making a Living 21 comments

Putting on the Polish
Malet-Veale
1993

Image enhancement is probably a good topic for a library collection. Almost all the job hunting books out there will discuss this issue. Dating books, etiquette materials, and other social type of activities often touch on this issue as well. The premise of this book is that how you present yourself is critical to both your business and personal life.

The information is weighted more for women than the information for men. Lots of makeup and hair tips for the ladies. I get the feeling if men simply got a haircut and combed their hair, they would knock that image out of the park.

I will also throw out for discussion that image issues in COVID driven workplace might make many of the job prep resources obsolete. Example: Interviewing via Zoom vs live. People, adjust that lighting and make sure you aren’t accidentally showing something distracting in the background.

Tax Time

April 18, 2022 Mary Kelly Making a Living 2 comments

J.K. Lasser’s 101 Plans to Pay Less Taxes
(revised and updated)
Bernard Greisman, editor
1984

For all our American friends, April 15 is Tax Day.

In the late 1980s, I was an accountant and did my fair share of taxes. Naturally, I am also one of those librarians who actually like tax season. It is one of the few times non library users show up at the library and a great time to show off what the library has to offer. These days I am contented to be Chief Financial Officer of ALB. I do the taxes for ALB and tell Holly we cannot deduct the cost of beer and fireworks as part of operating expenses. (I suppose we can make a case if we invite a couple of librarians to join us and call it “marketing”.)

Millionaire Real Estate Stripper Gospel

January 7, 2022 Holly Making a Living 15 comments

The Art of Becoming a Multimillionaire Real Estate Investor
Cherwenka
2018

Submitter: This book came from my public library. (In fact, it was purchased as a memorial book.) I came across this gem in my business section. I think the back cover speaks for itself: body builder to stripper to real estate agent who then marries his “African American Wife.” There’s a lot going on here. I’m also confused as to whether this is a book about real estate investing, a biography, or a gospel. Take your pick! In fact here’s more.

Holly: Is Magic Mike doing a bicep pose, or punching her in the breast? The link submitter shared is a 15-page short version of his story, in which he refers to himself (presumably in his stripper days) as a “lost sinner” – but he doesn’t seem too ashamed, given his choice of photo for the back cover of the book! I mean, real estate looks like a great career choice I guess…

The “New” Secretary

January 4, 2022 Mary Kelly Making a Living 4 comments

The New Secretary
How to Handle People As Well as You Handle Paper
Booher
1985

The “new” secretary is now kind of old. It even seems a bit old for 1985. I believe that now they are administrative assistants. I haven’t heard the word secretary unless it is in reference to a presidential cabinet post.

The advice presented is so outdated it’s laughable. Boss making the move on you? Just say no! It’s cute how they just assume that a no and a professional demeanor is all that is required to keep a predatory boss in check.

Old School Office Management

November 29, 2021 Mary Kelly Health and Safety, Making a Living 8 comments

The Paper Office
The Tools to Make Your Small Psychotherapy Practice Work
Zuckerman and Guyett
1991

This book is one of those oddly specific titles. It is basically a primer on the business side of setting up a psychotherapy office. They have sample intake forms, an outline of ethics/guidelines (most of it devoted to “don’t sleep with clients”), malpractice (again, this is usually because you shouldn’t sleep with clients), bill collecting (be sure to see the script for collecting unpaid fees), patient files, etc.

When the Ladies Run the Show

August 31, 2021 Mary Kelly Making a Living

Feminine Leadership
or How to Succeed in Business Without Being One of the Boys
Loden
1985

The basic theme of this book is that women can use feminine traits to succeed in leadership roles. The ladies are evidently really good at feelings and can be more intuitive leaders than the guys. The 70s and 80s were loaded with this kind of literature as women started entering professions previously off limits. I was one of those who would suck these books up like they were water. Most of the time, these books were little help in navigating a career in the real world. It’s not like senior management grabbed on to these concepts and welcomed women with open arms.

DIY Bankruptcy

June 8, 2021 Holly Making a Living 7 comments

Bankruptcy: Do it Yourself
Kosel
1980

Submitter: When I pulled this sad book off the shelf and read the title – I thought “Bankruptcy : do it yourself? Honey, us Millennials have been doing that for years…” This book comes with a disclaimer that it will be old, out of date, and should no longer be consulted at some point. Bankruptcy laws change frequently enough that this book is well past its shelf life.

Holly: It has that “typed on a typewriter in 1980” font, too. And look! A form copyrighted 1979. That oughta hold up in court.

Business the Amazon Way

June 7, 2021 Holly Making a Living 7 comments

Business the Amazon.com Way
Saunders
1999

Submitter: It’s an ancient book on Amazon. This book was written before Amazon was a verb, and when it was still focused on books. Does the book accurately predict the future? Probably not.

The business section ought to have books on how current companies do business, how to do business, small business information, and how to get grants, not really old books that are ridiculously outdated.

Holly: Amazon is a whole new animal 22 years later – and so are libraries.