It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want to Be

Self improvement is a tricky thing. Luckily, Paul Arden makes his approach – everything from professional problem solving to effective communication, breaking new creative ground, learning from mistakes, and lots more – extraordinarily easy to grasp and put into practice. It's a quick read, full of insight that you can pick up right away to turn timidness into talent. There are 40 illustrations throughout, too, to help you better visualize the concepts and more effectively take advantage of the advice.

Phaidon was originally founded in Vienna in 1923 and has been one of the premier publishers of the creative arts since then. The company currently has over 1,500 titles in print covering everything from writing and cooking, to photography and architecture.