Richard N. Bolles
Richard N. Bolles is perhaps one of the most influential and widely-read authors of personal and professional development literature. His book, What Color Is Your Parachute?: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers, has sold more than 10 million copies and is praised for its timeless advice and tried-and-true methods for achieving successes in job search and career exploration. This remarkable book and its subsequent editions, workshops, and tests have helped millions break into the job market and attain career longevity.
Richard Nelson Bolles was born on October 5, 1927 in Mineral Wells, Texas, the son of Reverend Richard C. and Dorothy Nelson Bolles. He grew up in Tennessee and California during the Great Depression era, an era during which he soon determined his families’ restricted resources would require him to find work to help finance his own education. Therein began his life-long bout of job-hunting, with varying successes and failures. Though he worked at many different types of jobs- ranging from bookkeeping to teaching- his actual career didn’t take off until he began writing.
In 1969, while teaching English at Beverly Hills High School, Bolles began his authorial career by writing a book about personal and career development. This book would go on to become one of the best-selling nonfiction books of all time. Through his observations of the teaching and job-hunting processes, Bolles realized that most job-seekers weren’t well-prepared for their job search experience. He wanted to write a book that could be an instruction manual for job-seekers, helping them on their paths to job security and personal success.
What Color Is Your Parachute? was published in 1970 and has since gone on to become a staple in the personal and professional development genre. Through its highly renowned easily navigable layout and sound advice, the book became an instant favorite of job-seekers and career-changers alike. This classic book has since gone on to be published in more than a dozen languages, inspiring millions of job-seekers and career-changers since its release.
Throughout his career, Bolles has authored over ten books in the What Color Is Your Parachute? series, along with co-authoring several other works. Furthermore, he has been the subject of countless articles and has lectured at more than sixty universities and colleges nationwide. His books have been adapted into workshops and have inspired movie adaptations, television shows, and online versions of But most impressively, Bolles' concepts and recommendations still remain well-appreciated and adhere to many of the same basic principles he instituted in the 1970 edition of What Color Is Your Parachute.
In addition to his impressive body of work, Bolles has achieved numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including the William P. Didusch Award from the American Urological Association, the Montaigne Medal from the Eric Hoffer Awards Program, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Rehabilitation Counseling Association.
In conclusion, it is clear that Richard N. Bolles has become one of the most influential authors on the subjects of job-hunting and career exploration, penning one of the bestselling nonfiction books of all time and earning a plethora of awards and honors for his timeless advice in the genre. His tried-and-true methods have clearly helped millions find success in job search and career exploration, inspiring many and earning him a rightful place as one of the most influential and beloved authors in the field.
