New Year, new resolution 'I must get out more'. But before you do, take a look at these business bestsellers. They're smart, accessible and have very glossy covers. And if that weren't enough, they just might help you get a firmer grip on that greasy pole of career advancement.

Anna Pearson saves you the labour of actually having to read them for yourself, and instead presents a thumbnail sketch of each's tome's highlights. The rest, as they say, is up to you

From Dynasties to Dotcoms the Rise, Fall and Reinvention of British Business in the past 100 years, by Carol Kennedy £20 ISBN 0-7494-4127-5

The mere (over-long) title of this book could make you feel slightly nauseous, but actually, it's a bit of an eye opener.

For starters, a lot of effort has gone into making this book just look that extra bit interesting flicking casually through it, as one would Hello whilst waiting to see the dentist, you can't help but be assaulted by iconic images of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and EasyJet's Stelios (all right, not 'iconic' maybe, but reassuringly familiar none-theless).

Fortunately, for business groupies and non-business groupies alike, the tome comes complete with handy timeline style sections, charting the business changes and technological advances of each decade from the 1900s to the present day.

This is book might not suit the true blue pin striper, but for the wannabe executive who's just invited the boss round for dinner, it can't help but look impressive on the coffee table

Britain's Top Employers, Compiled by the Corporate Research Foundation, Edited by Guy Clapperton. £19.99 ISBN 0-7494-4054-6

Sound familiar?

You're stuck in a stressful, dead end job, with a boss who makes Freddie Krueger look like a child minder.

You get paid peanuts; you're tired, overworked and close to having your first coronary. And you're not even 30.

If that sounds like you (or let's be honest, all of us) this compilation of the nation's top companies will make interesting, if not envious reading.

Because, in short, these are the Gods of the employment world. All the big names you would expect BT, Marks and Sparks, BSkyB, Tesco, Coca Cola and Microsoft turn up in this veritable bible of all who's good and offering fringe benefits.

In addition, there are a few surprises DIY homestore B&Q scores astonishingly highly, so I guess if decking's your 'thing', you might wish to email them your resume.

On the other hand, Swindon-based Nationwide is nowhere to be seen.

Still, it's easy to read the handy summary at the beginning of each brief profile has star ratings for all those burning issues: benefits, promotions, training, working atmosphere and most importantly, wages.

And as these are apparently "the best, most forward thinking companies in the country" all you need now do is choose one and relocate.

Talking Shop Over 5000 Business Quotes to Help You Through Your Working Day. £16.99 ISBN 0-7475-6240-7

"Man is born perfect. It's the Capitalist System which corrupts him" - Arthur Scargill, 1981.

Naturally enough, most women will be vaguely amused at the inaccuracy of this suggestion, for even without the helping hand of Capitalism, there was never a chance in hell that men would be perfect.

And believe it or not, that is the simple joy of this book ruminating and deliberating (cogitating even) over its treasure trove of more than 5,000 business quotes.

And incredible as it may sound, many are genuinely interesting, even laugh out loud funny.

In no particular order, favourites include:

"Being good is good business." Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop, 1991.

"A woman is like a tea bag only in hot water do you realise how strong she is." Nancy Regan, 1981.

"The only people who never make mistakes at work, are those who never make decisions." Jack Straw, 1999.

l"Money is like an arm and leg use it or lose it." Henry Ford, 1931.

"Money doesn't talk, it bleeds." Bob Dylan (who else?).

Will this book get you through your working day? Maybe, maybe not but it'll make you smile and would well suit a well-appointed washroom.

The Ultimate Business Present-ations Book, by Martin Yate and Peter Sander

£11.99 ISBN 0-7494-4005-8

We've all been there. You're giving a presentation and slowly but surely, one by one, your audience begins to nod off.

Your nerves, which already were at breaking point, suddenly spiral out of control and in a desperate attempt to keep your audience from slipping into a coma, you make the fatal faux pas of abandoning your prepared text to 'wing it' instead with some off-the-cuff witticisms.

Which as any conversational coroner will tell you, is when you are officially pronounced dead.

And you still have ten minutes to go.

If you're not ultra-confident, giving presentations can be a scary experience, normally on par with going for root canal work at your dentist. But if you've got the patience to wade through this book (be warned, it is a little long-winded), you'll probably find it of help.

With advice on building audience rapport, relieving tension and livening up that inevitable dry patch, even the biggest of office bores can transform themselves into suave speakers.

So for those in the business world to whom presentation comes naturally, spend your book tokens on something else. But for everyone else, it's one to consider.

lEverything You Should Know About Public Relations: Direct Answers to Over 500 Questions, by Anthony Davis

£17.99 ISBN 0-7494-3925-4

If you thought PR was about wining and dining you'd be right, to some extent. But there is a little more to it than that as this title explains.

Very direct and simply written, it's ideal for the rookies of the PR world. Consisting of hundreds of PR Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's dahling), it provides punchy and sensible answers. Indeed, three favourites are:

What's ethical about PR? (apparently more than we think)

Do journalist's secretly crave attention? (and just where does 'secretly' come into it?)

Surely PR is for the young and lovely? (yes, yes, yes, and don't let anyone tell you otherise)

The book also provides explanations for a lot of that technical PR jargon you've doubtless heard flying round the office but never properly understood.

Words and phrases such as "narrow casting" and "infomercials" need never send another chill up your spine.

All in all, this is a helpful and practical addition to your bookshelf, offering advice on how to deal with the ever mercurial monster that is today's media machine.

Movers and Shakers The Brains and Bravado behind Business. £25, ISBN 0-7475-6242-3

To become a corporate giant you have to be a pretty special individual and this book could give you a clue as to whether you have what it takes.

In fact, this is quite an exciting book for any businessman or woman, as it concerns itself with the heroes and heroines of the corporate world.

Of course, we normally associate the likes of Bill Gates, Hugh Hefner and Rupert Murdoch with success and money. But there are some more interesting entries that few of us will know little about.

Ralph Lauren, William Boeing, Walt Disney and Soichiro Honda are just some of the names featured.

But whoever your business god or goddess happens to be, there's bound be someone in this book you'd love to ask "So just how the hell DID you do it?"

Feng Shui Your Workplace for Dummies, by Holly Ziegler and Jennifer Lawler.

£11.95, ISBN 0-7645-1987-5

If your office has the energy of a mortuary or the harmony of Piccadilly Circus forget the funny title.

This isn't one to take too seriously but who says the workplace can't be fun?

Anyway, all you need to know is that if you re-arrange the furniture, add a miniature Monkey Puzzle Tree, the workplace suddenly becomes a happier, brighter place.

If you're the office doormat, it'll show you ways you can become a more powerful and respected presence at work.

If you're the one who isn't getting anywhere while everyone else including Giles, the spotty office junior is climbing the career ladder like their lives depend on it, then there's help for you too.

This book's central tenet might not be one to follow too religiously, but as in many areas where business and success are concerned, don't knock it 'til you've tried it.