Richard Nelson Bolles (1927–2017) was an Episcopal clergyman and the author of the best-selling job-hunting book, What Color is Your Parachute? (1972,) the original “change your life” book.
Born in Milwaukee, Bolles served in the Navy towards the end of World War II, studied chemical engineering for two years at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and then transferred to Harvard, earning a bachelor’s degree in physics. Subsequently, he decided to become an Episcopal clergyman and received a master’s degree in New Testament studies from the General Theological Seminary in New York. Bolles worked as an ordained Episcopal minister until 2004.
Bolles originally self-published What Color is Your Parachute? in 1970 as a photocopied how-to pamphlet for jobless Protestant priests. In 1972, he reorganized it to appeal to a broader audience and published it in small batches so that he could revise it often. Since then, it has been the most successful career guide in history, having sold more than 10,000,000 copies and named by Time magazine as one of the 100 best and most influential non-fiction books since 1923.
Parachute is less of a guide to the job market than a guide to help readers understand themselves—to figure out what they liked doing so that they could find the job that would let them do it.
Bolles’s other bestselling books include Where Do I Go from Here with My Life? (1974,) Quick Job-Hunting Map (1975,) The Three Boxes of Life and How to Get Out of Them (1978,) and How to Find Your Mission in Life (1991.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Richard Nelson Bolles
One of the saddest lines in the world is, ‘Oh come now – be realistic.’ The best parts of this world were not fashioned by those who were realistic. They were fashioned by those who dared to look hard at their wishes and gave them horses to ride.
—Richard Nelson Bolles
Topics: Determination
There is a vast world of work out there in this country, where at least 111 million people are employed in this country alone—many of whom are bored out of their minds. All day long. Not for nothing is their motto TGIF—‘Thank God It’s Friday.’ They live for the weekends, when they can go do what they really want to do.
—Richard Nelson Bolles
Topics: Work
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