Yukio Okubo

3.4717 learners

Based on decades of career consulting experience, Yukio Okubo’s *12 Basic Skills of Work* exposes the massive gap between what job seekers fixate on—like fancy degrees, certifications, and rigid career blueprints—and what employers actually value: foundational, transferable work skills. Okubo busts pervasive myths, from the overhyped importance of university degrees to the false narrative that workers over 35 can’t switch careers. He then outlines 12 critical skills, ranging from active listening and rapport-building to delegation, consulting, and cross-domain coordination, each paired with actionable strategies to develop them. Okubo also shares practical career planning wisdom: adopt a "drift" approach to explore opportunities in your 20s, then shift to a targeted "climb" mode by 30. Rooted in real-world examples and research, this guide helps readers build a resilient, fulfilling career by focusing on skills that truly drive professional success, not just surface-level credentials.

Huang Deng

3.6597 learners

For over a decade, author Huang Deng rode Bus 39 through Guangzhou, watching Longdong—once a forgotten suburban village—transform into a bustling hub for young college students and graduates scraping by on tight budgets. As a professor at a second-tier university in Guangdong, he’s spent years observing the quiet battles of his students: rural kids clinging to college as their only shot at escaping poverty, urban teens adrift after years of exam-focused schooling, and 'second-generation migrants' in Shenzhen grappling with their parents’ hard-won legacy and their own uncertain futures. Through intimate stories of students navigating family pressure, housing crises, and career confusion, this book lays bare the unfiltered reality of ordinary young people in modern China. It’s a raw look at how education, class, and shifting economic tides shape lives, proving that while college might not be a guaranteed ticket to success, it’s still a lifeline for many chasing stability and purpose.