I received two career development books from NetGalley.com at about the same time: The Artists' Guide to Success in the Music Business by Loren Weisman (Greenleaf Book Group Press) and "Story and Craft: How NOT to Suck at Screen Acting" by Peter Skagen (Poubelle Publishing). One is about the music business and one is about movie acting. I am in neither profession, nor am I looking for a career change, yet I learned from these books. I am thinking of giving them to my teenage nieces, neither of whom aspire to be professional musicians or actors. These books might be good for anyone planning a major career change. Why? Because these books present the real world of work and offer practical tips on how to wend your way through it.

If I were giving the books to aspiring musicians or actors, I think that I would offer them in order of affinity. Acting book first for the actor, music first for the musician. But perhaps, as the goal is to assure that both are read, the opposite order would be better. Either way, the style and content of these books are complementary and reading one does not diminish the usefulness of the other.

For style and organization, I prefer Mr. Weisman's presentation, but then, I am a scientist and like the precise way that he, a percussionist, approaches things. Mr. Skagen's book is more emotional and exhortative, and that goes with the acting territory. Read beside each other they are amusing and informative. You will never look at portraiture the same way again.

I received advance review copies of "The artist’s guide to success in the music business : the “who, what, when, where, why & how” of the steps that musicians & bands have to take to succeed in music, 2nd ed., by Loren Weisman (Greenleaf Book Group Press) and "Story and Craft: How NOT to Suck at Screen Acting, A Practical Inspirational Guide" by Peter Skagen (Poubelle Publishing) through NetGalley.com. ( )

Strong book for anyone that wants to be a part of the music industry. ( )