Richard Nelson Bolles
Encyclopedia
Richard Nelson Bolles is a former Episcopal
clergyman, and the author of the best-selling job-hunting book, What Color is Your Parachute?
, and graduated from Teaneck High School
in 1945, where his yearbook described him stating "Dick's future will be scientific / But in which field he's not specific." After a brief stint in the United States Navy
, attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology
, studying chemical engineering
, and Harvard University
, where he graduated with a B.A. in Physics, cum laude. He attended General Theological Seminary
(Episcopal) in New York City, from which he graduated with a Master's Degree in the New Testament. After ordination, he served as a Fellow and Tutor at the Seminary, and then served churches in New Jersey. Following this, he served as Canon Pastor of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. He also served on the National Staff of United Ministries in Higher Education for a number of years.
Bolles is the brother of investigative journalist Don Bolles
. His paternal grandfather, Stephen Bolles
, was a U.S. member of Congress from Wisconsin (died 1941), and his father was for many years an editor with the Associated Press
(died 1972).
, Peter Drucker
, Norman Vincent Peale
, Betty Ford
, and Sir John Templeton. The Library of Congress
in 1996 named his book as one of 25 that have shaped reader's lives. His book has appeared on The New York Times
best-seller list (paperback non-fiction) a total of 288 weeks.
.
and was married in 2004 to the former Marciana Garcia Mendoza Navarrete, who is from Cavite
in the Philippines
. He has four children by a previous marriage, and his wife has two.
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
clergyman, and the author of the best-selling job-hunting book, What Color is Your Parachute?
What Color is Your Parachute?
What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard Nelson Bolles is a book for job-seekers that has been revised every year since 1970. Bolles initially self-published the book , but it has now been commercially published since November 1972, by Ten Speed Press, in Berkeley, California. Since 1975 it has...
Early life and career
Bolles grew up in Teaneck, New JerseyTeaneck, New Jersey
Teaneck is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, and a suburb in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 39,776, making it the second-most populous among the 70 municipalities in Bergen County....
, and graduated from Teaneck High School
Teaneck High School
Teaneck High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school, which is part of the Teaneck Public Schools district in Teaneck, New Jersey, United States...
in 1945, where his yearbook described him stating "Dick's future will be scientific / But in which field he's not specific." After a brief stint in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, studying chemical engineering
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
, and Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, where he graduated with a B.A. in Physics, cum laude. He attended General Theological Seminary
General Theological Seminary
The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church is a seminary of the Episcopal Church in the United States and is located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan in New York....
(Episcopal) in New York City, from which he graduated with a Master's Degree in the New Testament. After ordination, he served as a Fellow and Tutor at the Seminary, and then served churches in New Jersey. Following this, he served as Canon Pastor of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. He also served on the National Staff of United Ministries in Higher Education for a number of years.
Bolles is the brother of investigative journalist Don Bolles
Don Bolles
Don Bolles was an American investigative reporter whose murder in a bombing is linked to the Mafia.-Biography:...
. His paternal grandfather, Stephen Bolles
Stephen Bolles
Stephen Bolles was a newspaper editor, and later a congressman from Wisconsin.Born in Springboro, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, Bolles attended the public schools; was graduated from the State Normal School of Pennsylvania at Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, in 1888 and from the law department of...
, was a U.S. member of Congress from Wisconsin (died 1941), and his father was for many years an editor with the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
(died 1972).
Honors
Bolles has received many honors. He was the 2006 recipient of the National Samaritan award, joining such prestigious company as Karl MenningerKarl Menninger
Karl Augustus Menninger , was an American psychiatrist and a member of the famous Menninger family of psychiatrists who founded the Menninger Foundation and the Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas.- Biography :...
, Peter Drucker
Peter Drucker
Peter Ferdinand Drucker was an influential writer, management consultant, and self-described “social ecologist.”-Introduction:...
, Norman Vincent Peale
Norman Vincent Peale
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale was a minister and author and a progenitor of the theory of "positive thinking".-Early life and education:...
, Betty Ford
Betty Ford
Elizabeth Ann Bloomer Warren Ford , better known as Betty Ford, was First Lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977 during the presidency of her husband Gerald Ford...
, and Sir John Templeton. The Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
in 1996 named his book as one of 25 that have shaped reader's lives. His book has appeared on The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
best-seller list (paperback non-fiction) a total of 288 weeks.
Work
Bolles makes public speaking appearances and leads workshops around the United States. He releases updated editions of his Parachute book every year, as well as working on new titles. The latest title is "The Job-Hunter's Survival Guide", a short 100 page book. He has had various co-authors for some of his other books, including Howard Figler, Carol Christen, Dale Brown, and one of his sons, Mark Bolles. Mark is the principal author of their book Job Hunting on the Internet ISBN 1-58008-652-7. He is also a member of high-IQ society MensaMensa International
Mensa is the largest and oldest high-IQ society in the world. It is a non-profit organization open to people who score at the 98th percentile or higher on a standardised, supervised IQ or other approved intelligence test...
.
Personal life
He lives in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay AreaSan Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
and was married in 2004 to the former Marciana Garcia Mendoza Navarrete, who is from Cavite
Cavite
Cavite is a province of the Philippines located on the southern shores of Manila Bay in the CALABARZON region in Luzon, just 30 kilometers south of Manila. Cavite is surrounded by Laguna to the east, Metro Manila to the northeast, and Batangas to the south...
in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. He has four children by a previous marriage, and his wife has two.