Today's workplace demands a bungee cord, not a parachute. Think showing up every day, working 9 to 5, and collecting an annual 4-percent raise and the occasional promotion makes you a player? Reality check: You're not even in the game.

Forget the old rules of career advancement. The company man has left the building—and he took his gold watch with him. Your Career Is an Extreme Sport shows you how to apply the principles of extreme sports—such as drive, stamina, flexibility, and guts—to achieve success in your career. Filled with advice from business leaders who have achieved extreme success, this contrarian guide shows you how to get beyond your ho-hum career comfort zone and reach your professional peak.

Whether you are looking to land your next big gig or put more juice in your current job, this book will take you on the adrenaline-charged fast track you need to get there.

Eileen P. Gunn has written for the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Worth, and Business 2.0. Before going solo, she was a reporter for Fortune magazine.