Must Read Books-What's Your Suggestion?

[Nicki Laycoax]

I am working time for reading into my daily routine, and it would be great to get some recommendations of books and audio books that are attention captivating, (as I develop intermittent ADD when it comes to reading), and are geared toward marketing professionals and entrepreneurs.

[Zach Evans]

I recently finished a book called "Joy at Work" by Dennis Bakke. Bakke is currently the CEO of Imagine Schools, a charter school management company with over 50 schools running across the U.S. The book outlines his philosophy and strategy on how to create an atmosphere where all employees have the opportunity to take ownership of their jobs and receive satisfaction from earning responsibility and sharing in the profit (or loss) of the company. He uses an energy company he co-founded, AES, as a model.

It's a short read with some redundancy, but fully explains the pros and cons of this corporate structure. It's a great book for any business owner, manager, or entrepreneur.

[Kyle Lacy]

Business:
Meatball Sundae by Seth Godin
The Big Switch by Nicholas Carr
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
Made to Stick by the Heath Brothers

Pleasure:
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
Painted House by John Grisham

[Kyle Lacy]

Oh yah
And Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning

[Nicki Laycoax]

Blink that you are referring to.... Is that the one that says something like, How to think without thinking? I actually downloaded that one as an audiobook from the library, and listened to about the first 10 minutes of it and had to quit.. I should have hung in a bit longer, but it seemed like it was only about some statue???

You are amongst many that are talking about Made to Stick.. that's number one on my list now! Thanks!

[Nicki Laycoax]

So, I have re-downloaded Blink since you recommended it, and I realize that this is what you were talking about when we met... I got past the statue thing, and am into the subject of the book. Thanks Kyle..

[Kevin McCracken]

I recently read Blink, after having read two other Gladwell books (Tipping Point and Outliers). He is one of my favorite authors and thinkers. I recommend any of those books--though Outliers was my favorite. I regard it as the most provocative.

[Patric Welch]

If you own your own small business, then The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What... will open your eyes. I was recommended this book by Jonathan Arnold. If you are anything like me, you will feel like you are reading your biography when reading the book. It's also available as an audio book which is what I did and just listened to it in my car on the way to/from appointments.

[Nila Nealy]

So many books, so little time. I have to plug Deep Economy. I really loved that book. And the speaker is coming here on March 15. You may already be signed up for it, but if you haven't, check out the info at the Bill McKibben group here at Smaller Indiana.

Books for entrepreneurs that somehow made an impression on me...

The E-Myth. I fought reading that one forever, but once I did my eyes were opened to several issues I'd previously ignored. There are several books with "E-Myth" as part of their title. I'd look at E-myth Mastery or E-Myth Revisited.

If you haven't read Good to Great by Jim Collins, it's probably worth picking up. It's a bit of a modern classic. I actually listened to it on CD because I couldn't get myself to read it. But, I constantly hear reference to that book in business dealings. And, it has some good conceptual stuff in it that can be applied to organizations of any stripe or size, including individuals.

Good Business by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi is a great book about ethical business. He's the guy who wrote the series on "Flow."

I have a shelf + in my home library devoted to books on brand. I really like The Brand Gap and Zag by Marty Neumeier for their elegant simplicity, visual interest and speed in reading. Also, I recommend Brand Simple and both Emotional Branding books (same title, two different authors - Gobé and Travis).

There's a very good little book by Laura Patterson called Measure What Matters. She is the ROI queen. I think she might be coming here to speak soon. And, I think it's the BMA (Business Marketing Association - I was once pres of that org) that is bringing her.

Blink and The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell.

Okay, there's a start. I'm sure I can come up with others.

[Kyle Lacy]

I was wondering when you were going to chime in!

[Nila Nealy]

Dude, I'm sitting in my library communing with my books. I HAD to give them a voice. ; )

[Nicki Laycoax]

Wow, thank you guys! This is awesome!

[Michelle Morris]

What about Think and Grow Rich? Anyone read that?

The ex-English teacher in me is screaming, "Don't forget to read for pleasure too!!!"