My Summer Reading List: Business and Pleasure

Here's a list in no particular order of the new (or recent) business books I've got lined up on my shelf for summer reading. I won't read most of these cover to cover. I'll skim, look for useful tidbits, consult the index, etc. I bet you read most business books the same way.

Groundswell by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff (comprehensive and spot on: what corporations need to know to understand and make use of social media)

Made to Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath (provocative: the essential ingredients that make some ideas take hold)

Johnny Bunko by Dan Pink (fun: it's in Japanese manga or comic book style)

Tuned In by Craig Stull, Phil Myers & David Meerman Scott (provocative: how to identify what your market wants and then create products that resonate with them)

Wikinomics by Don Tapscott  and Anthony D. Williams (updated: new intro admits that first edition was sooo 2006)

Beyond Booked Solid by Michael Port (convincing & genuine: part 2 of his manifesto on how to grow & manage your consulting business)

The Back of the Napkin by Dan Roam (cool: how to think and convey ideas visually)

Personality Not Included by Rohit Bhargava (innovative approach: great case studies paired with tools and guides for how to execute)

Secrets of Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income by "Problogger" Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett (don't I wish... but there's some useful stuff in here)

Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds (must read: my new bible for preparing presentations)

Here Comes Everybody by Clay Shirky of Cognitive Surplus fame (everyone's talking about this one... just ordered it)

For pleasure

I'm reading Ted Sorensen's new book, Counselor, after hearing him speak at Carol Joynt's live Q & A Café (links to Part 1 of 5-part YouTube interview). For a guy who just turned 80, he is sharp, funny, fascinating. Sorensen was JFK's top aide and confidante in addition to being his speechwriter. Here's the NYTimes book review.

Also in my summer bookstack are The Unthinkable by Amanda Ripley, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski and Cost by Roxana Robinson.

What's on your bookshelf?

Comments

[Michael E. Rubin, Blog Council]

Hi Debbie,

Great list. Here's mine:

* "The Diamond Cutter" by Geshe Michael Roach (recommended by Evelyn Rodriguez)

* "The Nine" by Jeffrey Toobin. Don't know why, but I've always been fascinated by the Supreme Court.

* "Groundswell" by Josh Bernoff. Josh gave an exclusive presentation to the Blog Council, and it hooked me right away.

* "Speed of Trust" by Stephen Covey. It's what our relationship economy is built upon.

* "Getting Things Done" by Dave Allen. Re-reading it again to give myself a moral boost.

* "Star Trek: Strangers from the Sky". Just because.

[Debbie Weil]

Thanks Michael. Good reminder about GTD. I've read it several times. Never seem to be able to put it into practice. But it's comforting, somehow, to listen to his system for getting the clutter out of your head.

[Teresa Morrow]

Debbie,

I love to read and saw your comment on twitter so I thought I would add my list.

"Million Dollar Networking" by Andrea Nierenberg

"Meatball Sundae" by Seth Godin

"Good to Great" by Jim Collins
"Guts" by Kevin & Jackie Freiberg

And several magazines like Pink, WE Magazine for Women, O and Paula Deen.
Happy Reading everyone!

[Shana Glickfield]

Many of these are also on my list. Plus, I just got a Kindle so I'm eager to start downloading! How is there not a Marketing Book Club in DC yet??

[Justin Thorp]

I hope you'll be blogging your thoughts and reactions and you dig into each of these different books!

[Andre Blackman]

Many of these are also on my reading list Debbie! Thanks for sharing :)

[microgaming]

Hi Debbie,

Nice list you posted here, I liked this post quite a lot, seems like you got good taste when it comes to reading. Some of the mentioned books are on my reading list for a future and I have already read "Speed of Trust" by Stephen Covey and I encourage people to read it, I liked it and found it useful.

[rainforest alliance coffee]

How nice of you! I think it's very interesting and maybe you could share some of those to us.