Great Books About Marketing & Creativity

Why I recommend it:
Applying these lessons to internal conversations can make a bigger difference than using them in marketing campaigns, and I think of this book every time I see a PowerPoint burdened with stats and burying the lead.

A Whack on the Side of the Head
Why I recommend it:
This needs to be accompanied by the Ball of Whacks, because this book came out 30 years before fidget spinners and advocates ten mental unlocks that work great in the workplace and can unstick any team and any project.

Do More Faster: Techstars Lessons to Accelerate Your Startup
Why I recommend it:
For people that don’t love reading, I’ve find essay-format books (like this) a great substitute. Chapters like “Trust Me, Your Idea Is Worthless” and “Don’t Plan. Prototype!” should be mandatory reading for everyone in enterprises and startups.

Free: The Future of a Radical Price
Why I recommend it:
The Hershey kiss example should’ve won a Nobel prize. Understanding how to use (but not abuse) this book’s concepts applies great to everything from digital design to retail fixtures.

The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less
Why I recommend it:
Another book that has a good TED talk, I often cite this book’s bread-maker and movie-concert-study. Whenever a project avoids prioritizing by “let’s do all of it”, this book cover flashes in my mind. A must-read for any product manager.

Design for Hackers: Reverse Engineering Beauty
Why I recommend it:
I’ll never create a font from scratch or intuit a color palette from scratch. This book teaches fundamentals like hierarchy and proportion, which won’t teach you how to paint Mona Lisa but will help you understand why you love it.
Book Sections

Leadership and Management
Whether you lead, manage, or mentor, these books help you find your style while enjoying the journey.

Marketing & Creativity
Books that debunk the myth that people are born creative and help unlock everyone’s inner marketer.

Mental Health & Happiness
Great reads that offer great ways to find joy in what we do, no matter where we are or where we’re going.

Tech & Software Development
Books that help nerds realize they’re more than coders, and help non-nerds learn that none of this is magic.

Parenting & Relationships
Although there’s no manual for being a good parent, these are great guides to help us improve every day.