Around here, we try to read a book a week between the two of us. Since the first of the year, I've read three real books (as opposed to e-books) – two of them business related. (I do also read a huge volume of articles and blogs daily – and yes a few e-books, too.) One blog article this week pointed me to this great book list (which I will paste below for the most part) – I know it's great because I've read quite a few of the books – and most of the rest are on my 2009 hit list.
Those of you who have followed me for a bit know that I keep a reading list on my web site (scroll down the page for the list) – and I pass out an updated book and blog reading list at all of my speaking engagements. So, I thought I'd encourage you to pick up a good business book to pass the winter evenings by sharing the list shared with me as an addendum to my web site book list.
Books Every Small Business Owner Should Read (partial list below)
- Good to Great by Jim Collins – I've read this one and it's heady but must-know stuff.
- Duct Tape Marketing by John Jantsch – A small business marketing basic. I've given this one as gifts before.
- Guerrilla Marketing by Jay Conrad Levinson -I've read it but it's been a while so I can't speak about whether it's kept up with technology or not.
- A Passion for Excellence by Tom Peters, Thomas J Peters, Nancy Austin – Truly Excellent
- E Myth by Michael Gerber – Do NOT go into business until you've read this. I give this as reading material to coaching clients on a regular basis.
- The Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki – Anything by Kawasaki is worthy of my time.
- How to Become a Rainmaker by Jeffrey Fox (I like all his books) - Excellent book that we've both read.
- 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferris – This is a popular book, but I have trouble getting past the fact that I think I actually want to work more than 4 hours per week!
- How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie – Old school book that everyone must read.
- The Knack by Norm Brodsky and Bo Burlingham – This is on many top business book lists for 2008 – and it's on my hitlist for the next few weeks.
- The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell (I like Outliers too) - Gladwell is a genious, so if you want a piece of that action, be sure you read something by him this year.
- The New Rules of Marketing and PR by David Meerman Scott
- Success Principles by Jack Canfield and Janet Switzer
- Visionary Business by Marc Allen
- Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath – I just finished this book back in January, and it was exceptional. I highly recommend the brothers Heath.
My own addendum to this list is an easy read, entertaining and helpful beyond imagination in this economy… Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi. This guy is self-made, and he does it by using AUTHENTIC relationship building as a way of life. This is not a cheesy sales book – it is a classy, ethical, and realistic way of approaching life and business that we should all subscribe to with more passion and persistence.
I will also read Tribes by Seth Godin in the next month…
Happy reading, small business owner.
