If you were stranded with only 14 books to read, what would they be?
I’m about to move from Europe back to the United States. I have to tell the moving guys which books to pack for the sea shipment (which will take nearly two months to arrive at my new home) and which books to pack in our air shipment (which will arrive in a week or so).
This got me thinking: Which of my books are my best resources? Which book would be the most helpful for starting a new company or growing an existing one?
Putting aside the fact that a deserted island may prove challenging to find a customer base, here are my recommendations.
Getting Started
Art of the Start is one of the best first-step books in starting any business. Jump Start Your Marketing Brain scientifically dispels many of our common (mis)beliefs about the right and wrong ways to run a business and perform marketing activities.
The Art of the Start:
The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything
by Guy Kawasaki
Jump Start Your Marketing Brain:
Scientific Advice and Practical Ideas
by Doug Hall
Personal Motivation
Kevin’s Rules of the Red Rubber Ball helps you put your passions in perspective and use them to motivate you. A great story, a great lesson. Steven’s The War of Art kicks your ass and thwarts procrastination like no other book I’ve ever read. David’s The Magic of Thinking Big is the book The Secret for business. A positive and big outlook delivers positive and big results.
Rules of the Red Rubber Ball:
Find and Sustain Your Life’s Work
by Kevin Carroll
The War of Art:
Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
by Steven Pressfield
The Magic of Thinking Big
by David J. Schwartz
Sales & Marketing
A recent purchase for me, Brian’s Be a Sales Superstar contains 21 nuggets of pure sales gold. A must read.
Be a Sales Superstar:
21 Great Ways to Sell More, Faster, Easier in Tough Markets
by Brian Tracy
Idea Generation/Smart Thinking
Every business needs good ideas. Good ideas to start, good ideas to thrive. Sticky Wisdom is one of the best books I’ve read on being creative, brainstorming, and starting a creative revolution.
Sticky Wisdom:
How to Start a Creative Revolution at Work
by ?WhatIf!
Presentation / Influencing Others
Dan’s book The Back of the Napkin is a must-read for anyone who has to influence anyone else. His second, companion book Unfolding the Napkin is a how-to guide that goes deeper than the original book. (If I had only one to pick, it would be this Unfolding the Napkin.)
Unfolding the Napkin:
The Hands-On Method for Solving Complex Problems with Simple Pictures
by Dan Roam
Being Remarkable/Stand Apart From Your Competition
These are the best books on standing out, being remarkable, making yourself differentiated from your competition. Doug talks about figuring out and communicating your overt benefit, Seth is all about going beyond customer expectations, Bill helps you figure out your dominant selling idea, and Marty helps you to zag while everyone else is zigging.
Jump Start Your Business Brain:
The Scientific Way To Make More Money
by Doug Hall
Free Prize Inside!
The Next Big Marketing Idea
by Seth Godin
Why Johnny Can’t Brand:
Rediscovering the Lost Art of the Big Idea
by Bill Schley
Zag:
The Number One Strategy of High-Performance Brands
by Marty Neumeier
Customer Service
Totally Awesome Customer Experiences is totally awesome at helping you create a comprehensive strategy for service and experience at your company. Ben and Jackie wrote the best book on leveraging the power and influence of your best customers.
Creating and Delivering Totally Awesome Customer Experiences
by Gary W. Millet and Blaine W. Millet
Creating Customer Evangelists:
How Loyal Customers Become a Volunteer Sales Force
by Ben McConnell and Jackie Huba
What books am I missing? A cookbook for coconut recipes? What book would you take to your island?
[...] unknown wrote an interesting post today. Here’s a quick excerptMarketingProfs blogger Paul Williams offers his list of 14 business books to read when stranded on an island. [...]
Thanks for these great resources! I am just getting starting in my reading venture to help build my business. I’d like to add another gem to your list that I just finished called, “The Law of Attraction,” by Deborah Morrison & Arvind Singh. The authors explain true prosperity in such an inspirational way you won’t want to put it down. Very helpful read!
Audrey… You can’t go wrong with these titles – I promise!
Thanks for The Law of Attraction suggestion as well.
Paul (and Marketing Profs) — always an honor to make such an esteemed list. Thanks so much for the mention. Why Johnny Can’t Brand in paperback coming out in about 30 days. Best
Bill Schley — Co- Author, Why Johnny Can’t Brand and coming soon, The Micro-Script Rules.
Cool, Bill – good to know.
Thanks for commenting!
You can’t be serious about “The Law of Attraction” and “The Secret” (same things), can you? You are mentioning those titles as a form of satire, right? No thinking person can believe the drivel in these titles. While there may be something psychologically beneficial to positive thinking, believing things such as “you can eat all you want and you won’t gain weight if you think thin thoughts” and “all the crises in your life are your fault because you had negative thoughts” defy common sense.
I would like to add two books that are real eye openers. “The Designful Company” by Marty Neumeier amd “Buyology by Martin Lindstrom.
[...] 14 Business Books to Read When Stranded Somewhere (Paul Williams, Marketing Profs): I didn’t read a single on of these on my vacation, but each either was already on my list, or is now. What do you think? Any you would add? [...]