About 3 years ago I stopped reading business and marketing books.
Not because ‘I know better’ but because I am privileged to speak to experts embedded in the marketing industry every week – from the CMOs and Marketing Directors I interview for my weekly interviews in The Drum to the industry disrupting marketing supplier partners on our Little Grey Cells Club events.
Suddenly I rediscovered reading for pleasure – rather than for self-improvement.
Here’s this year’s favourite 10 reads so you may enjoy them too.
10 books that aren’t about marketing that I loved reading this year:
Titanium Noir – Nick Harkaway
Part sci-fi part detective noir. A fabulous, fast-paced page-turner, set in the near future where for huge amounts of money, you can become a Titan – reach your apotheosis and maybe live forever.
On Writing – Stephen King
Arguably his masterwork. A fascinating insight into one of the world’s most successful and prolific pan-genre authors. Just great.
The Places In Between – Rory Stewart
Late to the party on this one. What an astonishing journey. Rory walks across Afghanistan shortly after 9/11. Insight into why foreign systems of government rarely work when imposed on local society – especially when each valley is ruled by a different warlord, with different allegiances and history with authority.
The Hotel – Daisy Johnson
Super-spooky bite-size stories – all connected to the same haunted hotel. Love it.
Who Will Remain – Kasim Ali
Bought after hearing the author discussing the novel on BBC R4. A great but bleak tale that chronicles a Brummie student’s descent into drug dealing and gangs in the UK.
Among The Trolls – Marianna Spring
The BBC’s Disinformation specialist and correspondent shares shocking insight into the daedal web of social media – who is peddling misinformation – and why. A fascinating read as the sources of popular and frequent quoted incorrect information are often abstruse – but Marianna finds them.
The Haves And The Have Yachts – Evan Osnos
Essays from the New York Times journalist on behaviours of the ultra-rich. Worth buying for the title essay alone. Then there’s the chapter about Flo Rida performing at bar mitzvahs for the super-wealthy or New Zealand’s billionaire land grab.
All That Glitters – Orlando Whitfield
Lifting the lid on the world of achingly hip contemporary art, the lack of regulation and the meteoric rise and fall of charismatic American art dealer, Inigo Philbrick. As told by his student buddy from his time at Goldsmiths. A true eye-opener.
Careless People – Sarah Wynn-Williams
How the world of social media could be improved.
A Brief History of the End of the F*cking World – Tom Phillips
Light-hearted romp through our obsession as a species with the ‘end times’. Feeds into my on going fascination with when the future moved from utopia to dystopia.
About 3 years ago I stopped reading business and marketing books.
Not because ‘I know better’ but because I am privileged to speak to experts embedded in the marketing industry every week – from the CMOs and Marketing Directors I interview for my weekly interviews in The Drum to the industry disrupting marketing supplier partners on our Little Grey Cells Club events.
Suddenly I rediscovered reading for pleasure – rather than for self-improvement.
Here’s this year’s favourite 10 reads so you may enjoy them too.
