Do you enjoy reading about new ideas? I certainly do! I am especially attracted to books that challenge “business as usual” and I thought it would be fun to share ten of my favorites.

Innovation, wisdom, action!

I’ve compiled a list of ten fantastic reads that offer innovative ideas, practical wisdom, and action plans.

Many are classics; some are newer. You’ll notice my favorite authors have made the list more than once.

While this list is by no means comprehensive, I think it’s a helpful start.

I also contained the list to books that are relatively short; that is, you can read them in an afternoon or two. The exceptions are The New Rules of Marketing & PR, Now, Discover Your Strengths and Funky Business.

I hope you find inspiration among these books, as I have!

So, in no particular order, here is my list of ten game-changing (yes, game-changing) books for marketers, entrepreneurs, freelancers, and business owners:

1. THREE books by Tom Peters. Make that Tom “Yoda” Peters. Pick at least one and read it NOW. (OK, so there are actually 12 books on the list.)

• The Brand You 50: Fifty Ways to Transform Yourself from an Employee into a Brand That Shouts Distinction, Commitment, and Passion! Buy it here.
• The Professional Service Firm 50: Fifty Ways to Transform Your “Department” into a Professional Service Firm Whose Trademarks are Passion and Innovation! Buy it here.
• The Project 50: Fifty Ways to Transform Every Task into a Project That Matters! Buy it here.

Read Tom’s blog Dispatches from the New World of Work.

2. World Wide Rave: Creating Triggers that Get Millions of People to Spread Your Ideas and Share Your Stories by David Meerman Scott. Buy it here.

• If this book doesn’t change the way you think about marketing … then you need to read it again. It might even change your life.

Read David’s blog WebInkNow.

3. Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable by Seth Godin. Buy it here.

• Think you’re remarkable? Think again.

Read Seth’s blog.

4. How to Become a Rainmaker: The Rules for Getting and Keeping Customers and Clients by Jeffrey Fox. Buy it here.

• You will need to adapt these common sense ideas to today’s technology, but if you consistently apply the concepts, your sales will increase and your clients will love you.

Buy the book and find more stuff on the Fox & Company website.

5. Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton. Buy it here.

• You will be prompted to access the website and take the Strengthsfinder assessment. Personally, I found that applying my “Signature Themes” significantly reduces work-related stress and practically turns work into play. Or art. Really!

6. The New Rules of Marketing & PR: How to Use News Releases, Blogs, Podcasting, Viral Marketing and Online Media to Reach Buyers Directly by David Meerman Scott. Buy it here.

Read it – or perish.

Read David’s blog WebInkNow.

7. Funky Business: Talent Makes Capital Dance by Kjell Nordstrom and Jonas Ridderstrale. Buy it here.

Workers really do control the means of production! One of my favorite new classics.

Experience the original Funky Business here and Funky Business Forever here.

8. Screw It, Let’s Do It by Richard Branson. Buy it here.

This is a short, motivational, uncomplicated book – you can probably read it in less than an hour.

Read Richard’s blog.

9. Meatball Sundae: Is Your Marketing Out of Sync? by Seth Godin. Buy it here.

You must read this book – and implement what you learn – if you expect to stay in business. (Yes, it’s that important.)

Read Seth’s blog.

10. Marketing Lessons from the Grateful Dead: What Every Business Can Learn from the Most Iconic Band in History by David Meerman Scott and Brian Halligan. Buy it here.

“Once in awhile, you get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right.” (Enough said!)

Read David’s blog WebInkNow; read the Hubspot blog here.

Homework

Make a commitment: Read a different book from this list each week for the next ten weeks. (Come on, how about one each month?)

Happy reading – and be sure to implement!

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Image compiled by author.