Books are awesome. They provide windows into new worlds, offer fresh insights and transform mindsets through the power of the written word. If you’re looking to add to your reading list, we’ve come up with a list of our favourite books that need to be in your book collection.
Account Executive Nichola Young has two books to recommend:
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike
Written by the founder of Nike Phil Knight, this book is an origin story of arguably the most successful shoe brand in the world. Knight goes into detail about his trials and triumphs, roadblocks and epiphanies.
Chock full of humour and insight, Shoe Dog is a great book to read for anyone with an interest in setting up a business or learning more about Nike.
Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
Set in London, this novel follows the life of 25-year-old Jamaican British Queenie Jenkins and her experience of love, life and journalism. Carty-Williams explores themes of heritage and relationships and faces down existential questions such as ‘what are you doing?” and “who do you want to be?’
Packed with wry observations and relatable stories, Queenie is an excellent book for exploring the human condition.
Content Manager Jamie Ryder also recommends two books:
Lives Of The Stoics by Ryan Holiday
In Lives Of The Stoics, Ryan Holiday celebrates the philosophy of Stoicism through tracing the stories of ancient Greek and Roman philosophers. From the founder of Stoicism Zeno of Citium, to the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, the book provides lots of insight into the motivations of the Stoics.
The book is inspirational because it offers actionable advice for the modern day. Holiday not only tells us how the Stoics lived, but what they did to put their philosophy into practice every day.
Copywriting Is… by Andrew Boulton
There’s no exact science to great copywriting and Andrew Boulton drives the point home in this funny and relatable love letter to the industry. Boulton highlights all the contradictions and creative hurdles content writers struggle with on a daily basis.
One of Jamie’s favourite lines from the book is copywriters are people who “are guilty of simmering indignation, a righteous contempt for those who believe that anyone with fingers, eyes and access to ink is capable of copywriting. And we see these characters everywhere, even lurking in the shadows of our best and most productive client relationships.
A feeling that our contribution isn’t quite as valued by some as we know it should be is perhaps the fuel for another common anxiety – a crippling, obsessive, maddening perfectionism.”
Account Manager Colleen Kelly recommends:
They Ask You Answer by Marcus Sheridan
A useful book for refining a marketing strategy, They Ask You Answer dives into major digital marketing topics like SEO and copywriting. Marcus Sheridan analyses tried and tested techniques in these areas and offers fresh insight into how to supercharge business growth.
Sheridan also pulls from his own marketing experience to paint a vivid picture of achieving marketing success.
Account Executive Darren Lennox recommends:
The Way of the Fight by George St Pierre
Written by prolific professional fighter George St Pierre, The Way of The Fight reveals how having a sense of purpose drives us forward. St Pierre draws from a mixture of his own personal stories and Eastern philosophy to offer advice on how to achieve goals.
To Darren, the book represents the sacrifices it takes to dedicate yourself to being the best at something.
Video & Multimedia Executive Jess Fairclough has a classic recommendation:
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Set in a dystopian future of patriarchal rule and female oppression, The Handmaid’s Tale is a thrilling novel to read. Margaret Atwood’s writing style is visceral and engaging, weaving together themes that have plenty of relevance in the modern day.