Your Summer reading list… sorted

What does your Summer reading list look like? If you don’t have one, but would like to spend time on your professional development, or discovering new voices, this article will help.

I’ve just bought two books – Richard Branson’s latest, The Virgin Way, and the classic Confessions of an advertising man by David Ogilvy. I love buying books, and both of these appealed to me.

I can’t bring myself to switch to a Kindle or similar device. This may be in part due to having kinesthetic tendencies, as I can’t beat the feeling of a “proper book” in my hands, so these two are my handbag/nappy bag companions at the moment.

My twins have just turned seven-months-old and we’ve changed from cloth to board books. It’s a joy to watch the boys discovering them for the first time, although largely as items to chew on…

I’ve started Ogilvy’s book already and am enjoying the advice, which is firmly rooted in the 1960s, when it was written, but smacks of common sense that has stood the test of time.

I was reading it on the Tube last week and nearly missed my stop as I was engrossed, always a good sign!

Your 50 favourite marketing and PR media

Last week Ketchum’s Stephen Waddington, @wadds, published Your 50 favourite digital, marketing and public relations media.

He created it based on media he consumes regularly or recommendations to his request for nominations via social media.

There are 10 blogs, 10 books, 10 communities, 10 newsletters and 10 podcasts. So if you’re looking for new things to read, listen to or join, I heartily recommend checking it out.

Thank you for your recommendations, am delighted to see All Things IC on the list under blogs. I recognise lots of the names and recommendations within the article, and will rummage through the ones which are new to me.

Stephen said: “Your own networks will almost certainly generate different results. Why don’t you try it and see? We all love a list. Whatever your interest or specialism there is likely to be something here to interest you and add to your regular diet of continuous professional development (CPD).”

Want to share your ideas? Do Tweet me @AllthingsIC or Tweet this article to share it with your network.

The blogs are:

#1 Dan Slee – Social media, PR and digital communications in the public sector

#2 David Phillips – Wide ranging thinker on the future of personal and organisational communication

#3 Gini Dietrich  – Professional development for marketing and public relations professions

#4 Heather Yaxley – Public relations thinking, connecting ideas, thoughts and comment

#5 Helen Reynolds – Inspiration, creativity and social media

#6 Iliyana Stareva – Practical marketing and public relations guidance from a HubSpot writer

#7 Mat Morrison – Original thinker and doer on planning, data driven insights and opinion

#8 Mike Love – The business of reputation in organisations and politics

#9 Rachel Miller – Internal communications, issues and information for public relations and marketing professionals

#10 Tom Liacas – Activist turned advisor on using social networks to exert pressure on governments and corporations.

Further reading

Looking for more books to read? I’ve published my annual list of recommended reads since 2009.

See the books page to discover the lists, plus publications I’ve contributed to.

I’ve also written Recommended reads for comms pros.

They include:

• Social Media Explained: Untangling the World’s Most Misunderstood Business Trend by Mark W. Schaefer. (2014)
• The PR Masterclass: How to Develop a Public Relations Strategy That Works by Alex Singleton. Wiley (2014).
• Brand Media Strategy, 2nd Edition: Integrated Communications Planning in the Digital Era by Antony Young. Palgrave Macmillan (2014).
• The Public Relations Strategic Toolkit: An Essential Guide to Successful Public Relations by Alison Theaker and Heather Yaxley. Routledge (2012).
• Internal Communications: A Manual for Practitioners (PR In Practice) by Liam Fitzpatrick and Klavs Valskov. Kogan Page (2014)
• Strategic Internal Communication: How to Build Employee Engagement and Performance by David Cowan. Kogan Page (2014).
• Share This: Social Media Solutions for PR Professionals, Wiley (2012).

What’s on your summer reading list? You’re welcome to comment below or Tweet me @AllthingsIC.

I Tweeted I was writing this article, and suggestions from comms pros in my network can be found below:

@AllthingsIC Checklist by @Atul_Gawande is a terrific book

— Andrew Abboud (@aabboud) July 27, 2015

@AllthingsIC oh and for anyone looking ahead 2020 workplace ?

— Neets (@eight_circles) July 27, 2015

@AllthingsIC Internal Communications by Liam Fitzpatrick, Gifts of imperfection by Brene Brown, Tribes by Seth Godin

— Neets (@eight_circles) July 27, 2015

@AllthingsIC “sticky wisdom” easy summertime reading on creativity for when the mind’s free for a bit of thought provocation

— Orchard Alerind (@rcdl) July 27, 2015

@AllthingsIC Bill Quirke obviously ?

— Katherine Loe (@katherineloe) July 27, 2015

@AllthingsIC yes definitely and John Smyth, Chief Engagement Officer.

— Katherine Loe (@katherineloe) July 27, 2015

@AllthingsIC Some gr8 books on there but a bit “dry”? Why not sprinkle wth brand & culture? Nicholas Ind or IP Buckingham, Brand Engagement?

— branddisasters (@branddisasters) July 27, 2015

You can find the books mentioned above on Amazon:

• Making the connections, Bill Quirke
• The Chief Engagement Officer, John Smythe
• Tribes by Seth Godin
• Sticky Wisdom by Dave Allan
• The gifts of imperfection by Bene Brown
• The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande
• The 2020 workplace by Meister and Willyerd

There are a couple of books there that are new to me, thank you again for Tweeting your suggestions.

I’m going to leave you with this Oscar Wilde quote I love. Happy reading!

Rachel

Post author: Rachel Miller

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First published on All Things IC blog 27 July 2015. Updated 2016.