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Wednesday Lunchtime Poll #7

Since our focus on this site is about helping us all become better at what we do, this week, we’re wondering:

What industry-related book is on your must read list?

48 days ago / / Link

Comment

  1. Hey Whipple, Squeeze This! by Luke Sullivan

    It somehow seems cliche to mention that book, but I think there’s a good reason for it being on practically everyone’s list.

    — Justin McCammon · Jul 3, 04:51 AM · #

  2. “How to be a Graphic Designer without Losing Your Soul” by Adrian Shaughnessy is a pretty decent read, but still find many answers in “Everyone Poops” by Taro Gomi.

    — Josef · Jul 3, 04:54 AM · #

  3. “Tell Me Why: The First 24 Months of a New York Design Company” Is a light in the closet for anyone who wants to become a freelancer or start their own firm. Plus, it has a lot of pictures.

    — Bramwell · Jul 3, 05:13 AM · #

  4. Confessions of an Advertising Man, Ogilvy. Such a classic.

    — David Mulholland · Jul 3, 05:14 AM · #

  5. The Elements of Color, by Itten

    — M. Westfield · Jul 3, 05:15 AM · #

  6. “The Art of Innovation” by Tom Kelley, General Manager of IDEO with Jonathan Littman.

    — Rona · Jul 3, 05:51 AM · #

  7. Designing Brand Identity , by Alina Wheeler.

    Also: The Elements of Typographic Style , by Robert Bringhurst.

    — Alan Bucknam · Jul 3, 05:56 AM · #

  8. Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, by Chip + Dan Heath

    Zag: The Number One Strategy of High-Performance Brands, by Marty Neumeier

    Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t by James C. Collins

    All 3 are excellent books that offer recommendations on helping you improve and differentiate your business and clients business.

    Also:
    How To Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul by Adrian Shaughnessy

    — Mindy Nies, President AIGA Colorado · Jul 3, 06:02 AM · #

  9. The Little Blue Book of Advertising: 52 Small Ideas That Can Make a Big Difference by Steve Lance, Jeff Woll

    — Joseph Zwolinski · Jul 3, 06:02 AM · #

  10. Where the Suckers Moon
    and
    How to Put Your Book Together and Get a Job in Advertising by Maxine Paetro. Though I considered this gospel when I wast starting my career in the early 90s, I haven’t read it since so not sure it’s as relevant.

    — hmenges · Jul 3, 06:45 AM · #

  11. Seventy-nine Short Essays on Design by Michael Bierut

    — Andrew Carr · Jul 3, 06:55 AM · #

  12. I’m with hmenges. “Where the Suckers Moon” was a great behind-the-scenes look at pitching Subaru. And Paetro’s book book was a huge help in the wee early days. Sullivan’s “Squeeze This” is another classic and incredibly funny in an early 90s kinda way.

    Which, yes, all those seem dated.

    I’ve been meaning to read “Hoopla” but just can’t…seem to…do…it.

    — Chris Rock · Jul 3, 07:32 AM · #

  13. The Elements of User Experience by Jesse James Garrett. As he says, it’s about asking the right questions – and that goes way beyond site design.

    — Pablo Amoroso · Jul 3, 08:37 AM · #

  14. Originally posted by Alan:

    “The Elements of Typographic Style , by Robert Bringhurst.”

    Great book!

    — Brian Suter · Jul 3, 08:50 AM · #

  15. For all of you media people out there, and I know there are a few, “web analytics: an hour a day” is a great book for learning the ins and outs of online advertising. Also, I really like “Experience the Message” by Max Lenderman.

    — Media rocks · Jul 3, 08:52 AM · #

  16. nice topic. i look forward to expanding my library.

    there are just so many… not including the great ones already mentioned. here’s my short list:

    “100 Habits of Successful Graphic Designers” by Josh Berger & Sarah Dougher – good read

    “Universal Principles of Design” by William Lidwell, Kritina Holden & Jill Butler – it’s like and encyclopedia for designers

    “The Laws of Simplicity” by John Maeda

    “Radical Careering” by Sally Hogshead

    “AIGA Professional Practices in Graphic Design” by Tad Crawford

    “Understanding Comics” by Scott McCloud – this one may seem a little odd to those who haven’t read it but this book has so much information in it about how and why visual communication works. yes it is a comic book that is about comic books, but i guarantee that anyone who works in visual communications will get something out of it. doesn’t hurt if you actually like comics.

    — grinder · Jul 3, 09:25 AM · #

  17. damn i forgot:

    “Inside the Business of Graphic Design: 60 Leaders Share Their Secrets of Success” by Catharine Fishel – similar to 100 habits. nice inside look at studios big and small.

    — grinder · Jul 3, 09:33 AM · #

  18. I liked Advertising Realities by Wes Perrin. Totally dated…but a fun read.

    Also, Without Feathers by Woody Allen…just because it’s fun.

    — Jimmye · Jul 3, 09:34 AM · #

  19. The Copy Book by The D&AD
    Small Is The New Big – Seth Godin
    The Craft Of Copywriting – Alastair Crompton
    The Book Of Gossage – Howard Gossage
    Behind The Scenes In Advertising – Jeremy Bullmore
    A Smile In The Mind – D. Stuart

    — Paul Suggett · Jul 3, 09:44 AM · #

  20. ABSOLUTES:
    Radical Careering by Sally Hogshead
    CP+B’s Hoopla
    It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be by Paul Arden
    Whatever You Think, Think The Opposite by Paul Arden

    — Rad Writer · Jul 3, 10:17 AM · #

  21. I LOVED ‘Where the Suckers Moon’—Although I had Joe Pytka nightmares for weeks. And I also have a “Writer’s Block” on my desk which is pretty darn useful.

    Anyone ever read “Up the Agency” by Peter Mayle? Keeps things in perspective.

    — Jordan · Jul 3, 10:33 AM · #

  22. most of these are old, but still quite good. much like my mom.

    truth, lies and advertising, by jon steel.

    cutting edge advertising, by jim aitchison.

    guts: advertising from the inside out, by john lyons.

    eating the big fish, by adam morgan.

    some of the newer ones i have on my shelf, but have yet to read. (technically, they’re in a box, since we just moved last week.)

    juicing the orange, by some guy named fallon.

    all marketers are liars, by seth godin.

    lovemarks, by kevin roberts

    — Larry Hinkle · Jul 3, 02:34 PM · #

  23. E. Yes that is the name. And yes this is a cut and paste from Amazon.

    Book Description
    A fast-paced, wickedly funny tale of office back-stabbing and corporate intrigue that unfolds in a succession of escalating e-mails.

    Carla Browne-1/5/00, 3:05 pm
    to: All Departments
    re: I’m leaving now . . . but before I go there are some things you should know . . . !!!!

    Set in a London ad agency desperate to land a coveted big account, e follows the bureaucratic bungling, cutthroat maneuvers, and outrageous sexual antics of a group of Miller-Shanks employees as they scheme, lie, lust, and claw their way up (and down) the company ladder.

    Written by a former advertising copywriter, this hilarious, dead-on-target novel marks the debut of a hip and exciting new voice in contemporary fiction. With the click of a mouse, Matt Beaumont brings the novel of letters into the twenty-first century, turning his merciless, unerring eye on today’s Machiavellian corporate culture-with uproarious results.

    — steve whittier · Jul 3, 07:29 PM · #

  24. “E,” despite being a work of fiction, is tremendous. I really keep meaning to buy it for the agency.

    Also “Then We Set His Hair On Fire” by Phil Dusenberry. Awfully pompous at times, but worth it for the nuggets of retro-timeless wisdom.

    — pat · Jul 7, 08:54 AM · #

  25. “Dry” by Augusten Burroughs isn’t necessarily about advertising, but a lot of the story revolves around his time as a writer at an NYC agency, and a whole lot of booze.

    — Mike King · Jul 7, 09:54 AM · #

  26. re: E
    I read it and laughed way too much, I think because it was so painfully true. Also worth checking out is The E Before Christmas, by the same author.

    — Paul Suggett · Jul 8, 04:08 PM · #

  27. A lot of good books mentioned on here.

    I like EPICA BOOK. It comes out every year and you can get it through Amazon. It’s surprising how many people haven’t seen one considering how great it is each year.

    Also the new book by CU’s very own Brett Robbs is sure to be good. I think it just came out.

    — David Stone · Jul 8, 05:52 PM · #

  28. On the programming/interactive side, I would recommend McConnell’s “Code Complete”, and “Code Complete 2”.

    Probably the 2 best books as far as refining and advancing my approach to coding, development, and delivering a quality product on time, and within budget.

    — Joe Mease · Jul 9, 05:36 AM · #

  29. Dusenberry’s Then We Set His Hair on Fire is a good read, and Predictably Irrational, about consumer behavior by Dan Ariely.

    — Christina Schroeder · Jul 17, 07:06 AM · #