Top Picks from My Bookshelf: Inspiring Reads for Business & Creativity
I’m a book nerd. Always have been. Ever since I can remember myself (a funny phrase my non-native English speaker husband says all the time), I have been reading books.
I love most genres and subjects.
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My Bookstore Story
One of the best jobs I ever had as a young person was when I lived in Boston and was in graduate school at Boston University. I needed a part-time job to supplement my living expenses in the city, my student loans had already ballooned to a scary $ figure and didn’t want to add to it.
Before classes started I had visited the school bookstore which was on one floor of the giant Barnes & Noble. This building was a major landmark in downtown Boston because of the famous and very large Citgo sign on the roof. I don’t remember how I got the job but at the time I think it was as simple as filling out a paper application and being that I was a grad student going to classes in the neighborhood made it a given I would get hired.
My primary job was to shelf books for the university classes that undergrads were taking. One of my first questions was to ask if I could choose which departments I shelved. The manager thought this was an odd question, but nicely said that was fine. I avoided the subjects I don’t enjoy and the ones that had textbooks weighing 6 lbs each! Think Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Medicine.
I choose Psychology, Business, Classics, English and Art History.
Truly I was in heaven.
The work itself was boring, looking up ISBN codes, tracking down shipments with the receiving department, sorting used books that had been sold back the previous semester, and putting them all on the shelves, but it was perfect since I could keep my hands busy while I processed all the info I was learning in my very intense classes.
The fun part was reading all the titles, I would pretend to be busy looking up an ISBN or adding a price sticker when I was really reading the back covers. Any books that looked interesting or worth reading got added to a little notebook I carried around.
Now I had a heavy reading list for my own classes so I didn’t have time to read all those amazing Classics or Business and Psychology books. I was doing a dual major in International Relations and Communications so I had a whole lot of other books to read and papers to write.
What I did get were breaks where my co-workers would go to the roof and smoke cigarettes or lunch breaks. During these times I could take any books with me and bring them back to be shelved, my own little work library. I would borrow beautiful art books or interesting class learning packets and sit in the B&N cafe and enjoy the contents.
Why I am telling you this story?
Over the years I’ve collected an eclectic library of books from all sorts of genres that have continued to inspire and excite me and help me make connections that have led me to eCommerce and Business coaching. This is my pursuit of Psychology, Art, Writing, Creativity all rolled into each of our amazing business ventures.
If you are in need of some interesting reads that allow you to see the world a bit differently, get re-inspired about your business then I invite to take a journey through my personal list of favorite books on creativity and business.
How to Understand My Recommended Book List
A lot of the books I discovered and enjoyed back then are part of who I am today but won’t be on this list.
My recommendations below are books that I have in my personal library and find to be central to my job as a business coach.
Some are a bit outdated, so just skim past the outdated and possibly infuriating references that were written in a less woke time; after all being able to see our progress is an important gift that older books provide us.
Look for those gems that are worth underlining and highlighting. The books that are well loved by me, are full of post-it notes 📝 to mark pages, have scribbles and YES!!! marked on lines and in the margins. These are the books I don’t give anyone my copy, instead I’ll order and ship them a fresh one.
The are the books that that inspire me and draw out my creativity. They are more than just pages they are important to my life and business POV.
I’ve organized them below in an order that makes sense to me, so don’t worry about trying to figure it out :)
I’m not going to give you a full book review of each title but just a brief sentence of why I love it.
I tend to dislike the mainstream business books out there - I find most to be full of ego, fluff and lacking in the inspirational magic that for me books should bring us so you might be suprised that the books on most Top 10 Business books will never be on my list. It doesn’t mean I haven’t read them, it means I didn’t agree with them or like them enough to give them space here.
I hope you find these books as helpful and inspiring as I do!
Books from my shelf!
Category: Psychology, Mindset, Consumer Insights, Creativity
Truly inspiring explorations of the human mind, living a creative life, consumer psychology and how we all fit into it.
Why We Buy
If you own a business and have never read Paco Underhill’s classic Why We Buy, I you must read it! This book is what opened the door to my interest in marketing and consumer psychology.
Big Magic
A modern exploration of creativity, what it is, how to nurture it and how to live with it. One of my most marked up and well-loved books!
Quiet Marketing
This book has changed the entire trajectory of my business. If you are here reading this it is in part due to the unique way of doing business I’ve been studying with Dani Gardner.
The Five Faces of Genius
This book was one of the first business books that really helped me understand my personal zone of genius and why I thought differently from others at work. There are some outdated bits in this one so just take it for when it was written. The principles and 5 faces are in my opinion timeless.
Unreasonable Hospitality
This is the book that actually drove me to write this list! It is truly one of the best business books I’ve read in a long time. A 5 star experience you won’t want to miss!
Stories that Stick
A must read for all marketers. If you’ve ever heard it all about storytelling this book goes beyond the cliche to really explain how to tell a story that makes an impact. Speaking of “story” based business books, I am not a fan of Storybrand. There I said it. This book is way superior.
Sparketype
A recent discovery, this book feels like a great modern complement to the 5 faces of genius. Read more about this personality typing concept in this post.
Ogivly on Advertising
A timeless classic on copywriting, and creativity. If you enjoyed the show Mad Men, this is a must read.
Emotional Intelligence
A book that rocked my world the first time I read it. A concept I apply to my everyday interactions.
5 Love Languages
Ignore the romantic couple on the cover, I read this book and understood from a customer POV. What makes people tick, what makes them feel loved and appreciated and what pushes their buttons. A fascinating psychology book.
Tools is the closest I’ll get to recommending a “Bro” style business book. There is a lot of ego, name dropping and self congratulation in it but due to it’s sheer size and number of interviews I think everyone can find some gems that will resonate with them and those are worth putting up with the annoying parts.
Tipping Point
An amazing storyteller, I am always enthralled by Malcom Gladwell’s ability to narrate numbers and research into a tale that brings us to unexpected conclusions.
Category: Business, e-Commerce, Finance, Marketing
Practical books that are written for the lay-person with actionable and practical advice.
Profit First
An important read for anyone who is looking to scale their business. Profit 1st is a new way of looking at your financials without shame and guilt.
Inventory Genius
The must-read for eCommerce entreprenuers struggling with managing cash flow and profit. I’ve been lucky enough to meet and spend time with the amazing Ciara. I find her way of explaining complex and boring topics to be so approachable. This is a book I wish any inventory based business owner would read.
Company of One
The first book that gave me permission and perspective on how to create the business of my dreams on my terms! A must read for the multi-passionate entrepreneur who wishes to stay solo or small but highly profitable.
Recipe for Press
Amy Flurry demystify the process of getting press, with practical step by step instructions on how to pitch the media. Beautiful photos and real life stories make it an inspiring read.
Do you love this list, do you have any recommendations for me? Contact me here or via Instagram, I’d love to get your must-reads!