Wednesday Lunchtime Poll #7

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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?

Comments

  1. Justin McCammon July 3, 2008

    Hey Whipple, Squeeze This! by

    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.

  2. Josef July 3, 2008

    “How to be a Graphic Designer

    “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.

  3. Bramwell July 3, 2008

    “Tell Me Why: The First 24

    “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.

  4. David Mulholland July 3, 2008

    Confessions of an Advertising

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

  5. M. Westfield July 3, 2008

    The Elements of Color, by

    The Elements of Color, by Itten

  6. Rona July 3, 2008

    “The Art of Innovation” by

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

  7. Alan Bucknam July 3, 2008

    Designing Brand Identity , by

    Designing Brand Identity , by Alina Wheeler.

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

  8. Mindy Nies, President AIGA Colorado July 3, 2008

    Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas

    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

  9. Joseph Zwolinski July 3, 2008

    The Little Blue Book of

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

  10. hmenges July 3, 2008

    Where the Suckers

    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.

  11. Andrew Carr July 3, 2008

    Seventy-nine Short Essays on

    Seventy-nine Short Essays on Design by Michael Bierut

  12. Chris Rock July 3, 2008

    I’m with hmenges. “Where the

    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.

  13. Pablo Amoroso July 3, 2008

    The Elements of User

    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.

  14. Brian Suter July 3, 2008

    Originally posted by

    Originally posted by Alan:

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

    Great book!

  15. Media rocks July 3, 2008

    For all of you media people

    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.

  16. Paul Suggett

    Paul Suggett July 3, 2008

    The Copy Book by The

    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

  17. Rad Writer July 3, 2008

    ABSOLUTES:
    Radical Careering

    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

  18. Jordan July 3, 2008

    I LOVED ‘Where the Suckers

    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.

  19. Larry Hinkle July 4, 2008

    most of these are old, but

    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

  20. steve whittier July 4, 2008

    E. Yes that is the name. And

    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.

  21. pat July 7, 2008

    “E,” despite being a work of

    “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.

  22. Mike King July 7, 2008

    “Dry” by Augusten Burroughs

    “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.

  23. Paul Suggett

    Paul Suggett July 9, 2008

    re: E
    I read it and laughed

    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.

  24. David Stone July 9, 2008

    A lot of good books mentioned

    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.

  25. Joe Mease July 9, 2008

    On the

    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.

  26. Christina Schroeder July 17, 2008

    Dusenberry’s Then We Set His

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

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