I know it’s hard to find time for books (print or digital) these days. But, I feel as business owners, continuing self improvement should rank up there along with our other business goals. I’ve found books to be great sources for motivation, inspiration and self-actualization. To that end, I’d like to recommend Chip Conley’s new book EMOTIONAL EQUATIONS. I’m reading it and finding it fresh and insightful. It’s available in print and digital versions on Amazon. Check it out.

@russellallert – Thanks for posting the link to your Pinterest reading list.  I took a peek. I think Ann Handley and CC Chapman’s Content Rules is one of those books that every content marketer should have, read and apply.

@rachelagheyisi @russellallert Great recommendations, both of you. I haven’t read Unmarketing by Scott Stratten, but saw him doing a one-hour long keynote in March 2011 – he was phenomenal.

Speaking of inspiring books, I would add “The End of Business as Usual”, by Brian Solis. I did a book review on it last week on my blog.

Cheers,
Frederic

@russellallert @fredericgonzalo — I’m soooo impressed with you guys! Glad to know that we can still make time for books.

Russell ,when you’re done with Mavericks at Work, check out Daniel Pink’s A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule The Future. It makes a beautiful case for thinking differently.

@fredericgonzalo — heck, why not?  A book club sounds like a great idea. We’d have to get more people “hooked” to make it viable.  So, let’s see if the idea catches on.

@russellallert That’s too funny… I was about to write and recommend Seth Godin, but at the last moment chose to mention Malcolm Gladwell. I guess we read and appreciate similar stuff

By the way, just ordered the book “Maverick at works” on Amazon. Looking forward to reading it shortly.

@dextereugenio — Welcome to the chat.

Time is always a constraint! 

However, I’m still  old-fashioned when it comes to books – I like the feel of a print copy and being able to mark it up, pass it around, donate it, etc.  It is why I’m resisting investing in an eReader — much as I’m tempted by the Kindle Fire.  I may ultimately give in because it does make it easier to travel with lots of books in their digital forms.

For those of you who are considering bringing social media into your company, I’d highly recommend The Now Revolution by Jay Baer. It’s an excellent read and can help to overcome the hurdles that come with that change.

@rachelagheyisi: Love Daniel Pink’s book. Also check out Switch and Made to Stick by the Heath Brothers.

@russellallert: Everything by Gladwell is worth reading. Not sure how much business know-how I got from them, but great reads.

@fredericgonzalo @dextereugenio: My favorite Godin book was Permission Marketing; literally changed my (business) life.

@fsdegrees: Crush It was great. Finished it almost too quickly. Started Thank You Economy by Gary V, but never finished it. Hmmm…

But, the best business book I’ve ever read (and read it twice) is Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini. I just wrote SEVEN blog posts on the “weapons of influence.” If you’re interested in how you might use them, check out my first blog post and go from there.

@rich-brooks — I love Daniel Pink’s book because he “gets” what it’s like to be “trapped” as a left-brainer — the limitations of being a linear and analytical thinker — and the liberation of developing inventive and big-picture capabilities. I refer to the book often and there’s always new insight.

I feel the same way as you do about Cialdini’s book (Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion). He makes profound points about universal principles of human interactions. It is a powerful resource.

BTW, I think our interactions here is a good example of reciprocation.

As you all probably now know, @fredericgonzalo has taken this reading idea and is generating quite an interest in the formation of a Book Club (SBBC). Fantastic! So I look forward to seeing all of you bibliophiles at the club. It’d be wonderful if we can collectively read at least 9 books this year

Enchantment by Guy Kawasaki is good too…and of course least we forget…@micael-stelzner’s Launch.

About 2 months ago I listened to the audiobook for John Maxwell’s “How Successful People Think”. It was very well written an has changed the way I approach brainstorming new ideas for marketing my business. It was well worth the time.

@karenolenick Hello Karen,
Take a look at the following thread: http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/clubs/small-business/forum/topic/interested-in-joining-sbbc-small-business-book-club/

We have started a book club, and it just so happens that “Content Rules” was chosen for the first book to read. Hope you can join us!

Cheers,