The Reading List.
To celebrate world book day we’ve compiled a list of the books that have inspired, surprised and shaped the way we think about our clients challenges and our approach to finding solutions for them.
Conversation: How Talk Can Change Our Lives — by Theodore Zeldin
As communications professionals it’s easy to get caught up in models, data and the latest technology. Reading this book has gone some way to ensuring we continue to keep one eye on the most human objectives in our work; to facilitate debate, encourage challenge and enable the sharing of our individual experiences.
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World — by Cal Newport
Deep Work looks at how we can train ourselves to ignore the distractions around us and enter a state of almost Zenlike concentration on the task at hand, mixing academic thinking and the habits of successful leaders with practical methods to improve our capacity to work deeply. This is coupled with the explicit idea that AI and technology will render those who don’t adapt redundant. An inspirational and terrifying read in equal measure.
PREsuasion — by Robert Cialdini
PREsuasion takes the art of influence to the next level. Robert Cialdini explains how people’s receptiveness to a message can be increased or decreased before they receive it. And yes, that appeal to the unconscious can sometimes be disconcerting and morally ambiguous. But it’s an engaging and enlightening read nonetheless.
Superforecasting — by Phillip E. Tetlock
If you’re the sort of person who gets a little frustrated by people spouting off their opinion as a certainty, Superforecasting is the book for you. Professor Philip Tetlock took this scepticism to the extreme by studying the accuracy of ‘pundit’ predictions on geopolitical events over a 20-year period. In doing so, he shows what it takes to be a good decision-maker – it turns out a little doubt goes a long way.
Change By Design — by Tim Brown
Tim Brown is the CEO of IDEO. He argues that thinking like a designer can transform the way you develop products, services and processes. His view is that design is too important to be left to designers alone, and we agree.
79 Short Essays on Design — by Michael Beirut
This book of essays will refresh your perspective on design. You don't need to be a designer to read it and you'll always find insights that enlighten in surprising ways and can be transferred to your current projects.
A Technique for Producing Ideas — by James Young
This little book published in 1965 is a go to for anyone who wants to come up with new ideas, at any time, on any subject, on demand. Since its publication it has become a staple in every creative person's library. It's a quick read but is guaranteed to unlock your creativity.
We’d love to hear about the books that are changing the way you see the world. Let us know in the comments section.