For the past year, there has been a lot of chatter about how print is dying out. From blog to blog, we’ve seen the decline in advertising for print media and the uproar for online advertising spending. I’m here to tell you that print is far from dead. Our school systems encourage and force students to read books and text books that relate to their classes. The 2008 Kids and Family Reading Report by Yankelovich and Scholastic highlighted the following statistics:
- 75% of kids age 5-17 agree with the statement, “No matter what I can do online, I’ll always want to read books printed on paper”
- 62% of kids surveyed say they prefer to read books printed on paper rather than on a computer or a hand-held device.
- Kids who go online extend the reading experience are more likely to read books for fun every day.
Now that I have your attention, I would like to showcase 10 great books for your weekend reading.
“X Saves the World” by Jeff Gordinier. Jeff is the Editor-at-Large at Details magazine. Although I’m in Gen-Y, I do have interest in the other generations. The reason for this is because, in order for me and you to interact with them, we must have a better understanding of their past, present and behavioral habits. Jeff exposes his generation, from the dog-com era to Woodstock. He even taps into Gen-X’s innovation in art, comedy, technology, activism, and business, which define where they were and how they got here.
“The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow. This book is both inspirational and informative. Randy is a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, was asked to give a “last lecture” and didn’t even imagine it was his last, despite being diagnosed with terminal cancer. Randy believed in living, while overcoming obstacles and having an impact on students. In the book, you will be entertained, and read about this phenomenal lecture given by a man, who will live on forever.
“Distracted” by Maggie Jackson. It’s about time someone wrote about the disruptive technologies that are making our lives absolutely crazy. For me, distractions come in the form of my feed reader, Twitter, blogging, Facebook, email, instant messaging, skype, and much more. These distractions consume as much as 28% of the average U.S. worker’s day, according to Basex, a business research company in New York City. This book details the steep costs to our epidemic attention-deficits, while showing how a new science of attention can help us overcome a culture of speed and overload.
“The Future of the Internet and How to Stop It” by Jonathan Zittrain. This extraordinary book explains the engine that has catapulted the Internet from backwater to ubiquity—and reveals that it is sputtering precisely because of its runaway success. With the unwitting help of its users, the generative Internet is on a path to a lockdown, ending its cycle of innovation—and facilitating unsettling new kinds of control. This book shows how to develop new technologies and social structures that allow users to work creatively and collaboratively. This book will make you take a second look at the internet and how you can be part of the solution instead of the problem.
“New Girl on the Job” by Hannah Seligson. For all my women readers, this book is right up your alley. There are millions of young women who do what they do, just as well as you do it. Competition for the best jobs is fierce, office politics are tougher than you thought, tensions are high, and the road to success is not always an easy one. Through interviews with some of the best and brightest businesswomen in the country, meticulous research, and one-on-one interviews with hundreds of young women starting out in their careers, this book will guide you in the right path.
“Never Eat Alone” by Keith Ferrazzi. We’ve spoken a lot on this blog about relationships, because they are the building blocks of professional business and life success. Keith sets up a book where everybody wins. In this book, you will learn from his experience with connecting to thousands of colleagues, friends, and associates on his Rolodex. These are people he has helped and have helped him in return, for a mutual relationship. Ferrazzi’s form of connecting to the world around him is based on generosity, helping friends connect with other friends. This book is a national bestseller for good reason and if you haven’t read it already, pick up your copy today.
“The Anti 9-5 Guide” by Michelle Goodman. Michelle tells us to forget the 9-5 job and stop being confined by your cubicle. This practical career guide shows people weary of the corporate hamster wheel a better way to make a buck.gives readers reassuring, proactive advice on transitioning out of that unfulfilling day job into the self-styled career of their dreams. Whether you want to work part time, at home, outside, or overseas, this fun, girlfriend-to-girlfriend guide provides the resources you need to get the job done — without going broke.
“Small Giants” by Bo Burlingham. Bo is your tour guide, as an experienced journalist (Editor-at-large, Inc. Magazine), as he guides you through 14 remarkable privately held companies. In his search, he reveals what makes each unique and what magic ingredients they use to be successful. His book shows how some entrepreneurs have rejected the pressure of endless growth to focus on more satisfying business goals. Some of the companies include Clif Bar & Co., CitiStorage Inc., Anchor Brewing and Hammerhead Productions. Anyone working for a large company may feel a bit entrepreneurial after reading this book.
“Good in a Room” by Stephanie Palmer. This book helps people who want to increase revenue, find more clients, get promoted, and secure financing for their ideas. We teach entrepreneurs, executives and professionals how to improve their skills in meetings. As a result, our clients have raised their consulting fees, landed high-profile accounts, received perks and promotions, and financed new ventures. Stephanie, a former Director of Creative Affairs at MGM Pictures, explains how people sell ideas in Hollywood and how that can apply to other businesses.
“Work Sucks and How to Fix It” by Cali Ressler and Jody Thompson. Are you sick of pointless meetings, workin 9-5 everyday or begging the boss to be able to watch your son play soccer? This practical book tells you how to turn your company into a “results-only” company or department. The program discussed in the book has been successfully implemented at Best Buy, which landed a mega story on the cover of BusinessWeek Magazine. This book will change the way you think about your job, your company, and your quality of life.
