6 Not-So-Obvious Books Everyone In Business Should Read
Some of the best business advice can often be found in books you'd least expect.
By Ken Peters, December 2008
Eager entrepreneurs hoping to harness the secrets of success fervently peruse pages and pore over paragraphs in books from "The Art of War" to "The Art of the Deal". Seeking sage advice from gurus like Sun Tzu and Donald Trump might help you connect with your inner Machiavelli, but some of the most useful and inspiring wisdom for business owners is often found between the lines in less likely sources.
Put down your highlighter and that dog-eared copy of "Rich Dad, Poor Dad", and fret not if you lack one or two of the "7 Habits of Highly Effective People". Instead, I offer you this eclectic list of books that at first glance may seem a bit offbeat for the subject at hand. You won't find them among the heralded how-to tomes lining the business section of the local Barnes & Noble, but each provides unexpected insight for anyone seeking to prosper as a business owner.
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
"He was shortish. And oldish. And brownish. And mossy. And he spoke with a voice that was sharpish and bossy. Mister! he said with a sawdusty sneeze, I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees." And, the mossy-bossy Lorax was speaking for the trees decades before the snorey-borey Al Gore gave voice to "An Inconvenient Truth". Business owners are in a privileged position to set an example for, and have a far-reaching impact on, environmental stewardship and responsibility. Seuss rhymes right to the heart of the matter with clarity and ease by spinning the tale of the "Truffula Trees".
Lincoln At Gettysburg by Gary Wills
In our culture of information overload and short attention spans, your brand's ability to communicate can be the difference between success and failure. Take a lesson from Lincoln. The power of communication has rarely been given a more compelling demonstration than in his dedication of the Soldiers' Cemetery at Gettysburg. Exploring the historical context of the man, the moment, and the message - and how all merged brilliantly into 272 words that launched an intellectual revolution - can assist you in communicating your brand message with clarity.
Design, Form & Chaos by Paul Rand
Rand was the doyen of modern graphic design and corporate branding. To any learned practitioner of the art of visual communication his books are sacred texts. Understanding the language of designers - and the profound impact their art can have on the success of your business - can only improve your results when collaborating with them. There is no one more fitting to guide you through the looking-glass than Paul Rand.
Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
What can an 18th Century French epistolary novel about the intrigues and sexual dalliances of Ancien Régime French aristocrats teach us about succeeding in modern business? Well, the characters gossip, scheme, collude, connive, lie, and backstab - or naively fall victim to gossiping, scheming, collusion, conniving, lying and backstabbing. In the end, nobody wins (And, somebody even loses an eye. Sacré bleu!).
The Art of Looking Sideways by Alan Fletcher
Imagination and creativity are the best means of gaining an unfair advantage over your competition. Very often, these are sparked not by what you see, but rather by how you see. This book is an entertaining romp in visual calisthenics designed to help you open your eyes to the extra in the ordinary. Whereas business books attempt to passively disseminate the author's knowledge, this whimsical art book seeks to actively foster imagination. As Einstein quipped, "Knowledge is power, but imagination is more powerful."
The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr., and E.B. White
Somewhere between the abbreviated phonetic frenzy of text messaging and the bloated verbosity of grandiloquence lies an English language that, when properly practiced, is perhaps the most effective business tool at your disposal. Mark Twain summed it up; "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug."
©Nocturnal Graphic Design Studio, LLC
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