Every month, we give away 20 copies of a book that may inspire you in the work that you do. There's no monthly fee – quite the opposite, since membership grants you an opportunity to receive marketing books for free.
Some will be classics, while others will offer less conventional wisdom. But whether you are concerned about positive change at an individual or organisational level, there should be something to interest you.
Names are drawn on the seventh working day of each month. So please respond quickly if you'd like to be in with a chance in February. Find out about the book club charity
March 11
Bounce
In his optimistic book, Matthew Syed examines what lies behind world-beating achievement in sport, business and beyond. Happily for mere mortals, Syed argues that talent is not about innate ability. Rather, the path to the top, is a combination of opportunity — being in the right place at the right time — and hard work.
- P. Barrows Deichmann,
- S. Bonnett,
- S. Bramham-Jones,
- C. Caplin,
- J. Doherty,
- M. Fairbourn,
- S. Freedman,
- F. Harte,
- P. Humphrey,
- S. Irvine,
- S. Kelly,
- D. Lock,
- J. McGinley,
- H. Pelier,
- M. Rombi,
- F. Saleem,
- A. Smith-Rewse,
- P. Trehan,
- C. Weston,
- M. Yeung.
April 11
Buy-In
It’s an age-old problem: you can’t make good ideas happen on their own. Seeing your idea make it through from a brainwave to your business always means needing other people on side. And when they’re not, in a very short space of time, your good idea can get lost by the wayside.
With eight chapters of, often counterintuitive, advice, John Kotter and Lorne Whitehead advocate an approach to win over the hearts and minds of your audience- and your doubters- to help you ensure that, next time around, your good ideas don’t end up on the cutting room floor.
- E. Briggs,
- D. Coombes,
- S. Dhanji,
- N. Eden,
- R. Grant-Smith,
- P. Humphrey,
- J. Kowalczuk,
- J. McGrath,
- K. Orr,
- O. Palin,
- D. Parton-Ginno,
- T. Robertson,
- I. Saleem,
- D. Silver,
- A. Smith-Rewse,
- N. Somerville,
- L. Thompson,
- P. Trehan,
- M. Web,
- G. Wright.
May 11
Sticky Marketing
According to Grant Leboff, everything in marketing has changed. So, it is no longer about return on investment but return on engagement, not about the image you create, but the reputation this earns you. One-way communication is out, and conversations are in.
In particular, customers are buying less and less into products and services themselves, and increasingly into the experiences that a brand can provide. Leboff argues that the aim of marketing should therefore be to build value around your brand and explains how you can use this principal to make yourself ‘sticky’ or attractive.
- M. Ahom,
- L. Anderson,
- P. Beresford,
- E. Edwards,
- L. Emmett,
- A. Evans,
- H. Grabham,
- C. Henry,
- J. Ho,
- E. Hruskova,
- P. Joels,
- D. McCormick,
- C. Milne,
- J. Poots,
- P. Rose,
- R. Rowe,
- C. Turnbull,
- R. Williams,
- L. Williams,
- R. Woodliffe.
June 11
Vital Conversations
How often is it the case that the very conversation you need to have the most is the one you find too difficult start? And the truth is that, a lot of the time, these are the conversations that prove to be the most crucial in taking our professional and personal relationships beyond where they are.
Alec Grimsley uses a selection of case studies, sound bites and diagrams to show you how to identify vital conversations, and give you more confidence in discussing sensitive issues. Whether they be in the boardroom, in managing difficult people or when giving bad news, Grimsley promises to help you make the impossible conversations possible.
- C. Bertram,
- K. Birring,
- J. Cardwell,
- C. Eubank,
- K. Gibson,
- M. Hammond,
- B. Head,
- R. Hennings,
- A. Martin,
- K. Nicholl,
- C. Ponty,
- WD. Rakutt,
- M. Ryan,
- J. Shaw,
- C. Sidgreaves,
- G. Thurston,
- D. Tyas,
- S. Vass,
- B. Westfold,
- S. Williamson.
July 11
How to do better creative work
A direct marketing man, Steve Harrison argues that digital communication is a supplement to, not a substitute for, more traditional forms of advertising. Which means that whether your marketing is online or offline, it’s the big ideas that still count.
Aimed not just at anyone who works in an agency, but at clients too, Harrison uses a combination of theory, creative examples and practical tips to show you how to apply creativity in your work to greater effect.
- S. Adam,
- R. Cohen,
- J. Grant,
- J. Hamill-Keays,
- H. Jessen,
- S. Jones,
- K. Kean,
- A. Middleton,
- S. Noble-Clarke,
- E. Osei-Bonsu,
- A. Paskins,
- G. Reading,
- V. Rees,
- S. Sandhu,
- D. Selby,
- E. Sergeant,
- E. Sheldon,
- G. Snook,
- M. Squire,
- R. Turnbull.
August 11
The Decision Book
A European bestseller, only recently translated into English, The Decision Book is a practical workbook to help you approach daily dilemmas and challenges in a systematic way.
Using the kind of decision-making models often found in MBA courses, the book shows you as much how to apply them to your personal as to your professional life. While answering some curious questions along the way (Why do we always forget everything? Why does everyone have an ipod? Why do people smoke when they know it’s unhealthy?), Krogerus and Tschäppeler demonstrate how the order of a model can help you make decisions faster, manage your time better, and be more productive.
- A. Chapman,
- P. Cockcroft,
- S. Doyle,
- J. Flynn,
- M. Hinchy,
- J. Jackling,
- V. Le Floc'h,
- S. Lem,
- D. Lock,
- B. Lucas,
- A. Lundkvist,
- M. Mc Laughlin,
- S. Orta,
- P. Patel,
- G. Pearce,
- C. Roe,
- N. Smith,
- A. Summerfield,
- M. Sutliff,
- S. Wood.
September 11
Bold
For the last ten years, Shaun Smith and Andy Milligan have argued that, in the crowded world of business, it’s the brands that have the confidence to do things differently that will achieve the most.
In Bold, they prove their point by compiling a series of case studies of the most distinctive brands of our time. Through interviews with key executives from businesses spanning space travel to smoothies, they demonstrate the principles that we can learn from the ways, and the courage, with which they have built their success.
- D. Caslin,
- J. Doherty,
- E. Edwards,
- A. Edwards,
- L. Emmett,
- T. Erogbogbo,
- M. Hadley,
- D. Hein,
- A. Hussain,
- S. Kelly,
- T. Kinoshi,
- J. Kowalczuk,
- M. Mc Laughlin,
- S. Noble-Clarke,
- O. Palin,
- A. Paskins,
- P. Rose,
- D. Shook,
- N. Smith,
- M. Wilson.
October 11
Influence
A modern classic, Influence is essential reading for anyone who works in the field of marketing.
The book is based predominantly on three years spent ‘undercover’ by experimental social psychologist Robert Cialdini. During his time infiltrating advertising, PR, and fund-raising agencies, Cialdini noticed that among the thousands of tools of persuasion they employed, each typically fell into one of six basic categories that tap into a fundamental psychological principle. Here, he introduces you to these “weapons of influence” and shows you both how to use them to your benefit as well as defend yourself when others turn them on you.
- K. Birring,
- A. Chapman,
- P. Cockcroft,
- S. Desai,
- S. Dhanji,
- S. Doyle,
- J. Duchastel,
- A. Evans,
- C. Ehinger,
- J. Grant,
- J. Hamill-Keays,
- B. Head,
- J. Poots,
- C. Roe,
- F. Saleem,
- A. Smith-Rewse,
- A. Summerfield,
- M. Sutliff,
- P. Trehan,
- R. Williams,
November 11
Good Strategy/Bad Strategy
Anyone who’s ever sat through a meeting or sales conference filled with motivational mantras and business buzzwords will know that the differentiation between good strategy and good-intentioned waffle is one that’s often confused.
After a lifetime’s experience in the field, Richard Rumelt believes that good strategy is not just a matter of vision or ambition but of recognising the challenge you face and providing an approach to surmount it.
In Good Strategy/Bad Strategy, he cites dozens of real-world examples to explain the difference between the two, as well as what simply isn’t strategy at all.
- C. Baddoo,
- L. Bouckaert,
- L. Chapman,
- D. Coombes,
- N. Eden,
- O. Fairweather,
- J. Flynn,
- K.Gibson,
- S. Inwood,
- B. Lucas,
- A. Martin,
- S. Milinkovic,
- C. Milne,
- A. Paskins,
- H. Pelier,
- G. Reading,
- T. Robertson,
- D. Selby,
- D. Silver,
- M.Yeung.
December 11
Glow
Management professor Lynda Gratton uses key insights from her research to explain why some people seem to bring flair and energy to everything they do. In other words, they glow.
Based on three key principles, ‘Glow’ is intended to show you how, like them, you can add value, not just time, to your work, in order to stay ahead of the game and pursue better opportunities.
With tips, examples and exercises, ‘Glow’ shows you how to change your attitudes and assumptions, skills and habits to be a more inspired, and more inspiring, colleague.
- E. Ambrose,
- S. Bramham-Jones,
- T. Hargroves,
- R. Hennings,
- C. Henry,
- C. Herzog,
- J. Ho,
- K. Hobdell,
- K. Hopkinson,
- S. Irvine,
- J. Jackling,
- R. Jones,
- S. Jones,
- J. Keen,
- J. Potter,
- S. Sandhu,
- D. Shook,
- C. Sidgreaves,
- C. Turnbull,
- M. Weeks.
January 12
Thinking, fast and slow
Daniel Kahneman shows us how our decision-making is governed by two systems: one that is fast and intuitive (system 1) and one that is slow and rational (system 2). However, system 2 requires an awful lot of work that, unless given a good reason otherwise, our brains would prefer to avoid (and frequently do).
Kahneman illustrates the benefits and pitfalls of the fast system therefore dominating our decisions and actions, and shows us how we can tap into the benefits of slow thinking. In addition, the practical advice throughout shows us how to transfer his research into reality in our own lives.
- P. Barrows-Deichmann,
- K. Bennett,
- L. Deller,
- D. Goodaire,
- J. Harley,
- H. Jessen,
- V. Le Floc'h,
- S. Orta,
- K. Orr,
- WD. Rakutt,
- J. Shaw,
- M. Squire,
- J. Stelling,
- J. Suares,
- G. Thurston,
- M. Web,
- L. Wilks.
- R. Woodliffe,
- G. Wright,
- F. Yahaya.
February 12
Hegarty on advertising
The man behind some of the most iconic advertising campaigns in our history takes us through the wisdom he’s gained from over four decades in the industry.
Through a combination of anecdotes, advice and insights, Hegarty illuminates the role of ideas and creativity in generating effective advertising.
Part-memoir, part-guide, the book explores the nature of creativity, the importance of branding and the cultural significance of our industry both through time and today.
Past winners
Click on any book to see the winners for that month
