The RookieOven Reading List
The best books to add to your wishlist, as recommended by the community.
Charlotte Dougall | Thursday November 8th 2018
Last month we shared some of our favourite podcasts, and now it's time to recommend some of the best books we've been reading recently. Wishlists at the ready...
Crushing It by Gary Vaynerchuck
In this lively, practical, and inspiring book, Gary dissects every current major social media platform so that anyone, from a plumber to a professional ice skater, will know exactly how to amplify his or her personal brand on each. For those with more experience, Crushing It illuminates some little-known nuances and provides innovative tips and clever tweaks proven to enhance more common tried-and-true strategies.
Why Read?
"Gary's follow up from 'Crush it' featured a variety of case studies from people who have applied his principles in personal branding and social media engagement to build a business based around their passion. I like Gary's straight talking approach which clearly defined the indicators of growth and success online. Many case studies featured people who had to flourish in very adverse circumstances, if your currently in the grind of your own start up, hearing these stories will give you motivation to keep going."
Suggested by My Flag
It Doesn't Have to be Crazy at Work by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson
It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work is a direct successor to Rework, the instant bestseller that showed readers a new path to working effectively. Now Fried and Heinemeier Hansson have returned with a new strategy for the ideal company culture – what they call “the calm company”. It is a direct attack on the chaos, anxiety and stress that plagues millions of workplaces and billions of people working their day jobs.
Working to breaking point with long hours, excessive workload, and a lack of sleep have become a badge of honour for many people these days, when it should be a mark of stupidity. This isn’t just a problem for large organisations; individuals, contractors and solopreneurs are burning themselves out in the very same way. As the authors reveal, the answer isn’t more hours. Rather, it’s less waste and fewer things that induce distraction, always-on anxiety and stress.
It is time to stop celebrating crazy and start celebrating calm.
Why Read?
"It's a great look into the Basecamp culture, written by the founders, and a nicer way to do business."
Suggested by Futurematik
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Millions of people around the world have improved their lives based on the teachings of Dale Carnegie. InHow to Win Friends and Influence People, he offers practical advice and techniques, in his exuberant and conversational style, for how to get out of a mental rut and make life more rewarding. His advice has stood the test of time and will teach you how to make friends quickly and easily, win new clients and customers, become a better speaker and boost enthusiasm among your colleagues.
This classic book will turn your relationships around and improve your interactions with everyone in your life.
Why Read?
"It's really easy to read as it's all framed around short real life example of the principles Carnegie proposes. Each example is really profound."
Suggested by Michael
Playing Big by Tara Mohr
Five years ago, Tara Mohr began to see a pattern in her work as an expert in leadership: women with tremendous talent, ideas and aspiration were not recognising their own brilliance. They felt that they were ‘playing small’ in their lives and careers and wanted to ‘play bigger’, but didn’t know how. And so Tara devised a step-by-step programme for playing big from the inside out: this book is the result.
Why Read?
"Playing Big is all about teaching women to have the confidence to do bigger things, and I loved it. It really helped me approach my insecurities in a new way and taught me how to reframe some of my bad habits, down to changing my dismissive language and looking at the way I study."
Suggested by Charlotte