Read Up as Summer Winds Down: Top Picks for Marketers

Summer may be winding down, but Q3 is ramping up. It’s a perfect time for all of us, marketers, salespeople, and business leaders alike, to refocus on our personal goals as well as our professional development.

So no matter if you’re looking inward for ways to better yourself or devising a plan to close performance gaps at work and drive more revenue, we’ve got a few reading recommendations that will reignite your passion for growth. And with National Read a Book Day today, there’s no better time to pick up a new book and dive right in!

Recommended Reading for Personal Growth

The Extended Mind by Annie Murphy Paul

In this fascinating book, you’ll discover ways to tap into the intelligence that exists beyond our brains—in our bodies, our surroundings, and our relationships, while exploring the new science of how the mind works. If you’re feeling cognitive overload or searching for fresh ways to process information, this book is for you.

“This is a wonderful book that pulls together scientific research for how we think.” – Rhoan Morgan, CEO

The Charisma Myth by Olivia Fox Cabane

Not everyone is born with charisma, but everyone can nurture and adopt specific practices to become more persuasive, influential, and inspiring. Consider this recommendation a playbook for mastering the art and science of personal magnetism and for developing a system of self-confidence against detractors.

“One of the critical things I learned from reading this book is that charisma comes in time and with practice. For some, it comes more naturally than others, but everyone can be charismatic!” – Christian Roberts, Business Solutions Consultant

This is Your Brain on Food by Dr. Uma Naidoo

Harvard-trained psychiatrist Dr. Uma Naidoo, shares fresh and fascinating ways to use food to elevate your mood, boost productivity, and enhance your mental acuity. It’s a must-read for anyone looking to expand their personal health library and make positive gut-brain connections the natural way.

“We all know healthy things are good for us, but this book really drives the point home.” – Chen Bian, Manager, Client Success

Örökölt sors by Noémi Orvos-Tóth

In this Hungarian book about how past experiences influence current interactions, you’ll gain a new perspective on the ways your current behavior connects to your past. With self-reflection being a core theme, this is the ultimate read for those looking to explore the underlying causes of their behavior.

“This is an excellent read that helped shed light on why we sometimes react in the ways that we do.” – Renáta Sebők, Project Coordinator

Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang

What if harder work doesn’t result in better outcomes? Just like body rest is crucial following strenuous physical activity, mental rest is integral to improving our overall health. Rest offers a roadmap to rediscovering the importance of rest in our lives and a convincing argument that we need to relax more if we want to get more done.

“This book has been a complete game-changer for me. It’s not uncommon for people with a lot of drive to try to “push through” to achieve high quantity output. This book shows us how critical high-quality rest is to improve your quality of work.” – Courtney Grimes, Martech Innovation Strategist

Recommended Reading for Professional Development

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, by Susan Cain

This book is a powerful resource for professionals who want to understand the gifts of introverts within their team and embrace true behavioral equality in the workplace. Susan Cain draws on groundbreaking research to explain the differences between introverts and extroverts and to show how those differences shape business for the better.

“This book shares excellent insight into us introverts and semi-introverts attempting to navigate a very loud universe.” – Jody Waddle, Human Resources Generalist

Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World, by Cal Newport

If you’re a knowledge worker looking for an improved ability to focus on cognitively demanding tasks, this is a book you can’t pass up. Explore easy ways to have more meaningful control over projects, how to make a more positive impact on the world, and how to learn faster without distraction in the age of information.

“This book taught me how to minimize distractions when I was new to a remote work environment.” – Christian Martinez, Martech Solutions Architect

Dotcom Secrets, by Russell Brunson

In this easy-to-use playbook on online scaling, you’ll discover a simple process you can employ to improve traffic, conversions, and sales. Learn about the power of appropriately placed funnels from tested and proven methods that have helped countless companies grow.

“If you’re looking to understand the importance of defining your ideal customer profile in the digital world, start here.” – Rasul Musayev, Marketing Automation Specialist

Business Model Generation, by Alexander Osterwalder

If you consider yourself a visionary who strives to defy outdated business models, pick up this book by one of the world’s most influential strategy and innovation experts. Adopt a more comprehensive and engaging approach to building business models that fuel a more profitable enterprise.

“I liked the concept of visualizing the components of value generation by businesses for clients. It’s relevant for product development-related roles and as a high-level marketing concept.” – Gergely Kántor, Martech Developer

What Clients Really Want (And The S**t That Drives Them Crazy), by Chantell Glenville

This is the essential insider’s guide on how account management teams can create great client and agency relationships by understanding the needs of the client and how to better support them in achieving their goals. Get helpful reminders of how clients think and what they want while gaining practical wisdom for building the best account management team possible.

“This is a fun, quick read that helps people on the agency side understand the needs of the client and how to better support them in achieving their goals.” – Rhoan Morgan, CEO

Ready, Set, Read!

We hope these recommendations help you grow personally and professionally and that you look forward to reading more than just one! If podcasts are more your style, check back next month for a look at our team favorites. And in the meantime, check out our Resources Center for some great audio content on topics like marketing-led customer experience and the ever-changing role of CMOs.