Hot Books for 2010
Let’s start the new year with some hot books to look out for.
I’ve got my crystal ball out to look for books that will have an impact in 2010.
Firstly, a word of warning: I’ve only read the first book. I have purchased the second one. And, the rest… I’m going out on a limb here, I haven’t read any of them. And, this list is so hot a number of them haven’t even been released yet.
Note: All links are non-affiliate to Amazon
Ready? Here goes…
1 Roger Martin, The Design of Business
The Design of Business: Why Design Thinking is the Next Competitive Advantage.
Design Thinking is an idea that’s time has come. Simple creativity is no longer enough. Martin has the business credential to put a strong case for the importance of adding design thinking to your company culture. As a designer, this is music to my ears! We’re deriving our first Book Rapper issue for 2010 on this book.
Available Now!
2 Chris Brogan and Julien Smith, Trust Agents
Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust
As the world changes, new roles are created. We’ve had advertisers, marketers and salespeople. The authors are veteran social media analysts and they have identified a new web role: the trust agent. They’re digitally savvy, transparent and honest. They build relationships, yield influence and can build your brand profits. This book shows you why they’re important, what they do and how you can become one of the trusted ones. Our Second Book Rapper issue for 2010 will be derived from this book.
Available Now!
3 Seth Godin, Linchpin
Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?
This is hot because it’s Seth’s latest. Whatever Seth writes will be read by a lot of people so that makes it important. I’m a fan. I read all his books because I always walk away with some insight, confirmation and illumination.
Available January 26, 2010.
4 Bob Gilbreath: The Next Evolution of Marketing
Connect with Your Customers by Marketing with Meaning
Not the first to talk about the rise of meaning… there seemed to be a few books on this a few year ago… And, now it’s applied to the world of marketing. We’ve had enough being interupted. Marketing has changed. It needs to mean something to me or I’m just not interested. Your brand/product/message needs to add value to my life or I’m not listening. Gilbreath presents a strategy for ‘meaningful marketing’. No, that’s not an oxymoron, that might just be the new reality.
Available Now!
5 Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner: SuperFreakonomics
SuperFreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance
What do you when you write a book that sells over 4,000,000 copies that’s been translated into a bucketful of languages? For me, you either retire happy or write a Fre-quel… Levitt and Dubner have come back for more! More stories, more insights and more challenges to the way we think about the world. Could it be even better than the original?
Available Now!
6 Daniel J Siegel: Mindsight
Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation
There’s been a flood of books on recent neuroscience discoveries. It’s a hot new, mind-boggling area of study that’. And, now we’re starting to see books that aren’t simply science stories. They’re translations of the latest science merged with practical applications as used in real life. Siegel’s background includes brain science, clinical psychology and mindfulness. And, this book looks like an interesting blend of them all.
Available: 11 January 2010
7 J Bradford De Long and Stephen S. Cohen: The End of Influence
The End of Influence: What Happens When Other Countries Have the Money
Economists De Long and Cohen take a look at how the world has changed. In particular, given they’re now cash strapped, America’s changing role. How will it change foreign policy, cultural influence and the pursuit of innovation.
Available: January 5, 2010
8 William Poundstone: Priceless
Priceless: The Myth of Fair Value and How to Take Advantage of It
Another book that looks at pyschology in action. In this one, Poundstone looks at the hidden thinking behind ‘value’. For the business person, this translates this to ‘Pricing’. How much is something worth? It’s fundamental to every business and consumer who buys, sells and negotiates. Includes case studies on Prada, iTunes and Wal-Mart.
Available: 5 January 2010
9 Jason Fried and David Heinemeir: Rework
This one is important because of who’s writing it. Fried and Heinemeir are key players at 37signals, highly successful builders of web-based tools, including that Twitter is built upon. They know how the web works. And, their short, simple and savvy tome will have you rethink how you work. With raving fans Seth Godin, Chris Anderson and Tom Peters in their corner, this one looks like it’ll be worth waiting for.
Available: March 9, 2010.
10 
Steve Garfield: Get Seen
Get Seen: Online Video Secrets to Building Your Business
Print is in demise and you can only read so much online. Video is the hot new thing. And, Steve Garfield’s the guru in this field. With a track record in Video Blogging over many years, Garfield shares success stories, presents plans and tools to use and gives step by step directions to go video viral.
Available: Now!
What do you think? Are their any others that you’d like to add?
