My Top Ten Favourite Books for 2010

These are my top ten favourite books for 2010…
And, they’re not what you might expect.

We rapped only 4 of the 10, so there’s a couple here that might surprise you…

Roger Martin, The Design of Business

This book changed how I see what I do.
It married my love of design with the strategic role it plays in business.
And personally it fuelled the birth of the Ideas Architect.
We rapped this one as Design Advantage.
Read it if you want to create long term value in your organisation.
http://rogerlmartin.com/

Dr Russ Harris, The Happiness Trap

This book made me happy! Indirectly of course…
I’d read a few books on the happiness trend and this one is the best.
It’s based on ACT – Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
It cuts to the chase that the pursuit of happiness is a trap that is best pursued indirectly.
Plus it kills off all that talk about self-esteem.
Read it if you want to be happy.
http://www.actmindfully.com.au/

Chip and Dan Heath, Switch

This book gave me clues to make my life even better.
It nails ‘change’ in a simple 9 part framework.
We rapped this one as Sticky Change.
Read it if you want to change something.
Or, because you want to see what a great book structure reads like.
http://heathbrothers.com/

Ian Hutchinson, People Glue

This book is so simple and so clever.
After reading it I feel I could implement an employee engagement program!
It’s easy on the eye with it’s pleasing graphics, it’s easy to read and it’s easy to take action from.
Read it to see a great book design and to implement an employee engagement program.
We blogged about this book.
Disclaimer: This book was a gift from the author.
http://www.peopleglue.com.au/

Adam Penenberg, Viral Loop

This book has had me rethink business design and strategy.
It’s time to be designing your product and your marketing message to be passed on.
This is the secret to viral growth and the DNA of superstars like Hotmail, Facebook and Ning.
We rapped this as one of two books in Smart Growth.
Read it to understand the principles of dramatic business growth.
http://www.viralloop.com/

Seth Godin, Linchpin

This book confirmed I was on the right track.
It reminded me why I love doing Book Rapper.
And it confirmed that giving it away may be the best strategy I could adopt.
We rapped this one as Purple You.
Read it to re-define your career.
http://www.sethgodin.com/sg/books.asp

Seth Godin, Unleashing the Idea Virus

This book reminded me what the real game is all about.
It’s about generating and sharing ideas.
And this book, despite a decade old is still on the money.
Read it because you want to make great things happen.
http://www.sethgodin.com/sg/books.asp

Ivan Chermayeff and Tom Geismar, Watching Words Move

This book made me smile.
It’s a reprint of a classic from the 60s.
It’s probably less than 100 words in total.
The words show their meaning through their layout.
It’s quirky, witty and joyful.
Read it because you love to play with your words.
http://www.cgstudionyc.com/graphics/books/watching-words-move

Alexander Aciman and Emmett Rensin, Twitterature

This book inspired Twit Rapper.
It’s the world’s greatest books retold through Twitter.
And it’s inspired a number of others following in suite.
It’s damn funny, bloody clever and highlights the history of men and their powertrips.
Read it because you want a contemporary take on the classics.
Visit Twit Rapper
http://www.twitterature.us/us/index.htm

David McCandless, The Visual Miscellaneum

This book inspires me.
2010 was the year of the infographic and this book captures this better than any.
Infographics are visual ways to display data.
Think of graphs as infographics 1.0.
This book is infographics 10.0!
Read to learn a bunch of intriguing stats or because you love visually clever data.
http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/2009/the-visual-miscellaneum/

What are you favourites for 2010?
What was the best book you’ve read this year?