Books I Think Every Marketing Student Should Read

A lot of the learning I have done in college hasn't been in the classroom - its been in my room, alone, with a good book in my hand. Some of the most important lessons I have learned about marketing have come from books I read in my spare time that were suggested by teachers, colleagues, and other students. Here are a few of my favorites, that I think every aspiring marketer should read.

"Buy-ology" by Mark Lindstrm
Great for market researchers - delves into consumer's subconcious to find out why they REALLY make certain buying decisions. Very interesting to read as a consumer as well - you'll rethink every purchase you make and wonder what your real motives were.



Ten Faces of Innovation by Tom Kelly from IDEO
Explores the different types of innovation and the personalities that propel them. I spent the whole book thinking, "I am an anthropologist...No, a collaborator! No definitly a set designer." Then I realized I could be and had once been in all of these roles and wore all of these faces. This book actually inspired me to think out of the box and its one I recommend to everyone I know

Any book and every book by Seth Godin!

There are so many great nuggets of information in his books, I couldn't possibly choose just one! He has some amazingly insightful views on ethics concerning marketing, market research, and customer realtions. Hiss book on Purple Cows (I know your curious now, go look it up!) and how firms must create remarkable products and remarkable campaigns to be noticed in today's market is also a insightful (and very fun!) read. I would also recommend looking up his blog and some of his TED speeeches - amazing!

Branding with Brains by Tjaco Walvis

Its an interesting mix of neuroscience, physcology, and marketing. Really helps marketers understand what drivers consumers on a deeper (almost instinctual) level.

Notable Mentions:

• "The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding" by Al and Laura Ries
• "Ethnography for Marketers" by Hy Mariampolski
• "Focused Interview" by Robert King Merton
• "Predictably Irrational" by Deckle Edge
• "Cute, Quaint, Hungry, and Romantic: The Aesthetics of Consumerism" by Daniel Harris

I am always looking for new reads - any good marketing, market research, anthropology, physcology, sociology, or general business books that you think will help me when I graduate and go into the big, scary world?