Are Books Dead..If Not What Do You Read and Discuss With Friends?

8 replies
During my last Live Stream Marketer's Chat Show, I proposed a discussion that at first, went no where; probably because I didn't quite explain it right. It started out about a book I'd read, and I threw my thoughts on it out there, but it fell flat. Interestingly the discussion evovled and picked up right as the show was ending as we talked about the real story behind Rich Dad Poor Dad and the Cash Flow 101 Game.

As I said, the fact that the initial discussion did not go well had less to do with the crowd, and more to do with my explanation and drawing people in. I am working on that. That said, I would like to be able to generate discussion on my show about things that matter to people.

Admittedly, as a former Prof, I would like to talk about subjects that matter to marketers in books. I am not biased, it just that there are shows on George's networks that cover most everything else and while I would love to just give my take on things; I also want it to be interesting to me. (I think it was Alex Mondossian (sp.) who says that to be interesting you have to be interested).

So here is what I want to know. Do books influence you as a marketer in any way? That is the nature of the poll.

The second question is this. If that is true, what books or blogs are you reading that are worth discussing for an hour with other marketers? Who has written something that everybody should read and comment on?

If you would be so kind, after participate in the poll, would you let me know what books that you are currently reading, or have read are worth discussing in live marketing chat? I will take your suggestions and put together a list and begin reformatting my show. While I am not suggesting that you have to come to the show, I would like to have the input of other Warriors. I will put the results in my Warrior Forum Blog and also schedule out discussions according to your suggestions.

Thanks,
CTHarper
#books #deadif #discuss #friends #read
  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
    Originally Posted by Charles Harper View Post

    Admittedly, as a former Prof, I would like to talk about subjects that matter to marketers in books.
    Look to the more popular ones. You've been talking about Malcolm Gladwell, which is good. Robert Kiyosaki as well. But as far as books go... it turns into a jumble after that.

    I like to read books on economics. I find them fascinating. I also like hardcore marketing books, including Kotler's work as well as things like Schmitt and Simonson's Aesthetic Marketing. But I don't expect anyone else to be like that.
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    "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      (I have nothing but admiration for Malcolm Gladwell).

      Yes, I do ... and they do influence my marketing.

      The one overriding feature/conclusion I'm prompted to mention is that (with some exceptions, admittedly) I've found very, very much more value out of "hard-copy books" published by mainstream, orthodox publishers, overall, than I have from digital books and work privately published. I think that's probably mostly because of the "quality control" that's necessarily and inevitably involved in mainstream commercial publishing.

      Call me old-fashioned, but when I'm deciding what to buy, to learn about marketing, sometimes "who publishes it?" is a pretty significant question for me.

      I know, for example, that all the information in those yellow "For Dummies" books published by Wiley has been methodically and meticulously researched, verified and checked by accredited experts before the book goes to print, and that makes me feel more trusting that I'm getting reliable information on a subject about which unreliable/mistaken information typically abounds online.

      For that reason, in principle I'll take what the author of any of those books says over anything I've read in a possibly-quality-control-free, self-published product, any day of the week, in exactly the same way that I'll take legal advice from someone who's licensed to practice law and not from others in a forum: they can still possibly screw up with their information and advice, of course, but at least the odds are on my side, that way.
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      • Profile picture of the author Charles Harper
        Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

        (I have nothing but admiration for Malcolm Gladwell).

        Yes, I do ... and they do influence my marketing.

        The one overriding feature/conclusion I'm prompted to mention is that (with some exceptions, admittedly) I've found very, very much more value out of "hard-copy books" published by mainstream, orthodox publishers, overall, than I have from digital books and work privately published. I think that's probably mostly because of the "quality control" that's necessarily and inevitably involved in mainstream commercial publishing.

        Call me old-fashioned, but when I'm deciding what to buy, to learn about marketing, sometimes "who publishes it?" is a pretty significant question for me.

        I know, for example, that all the information in those yellow "For Dummies" books published by Wiley has been methodically and meticulously researched, verified and checked by accredited experts before the book goes to print, and that makes me feel more trusting that I'm getting reliable information on a subject about which unreliable/mistaken information typically abounds online.

        For that reason, in principle I'll take what the author of any of those books says over anything I've read in a possibly-quality-control-free, self-published product, any day of the week, in exactly the same way that I'll take legal advice from someone who's licensed to practice law and not from others in a forum: they can still possibly screw up with their information and advice, of course, but at least the odds are on my side, that way.
        Hello Alexa,

        That is very interesting. I am not sure if it is old fashioned or not, but I remember reading "Rework" by the guys that made Basecamp (Project management software) who are anti-outsourcing until it hurts. They would probably skirt against the conventional wisdom that we preach among ourselves as Warriors. What is right? I don't know, but the point is that what we believe to be conventional wisdom may be a function of what we do and don't engage in. Great points.

        CT
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    • Profile picture of the author Charles Harper
      Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

      Look to the more popular ones. You've been talking about Malcolm Gladwell, which is good. Robert Kiyosaki as well. But as far as books go... it turns into a jumble after that.

      I like to read books on economics. I find them fascinating. I also like hardcore marketing books, including Kotler's work as well as things like Schmitt and Simonson's Aesthetic Marketing. But I don't expect anyone else to be like that.
      Actually, CD, you are the second person who I have heard mention Simonson in a short period of time. So maybe there are more people interested in that than you might know. Economics, yes...I could sit and pontificate all day long. But it plays into my having Parkinson's (as in Parkinson's Law...if you know what I mean).

      CT
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      • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
        Originally Posted by Charles Harper View Post

        Actually, CD, you are the second person who I have heard mention Simonson in a short period of time. So maybe there are more people interested in that than you might know.
        My psychic powers tell me that - as a former professor - you naturally gravitate to the kind of people who read complex books and think deep thoughts.

        Economics, yes...I could sit and pontificate all day long. But it plays into my having Parkinson's (as in Parkinson's Law...if you know what I mean).
        The longer the project runs... the shakier it gets.

        (Think about it. That's an accurate restatement of the law. And much funnier.)
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        "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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        • Profile picture of the author Charles Harper
          Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

          My psychic powers tell me that - as a former professor - you naturally gravitate to the kind of people who read complex books and think deep thoughts.



          The longer the project runs... the shakier it gets.

          (Think about it. That's an accurate restatement of the law. And much funnier.)
          Oh yes, that is really true. Not funny...painful to admit, yes?

          CT
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  • Profile picture of the author jasonmorgan
    Read? Discuss? Friends?

    I am unfamiliar with these words. Please explain yourself.

    Actually, when I read, it has nothing to do do with the internet or marketing aside from the occasional .net magazine. Zombie Novels top my list. I'm looking to get away from work when I read.
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    I'm all about that bass.

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