David Howse's List of the Best Business Marketing and Strategy Books Ever ... Well Almost Ever Lethbridge and Calgary Marketing, Business, Management

David Howse's List of the Best Business, Marketing, and Strategy Books Ever ... Well Almost Ever. Lethbridge and Calgary Marketing

I don't read many business books these days. But, there was a time when I read everything I could get my hands on, so long as the book was recommended by a person whose opinion I trusted. I'm fairly well known as an opinionated person and, if you visit my Calgary marketing blog you'll soon learn that I say it as I see it.

What follows are the books I consider to have been the most influential in developing my concepts in

• Marketing
• Management
• Business Strategy
• Economics & Pricing
• Social Networking

I have also been fortunate enough to either know some of these authors or to have at least had lengthy email discussions with them regarding some of the concepts from their books.

I have read each and every one of these books (except 'The Hyper Social Organization' which I am waiting for from Amazon.) On several of these books you can find my reviews scattered across the Internet. I thought it might be a good idea to list these books in one place. What follows are not typical reviews but a description of what the book will do that is, how will any book in this list make you a better business person.



















































Why Popcorn Cost So Much at The Movies: Gain a deep understanding on how price changes and even the most simple of business policy changes can dramatically affect your business. This book mixes economics, marketing, and psychology in a very interesting and easy to understand way.



What's Your Story: Other than looking for the best price, why do people favor one business over another? What's Your Story gives you easy to follow theory and a blueprint to infuse personality in to your business. After reading this book, you will have a very strong understanding on what really makes a brand a brand.

The Deviant's Advantage: For the same authors as What's Your Story, this book will give you an understanding of where ALL great ideas come from.

Duct Tape Marketing: One of the best books, along with Guerrilla Marketing on how to run your business on as low of a budget as possible.

Personality Not Included: A different take on Personality in business that What's Your Story. This book has a tool kit approach.

Made To Stick: The Deviant's Advantage will teach you about the origin of great ideas and Made To Stick will tell you why an idea or marketing / advertising tactic works. With this knowledge you can build your own top notch advertisements.

Co-opetition: The best business strategy book ever. Learn who your real competition is. Learn how to create multi business partnerships to crush your true competition.

Guerrilla Marketing: Like Duct tape marketing this book is all about great marketing on the cheap.

Positioning: the most important book on branding that you will ever read. Learn why brands succeed and why brands fail.

Marketing Warfare: Probably the second best business strategy book ever. VERY simple to read. Learn about who to fight with, who to defend against, how to be a guerrilla marketer, and when to do something set up shop next to a retail giant.

The Hyper Social Organization: Written by my friend Francois Gossieaux. It will be released soon by the publisher. I will post my comments once I have read it.


The Culture Code: This may be the best book out there to read after reading 5 or more other marketing books. This book will give you amazing insights on how to come up with brilliant ideas. It is the most insightful book that I have ever read.

And there you have it! The books that I consider every business owner should read.