I’m someone who loves to read, but struggles to find the time. Looking back before I had my own kids I had time to do all the reading I wanted to, whether it be on the train to and from work, in bed at night, or just kicking back on the couch for a few hours.
These days I find it a lot harder to get reading done. I drive to work now, I fall asleep in about 30 seconds when I go to bed, and lying down on a couch is just an invitation for one of my kids to start jumping on my chest.
Nonetheless I still manage to get some done. I buy most of my books from Amazon these days with a few coming from local book stores. However more and more I’m finding myself reading ebooks, whether on my computer or by printing out a chapter at a time to read in short bursts here and there.
Here is a list of the reading I got done this year, along with some of the books that I ordered but are still sitting on my shelf waiting their turn to be read.
Books I’ve Read
Online Marketing Inside Out
I bought this print copy of this from Sitepoint in a bundle with the Problogger 31 Days to Build a Better Blog ebook. Online Marketing Inside Out is a great starter resource for website owners who want to dip their toes in each of the types of marketing available. Once you understand which will work best for your site you can use apply the information in the book or go and seek a much more in-depth book on that specific type of marketing.
The Online Marketing Inside Out (Online Marketing: Sitepoint)
The Principles of Successful Freelancing
2009 was the year I really kicked off my freelance business but first I needed some guidance. This book gave me exactly what I was looking for and set me on a good track from the start.
The Principles of Successful Freelancing
The Principles of Beautiful Web Design
I’m not much of a graphic designer so this book made for a good primer on the topic and gave me a better understanding of effective use of images, fonts, colors and layout in website design. My big mistake was reading this as printed chapters from the ebook. Obviously the lessons on color lost some of their impact on black and white pages.
The Principles of Beautiful Web Design
WordPress Plugin Development
I can code for WordPress enough to get by but writing plugins was a complete mystery to me. That is until I read this book. It is an amazingly well written guide to what can be a complex topic and really opened my eyes up to what can be achieved quite easily with WordPress plugins.
WordPress Plugin Development (Beginner’s Guide)
Killer Web Content: Make the Sale, Deliver the Service, Build the Brand
Although I’ve been doing a lot of writing on the web and in my career these last 10 years I actually lacked confidence in my writing abilities. This was the first of several books and ebooks I decided to read to improve my skills. Killer Web Content, as the title suggests, focuses on writing for the web. I consider this book essential reading for any aspiring web writers, bloggers, or marketers.
Killer Web Content: Make the Sale, Deliver the Service, Build the Brand
Free: The Future of a Radical Price
Chris Anderson’s latest book caused a little bit of a stir on the web as it was released. True to its title the book was available free in several online forms but I bought the print edition so I could read it in more comfort. A lot of us vaguely understand the Free model or apply part of it to our own online ventures without really understanding all of the different ways that it can evolve into actual revenue. Free definitely gives you the information you need if making money giving stuff away is your business plan.
Free: The Future of a Radical Price
The Long Tail
Not a new book for 2009 but since I was going to read Free I decided to also order The Long Tail. By now most people understand the concept of the long tail but I found it quite valuable to read Chris Anderson’s detailed explanation of it.
Long Tail, The, Revised and Updated Edition: Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More
Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion
Gary Vee’s little book of inspiration came along at a critical time for me and gave me a little boost to see out the year on a high rather than let everything grind to a halt as we approach the holidays. Its short, and in fact I read it in one night, but the message is a good one for anyone who knows deep down inside that they aren’t following their dream.
Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion
Trust Agents: using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust
This one was a difficult read for me. Sometimes Chris Brogan overwhelms me with the sheer volume of his output and I find myself tuning out of his blog and Twitter feed for a little while to let the noise die down. This book continued that experience. Although co-authored by Julien Smith the tone is very much Chris Brogan and if that bothers you then you’ll hate the book. I found myself putting it down for a few days here and there but always picked it up again to finish it, because underneath the Brogan-esque voice are some golden nuggets of information and advice. Die hard Brogan fans will eat it up.
Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust
Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable
One of the best things about Seth Godin’s books it they are short and deliver the core message in the most efficient and effective way. Whether you’re in a crowded niche or the only person in the world blogging about a topic you still need to understand the importance of being remarkable.
Purple Cow, New Edition: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable–Includes new bonus chapter
The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick)
I was deep in the Dip when I finally read this book. I honestly had no idea what to do with my job, my business, and my blogs. The Dip is probably the shortest book I’ve ever read (my kids’ books don’t count!) at just 96 pages. But that is all it needs. I’ve since handed this book to at least 3 other friends and in every case it helped them get through the Dip (and in some cases quit).
The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick)
Practical SEO Copywriting
Glenn Murray’s latest ebook seemed to come out of nowhere. I’m a big fan of his previous SEO Secrets ebook and so I dove straight into Practical SEO Copywriting when I got my copy. You can read it end to end in about 3 hours but what is valuable is how often you refer back to it when turning a draft blog post into something ready to publish. I’ve been getting some good responses to recent blog posts and I truly think Practical SEO Copywriting has a lot to do with that.
Books I Wish I’d Read
On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction
I’m actually about 2/3rds of the way through this book so I consider it unread. Although the book is decades old this book is still an effective lesson in cutting the crap out of your writing. The author uses examples to hammer home the common mistakes many writers make, while also encouraging you to stretch and even break some rules to write in your own voice.
On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction
Web Analytics 2.0: the Art of Online Accountability and Science of Customer Centricity
That’s some title isn’t it? I bought this book on the reputation of the author alone. This is the second edition of a highly successful book on web analytics, which is a topic I want to dive into a lot more this coming year.
Web Analytics 2.0: The Art of Online Accountability and Science of Customer Centricity
Landing Page Optimization: The Definitive Guide to Testing and Tuning for Conversions
I have to learn more internet marketing skills as my web business grows and landing pages are one of the topics I know I need to skill up in, particularly as I prepare to launch my own products in 2010. I started reading this but it is quite deep material and I ended up putting it down and reading Online Marketing Inside Out first.
Landing Page Optimization: The Definitive Guide to Testing and Tuning for Conversions
From Idea to Book, and From Book to Market
This pair of ebooks are written by Joanna Penn of TheCreativePenn.com I attended Joanna’s seminar a few months ago to learn about writing, self-publishing and book promotion. The seminar was full of valuable information from these ebooks and so I need to go back and read through them both to reinforce it for my writing projects for 2010.
From Idea to Book: Writing, self-publishing and print-on-demand…for your book
From Book to Market: Internet Marketing, Sales and Promotion. . .For Your Book
Image Credit: Flickr
If you found this post useful please leave a comment below. To receive new blog posts automatically subscribe for free to the mailing list or RSS feed.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
This is a great list, Paul. I’ve read several of these myself, and have been on a bit of an e-book binge myself. Of the books I’ve read, I agree with your assessments.
I have a degree in Marketing from back in the olden days, and boy, have times changed! It is interesting to compare what I’m reading now to what I remember from back then. I never did fully explore careers in marketing, because in the ’80′s, it all seemed sleazy and smarmy. I guess core principles remain the same, but people like Seth Godin sure do explain it in a more palatable way.
I learn a lot from your blog, and I like your take on things. Good work.
Debbie Ferm
I’ve read (& Loved!) 3 of the books on the list, (the sitepoint ones), the Wordpress Plugin one looks interesting too.
Do recommend Sexy Web Design as a followup for the Principles book. It’s absolutely incredible, full colour & gives a lot of ideas. Bit abstract though.