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I like to read, a lot and learn a lot via reading books. With that said, I really wish that Christopher Barger had written The Social Media Strategist four years ago when I was getting into the space. What took you so long Barger?

Not only does the book offer things that you should be doing out of the gate, but also offers what you should be doing as you look to expand your program.

If you are a college student or someone getting into the social media space, you should read this book. If you’d like to get a copy for less, click here (Amazon affiliate link) where a new copy is under $16.

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Have you ever stopped doing something because something inside you said to stop? If so, you flinched.

Want to get away from that? Check out this free book from Julien Smith.

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I am very happy that the folks over at McGraw Hill sent me a copy of this book to review. While many books challenge you to change your way of thinking, not many offer real world examples of companies that have done it and are thriving. The book is worth picking up if you work in corporate America and want to be “that guy,” when it comes to an idea that catches fire.

If you want to pick up a copy for less, click here (Amazon affiliate link).

I did a lot of head shaking while reading Michael Brito‘s new book Smart Business, Social Business, a Playbook for Social Media in Your Organization. Now this shouldn’t be read as a nod of disapproval, but rather a mixed bag of agreeing and wondering why more businesses aren’t looking at social outside of its own little silo.

The book is geared to two main audiences; the first is the social media practitioner with the other being a C-suite member looking to turn social into more of a business function. It is also a very quick read that is chock full of real-world case studies and practical business advice for becoming a social business. Below is my full review of the book:

If you want to check it out and save a few books, you can also click the Amazon affiliate link below:

I read a ton of business books, but it is rare that one speaks to me in a truly personal way. So when the folks over at Portfolio passed along a copy of Jeff Ryan’s Super Mario, How Nintendo Conquered America (Amazon affiliate link), I was ecstatic to take a look. You see I was born in 1981 and grew up playing Nintendo games. I remember all the awesome codes and tricks to getting a new console when blowing into the game corroded the connection for the game to the console (thanks Toys R Us for the great customer service and my Aunt Sharon for saving the boxes way back when).

Needless to say, the book took me back to my childhood. One thing that I didn’t realize stomping on Koopas and hopping down virtual drainpipes was that as I beat on the control pad, Nintendo was becoming a part of Americana in a way that was really never done before in the toy market. The book also offers a great insight into how the home gaming industry wars that we see today were influenced by Nintendo and thier lack of action and double dealings. Below is my full video review.

This book is perfect for gamers, business students, young executives or a child of the ’80s.

A few months back, I was on a panel in Chicago moderated by Guy Powell. We got to chatting and one thing led to another and I agreed to review a copy of his book entitled ROI of Social Media (Amazon affiliate link) along with Jerry Dimos and Steven Groves.

Unlike many social media books, this one is more of a textbook and is not an overly quick read. It was very educational but took a bit to get into the groove. It would be a perfect pickup for a college student or entry-level social media practitioner. Below is my full review:

This post originally ran on PR Breakfast Club but wanted to share here with you.

With the weather heating up and Fourth of July weekend behind us, I find myself nostalgic for the summer vacations of my schoolboy years. While most of the memories are fond ones, I also remember the last month or so of the summer where everyone tried to cram in the required summer book list. Although it was somewhat of a drag, the activity actually kicked your brain back into gear for the coming year.

Flash forward to present day and your summer distractions. Chances are that you don’t get June to August off of work and your Little League games have probably been replaced by slow-pitch softball leagues where winning flip cup at the bar is more important than winning the game. Even with these changes, it is important to keep your mind fresh.

Before you go moaning, there won’t be a test and I don’t really care if you read these books, but they may help you in your career. Below are five books that are worth reading on a lazy Sunday afternoon or on your commute into the office.

Disclosure – the links for the books below are Amazon affiliate links that will help you save money and if you buy some, I might be able to get a 40 oz for a lazy Sunday.

Social Media ROI – This book from Oliver Blanchard may be the best social media book that I have read. It is perfect for internal SM practitioners that are looking to take their program outside of the niche department and push it across their organization. Click here for a full review.

Welcome to the Fifth Estate – Geoff Livingston’s latest book offers a unique perspective that will challenge even the most hardened PR or SM pro looking to gain an intimate knowledge of new media and improve their relationship building. Click here for a full review.

The Art of War – If you haven’t read this book yet, shame on you. You are probably asking yourself what a book on war has to do with your job. The fact of the matter is that it is more on strategically thinking about how you position yourself. Click here for a free version for your Kindle.

Content Rules – As PR continues to evolve, our role turns into more of content creators. This book from CC Chapman and Ann Handley offers some great tips on building killer content. Click here for a full review.

Five Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth – Let’s face it, you don’t like to read and you hate dolphins. This book is a collection of great comics from the Oatmeal.

Enjoy the summer!

I read a lot of books and to be honest most of the social media tombs rehash the same info over and over again. I am glad to say that when I read Geoff Livingston‘s Welcome to the Fifth Estate, this was not the case. In the book, DC’s blogging guru takes a philosophical look at the new realm of media that we are in now and offers reasons and best practices for brands looking to get into the game. Below is my full review:

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The big question here is are you ready to join the 5th Estate?

Click here to get the book for under $13.00 (Amazon affiliate link)

What does it mean to be Likeable? We all know that Facebook has the Like button, but what does it truly mean to be liked?

In Dave Kerpen’s new book Likeable Social Media, the question is explored and validated with real-world examples of companies excelling in the space.

When I first talked to Dave about the topic in mind-to-late 2010 about the premise and what Vistaprint was doing with the company’s Facebook page, I had no idea how he was going to translate the case studies into actionable tidbits that didn’t read like every other social media book. After getting my review copy a few weeks back I was very pleased to see that the examples, were not obtrusive and flowed in the prose.

I found a few examples worth stealing and think that you will to, below is my full review of the book:

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If you want to pick up a copy of the book, click here (Amazon affiliate link) to get one for under $14 – a steal if you ask me.

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Crowdsourcing may be one of the more interesting aspects of the social web. In Enterprise Social Technology from Scott Klososky, the principle was put to use in creating the book from the text to the cover art.

The book does a good job of showing how businesses can implement both social technology and crowdsourcing. One downside is that at times the text doesn’t flow too smoothly, which can be attributed to the crowdsourced nature.

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What do GoDaddy, Intuit and Sam Adams have in common?

If you guess that they killed a giant, well then you were correct. In this vlog video book review, I take a look at Stephen Denny’s Killing Giants. The book’s focus is on how you can out think and out maneuver the giants in your industry to maximize your market-share.

Have you slayed a giant yet?

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A few months back I checked out Assoleology, the Cheat Sheet. It was a quick read that had me laughing my face off cover to cover. I suggest checking it out if you are looking for a good laugh or would like some life advice with a grain of salt or a desktop conversation starter.

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Between SXSW and my shoulder surgery, I have been delayed in creating video reviews of the books that I have read. So today, the first delayed review is of Hugh MacLeod’s Evil Plans.

The book was a quick read and really good for inspiration and offering the why not when coming up with a killer idea and executing it. Check out the video above for my full thoughts on it.

About a month ago, the folks that are doing the marketing for Guy Kawasaki’s new book Enchantment sent me a copy to take a look and see what I thought. At first, I was not sure what to think of it, mainly because it seemed very thin to build up a case for building an enchanting business model. But after reading through, I could see that Kawasaki pulled out some reserve magic dust from his days at Apple. Much like an iPad, this book may be slim, but packs a helluva punch.

My biggest take away from the book was a lesson on dealing with people who you may not respect or like. I am often told that folks who fall under this bucket, often can tell my true feelings, so I am going to try to enchant them, while still secretly loathing them. Will re port back if it works. Below’s my full report on the book:

I would say that if you are looking for a quick inspiring read, check out the book. You won’t be disappointed.