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When I heard that friends Gini Dietrich and Geoff Livingston were writing a book together, I was happy for them. Throughout the process, I knew that Marketing in the Round would be good, but did not think that it was going to be something that would take readers out of their comfort zone.

Now don’t think that means that they are going all controversial. Rather the duo pushes readers to step back and look at their marketing in a more holistic manner. Sure social media may be the cat’s meow right now, but that does not mean that marketers should drop everything for it. Traditional methods still work.

The book itself takes you through the steps of getting a more rounded marketing structure and outlines some of the work that needs to be done. The tail end of each chapter offers worksheets for the reader to fill out, so it can be a learn while you read tool as well.

This book should be read if you…

• work in marketing
• hate silos
• are looking to up-level your marketing game
• don’t want to be left behind

If you want to pick up a copy of the book and save a few bucks, click here for my Amazon affiliate discount.

When I first heard of Brian Solis’ End of Business as Usual, I was not all that excited. My whole thought was who needs another social media book with the same catchphrases and rehashed case studies. So when I received a copy of the book in a care package, I debated whether or not to read the piece. I need to thank Gini Dietrich for pushing me to give it the ole college try, becuase the book was worth the read. Check out the video above for my full review.

People who can benefit from this book:

• Executives looking to become more customer focused
• Marketing/PR/Social Media folks who work with customers
• Heads of support/customer service teams

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When I received a copy of Dr. Michael Wu’s the Science of Social Media, I was more than happy to dive in. After reading, I can say that despite being ~100 pages, the good Doctor gives readers a great understanding of what makes users of social technology tick.

While the book does get into some heady topics, Dr. Wu distills the information so that everyone can understand it. And, to make all the points more impactful, he adds in case studies to show how the theory is being used.

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.

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.

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).

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:

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.

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:

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!

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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)

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.

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?

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.