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Business Reading Worth Reading

Jana M. Kemp

When you want new approaches for growing your business or for managing an organization, read a book about how others do business. The following books are from my “have read and worth reading” business book stack.

On marketing: Being Direct by Lester Wunderman. Discover a treasure of direct marketing ideas, strategies and stories. Mr. Wunderman is the pioneer of direct marketing in the United States and shares his business marketing trials and triumphs. Two of the dozens of tips you’ll find in the book are 1. communicate with each customer or prospect as an audience of one 2. encourage interactive dialogue to occur.

On building a dream business: Jump and the Net Will Appear by Robin Crow. Musician turned recording studio owner, Crow weaves inspirational quotes into the story of his life on the road. The hopefulness promised in the book’s tagline “discovering the art of achievement and the rhythm of success” is carried throughout this easy to read book. If you are contemplating a business leap, Crow’s book offers the inspiration, along with the strong recommendation to plan, for a jump.

On managing and leading: Leadership by Rudolph Giuliani. That’s right, former Mayor of New York City tells the story of his eight years leading, managing and operating the city of New York. The book was in the final editing stage when September 11, 2001’s events unfolded. So Giuliani’s story telling includes some of the decisions made during the immediate response to events. The performance measures, decision making strategies, and daily meeting and communication approaches described are thought-provoking.

On replicating a business and retiring: The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber. The “E” is for entrepreneurial. Gerber’s book suggests that all business owners should be building replicable businesses that can be franchised and sold. While I don’t agree that every business owner’s goal is to build a business franchise, this is a worthwhile read because of the critical thinking it invites regarding how business is done.

What’s in your stack? Email me your favorite business reads and let’s see what Idaho Press Tribune business book list we co-create.

ACTION ITEMS: Read a book outside of your normal reading list. Ask team members to read a book in common over the course of a month, then to discuss a set number of chapters each week during a staff meeting – looking of course for lessons that can be applied in your place of work.


Jump and the Net Will Appear BUY BOOK button – link to amazon.com
Leadership by Giuliani BUY BOOK button
The E-Myth Revisited BUY BOOK Button
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Reprint Permission: The author is willing to grant reprint permissions. Please contact Jana Kemp: jana@janakemp.com or call 208-367-1701.