Most marketing books are useless. 

They preach fading strategies. 

They contain survivor bias. 

And are usually a slog to read through.

There are fewer than 20 books on marketing you need to read.

Some examples of must-reads are:

Once you've tasted enough of these foundational books, the new hype marketing books don't appeal to you. It's like eating gas station food when there's a Steakhouse next door.

Rather than continuing to consume parcels (new marketing books), find fresh meat elsewhere. 

This looks like finding great books in other fields. Maybe a book on WWII or the journey women have taken to get closer to being equal. Or even a book by the legend Richard Feynman.

When you read books outside of marketing, you add to your understanding of how the world works.

And you are improving your ability to find lessons anywhere that you can apply to your marketing.

An example is reading Richard Feynman; you can learn the importance of hypotheses and how to think like a scientist. No marketing book about FB ads or click funnels will tell you that.

It's a lesson only found by expanding your reading palette. 

And at minimum, you'll learn something new you can share at the next dinner party you're at. Trust me; no one wants to hear about the new ABM strategy you learned. 

But I bet they'll enjoy hearing how to get a good night's sleep from Matthew Walker's book, Why We Sleep.

You don't need to stop reading (or burn) marketing or business books. But make sure you're also reading a book or two outside of marketing.

Do you currently read books outside of marketing and business?

What was the best one you recently read?

🧠 + ❤️ // JO