Prompted by an article on that other blog about a contest to win a copy of Tara Hunt’s The Whuffie Factor, long time reader/commenter Cooper left a comment asking me what books were on my social networking / media “must-read” list.
You remember books. Printed with ink on actual paper – not phosphors on a screen. I still love them. You can take them to the beach, or to bed, or on an airplane. Maybe I’m weird, but I like the way a hardback book feels in my hands.
But I digress.
The five books shown above are all what I consider “must-reads” from the social media space. I talk about them in the real estate continuing ed classes I teach and invariably someone asks, “Which one should I read?”
I can’t answer that question.
All are very good. All are different.
With the exception of The Cluetrain Manifesto, all were published in 2009. Cluetrain was WAY before it’s time and came out in 2000. But it’s still very relevant, and very, very good.
I’ve been honored to meet in person the authors of The Digital Handshake, Crush It!, The Whuffie Factor and Chris Brogan of Trust Agents (Julien Smith is on my “must meet IRL” list. Along with any / all of the Cluetrain authors). Having met these folks, I can tell you they are without fail brilliant, and incredibly personable people.
Read these books and you’ll learn a lot. About business, technology, and most importantly, life.
My Top Five Social Media / Networking Reads
The Cluetrain Manifesto
The Whuffie Factor
Trust Agents
The Digital Handshake
Crush It!
I’ve also added bonus pick Socialnomics
That video should make you think.
Disclosure for the blogger police: The Amazon links are affiliate links. I get a (very) small pittance should someone actually click-through and purchase a book. So far this year, I’ve made $8.63!
Jay Thompson is a real estate broker, father, husband, wannabe geek and has a blogging problem.
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Jay, thanks for including The Digital Handshake in this very astute list. To be paired with the Cluetrain especially is quite an honor indeed.
Jay, I absolutely loved Crush It! and I’ve got on order the Trust Agent book. When you get Socialnomics, let me/us know how it is. I’m sure it’s just as amazing but I always like respectable reviews.
Jay – Those are my favorites, too! I was pleased to have interviewed three of those authors on our BlogTalkRadio show over the past few months (Chris Brogan, Paul Chaney, and Tara Hunt). I have Socialnomics, but it hasn’t hooked me as much as the others so far.
Great video – I almost passed it by…glad I hit play
Hi Jay,
I’ve read 3 of the 5 books on your list and many more not on your list.
I enjoyed every book and took away great info and ideas … but I’m left with a nagging feeling that somehow they’re all missing the real power of social media to drive more business.
I don’t know what that secret sauce is but I don’t think I found it in any of the books on your list.
Jay – I realize that this post was written awhile back, but I wanted to come back and alter my comment from January a bit. I finished reading “Socialnomics” and I ended up getting a lot more out of it than I originally thought I would. When I wrote the prior comment, I wasn’t even halfway through the book – the first portion struck me as pretty basic, but it got better as I continued reading. In fairness, I got as many good ideas/takeaways from it as some of the others. Incidentally, I finally met Chris Brogan in person today, along with Darren Rowse. Both of them are supremely nice.
I have read : Paul Chaney’s Digital Handshake – It is 18 chapters book and really very unique…Social media is really very good platform for any kinds of business….