More from the book stacks

Another month, another look at the books we’re reading as part of the SAMBA program. And some that I’m just reading because they’re there. (Seth gets almost a book a day in the mail from people hoping he’ll blurb or blog about them. So there’s plenty available for reading.)

We took up sales in the last few weeks and as part of that, read Zig Ziglar’s Secrets of Closing the Sale and Neil Rackham’s SPIN Selling.

We also started talking about story – how to tell them, how to tell what they are, how to create them. The concept is the key component to Seth’s book All Marketers Are Liars: The Power of Telling Authentic Stories in a Low-Trust World, which we read. Well, I’m still only halfway through it because we had to get to the selling stuff, but I seriously have to finish it because this story thing is really throwing me for a loop in our business plan.

I started talking about self-esteem, status and comparisons, things I tend to struggle with. I do too much comparing myself with others, which is part of why I liked grades in school. But it’s distracting!! One of my fellow SAMBA participants loaned me Status Anxiety by Alain de Botton, which has been fascinating (and another I’m only halfway through). It’s not for everyone, but an interesting concept to ponder. Except for the part where de Botton seems to thing status anxiety is a recent phenomenon. Guess he never read the Bible or studied ancient Roman history.

I’m also about halfway through The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World by Acumen Fund chair Jacqueline Novogratz, which releases tomorrow. Having been to Africa and seen some of what she talks about, it’s really hitting home for me. And making me want to go back and do something.

Of the books I picked up at a literary event last month, I’ve managed to read The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You’ll Ever Need (which is really a graphic novel and thus really quick to get through) and want to tackle The Knack: How Street-Smart Entrepreneurs Learn to Handle Whatever Comes Up by Norm Brodsky and Bo Burlingham next. (The same guy who loaned me Status Anxiety says its fabulous and I love Norm’s column.)

I also got started on The Shack during my trip back from Dallas. Another guy in the program loaned it to me, but I haven’t had a lot of time for “fun” reading. (Wonder why? 🙂 But I’m going to finish it. So far so good. It’s a bestseller for a reason.

So that’s the reading list so far and for the near future. Enjoy!!

Tags: alternative mbabooksnew york adventurereadingSeth Godin