Reading 101 - The class you won't find in college

Ever had a moment in your life that you were absolutely, positively sure wasn't going to happen, but did? For better or worse is not relevant, it's that fact that you were so incredibly certain it couldn't happen it literally blows your mind when life defies the monumental odds that were stacked up against it.

The Good:
In The Black Swan Mr. Taleb takes you through his well researched topic of the highly improbable, the events that were said to never happen but did. In life humans want certainty, they want absolutes but what he has discovered is that certainty is very difficult to find even in the most predictable circumstances.

The Bad:
The book seems like it is written to a graduate student or an actuarial who has a keen understanding of probability and chance. For the average folk this will be a difficult read and I do not recommend it unless you have substantial knowledge in high level math or statistics. That doesn't mean you won't get anything out of it, I learned that you can not be certain 100% that something will happen or an event will happen but you can prepare yourself for the unknown, I don't think I needed to read a 298 page academic report on the topic. Next time I'll just find his blog.

The Ugly:
So you get it? Don't read this book unless you are really up to do on your mathematical probability. But to leave on a positive note:

One of his final thoughts that I really enjoyed was to get out in the world and experience as much as possible because you never know when an extraordinary event will happen to you for the better.

Readability: 4/10
Usefulness: 5/10
Wow factor: 6/10

Ahead of the Curve is an interesting take on the life of an MBA student at Harvard Business School.

The Good:
Philip is a great writer and the stories he tells are truly interesting to anyone who remotely enjoys the US education system. Being the most prestigious school in the world it was fascinating to read about all it's inner workings and what it takes to become an MBA. One interesting fact is that the financial crisis had not hit the US yet but in one chapter he talked about how banks were making very risky deals even their standards. In another chapter he even states that there would be financial trouble ahead because all the MBA's were going to finance (the amount of Harvard MBA's going into the finance sector has been a historical measurement of where the markets are going) I won't tell the whole story so you may have to go buy the book.

The Bad:
The book is written from a, how shall I put this, an academic perspective, he admits that he did not take part in much of the networking/partying that many graduates do. Personally I think that take on Harvard would be much more interesting. It was very finance focused, but I guess if you are going to Harvard that's what most people take. I don't think Ahead of the Curve properly reflected what going for an MBA would be actually like, yes for some that can relate to Philip this would be a good overview, but for the rest of us we want to stories you don't hear about on CNN, or in a book.

The Ugly:
I think my Father enjoyed this book, after all, don't we all want to know what happens behind the prestigious Harvard doors? Just a little too conservative for our generations wanting to know the dirty truths that lie deep in the Harvard dorm rooms. Maybe the sequel will be "Behind the Curve: A fascinating look at a party animal's battle at trying to get a Harvard MBA" I know I'd buy it!

Readability: 8/10
Usefulness: 5/10
Wow factor: 6/10

Blue Ocean Strategy is a book about trying to create your own market space instead of competing in the market place. A very easy read with many "AH-HA!" moments of things you knew but never realized why companies did them. Sounds confusing? Read on.

The Good:
Blue Ocean Strategy is a classic in the making. The thought process went about to create the methodology behind this concept is remarkable, add the examples they give in the book and you have yourself a classic. Before Blue Ocean, Jim Collins' Good to Great told us to set a vision, a goal in mind, a target to hit, then do everything you can to get there. Though Good to Great is already a classic Blue Ocean brings to our attention that we can't just have the same vision year after year, sooner or later it's going to be out dated. Blue Ocean agrees on having a vision but you also need to be revisiting it regularly to ensure it still applies to today's fast paced, ever changing marketplace. Blue Ocean is like the Good to Great of today.

The Bad:
Some people are bound to find faults in this one. I can foresee small business owners throwing this one out the door because to find your own uncontested market space you must have a very unique business, a business that doesn't make sense in this world. Striving for the Blue Ocean means you may have to forego profits for some time. Focusing on the long-term is very difficult for small business when all they're thinking about is small, short-term gains.

The Ugly:
Yes you can't always find a Blue Ocean and yes competition is good for business and there are many more excuses for not trying to be in a Blue Ocean but for humans it is much easier to come up with excuses about "why it won't work" than solutions to make it work.
Many skeptics will hate this book and call it a pipe dream and the companies talked about that were successful in finding their Blue Ocean were just lucky but the fact of the matter is these skeptics are the very same people that called the world flat. Just because a new idea comes out that is different from the norm people don't like it, well if you are in the category I feel sorry for you, as for the rest of us that understand what this book is getting at good luck at finding your Blue Ocean, see you in twenty years when you're a CEO.

Readability: 8/10
Usefulness: 9/10
Wow factor: 8/10

I had never heard of Donny before this book but now he one of the people I look up to. In an amazing account of how he struggled to become what he is now, this book keeps you entertained throughout.

The Good:
For any entrepreneur or young aspiring individual trying to do something with their life they will love this book. Donny tells it like it is, speaks the way we would talk, swearing and really holding nothing back. He takes you through his hard times and his good, some chapters you're cursing him for what he did and the next you are laughing out loud at the situation he got himself into. I liked it so much that there wasn't a doubt about buying his next book "The Big Idea".

The Bad:
Well this one will raise some flags, but it should, any good business book should. Donny is an amazing individual and he has a brand that he carries with him, that brand is very easy to identify in the book. Donny's the badass, the "don't take no guff from anyone" kind of attitude, I like it, but many won't. The young movers and shakers of this world, the people trying to achieve something in this world will find his attitude contagious, he's good at what he does and he knows it. Yes cocky but also confident, I am sure that is why most of the older generation wont like Donny, because he is everything they are not, that's why I look up to him.

The Ugly:
What's is ugly about this one? Well besides the fact that every wannabe entrepreneur should have a copy of this book there is not much ugly at all, well except from his critics. I'd put this in the must read category for sure!

Readability: 9/10
Usefulness: 8/10
Wow factor: 9/10

Influence is an instant classic for any marketer, sales rep, manager, advertiser, presenter and basically anyone that deals with people on a regular basis.

The Good:
In this fascinating look at how our minds are persuaded Dr. Cialdini takes you through the six main principles used to influence. With well thought out examples and interesting stories, it is sometimes difficult to put down. You will be able to apply these principles in your day to day once you've read this but what's even more intriguing is realizing how others attempt to use these on you and the people around you daily.

The Bad:
It may be difficult for some to get the real world application of this book and to keep track of which of the six principles to use. Other than very elementary readers this should not be a difficult read and there is at the very least some application you will be able to apply to your dealings with others. At the very least the reciprocity chapter, if put into action will make this world a better place.

The Ugly:
Out of the 304 review on Amazon, 241 are five stars, need I say anymore? There isn't much ugly, I'm sure some of the critics out there will go after the three letter (PH.D) after his name saying its too academic and doesn't apply to real life. I'd say thats a copout, for a PH.D he is a very good writer and his points are clearly stated, if you deal with people do us all a favor and read this one.

Readability: 8/10
Usefulness: 10/10
Wow factor: 9/10

Ever wondered why some ideas stick in our minds and others we can't recall no matter how hard we try? In this insightful book you will learn the six methods of making ideas stick.

The Good:
Made to Stick was not a difficult read at all and the thought process behind the six principles was well laid out. Using stories, Chip and Dan have a delightful way of letting out the secret of why humans remember certain things much better than other ideas.

The Bad:
If you are a scholar or a very smart marketer you may already know these quite well. Here, if you don't want to read it I'll let the cat of of the bag....the six are:
Simplicity, Unexpectedness, Concreteness, Credibility, Emotional, Stories. Now use these as a grading system for the next time you have an ad, radio piece, website, presentation or any idea for that matter. Just rate your idea if you think it fits in any or all of the categories (is it unexpected?, is it a story?, is it emotional?). Most rememberable ideas will be at least 3 out of the 6 but there are exceptions. So how good is your idea?

The Ugly:
Now that I told you the six you don't really need to read the book unless you DO want to find out how else you use these. If every marketer in the world read this book I think our advertising community would be a much better place.

Readability: 8/10
Usefulness: 9/10
Wow factor: 8/10

This book is basically reading Seth's blog (http://sethgodin.typepad.com/) but 310 pages worth. If you haven't started reading his blog I suggest you do, very unique thought process that will keep you entertained every morning.

The Good:
Amazing short stories and many helpful hints. Seth has become one of my favorite bloggers/writers/speakers, on this lens it features some of his best talks (http://www.squidoo.com/remarkablevideos) This book will not disappoint even the most forward thinkers.

The Bad:
If you are looking for specific help on something, or innovative business ideas are not the reason you wake up in the morning then I'd suggest for you to pass on this one. It is written like no book I have seen, just small, short stories that cover a range of topics. There is no theme or main thought or any elements of a traditional book, maybe this is the future of books?

The Ugly:
Personally I don't think there is any ugly to this one but I know some people will hate it, if you go into it skeptically you may not like it. Have an open mind to it and you never know what you'll find out in the 183 amazing short stories. Oh did I mention that every the titles of each story go in alphabetical order? What will Seth come up with next!

Readability: 9/10
Usefulness: 7/10
Wow factor: 8/10

Another classic from none other than Mr. Gladwell himself. This book looks at the the moment when something like a fad, an idea or a trend take the World by storm for unexplainable reasons, until now.

The Good:
Are you a maven, sales person or a connector? You'll find out when you read the Tipping Point, a vast look at the science being a spreading trend. How they happen, why they're so unique and examples of many ideas that "tipped".

The Bad:
Once again our friend Malcolm writes a thrilling tale of spreading ideas but does not set up the frame work for you just to plug it into your company. Leaving his arguments on the table you are left to do with them as you may. Some will enjoy this style but others will find it frustrating and want something more concrete out of the book. With Malcolm you won't get it.

The Ugly:
Personal opinion; Love his style. Malcolm Gladwell has may critics out there and for the most part I think I would disagree with 90% of them. He is a wonderful story teller and he gives you ideas to apply to your next project or to chat about with colleagues. I don't mind the Four Hour Work Week style of setting up a framework to get rich but I enjoy an open ended style of writing like Malcolm's much better. I hope you do as well.

Readability: 9/10
Usefulness: 8/10
Wow factor: 8/10

Wikinomics is a book that every baby boomer needs to read. Most of the up and coming generation understand "it" but its the baby boomers that could benefit from this information.

The Good:
For books on the broad subject of what is happening on the internet currently this one obviously takes the cake. Taking about the new information age, peer collaboration and social networking this book gives you a good knowledge base if you haven't been heavily involved in the internet from day one.

The Bad:
If you don't LOVE computers and the internet this may be a tad boring for you. About half to two thirds of the way through I started dozing off during the long pages but still got something out of it. For social media and marketing on the internet I'd recommend David Meerman Scott's "The New Rules of Marketing and PR" before this one in a instant.

The Ugly:
Don't get me wrong this is still a must read for the older generation, but for the most part you could get by with just skimming this one and skip the boring chapters. It is difficult to write about some of this internet stuff because it is so boring, maybe thats why Wikinomics is considered a classic already because there isn't much competition. Either way, I say read at your own risk.

Readability: 7/10
Usefulness: 7/10
Wow factor: 7/10

Levitt and Dubner exploded onto the book scene with this classic that has been read world wide. Taking an economic approach to various issue this delightful tale will keep you asking questions, agreeing and disagreeing and at some points just shaking your head at what they uncover.

The Good:
Freakinomics was very popular when it came out and for good reason, the way these two rogue economists approach issues is ground-breakingly clever (the word ground-breakingly was invented to describe this book). Sometimes offensive but always with mounds of research backing up their arguments they uncover things normal science wouldn't dare to look at.

The Bad:
About half way through the book you hit a dry spell. Difficult to read without being board in some parts but if you can make it through the "lull" you're gravy. Keep a VERY open mind when reading, their intention was never to offend, just inform.

The Ugly:
A classic that should be read by all just to give everyone a different perspective on our world. If more people thought like Mr. Dubner and Mr. Levitt I think this world would be quite an exciting place.

Readability: 8/10
Usefulness: 8/10
Wow factor: 7/10

Donny and Catherine have put together a great story book on some recent successes of people in business. Intriguing stories but if you are looking for the frame work of how to make your entrepreneurial dreams come true you won't find it here.

The Good:
Great examples of how people have overcome all odds to reach their goals and find their calling in this world. Using the lesson learned learned in this book, all small to medium sized business owner should read this one. And soon to be entrepreneurs definitely should have The Big Idea on their radar.

The Bad:
Just offering stories of how people became successful should not be a compelling book that we tell our friends about at dinner party's, I guess that is why none of us have? At least I don't think I have. That was a bit harsh, I thoroughly enjoyed it I just think others may not have the same love for this book.

The Ugly:
If you like an interesting read and stories that inspire you buy this book today! If you like the methodology of getting rich laid out for you in one grand scheme don't buy this, you will be disappointed.

Readability: 9/10
Usefulness: 7/10
Wow factor: 7.5/10

A radical new book on how marketing and PR have changed and how you can take advantage of it. Helpful step by step instruction, DM Scott lays this one out very nicely for us.

The Good:
A down to Earth, well thought-out book book on why we can't be marketing the same anymore. Substantial arguments supporting his points, Mr. Scott is becoming a voice worth listening to about new media. He ads stories to keep the reader engaged and I don't believe there were very many dull moments within this interesting read.

The Bad:
Unless you are in a marketing/PR position, have your own company or find the marketing industry interesting you may not get much from this book. Then again if you are non-of-the-above then I don't think you should be buying this book in the first place.

The Ugly:
A book like this does not have much ugly at all, in fact I would say this is a must read if you want to understand the landscape of marketing for the next couple of years. Pay close attention to David Meerman Scott, he's a heavy hitter in the industry, if you have a chance to see him speak, TAKE IT, he is slowly becoming a guru in his industry.

Readability: 9/10
Usefulness: 9/10
Wow factor: 8.5/10

The most expensive marketing study ever done ($7 Million) to understand some of the fundamental principles in marketing and advertising.

The Good:
A VERY interesting read from front to back, Mr Lindstrom keeps your attention with great stories of the studies he did and the results he found. Things we have believed for years, or just assumed to be true, he refutes with compelling evidence.

The Bad:
The was some critics that said his arguments were not substantiated and some of the testing with flawed but it sounded like old marketers trying to complain because they don't want to change what they are doing. The only people that would complain about this book would be the ones that are stuck in their ways or are just too old to change. But yes not everyone will agree with Mr. Lindstrom's findings.

The Ugly:
MUST READ, all marketers, advertising execs, anyone in the industry, B. School students, and anyone else who wants to understand why our minds work the way they do when stimulated. Every chapter you'll have a new discussion piece for around the dinner table (this is why it gets a 9.5 on the Wow factor rating)

Readability: 9/10
Usefulness: 9/10
Wow factor: 9.5/10

The Story of Success, or what I like to call "If you have ever read a book by Malcolm Gladwell he could call his next book anything he wants because we're all going to buy it anyway." Sorry, a little rant on one of my favorite authors.

The Good:
Mr. Gladwell takes on trying to determine whether or not there is a proven methodology for success. And, well he does, I would ruin it for you but this is an amazing book to read. The process he uses to find what he is looking for in like no other author, an enjoyable experience.

The Bad:
Like most books, half way through it gets a little bland. The stories are fine but it seems he captivates the reader for the first half but loses me in the second. Strong ending but the middle to latter part could have been better.

The Ugly:
This would still be considered in my best buy list, even though it wasn't perfect. Still the overall book is a great read and you will learn something in this one!

Readability: 9/10
Usefulness: 7/10
Wow factor: 8/10

The Cool Factor is a useful book pertaining to event marketing/sponsorship marketing, using someone else's brand to make yours better. You'd be surprised at what you can learn in this book and how many marketers ignore a large segment of partnership marketing opportunity.

The Good:
Mr. Breckenfeld works at Fender and throughout the book tells stories of how they partnered with "so-called" cool brands to elevate their own. Any small business owner would find this book enlightening in the fact that this type of marketing is very underused.

The Bad:
There isn't a lot of "take away" from this book if you don't like his stories and can't apply his thought process. Many of the points are open ended and left for you to do with them as you please. Some people will be frustrated reading this book, if you are try to use examples in your own life and work to apply them to.

The Ugly:
Yes all marketers should read this but it is difficult for old dogs to learn new tricks so if you have a great idea of how to utilize this and present it and your boss shuts you down don't be discouraged, when it finally gets approved one time, it'll be worth it!.

Readability: 8/10
Usefulness: 7/10
Wow factor: 7/10

An editorial on different leadership styles and how to get your ideas across in an interesting and effective manner.

The Good:
The Art of Woo looks at many different cases to come up with it's methodology of leadership. Fascinating stories and interesting insights keep you entertained while learning a bit about some of the most influential leaders of our time.

The Bad:
It's one thing reading about John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie, they are major figures in the history of business, but it is another thing to act like them. I think I would have liked to have read about more ways to apply their leadership styles, hearing about how good they are is not enough in todays World.

The Ugly:
It's not a difficult read so I do recommend it, but it seems like it would fit in a Business 100 class in University where the students have to write a report on the style of leadership. If you were forced to apply what they were good at I am positive you could determine the most important of their skill-set and apply it to your daily tasks.

Readability: 8.5/10
Usefulness: 6.5/10
Wow factor: 7/10

Subliminal Persuasion, a difficult topic in the marketing world with many different opinions about what works and what does not. This book tries to let you in on a little secret.

The Good:
An interesting look at marketing and how we take in messages (or not) crossing over into a little bit of psychology as well. Read the book to get a brief understanding on why there are so many messages in our world and why only a few of them affect our purchasing decisions.

The Bad:
I found this book to be mediocre for the avid marketing reader. Books like Blink and Buy-Ology are much better at explaining how we are influenced but this would be a great read for a University student or a young business owner.

The Ugly:
You can get a lot out of subliminal messaging but in our world today it is getting much more difficult to use these tactics. Agency's must get smarter on how to influence our generation or they will get lost in the dust. Even thought I wouldn't consider this a MUST READ, it is still great insight into our purchasing patterns.

Readability: 8/10
Usefulness: 6/10
Wow factor: 6/10

An enjoyable read that will keep you entertained from start to finish. Looking for a better to live your life? Want more freedom? Don't like the 9-5? This book is for you!

The Good:
Timothy Ferriss is a unique individual, not wanting to give away the book I won't tell you what he has accomplished but I'll just say he's done a lot. He refused to work the norm and die unhappy, he wanted more out of life so he built his life around what he wanted not what was normal, hence the title. This books sets up the frame work for you to travel the world, take your idea to marketing and work as little as possible, sounds pretty good doesn't it?

The Bad:
If you don't like books with a lot of frame works and step by step processes then you may get a little frustrated reading this. He basically sets out a life plan of how you could become rich by following his rules and one day you'll make it to the 4 Hour of work per week. In a recent conversation with a business associate we were talking about this book and he said you have to be the right person to actually follow through with anything Mr. Ferris presents. And for my friend about 90% of this book is unattainable, even though it would have been a great goal. So be careful when you're reading it. Take little bits and pieces, don't try to follow it word for word.

The Ugly:
I am not a framework kind of person, much more right than left brian and I found this book to be very interesting, so I would say read it especially if you are a left brain individual but even if you are a creative a heart you can get something out of this great read.

Readability: 9/10
Usefulness: 8/10
Wow factor: 8/10

If you type in "How to win" in Google the suggestions box lists this book second on the list, so to answer your first question YES it is a very popular book. First published in 1936 it now has sold over 15 million copies and now you're going to need to buy one.

The Good:
Mr. Carnegie got it, he knew how to be a business man, and not just any old business man, he would pave the way for many practices that are still used today. In this epic paperback, he lays out the crucial things you need to do to not only get by in life but to thrive. I have actually changed things I do, how I react in certain situations and it has really given me a different perspective on influencing people.

The Bad:
You might think being published so long ago that it is not applicable anymore, I thought the same until I began reading and it wasn't too old at all. I don't really have anything bad to say about it, it would be in my top 5 best books I'd say.

The Ugly:
Try to use what he teaches you in your every day life, I have and it works great. I think I get along with people better now, I don't cause as much conflict as a used to. It really gives you a much better perspective on how other view you. So stop reading this lens and go out and buy this classic.

Readability: 9/10
Usefulness: 9.5/10
Wow factor: 9.5/10

I was president of the Business Students Society at the University of Regina and a fellow executive on our way to Calgary gave me this book to read for a bit. I got about half way done when we arrived and I had to purchase the book immediately.

The Good:
Broken down into short one to two page chapters this book is like a blog about life. Everything from oil to friendships are covered in this short book on life lessons. It is one of the easiest reads out there and you may learn something along the way.

The bad:
Being small with short chapters, Get Smarter doesn't have any high level thinking or difficult concepts if that is what you were going for. You will not learn about complex problems or secrets of business, just down to earth facts about life and business.

The Ugly:
If you have a short attention span like I do you will love this book. Even though it does not uncover and complex problem in our business world it does offer small pieces of very useful material. Lessons like how to make big decisions in your life, how to structure partnership deals and so on. This small book packs a big punch.

Readability: 9/10
Usefulness: 8/10
Wow factor: 8/10

A must read for any entrepreneur or anyone that is doing something that isn't the norm where they will be ridiculed (so for everyone that isn't living in mediocrity).

The Good:
This is a "pump me up" book, after reading you feel energized and ready to take on the world. The Magic of Thinking Big breaks down the negative perceptions about doing something big and convinces you that nothing is holding you back but yourself. If you just finished university or you plan to do something out of the ordinary you must read this, it will help keep your emotions in check and give you a goal to strive toward.

The Bad:
I think this book is targeted at 5% of the population that actually aspires to do something better with their lives than just working at a mundane job of eight hours every day for the rest of your life. If you do not fall in that 5% category then I presume you will not get a lot out of this book except a deeper understanding as to why most entrepreneurs seem so arrogant.

The Ugly:
I had a proposal do the week I finished this book, the quote I had on the project was too low, I knew it, my boss knew it but before reading The Magic of Thinking Big I was afraid to defend why we should be charging more. I raised the quote substantially, I was thinking big, my boss was impressed and I landed the project all because I changed the way I thought. Read this book if you need a kick in the ass or a firecracker to get yourself moving, it will inspire.

Readability: 8/10
Usefulness: 8/10
Wow factor: 8.5/10

I wish Geoffrey Miller was my Consumer Behavior prof in University, I would have got much more out of that class. He takes a different approach to why we buy, more thought provoking in the sense that he strips it down to the human core of what motivates us.

The Good:
A very intelligently written book, he almost loses you at some points and you need to have some sort of education to understand his style of thinking. Once you get past his opinionated disposition it is a very pleasant book with much to learn. One chapter is entitled "Mama's don't let your children be marketing consultants" I still got a lot out of this book even though he is opposed to my profession.

The Bad:
Sometimes it can be confusing when he dives deep into an argument but usually at the end of the chapter he brings you back. I can see some people not liking this book at all, you must go in with an open mind and try to see things in a different light, then and only then you will get the most out of this book.

The Ugly:
All marketers need to read this book. It explains a lot about the advertising community and why somethings work and more importantly why others do not. It isn't in my top 5 but like I said before I got more out of this book then taking a university class on consumer behavior. $500 class or $17.79 book on Amazon, you choose.

Readability: 7/10
Usefulness: 7.5/10
Wow factor: 7/10

One of the best books on running a small business I have ever read, Mr. Gerber simplifies it down so anyone can understand how to run a small business.

The Good:
You find out why most young companies fail and why many entrepreneurs burn themselves out trying to make their business a success when in reality they have just made a job for themselves not a business to run. He clearly explains what it is to "own" a business not just run one. Any business owner needs to read this book.

The Bad:
If your business relies on specialized labour, extremely talented individuals and/or workers that are not a commodity then you may not get as much out of the second half of this book. The second half will still will help out in your day to day operations but if you could never franchise your business then you may disagree with some points.

The Ugly:
Though it is directed at a certain type of business you can still learn a lot from this book. Just like any other book you will take bits and pieces from The E-Myth but I am positive you will have some "Ah-HA" moments!

Readability: 8/10
Usefulness: 8.5/10
Wow factor: 8.5/10

A look into the corporate landscape of how some companies have achieved outstanding results. Using very strict criteria a list was made from the Fortune 500 companies that qualified for the Good to Great study. The small group of companies that made the cut were then dissected to determine the cause or causes for their successes.

The Good:
If you enjoy corporations and taking a closer look at why they're successful at what they do then you'll very much enjoy this read. It is an interesting read, full of stories and examples of these multi-national companies achieving success in ways that most of the general public would never think of.

The Bad:
If you hate corporate America and don't know what ROI stands for please don't buy this book. It is an amazing read for those who it is intended for but to those it is not may not finish the first chapter. Also if you think this is the book that will transform your company over night into a sensation think again, it's full of long term strategy and high level implementation that takes years to perfect, but still very helpful to the average manager.

The Ugly:
This has been a best seller for quite some time, anyone remotely interested in business probably has this book already or has it's predecessor Built to Last. Just buy it, I promise you that you will learn something in this book.

Readability: 8/10
Usefulness: 9/10
Wow factor: 9/10

I thoroughly enjoyed this one, short chapters, well written concepts explained through stories. Highly recommended.

The Good:
Short, concise, to the point, you have to love a book like this, you'll learn a lot in a short amount of time. Alan Webber was one of the co-founders of Fast Company magazine so he has seen it all. I would love to hear this man speak in public, I'm sure he has many more stories to tell.

The Bad:
This is not a plot heavy story book, as noted earlier it is filled with short chapters and "to the point" writing. If you don't like that well there is something wrong with you.

The Ugly:
Buy it. You'll find yourself referencing this book again and again, it's worth the money.

Readability: 9/10
Usefulness: 8/10
Wow Factor: 8.5/10

Dear anyone doing marketing in the next, oh, say 10 - 20 years. READ THIS BOOK

The Good:
Trust Agents is a well researched book on our changing marketing landscape. Mass media has turned to the internet where we can't just throw a message into someone face anymore, we must build trust first.

The Bad:
It gets a little wordy at some points but nothing too serious, the majority is written very well.

The Ugly:
The stories these gentlemen tell throughout are so captivating at some points you may find yourself in a battle to keep reading and not put it down.

Readability: 9/10
Usefulness: 8.5/10
Wow factor: 9/10

A small book focusing on BIG results. If you're in a rut, need some guidance or have plans of doing something big in the future you should take a look at this one.

The Good:
This inspirational piece may just be that firecracker under your ass you may need to achieve what you've always wanted to. The website along with the book makes you a part of a community that's focused on doing something extraordinary with their lives.

The Bad:
If you already have life goals and read the book "The Magic of Thinking Big" then you may find yourself board with this one half way through. I'm sorry, but now you can't say I didn't tell you so!

The Ugly:
This is a great read for university students, empower yourself to find your true calling, sound kind of cliche? Ok, you called my bullshit, at least check out the site, it's pretty cool.

Readability: 8/10
Usefulness: 7/10
Wow Factor: 7/10

Get off your computer/laptop right now, grab a jacket, get in your car and go to your nearest Chapters and buy this book. Yeah it's that good.

The Good:
Hugh MacLeod is one of the most amazing authors I have read, his blog http://gapingvoid.com/ is where it all started. I like him because "he draws it like he see's it". He started drawing on the backs of business cards, it was his way of expressing himself. Now he continues to do so but his audience has ballooned. Pick up his book and it's easy to understand why.

The Bad:
He swears a bit in the cartoons, I like this a lot, keeps me interested, it's different so it sticks out in my mind but I'm sure some people don't like the swearing, %$#& off.

The Ugly:
If you have a dream you are following or you are attempting to take a not so mainstream path in life, read this book it will help you. When I started reading it I read half the entire book, then, first thing the next morning read the rest of it. I have never done this with a book but it was so incredibly interesting I couldn't put it down. Thanks Hugh for all you have done.

Readability: 10/10
Usefulness: 9/10
Wow Factor: 10/10