Beth Robinson

In 2009 I read at least 118 books spread over various fiction and non-fiction genres. Out of all the books I read these are the five that I most want to recommend to you.

Best Fiction Book

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen by Seth Grahame-Smith

I delighted in Jane's original version when I first read it, but the zombie mayhem that Seth added in was just fantastic. It was so much fun to see things twist and turn and to give Elizabeth even more spunk.

Best Book for Writers

Sin and Syntax by Constance Hale

It just caught my attention more than the books about the business end, as useful as those were. I liked concentrating on the sound and structure of the words and sentences for awhile.

Best Book for Marketers

Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath

No, it's not new. But it's still striking and it's still worth a reread and from a marketing point of view, the goal of marketing via producing great and valuable content is kind of an assumption behind this book.

Best Book for Innovators

Borrowing Brilliance by David Kord Murray

I read some other valuable books about thinking, and there's a lot to be gained from such books as The Necessary Revolution and Thinking in Systems, but neither is really one of my top five books of the year, although the latter is definitely in the top 10. This one resonated deeper. It's about building as much as borrowing.

Just Read It

Ignore Everybody by Hugh MacLeod

This isn't just about enhancing your creativity, although that's what it's supposed to be about. It's also about living in a way that is true to yourself. And it's stuffed with some pretty funny cartoons, too.

Your Recommendations

Is there a book from 2009 that really stood out in your mind that you'd like to suggest back to me?