I can’t stop reading. I love to read so much, that if I quantified my wants in each day, reading would take up roughly 80%. Having such a voracious appetite for reading, and an insatiable thirst for knowledge when it comes to Public Relations & Advertising, I’ve read a lot of books on the subject. Here are the books I recommend for young professionals entering the Public Relations & Advertising field.
- Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi
Networking is such a huge part of this industry. From getting a job to starting a business, networking is key. This book shows you how to network successfully.
2. Business Essentials for Strategic Communicators by Ragas & Culp
This book went along with my favorite class I took in the DePaul Graduate program. Before I decided to enter the program, I considered getting my MBA instead. This class felt like a condensed version of an MBA, and it’s all extremely relevant for PR professionals. For those of you unable to take Matt Ragas’ Business Skills for Strategic Communicators class this book (and the next) are great substitutes. Everything from Business 101 to how to market PR to the C-suite is included in here.
3. Mastering Business for Strategic Communicators by Ragas & Culp
I recommend reading this book in tandem with the previous Ragas & Culp book, but if you are only going to pick up one, I’d choose this one. Mastering Business has stories and insights directly from PR professionals in the C-suite. The advice is tangible, and their experiences are both extremely interesting and informative. This book is a quick and easy read that will provide a top-level perspective to young professionals.
4. Everybody Writes by Ann Handley
This is my favorite book on writing, an essential skills for any PRAD professional. Handley offers helpful advice on how to become a better writer, regardless of what level you are starting out at. One of my favorite things Handley discusses in this book is that you don’t have to be an author to be a writer. Whether your main form of writing each day is e-mails or writing a case study, you are a writer, and it’s important to flex your writing muscles.
5. Ogilvy On Advertising by David Ogilvy
In my opinion, this is the premiere book on advertising. Ogilvy shares everything, from how to get a job in advertising, to what makes good advertising actually effective. I recommend this to anyone who is interested in pursuing a career in advertising.
6. Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger
“Make this go viral” is something every PRAD professional will hear at least once in their career. Virality is our main commodity, but what makes things viral? Jonah Berger gives insight into what makes something go viral. This book is fascinating, and will give young PRAD professionals a deeper understanding of something that is so important to clients.
Katie Garside 