the age of influence. The power of influencers to elevate your brand. Neal Schaffer. 2020. ISBN  9781400216376.   I have read all of Neal’s books in the past  and enjoyed them.  I heard good things about this one, contacted Neal and he sent me a review copy.   He then followed up and asked how it was going.  Neal practises what he talks about in this book. The book is a clear blueprint for working with influencers, with great examples, guides and room for you to maneuver in applying this to your business.  I took pages of notes and checked into most of the web pages/apps he suggested.  The examples are key to understanding how to use this book,  but his thoroughness in describing strategy and execution will make this a read and reread guide to how to do this.  He even h=gives you a web address where he will keep updating this book, important in such a fast-changing market.  It is an easy read, but that does not mean you can treat it lightly.  I highly recommend this book

Standout Virtual Events. How to create an experience an audience will love. David Meerman Scott. 2020. A very timely book. What these authors do is give you the psychology behind why to do these events a certain way.   The book is short in length but deep in content. Essentially these are lessons learned this year during the pandemic.   If you desire to be better at your virtual events, read this book.  Don’t just try to do the same old stuff as before – It will not work.

Read This Before Our Next Meeting. How we can get more done. Al Pittampalli. 2015.  ISBN 9780698409033.   A very short but impactful book.   The author blows a hole in our propensity to “have a meeting”.  I laughed as he described various tedious meetings, having lived through all that and more.   The actions to remedy this are simple and compelling.   Today, with online meetings being the norma, his mantra that meetings are for decisions is very apt.  I recently tried this out with an organization and the participants came back with a resounding yes to the format.  I recommend this book to all who meet with others.

GIRT. The unauthorized history of Australia. David Hunt.  2913. ISBN 9781922231086.  Written with true Aussie tongue in cheek, Hunt delivers a Bill Bryson style story of the initial years of Australia.  It is sometimes outrageous, often gritty and also empathetic to those affected by the actions of the often corrupt, inept and bigotted British bureaucrats/colonists.  There are some inside jokes for the Aussie audience but it does not take away from the story nor the humour.   The story moves right along and does not bog down in trivia, quite the read.