• by Beverly Weinstein , December 21, 2009

Some books don't fit neatly into categories, but offer some universal truths. Here are a few that may be familiar, and some that will offer a fresh perspective.

Green Eggs & Ham by Dr. Seuss

"The tale of Sam-I-Am: a successful salesman who overcomes his client's initial objections with persistence, enthusiasm for his product and a customer adoption strategy premised on user trials." --Mark Piesanen, director, strategic partnerships,

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The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World- By Eric Weiner

Weiner set out on a yearlong quest to find the world's unheralded happy places. Having worked for years as an NPR foreign correspondent, he'd gone to many obscure spots, but usually to report bad news or terrible tragedies. Now, he's traveled to countries like Iceland, Bhutan, Qatar, Holland, Switzerland, Thailand and India to determine why residents tell positive psychology researchers that they're actually quite happy.

Recommended by --Susan Malfa, SVP national advertising sales at Bravo and Oxygen and Media, Women @ NBCU

The Creative Habit: Learn It & Use It for Life- by Twyla Tharp

 A personable tone is carried throughout the book and within the text is a goldmine of advice. Tharp not only promotes tried-and-true habits, but also encourages readers to dig deep within themselves and come up with their own answers.

"Creativity plays a role in everything we do. Tharp offers some great advice on how to make creativity work in all aspects of your life." --Beverly Weinstein, president, Markham Media Executive Search

Scott Adams & Lynn Truss

"Frankly, Dilbert never ceases to amaze me: Many is the time I have been convinced that Scott Adams must have attended one of our meetings or received one of our policy memos. As a grammar "stickler," I still love Lynn Truss's Eats, Shoots & Leaves and her sequel on public rudeness, Talk to the Hand." --Betsy Frank, Chief Research and Insights Officer, Time Inc.

On Advertising by David Ogilvy

"Imagine a career in politics and not bothering to read the Constitution of The United States or a career in religion and not bothering to read the Bible. That is what you are doing if you make your living in advertising, but can't be bothered to read David Ogilvy's On Advertising. The sense that aspects of this book have become dated is beside the point. The book is the foundation on which everything else got built." 
--Mark McLaughlin, president of McLaughlin Strategy

The Fourth Star: Dispatches from Inside Daniel Boulud's Celebrated New York Restaurant - by Leslie Brenner

Reporter Brenner spent a year in New York's elegant restaurant Daniel as its staff labored together to earn a coveted fourth star from The New York Times' powerful restaurant critic. Brenner's account of how the restaurant takes (and refuses) reservations offers many an object lesson for anyone striving to do public service right.

Recommended by Leslie Picard, Time, Inc.

Scientific Advertising by Claude Hopkins

"Eighty years ago, Claude Hopkins wrote: "The time has come when advertising has in some hands reached the status of a science."  Right on!" --Mike Steib, director, Google Emerging Platforms & TV Ads

Book summaries taken from Amazon.com