They say that giving a book is like giving a treasure… because reading allows us to travel, imagine, and learn something new on every page. On key occasions such as Christmas, or World Book Day giving someone a book is always a guaranteed success. If the person you want to surprise with a special gift works in marketing and communications, choosing a good book will help inspire them and keep them up to date with new trends in a constantly evolving industry.
Below, we present a list of the best marketing books recommended by the LF Channel team—either because they have helped them grow as professionals in the industry or because they have left a lasting impression on them at some point in their careers.
We hope you like them!
The 8 Marketing and Communication Books We Recommend Reading or Gifting from LF Channel
- The Signal and the Noise, Nate Silver.
This book analyzes how to identify valuable information amidst all the noise, detect trends to make accurate predictions, and properly plan for future events. In a hyperconnected world saturated with information, communication professionals must know how to organize incoming data and anticipate current trends. Adapting to a constantly changing information landscape is essential! - The Director, David Jiménez.
After working as a war correspondent for nearly two decades, David Jiménez became editor-in-chief of the well-known Spanish newspaper El Mundo. In this book, he reveals how the media works from the inside (egos, rivalries, and power struggles), as well as the personal cost of refusing to give in to them. It is a critique of the relationship between journalism and power in Spain that every communication professional should understand. - Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life Without Losing Its Soul, Howard Schultz and Joanne Gordon.
This book describes the crisis Starbucks faced in 2007, caused by drifting away from some of its original values, such as its connection with employees and customers or the unique experience it offered. One of the authors, Howard Schultz, returned as CEO in 2008 to lead a profound transformation: saving the company without losing its essence. This real-life story is engaging from the start and highly recommended for those looking for inspiring business turnaround stories. Sometimes, achieving success requires making difficult decisions. - Grid Systems in Graphic Design, Josef Müller-Brockmann.
This is an essential book for professionals interested in design within marketing. It teaches how compositions work, how to structure content effectively, and ultimately how graphic elements play a fundamental role in this discipline. - Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon.
One thing is clear for those of us working in marketing: creativity plays a crucial role in our work. Contrary to popular belief, creativity can be developed. This book explains why artists learn by observing others and helps readers discover their creative side so they can develop their own voice. - The Communication Book: 44 Ideas for Better Conversations Every Day, Mikael Krogerus and Roman Tschäppeler.
The authors have tested 44 of the most important communication theories and compiled them into a book, accompanied by clear and engaging illustrations. It’s a perfect guide for learning, combining theoretical knowledge with practical advice, and helping readers present their ideas more clearly and improve professional conversations. - The Brand Gap: How to Bridge the Distance Between Business Strategy and Design, Marty Neumeier.
A book to understand what it takes to build a brand at every stage. With an innovative, creative, and strategic approach, it shows how brands that become essential to society are created. A comprehensive text that explains how to build and manage a brand, the evolution of branding, and how design shapes customer experience. - The Red Book of Brands, Luis Bassat.
If you’re looking for a timeless classic, here it is! Luis Bassat is one of the most prominent figures in the Spanish marketing world, and this book is essential to understanding how brands can become memorable symbols. A must-read for branding enthusiasts, it inspiringly explains how true success stories in marketing are built—never without great effort.
This is just a small sample of the extensive range of marketing and communication books available—books that inspire professionals in the industry every day.
Key dates for giving marketing books (or books on any other subject) as gifts
Some of the most important literary dates and events in our country are:
- 17 March – Comic and Cartoon Day
- 21 March – Poetry Day
- 23 April – Book Day or Sant Jordi
- 30 May – Start of the Madrid Book Fair
- 9 August – Book Lovers’ Day
- October – Women Writers’ Month
- 24 October – National Library Day
- 11 November – Bookshops’ Day
Although it’s never a bad time to give a book as a gift, if you’re thinking of giving a book and can’t quite find the perfect moment, perhaps one of these dates will inspire you.
Marketing and communications professionals often tie our communications to key dates that are trending. If you’d like to find out more key dates around which to structure your communications plan, download our calendar to create a free PR plan.
