Book Recommendations

I recently set up a feature on the right side of my blog that lists book recommendations for people interested in account planning. Honestly, I would love to finally monetize this blog and had very little luck with Google Adsense on my last blog Wandering & Pondering. I mean let's be honest - unless it's for something super duper cool that you're looking for at this very moment, you're not going to click on an ad. And since I write about advertising and strategy, I can't imagine what physical products Adsense could recommend that my readers would want.So, I'm going to try Amazon Affiliates. The truth is, you're going to buy a product via Amazon anyway so why not click on my recommendations. Now the extra exciting part is that because I don't want to lose your trust as a reader, I'm not going to recommend a book or a product that is crap. Okay, books are open to interpretation but you get the idea. I may not have worked as an account planner yet, but over the course of 10 weeks in San Francisco, I took copious notes and got book recommendations from "industry heros," i.e. senior level account strategists from around the country at agencies such as Grey New York, Goodby, Silverstein, BBDO, Venables Bell & Partners and a slew of others.

As someone on a limited budget, I'm slightly obsessive when it comes to researching big electronic purchases and for every $150+ product purchase, there's probably an excel chart somewhere on my computer weighing the pros and cons of one product vs. another. And I have a knack for meeting new people from all different backgrounds and occupations, allowing me to expand my perspective and absorb a wide range of information like a sponge.

That being said, I'm going to start with my first recommendation that has nothing to do with advertising and everything to do with simple curiosity - a book I'm reading now, [amazon_link id="184809101X" target="_blank" ]The Monuments of Men[/amazon_link]. The book chronicles a special task force within the American Army during the end of World War II whose mission is to save monuments and priceless art from both the Nazis and destructive powers of war. Enjoy!