World War Z, you should read it this weekend!

Everyone should read World War Z or at least listen to it on tape as soon as possible!

The World War Z is the story of the great zombie war told through the words of dozens of individuals throughout the globe, and in the end, you get a fantastic book, excitingly action-filled and forebodingly satirical. I just finished World War Z, and I am completely in awe at how engaging and evocative the experience was!

The story begins in rural China with a doctor witnessing Case Zero, the first documented case of the living dead. From there the story takes off across the globe crafting the stories of different nations: from how they become aware of the zombie epidemic to their progression of reactions including denial, concern, panic, retreat, and finally, regrouping and offensive.

Each of the characters had unique stories to tell, and each of them had unique mannerisms and culture backing them up. The military figures have a broad command of weapon and strategy terminology. The Israeli scholars speak methodically yet conversationally. The businessmen seem to swagger and strut.

Of course interesting characters are nothing without action and conflict and with millions of zombies hungry for human flesh, there was plenty of decapitation, skull-busting, disembowelment, and cannibalism (on both ends of the fence). Even before the Great Panic, international tensions are high. Palestinians fear that offers to take asylum in voluntarily quarantined territory may just be Israelis trying to lure their enemies in for enslavement. Without diplomatic relationships, misunderstandings lead to nuclear war. Celebrities become torn off their pedestals by the very people that initially instated them. Civilians flee in all directions, and everyone falls under the category of refugee.

Above the action and the impeccably crafted characters, is the satire. Every character that told a personal story in World War Z had some keen insight into our modern world, without being corny. The book was rampant with topical themes such as community vs. isolation, selfishness vs. cooperation, practical vs. prodigal.

The setting in time added tremendously to the book's allure as well. The author constantly references the Cold War and pop figures so that you know exactly when this story took place. In short, if World War Z was a prophetic book, zombies will be taking over the globe in something like 2 to 5 years from right now! Keeping within the frame of reference of the reader only enhances the illusion of World War Z.


The audio version of this book is like listening to a movie! Its only 6 hours long, and whereas many audiobooks are done by one reader playing voices for each individual character, World War Z featured a new reader for each character. readers included, among more than 12 others, John Turturro, Mark Hamill, and Alan Alda.

Download it from audible.com, listen to it on your way to work next week or while you're at the gym, and you won't be sorry.

Summer Book Review #1

The Books
Positioning--Al Reis and Jack Trout

The 22 Immutable Truths of Branding--Al Reis and Laura Reis

The Sort-of Review
Okay, so I've finished two books this week--never mind that one was an audio book! Both of them are from my Additional Work-Related Reading list, leaving only one left in that caegory for the summer.

These two books, both related to marketing, branding, and positioning were incredibly insightful for me, being that I'm the "Marketing Director" despite being entirely clueless about marketing.

The point is that if anyone is interested in marketing, these two books are quick, easy-to-reads. They are very instructional, i.e. repetitive and full of good examples. They were perfect starting points for me to get my feet wet in the first step of marketing a new product--branding it. Even if you're not interested in marketing, these books provide fun insight into the way that people think when they go to the store.

While reading, I identified a dichotomy in myself between when I am a consumer and when I am a marketer.

The rule? Repetition creates a brand and a position in the mind of the consumer.

As a consumer, I best remember things that have been repeated over and over again. That "how many licks to the center of the tootsie pop?" commercial. Perfect example. I don't think the Tootsie Roll people made any other commercials. So in my mind, I have a special, uncontested place for Tootsie Pops. I also have a unique place in my brain where I store tips from Louie the Lightning Bug with regards to power lines.

As a marketer, I enjoy coming up with different looks to our brochures. Although it's fun for me to keep coming up with new designs, it doesn't help establish a singular idea of our company's brand in the mind. As it turns out, a singular, uncontested version of your company is the best way to go.

For more on these things, read the books!


NOTE
You can download a 1-hour audio version of The 22 Immutable Truths of Branding from Audible.com for less than $7.

My Summer Reading List

If you plan to do something, over-plan it to the point nothing may get done. ~Sortajack

After a year of almost inactivity, I decided to take up reading again. This time two years ago, I was reading a book every two weeks, as well as The New Yorker (I can't wait to get my issue with the controversial Obama cover, btw) and The Week.

So to jumpstart my summer reading, I've started with a "healthy" list including titles I already own, as well as Business Week's recommended MBA poolside reading.

In no particular order:

BusinessWeek Titles

1. The Entrepreneur's Guide to Finance and Business (Steven Rogers)
2. The World is Flat (Thomas Friedman)
3. True North (Bill George)
4. in progress Field Notes from a Catastrophe (Elizabeth Kolbert)
5. Ulysses (James Joyce)
6. Five Future Strategies You Need to Know Right Now (George Stalk and John Butman)
7. Competitive Strategy (Michael E. Porter)
8. The Back of the Napkin (Dan Roam)
   

Other Business Titles

1. done Positioning (Al Reis and Jack Trout)
2. done 22 Immutable Truths of Branding (Al Reis)
3. The Wisdom of Crowds (James Surowiecki)

Family/Friends Recommended Reading

1. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
   
2. The Crimson Petal in the White (Michel Faber)
   
3. in progress When You Are Engulfed in Flames (David Sedaris)