5 Game-Changing Business Books to Read This National Read a Book Day

​National Read a Book Day is just around the corner, and here at The Team, we're firm believers in the power of a good book. While we love a compelling fiction narrative as much as the next person, this year we're focusing on a different kind of story. We’re exploring the story of business success with our favourite business books.

We're dedicating National Read a Book Day to the books that have helped our team members grow, not just professionally, but in how they think about strategy, communication, and human connection. These aren't just textbooks; they're guides to understanding the mechanics behind successful brands and businesses. They've equipped us to better serve our clients and sharpen our own business acumen.

To celebrate, we’ve put together a list of our top 5 recommended reads for anyone looking to supercharge their business and brand activation efforts. Whether you're a founder, a marketer, or simply someone who wants to understand what makes a brand tick, these books will provide invaluable insights and inspire new ways of thinking.

Let's dive in and take a look at our top picks for business books.

​1. How Not to Plan: 66 Ways to Screw it Up by Les Binet & Sarah Carter

This is a non-negotiable read for anyone serious about business and brand growth. Based on decades of research, Binet and Carter don't offer a 'how-to' guide, but rather a 'how-not-to.' By meticulously detailing the most common and expensive mistakes in marketing and strategy, they challenge the obsession with short-term metrics and the over-focus on targeting a small group of "super-fans." They argue convincingly for the power of building long-term brand equity through broad reach, emotional connection, and consistent communication. This book is our team's north star, reminding us to always prioritise what truly drives sustainable business success over fleeting trends.

Our Director Sally Tarbit expressed:

​This book has been my go-to for years. You could call it an account planner’s bible. When you just can’t see the wood for the trees, or need reminding about the basics, it provides a gentle steer. Blending anecdotes with practical advice in succinct chapters, that are so easy to apply to every day planning challenges.

​2. Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist by Kate Raworth

​This book offers a powerful and visually intuitive framework for a new kind of economic thinking. Kate Raworth challenges the outdated obsession with endless GDP growth, arguing that a healthy economy should instead aim to thrive within a "safe and just space" for humanity. This doughnut-shaped sweet spot is defined by an inner ring, representing the social foundation (ensuring no one falls short on life's essentials like food, education, and housing), and an outer ring, the ecological ceiling (respecting the planetary boundaries we must not overshoot). For our team, this book has been transformative, prompting us to ask deeper questions about our clients' goals and how their brand can contribute positively to both people and the planet, not just their bottom line. It redefines what success looks like in a modern world and helps us embed sustainability and social purpose into the core of brand strategy.

​3. Good Strategy/Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why It Matters by Richard Rumelt

This book is a masterclass in strategic thinking. Richard Rumelt argues that a lot of what passes for "strategy" in the business world is actually just fluff, vision statements, or lists of goals—what he terms "bad strategy." He provides a clear, actionable framework for what constitutes good strategy, which he calls the "kernel." This kernel has three parts: a diagnosis of the fundamental challenge, a guiding policy to address it, and a set of coherent actions to execute that policy.

This book has been fundamental for our team's approach to brand and business activation. It has taught us to look beyond buzzwords and instead focus on the core problem. We've learned that a great strategy is often surprisingly simple, born from a clear-eyed understanding of the situation and a willingness to make difficult choices. It’s a powerful tool for cutting through complexity and building a roadmap for genuine, long-term success.​

4. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

This is a monumental book that has reshaped how we understand human behaviour and decision-making. Daniel Kahneman, a Nobel laureate, unpacks the two systems that drive our thought processes: System 1 (fast, intuitive, and emotional) and System 2 (slow, deliberate, and logical). He reveals how these two systems interact and, crucially, how System 1's shortcuts and biases—like the halo effect and confirmation bias—can lead to irrational decisions. For our team, this book is essential for anyone in business. It has given us a deeper appreciation for the psychology behind consumer choices, helping us understand why people are often driven by feelings and mental shortcuts rather than pure logic. This insight is invaluable for crafting marketing and brand strategies that resonate on a deeper, more human level.

Our Applied Behavioural Scientist Mark Hauser commented:

​I personally read it while doing my Psychology masters over a decade ago and still remember the profound shift I experienced in the way I understood people and behaviour.

5. Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek

This book provides a powerful framework for inspiring people and building true loyalty. Sinek’s core idea is that great leaders and organisations all think, act, and communicate by starting with their "Why"—their purpose, cause, or belief—before moving on to the "How" and "What." For our team, this book has been a game-changer. It has helped us to not just think about what our clients do, but to uncover the deeper reason behind their business. This allows us to craft brand stories that resonate on a much more profound, emotional level, fostering genuine connection and long-term loyalty.

Final thoughts

​These five business books are just the beginning of our top picks for business reading that challenges, inspires, and equips you to think differently. Each one has shaped the way we approach strategy, creativity, leadership, and human connection. We hope they can do the same for you.

Whether you’re a founder, a marketer, or simply someone curious about what makes a brand thrive, these reads offer practical insights, fresh perspectives, and a little inspiration to help you grow.

​For more inspiration: Here are some other business books we highly recommend

Our bookshelves are overflowing with insightful reads that continue to shape our thinking. If you’re looking to dive deeper into specific areas of business, brand, and creativity, here are a few more titles we can’t recommend enough:

• Fck Being Humble: Why Self-Promotion Isn't a Dirty Word* by Stefanie Sword-Williams: An empowering read for anyone who struggles with self-promotion, offering actionable steps to confidently own your value and get your voice heard.
• HBR Guide to Critical Thinking by Harvard Business Review: A pragmatic guide for sharpening your analytical skills, helping you to move beyond assumptions and use evidence to make smarter business decisions.
• Eat Your Greens: Fact-Based Thinking to Improve Your Brand's Health by Wiemer Snijders: A collection of essays from industry experts that challenges marketing fads and champions evidence-based thinking for long-term brand health.
• Magnetic Nonsense: What the 'Evidence-Based' Marketing Gurus Got Wrong by Paul D. Sweeney: A provocative counter-argument to the marketing orthodoxy, making a compelling case for the power of "brand magnetism" and the irrational pull of great creativity.
• Whatever You Think, Think the Opposite by Paul Arden: A masterclass in creative counter-intuition, this book is a great reminder that the best ideas often come from challenging convention and embracing the unexpected.

We hope this list gives you plenty of inspiration to activate your own business and brand acumen. Happy reading!

Of course, we haven't read every great book out there yet, but our team has plenty more business books to recommend, so keep an eye out for future reading lists.