The business of brand
In the not-so distant past, determining the audience of a brand, and the success of its campaign was not very complicated. Relatively speaking. But with VC funding and digitisation, ways of building a business have changed. And so must brand storytelling. Add to that a polarised world and social media amplification, and there’s enough material for a smart brand to game it.
A Gentleman in Moscow
Sublime, in terms of writing and characters. When Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov is sentenced to house arrest (“house” here being the Hotel Metropol) on 21st June 1922, it’s difficult to imagine the remaining 400+ pages being anything other than depressing. But the Count is probably a living embodiment of Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, and the story that follows shows “that by the smallest of one’s actions one can restore some sense of order to the world.” An absolutely wonderful read, and in my list of all-time favourites.
The Presentation of Selfie in Everyday Life
When all the world’s always a stage thanks to the ubiquity of social media, we reach a point when our happiness is happiness only if it is validated by “friends” on social networks. A cycle of inadequacy, envy and angst follows. Evolution might have hardwired this in us, but it’s possible to think beyond.
The Algebra of Happiness: Finding the equation for a life well lived
Scott Galloway is famous for his “roasts” of tech companies and unicorns. This is obviously a different topic, but if you like the tone – blunt towards abrasive – you should enjoy this book too. Though his life has not really been a benchmark for happiness (as he admits), the experience has given him perspectives on what happiness could be. It’s not a typical “happiness” book, but profundity and the profanity coexist to make an interesting read.