As I stared at my bookshelf this evening, I got to thinking about the books I most often recommend to online journalism colleagues and workshop participants. I figure my pals in the blogosphere might find such a list useful as well. Each of these five books either fundamentally changed my outlook or gave me incredibly useful knowledge in my daily work. You can visit this historical blog for the best history knowledge of the book.
And please, tempt me into spending some book money by sharing your favorites in the comments! On to the list:
Peter Kent’s book can help any beginner make huge strides in optimizing content for search engines. When I teach workshops, I often hand out a list of links to practical online resources; ‘SEO for Dummies’ is the only dead-tree resource to make it on that list. Read this thing at least twice. This book is not only spectacularly useful, it’s also one of the most enjoyable technology books I’ve ever read. Knowing this book inside and out can result in many, many new readers coming to your news site.
One More Time: The Best of Mike Royko
If you’re a journalist wanting to learn a thing or two about blogging, skip the e-book by this week’s online marketing flavor of the week. Instead, read this collection of columns by longtime Chicago columnist Mike Royko. Royko wrote his columns five days a week, a schedule many bloggers are hard-pressed to keep. He was a master at interacting with his audience, sometimes even poking fun at them (read his czernina columns). He knew how to pick topics that got people to react and care.
And, Royko unknowingly discovered a secret to building a successful community around a web site: getting people together in real life. Royko was famous for his rib cookoffs, ugly dog contest and other events.
Read Mike Royko through the lens of a blogger, and you’re bound to gain a new appreciation for the lessons that can be learned from journalism’s past.
Myths of Innovation by Scott Berkun
I still remember the day at the 2007 ONA conference when fellow journalism geek Lisa Williams told a group of online editors that the journalism industry was beginning to mirror the technology industry with its rapid development cycles and webby culture. Consequently, fostering a culture of innovation is key to growing a successful news site. Scott Berkun’s ‘Myths of Innovation’ will challenge your ideas on how new concepts succeed in the marketplace, as well as give you some insights on fostering innovation in your newsroom and personal life.
Don’t Make Me Think! A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability by Steve Krug
Steve Krug’s ‘Don’t Make Me Think!’ is THE bible of web usability. Anyone involved in working on a web site should read this book. ‘Don’t Make Me Think!’ can help keep you from making costly mistakes when putting together your site on a daily basis. What kinds of links work best? How do people navigate your site? Why aren’t my promos working? This book holds many of your answers, my friend. Even the layout of this book is an example of great usability.
Spring into HTML & CSS by Molly E. Holzschlag
This is the HTML/CSS book upon which I was weaned as a newbie HTML slinger –or rather, as a standards-compliant HTML slinger. You see, I first learned to design web sites by my lonesome using Adobe GoLive and its accompanying manual (go on, laugh and get it out of your system). It wasn’t until I used this book in Mindy McAdams’ multimedia class at the University of Florida that I really started to learn to design using modern best practices. This book is still my go-to recommendation whenever I’m asked about a good book for learning HTML and CSS.
Now go on, tell everyone in the comments what five books you most often recommend to colleagues.
Books no. 2 and 3 have intrigued me, sir. I’m adding to my Amazon wishlist after I finish some other summer reading.
Thanks for the list!
Thanks for dropping by Greg. Knowing your interests, you’re going to love the Scott Berkun book. And Royko’s just a great read for anyone.
Thanks for the props, Danny. I still like that Holzschlag book, but the guys teaching the intro class have gone to a different book now (not my fave). So for the advanced Web design class, I am now requiring Dan Cederholm’s Bulletproof Web Design, 2nd edition (New Riders, 2008). I think it models well how to think about designing for all browsers and platforms. Of course, it’s not a FIRST book about CSS.
SEO for Dummies is indeed a great reference book for anybody learning SEO practices. I may well add to your Amazon Affiliate commission by buying HTML & CSS!
@Kent Every little bit helps the Journalistopia Web Hosting Fund!
Agree 100% on the Royko pick. The guy knew a thing or two about how to brand himself.
I was the Mike Royko fellow at Medill, you know. Never heard of him until I received the award letter.
Thanks for this collection of books to read. I will surely check out SEO for Dummies at the Library. That sounds like it’s not only informational but also a good read.