‘Everybody is in service’. Our modern business world confirms Theodore Levitt’s statement: even if you think your industry deals with products only, service is involved, at least in the shape of customer service after sale.

There’s no shortage of books on branding or sustainability, but this is the first I’ve come across that demonstrates how branding fits into the sustainability debate, and indeed hypothesises that brands have a key role in sustainability.

Laurie Young is a leader – and writer of several books – in UK professional services marketing and his co-author is managing director of the Boston-based ITSMA (Information Technology Services Marketing Association).

What’s the oldest profession in the world? Beyond Redemption unequivocally claims that it is sales promotion – Adam would never have eaten the apple without the offer of ‘Free knowledge’.

Shaun Smith and Andy Milligan’s latest book, Bold: How to Be Brave in Business and Win, follows the successful format of many business books: get a range of corporate leaders to tell you how they do it so the rest of us can replicate thei

John Hegarty doesn’t sit on fences. He says what he means and manifestly means what he says. In a business notoriously prone to compromise and equivocation his feisty honesty helps explain his success.

Is business an art or a science? We’re all aware of well planned failures like New Coke; and winners, such as the Sony Walkman, that bombed in research. You probably know a rich barrow boy and a hard up MBA.

I read most of this book on the way back from a holiday in the US – which is appropriate as the style is very American, despite being written by two Dutch Unilever alumni.

The use of the words ‘user’s manual’ would seem to set the tone for this book, positioning it as some kind of reference piece for those of us involved with the practicalities of online marketing.

There were siren voices in the run-up to the millennium, but few heard. Tom Peters wrote a rip-roaring thesis, Thriving on Chaos, which stands up well to this day.