4 Essential Books for Communicators in 2024

 

Explore the titles that are inspiring our team this year.

“Reading is essential to those who wish to rise above the ordinary.” – Jim Rohn

We read to fuel our minds, spark creativity and challenge old ways of thinking, sourcing inspiration from insightful books. Our team is excited to share some lessons we’ve learned that are boosting personal and professional growth. Here are our top four book recommendations for the year (so far), each packed with valuable insights into honing communication skills. Dive in and discover why we believe these books are essential reads for anyone looking to enhance their ability to connect and communicate effectively.

Addison Peevy’s Pick: 

1. Cues by Vanessa Van Edwards

“At Guardian, we often say that 'everything communicates'—not just what you say, but also what you don't. Throughout Cues, Edwards shares stories about non-verbal comms and tips to improve interactions. Since 65 to 90% of what we communicate is non-verbal, it made me realize that everything you do either enhances or distracts from your message."

Adrienne Brown’s Pick: 

2. Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More With Less by Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen and Roy Schwartz

“This book changed the way I communicate. It provides a new framework for how to write, offering tangible steps so your message resonates and sticks. Smart Brevity was written by journalists who understand the distracted age we live in and the deluge of messages we receive each and every day. This is an essential guide in your quest to breaking through the noise and being heard, whether that’s on an organizational level with your stakeholders, a professional level with your team or even a personal level with friends and family. You can read more insights into what this book taught our team here.”

Jennifer David’s Pick: 

3. Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara

“As someone who enjoys showing hospitality to others, the title, Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect, caught my attention immediately. The anecdotes shared by restaurateur Will Guidara are entertaining and quickly inspired my own creative thinking when it comes to treating people with care. As Guidara points out, it doesn’t require limitless funds to treat everyone like a VIP and make them feel special.” 

Anna Hutsell’s Pick: 

4. Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg

“A helpful idea or recommendation is all for naught if we’re not communicating in a way that can be received. Supercommunicators helps everyone identify and understand the different types of conversations that happen in our daily interactions with one another, and how we can meet people where they are to effectively communicate information, emotions, beliefs and values.”


 
Rob Forrester