Every 23 April, World Book and Copyright Day reminds us of something we sometimes forget amidst screens, metrics and the hustle and bustle: reading remains one of the most human ways of engaging with the world. UNESCO frames it in this way, as a celebration of the power of books to build bridges between generations and cultures. And perhaps that is why World Book Day retains a special relevance: it speaks not only of literature, but of attention, curiosity and time spent together.
Furthermore, talking about reading today also means broadening our perspective: it is not just bestsellers or traditional novels that matter, but also graphic novels, comics, manga, illustrated essays and other formats that continue to bring stories, ideas and knowledge to a wide range of audiences. Ultimately, reading takes many forms, and all of them help to keep the link between books and society alive.
Literature on marketing
If we apply this conversation to the world of marketing, perhaps the best way to mark World Book Day is not to seek out manuals full of jargon, but rather to read works that help us better understand how people think, how a message can stand the test of time, how brands connect with their audience, and why certain ideas endure. In that sense, a clear recommendation is El libro rojo de la publicidad (The Red Book of Advertising) by Luis Bassat: an accessible classic, without excessive technical jargon, which also remains the best-selling book in the history of advertising in Spain. Another very interesting option is Te van a oír by Andrés Pérez Ortega, because it approaches personal branding through authenticity, effort and judgement—a highly relevant exercise today for influencers and content creators.
If you’re looking for a mature perspective on the workplace within a young, modern environment, try Disruption: My Misadventure in the Startup Bubble by Dan Lyons. He recounts his time at a software startup linked to HubSpot, turning it into a memoir about corporate culture, marketing and professional reinvention. It’s a useful read precisely because it shows that behind the glossy rhetoric of many companies, there are also tensions, insecurities and people trying to find their place.
A hybrid essay with visual elements: Ways of Seeing, by John Berger. It does not deal directly with marketing, but it does explore imagery, ways of looking, advertising and visual culture; in fact, it is one of those books that helps us better understand why images sell, seduce and create desire.
Among the less obvious reads related to communication, we recommend How to Screw It Up by John Waters, an irreverent defence of creativity, finding one’s own voice, and the ability to make people uncomfortable as a way of making oneself seen.
Novels have a place too
It’s not all about manuals or offering a more technical perspective. The marketing sector has also been a source of inspiration for some novels.
Before becoming a novelist, Matt Beaumont worked as a copywriter at an advertising agency, which served as inspiration for The Book, The Film, the T-shirt, in which he portrays the darker and funnier side of the profession. The book recounts the surreal filming of a tyre advert.
Our final recommendation is set against the backdrop of the music industry. Jennifer Egan’s, A Visit From The Goon Squad revolves around a fundamental idea: that creativity and authenticity will always find a place in a world increasingly constrained by new technologies.
That concludes our book recommendations to mark World Book Day. Which titles do you think we’ve missed?
