20 books agency executives and marketers are reading this summer

With Cannes Lions on the horizon and plenty of reviews chugging along, it’s safe to say summer is going to be another busy stretch for agency executives and marketers. Seeking some respite from the chaos, many industry leaders are taking the time to dive into a new book. Check out the latest Ad Age events and award programs “When I moved to Austin from New York City and lost my subway reading time, I had to work hard to make reading a priority again. Now I can’t go to sleep without reading,” said Krystle Loyland, co-founder & CEO of Preacher, who prefers a paperback. “It gets me away from screens and out of my head and into worlds both more and less complicated than mine.” Adland is brushing up on a wide array of topics this summer—from dystopian science fiction to 60s architecture to biting commentaries on American history. Below, agency executives and marketers share the books they’re cracking open over the coming months. Responses have been lightly edited for content and clarity. “The Upcycled Self” by Tariq Trotter I am a massive hip-hop fan and I believe Trotter, aka Black Thought of the Roots, is one of the greatest rappers and storytellers of all time. A true master of his craft, his unique ability to communicate his principles, values, personal beliefs and interesting points of view through wordplay is uncanny. —Franke Rodriguez, partner and New York CEO at Anomaly “Ascent to Power” by David Roll I am a self-proclaimed history geek. Gaining insights into the dynamics of leadership, political strategy and the challenges and opportunities encountered fascinates me. Leaders can learn a lot—both good and bad—from the lived experiences of historical figures. —Tariq Hassan, chief marketing officer at McDonald’s USA See Ad Age’s Tech Power List honoring marketing leaders “The House of the Spirits” by Isabel Allende This book had me in a choke hold. In her devastatingly elegant prose, Allende tells a story through four generations of bold and clairvoyant female characters in 20th century Chile. It’s a political novel but also has elements of magical realism. Two genres I feel like depict real life in 2024. It’s also been on some banned book lists for being immoral which makes it extra exciting. —Krystle Loyland, co-founder & CEO of Preacher “The Lioness of Boston” by Emily Franklin As a newcomer to Boston, I thought it would be a fun read to delve into the (fictional) life of a philanthropist, art collector and patron of the arts who turned her home into an amazing museum. —Kate Cronin, chief brand officer at Moderna “Black AF History” by Michael Harriot Great book as we approach the Juneteenth holiday and reflect upon the state of American politics, the pending election and what it says about freedom, democracy and truth. —Damaune Journey, global chief growth officer at 72andSunny “The Kingdom of Prep” by Maggie Bullock Like most masochists (entrepreneurs), I enjoy learning about the history of companies I’ve long admired, or at a minimum, those that may serve as a cautionary tale. The story of J. Crew has it all. A relatively quick read, “The Kingdom of Prep” offers a solid reminder that building an empire takes time, pivots, persistence, lots of luck and often a fair bit of devastation along the way. —Robbie Salter, founder and co-CEO of Jupiter “Fires in the Dark: Healing the Unquiet Mind” by Kay Redfield Jamison [Jamison’s] book examines the distinction between treating and healing mental illness, and how therapists can offer exploration and a sense of accompaniment to join one with the other. With so many of us struggling emotionally, privately or publicly, and a healthcare system breaking at the seams, more human solutions are in order. I’m just starting, but I am into it. —Mary Lou Bunn, founder and CEO at Flower Shop [Non-book reading: Flower Shop opens in New York] “Four Thousand Weeks” by Oliver Burkeman While it sounds like a business book, it’s actually more about philosophy, psychology and spirituality. A good friend recommended it last year and I, ironically, haven’t made the time to read it. As I get older and have more external demands on my time, though, I’m hopeful it will bring some clarity to how I prioritize my life, not just get more and more “done.” —Lee Anne Grant, chief growth officer at Babylist “Kindness and Wonder” by Gavin Edwards A fascinating book on Fred Rogers. An amazing story on what it means to be a good, open hearted human, to be thoughtful and curious while also creative and original. —Keith Cartwright, founder and chief creative officer at Cartwright Cannes Lions coverage See all of the Grand Prix winners here Top 5 Grand Prix campaigns “When Women Ran Fifth Avenue” by Julie Satow Glamour, power, risk-taking women—what more could you want from a beach read? Can't wait to peruse Julie Satow's writing on the heyday of the American department store. —Jenny Danzi, senior director of Pepsi “The Peacock and the Sparrow” by I.S. Berry I love a good spy novel—it helps me disconnect and I love the problem solving, the mystery and the heart-racing situations. This should be a page turner. —Josh Rosenberg, co-founder and CEO at Day One Agency “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid Nothing like waking up (without an alarm clock) on vacation and being able to smile knowing you are in the middle of a wonderful fictional novel—and not in the middle of a mountain of work emails! —Sofia Colucci, CMO of Molson Coors North America “Leadership: In Turbulent Times” by Doris Kearns Goodwin I’m always reading history because I find there are few better ways to understand human behavior and how complex patterns of change shape who we are as a society—invaluable guidance for modern leaders. In short, it reinforces to all of us why resilience is so critical to leading companies and brands in today’s challenging world. —Jim O’Leary, CEO of Weber Shandwick North America “How to Know a Person” by David Brooks I think that’s a great read for anyone, but in particular for leaders, because the book is really about listening and empathy. That’s something that for me, as a leader and as a marketer, I think is a really important characteristic. —William White, CMO of Walmart U.S. “The Creative Act” by Rick Rubin Timeless and to the point, while full of inspiration for anyone who touches a creative discipline. Leaves you wanting to cultivate creativity as a state of being and not just a skill. —Maggie Schmerin, chief advertising officer at United Airlines “Red Rising” by Pierce Brown After a few months of binge reading every series Sarah Mass has written, I’m super excited to immerse myself in this dystopian science fiction series for something that feels a little different, but similarly provides deep world and character building over multiple books. —Kaki Bjorklund, group account director at Johannes Leonardo “Hidden Potential” by Adam Grant I think it fits our industry well. The advertising industry too often feels like a lot of people put into boxes, where a copywriter now is a copywriter in 10 years, just more senior. I think smart people can do lots of things if they just realize they are capable of far more than they even realize. —Jared Belsky, CEO of Acadia Ad Age Small Agency Conference & Awards Join us July 23 & 24 in Boston Learn more here “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” by Truman Capote I loved the show “Capote vs The Swans” and realized that I need to read this iconic American classic. And I have so much brand love for Tiffany. —Barby Siegel, global CEO at Zeno Group “The Human Side of Innovation” by Mauro Porcini I love his take on innovation driven by a passion for people. —Lindsay Radkoski, U.S. CMO at The Wendy’s Company “Learning From Las Vegas” by Robert Venturi, Denise Scott Brown and Steven Izenour I’ve always been interested in architecture and semiotics, and the book was recommended to me by my good friend Adam, who's a creative lead on the Apple Music team ... It’s really cool. Super nerdy, but I like to geek out about everyday culture that we as consumers take for granted. —Rich Tu, partner and executive creative director at Sunday Afternoon Contributing: Erika Wheless, Phoebe Bain, Adrianne Pasquarelli, Jack Neff, Jon Springer

20 books agency executives and marketers are reading this summer

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