Are you tired of reading the same old randing books that have nothing new to offer? So am I. In this article, I’ll introduce you to four of my favourite books that don’t tech ically deal with branding, but provide a wealth of inspiration and insights for building successful brands.
So if you’re looking for unusual branding books that offer new perspectives, read on.
Let’s start with Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. In this book, Nobel Prize winner and behavioural scientist Daniel Kahneman investigates how we make decisions and judgements.
Key Findings
- We have two modes of thinking: System 1, which works quickly, intuitively and automatically, and System 2, which works slowly and deliberately and requires much more effort.
- Our brain prefers to stay in system 1 in order to save energy. This is why mental shortcuts—so-called cognitive biases and heuristics—often influence our decisions. Although these shortcuts are generally helpful, they can also lead to errors in thinking and result in irrational behaviour.
- Our memories are reconstructed rather than recalled. This is because they are influenced by our feelings, beliefs, experiences and other factors.
- We often make decisions based on feelings and intuition rather than analysing them rationally.
Why I Like the Book
What I particularly like about this book is how it sheds light on the nature of our thinking. By understanding how people make decisions, we can develop brand strategies that specifically appeal to people’s emotions and intuition.
If you’re looking for a book that will challenge your perspectives and deepen your understanding of human behaviour, I highly recommend Thinking Fast, Thinking Slow. It’s not a light read, but it’s full of insights that can fundamentally change the way you approach branding.
Next up is Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It by Chris Voss.
Voss is a former FBI hostage negotiator. His book offers practical techniques for effective negotiation. He emphasises the need to be proactive and sensitive to the needs and concerns of the other side.
Key Findings
- Being active and empathetic is the foundation of any successful negotiation. It’s about listening closely and understanding the other person’s perspective.
- A positive relationship builds trust and creates a better space for honest dialogue—and that increases the chance of finding an agreement.
- Open-ended questions like what and how encourage the other person to share more and take part in finding a solution.
- Assertiveness is just as important. Without it, you might give in too much. Setting clear boundaries helps protect your own interests.
- Empathising with the other person shows respect and helps build trust—it makes communication easier and more genuine.
- Recognising and addressing the emotional state of the other person can reduce tension and lead to a more constructive, cooperative conversation.
Why I Like the Book
I’m a firm believer that active listening is one of the most powerful skills when it comes to working with people. The techniques in this book will help you understand your audience more deeply, negotiate more effectively, and build stronger relationships with your clients.
What I enjoyed most were the stories from Voss’ time as a hostage negotiator—they make the book gripping and surprisingly easy to read.
Wired for Story: The Writer’s Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence by Lisa Cron offers fascinating insights into the cognitive processes that explain why stories are so compelling and how to make them even more engaging.
Key Findings
- Our brains are wired for stories. We’re naturally drawn to them—not just for entertainment, but because they help us make sense of the world. Stories let us experience situations and emotions without having to live through them ourselves.
- We look for meaning in stories. We want to know what they say about life and how they might relate to our own experiences.
- A compelling protagonist needs more than just an external goal. They should also face inner conflict and go through a clear development. We want to see how the events shape them and what they learn along the way.
- The more concrete and vivid the details, the easier it is for readers to connect. General statements often feel flat, while specific situations and images bring the story to life.
- Characters’ emotions should feel real and understandable. When we can relate to how a character feels, we care more about what happens to them.
- A strong story also needs a clear structure. Events should follow a logical path, and characters’ decisions should have believable consequences. That’s what makes a story satisfying.
- Uncertainty keeps us hooked. It’s the tension, the unanswered questions, that pull us in and make us want to know how it all turns out.
Why I Like the Book
With brand storytelling becoming increasingly important, this book is a great choice for anyone looking to build a brand and better engage their customers.
I admit that some of the information may be a little too detailed for non-writers. But I particularly liked how Cron uses brain studies to explain why certain elements of a story resonate so well with us.
In Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Yuval Noah Harari outlines our history from the beginning of Homo sapiens in Africa to today.
Key Findings
- What sets us apart from other animals is our ability to create and believe in shared myths and stories. This unique ability allows us to work together in large groups, all united by a common goal or purpose.
- The creation and acceptance of abstract ideas—such as religions, nations and money—are based on collective beliefs. Although these things are technically inventions, they form the basis of our complex social structures.
- Our identities and sense of belonging are built and maintained through the stories we share. These belief systems are not fixed; they evolve over time, shaped by various factors.
- The agricultural revolution about 10,000 years ago was a major turning point in human history. It led to the rise of cities, civilisations and social hierarchies.
- Then, about 500 years ago, the scientific revolution in Europe changed our understanding of the world. It led to incredible advances in science, technology and medicine.
- Today, global systems such as capitalism and imperialism continue to influence the relationships between people and shape global inequalities.
Why I Like the Book
Sapiens does what many of my history teachers failed to do—explain historical events from a human perspective.
By looking at the socio-economic factors behind major historical events, the book helps us understand why things turned out the way they did. That’s why I couldn’t put the book down, even though I’ve never really enjoyed history lessons.
But what makes Sapiens relevant to branding?
The book shows how our actions are shaped by the world around us, for example through stories and cultural norms—all elements that play a mayor role in how we build and perceive brands, too.
Understanding the subliminal forces that shape our thinking and civilisation allows brands to gain deeper insight into the world, identify emerging trends, drive innovation and ultimately build stronger connections with their audiences.
The book also highlights the power of stories to shape culture and inspire action.
Conclusion
Even though classic branding books provide a solid foundation, it’s worth thinking outside the box. In this article, I’ve shared four books that offer inspiration from other disciplines like decision-making, negotiation, storytelling, and history—giving you new perspectives to approach brand development.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, brand designer, or marketing expert, these books can spark fresh ideas and help you take your brand to the next level.
If you’re ready to go beyond the classic branding books, you’ll find these reads to be great reads.
If you enjoyed this article, you might also like my list of branding resources with more branding books, courses, blogs, mockup sites and more. And if you have any other book recommendations, I’d love to hear from you!
Title image by Kaboompics
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