Feature ~ Blog

1. "Fire and Ice: the United States, Canada, and the Myth of Converging Values" by Michael Adams

Michael Adams is the President of Environics, a Canadian research and communications company - and a wonderfully engaging author!  This is the first of his books that I read, and still my favourite.  I think it's a must-read for anyone working in the cultural sector in Canada - it's a great way to really get to know your greater audience, to understand where they might be coming from, who might be your ideal audience, and how you can better reach them.  I also recommend "Better Happy than Rich?: Canadians, Money and the Meaning of Life", which is interesting and useful along the same lines.

2.  "Wit, Wisdom & Moxie: A Fundraiser's Compendium of Wrinkles, Strategies & Admonitions that Really Work" by Jerold Panas

This book was a gift from one of my favourite bosses.  It's written in a very casual style, one of those books you can grab, open anywhere, read for a few pages, then go on with your day, having picked up some sort of interesting tidbit.  A lot of it is common-sense, but a little reminder never hurt!  My only complaint is that peppered throughout the book are "inspirational quotations" in italics that remind of cheezy inspirational office posters with pictures of mountains and slogans like "team work" that I despise.  If you can look beyond that, the author does have some useful information to share, and it's something I liked having on my desk, to pick up when I needed a few seconds of mental re-direction.

3.  "Subscribe Now!: Building Arts Audiences through Dynamic Subscription Promotion" by Danny Newman

Oh, I know it's a classic, and you've all probably heard of it.  But it definitely deserves to be on this list!  Newman has a very engaging writing style, and includes information on who subscribers are and why they are important, how to go about running a successful subscription campaign, efficient utilization of board and other connections, effective advertising methods, as well as lots of great sample text to "borrow" from.  Anyone who needs to build a case for subscription at their organization should do themselves a favour and pick up a copy.  Or email me, and I'll loan you mine.

4.  "uTOpia: Towards a New Toronto" edited by Jason McBride & Alana Wilcox

I don't want people to dismiss this book because it is Toronto-centric!  Though all of the essays focus on projects in Toronto, they are easily applied or contrasted to any other city.  The essays show how arts, architecture, people and politics can shape a city, and how everything we do can contribute toward positive change.  I find a big-picture look at the city I live in to be inspiring, and it makes me approach my daily work with a greater sense of where it fits in and how it will hopefully contribute to an even better city.

5.  "Nobrow: The Culture of Marketing, The Marketing of Culture" by John Seabrook

Another one of my faves.  Published in 2000, it's slightly dated now (lots of references to Bill Clinton, and the music and culture of pre 9/11 USA), but still an excellent read.  Interesting ideas regarding standardization of style, elitist culture, and the commercialization of taste - all told through personal anecdotes about Skywalker Ranch, MTV, up-and-coming teen bands, the New Yorker offices, and more.  A fascinating look at "living within the marketing mush, the combination of exhilarating freedom and claustrophobia".