Curl Up with These PR Must-Reads This Diwali, an SRK book makes the cut

Janvi Mankani, founder, of Mint + Milk Communications recommends the 'Start With Why' by Simon Sinek.

She says, "One of my biggest takeaways from 'Start With Why' is the understanding that purpose-driven leadership aligns a company’s internal culture and shapes its external influence. Sinek’s concept of the 'Golden Circle' reinforced the idea that defining and consistently communicating the 'why' of our agency strengthens our credibility and creates long-term value for our clients. 

The book’s principles inspired a series of internal reflections at Mint + Milk Communications, where we revisited our mission and our commitment to our team and clients. I was so inspired by the impact of the book that I gifted it to my core and senior team members, George and Raveena, to foster a shared understanding and reinforce the value of purpose-driven leadership within our company."

Stephen Waddington, director, Wadds Inc., recommends the following 3 books for PR practitioners:

Strategic Reputation Management: Identify Strengths, Manage Performance and Protect Your Brand by Amanda Coleman, Kogan Page, 2024

Says Waddington, "Reputation management has traditionally focused on the organisational perspective. Amanda Coleman argues that a holistic stakeholder approach should ultimately form the basis of a strategic approach, especially in a crisis."

Organisational Listening II: The Missing Essential in Public Communication, Jim Macnamara, Peter Lang Publishing, New York, 2024

The next book on the list is a must-read because "Jim Macnamara is a leading thinker and doer working on the measurement and evaluation of communications. In this book, he argues that listening is an important and underserved part of corporate communications."

Strategic Communication: An Introduction to Theory and Global Practice, Jesper Falkheimer and Mats Heide, Routledge, 2022

"This book is an excellent starting point for understanding the contribution of strategic communication to management. Jesper Falkheimer and Mats Heide provide an overview of the key theories and methods in strategic communication, using examples from research and practice", adds Waddington."

Sandeepa Santiago, Intrapreneur & head - Project Management and Communications,  CommsCredible recommends 'Storyworthy' by Mathew Dicks.

“This book is relevant for our PR community because it highlights one of the most important skills required to succeed in this field - storytelling. It tells us how we can be a better storyteller and add more flair to our communication.

Storytelling bleeds through different aspects of our lives. We engage in storytelling whenever we pitch an idea to stakeholders, or brief our teams, or share our day and experiences with our family and friends."

"I particularly appreciate how Mathew incorporates personal experience, advice and exercises throughout the book. It made me reflect and rethink my approach to communication", adds Santiago.

Bhaskar Majumdar, co-originator, at CommsAdda, recommends 'The Pursuit of Reputation', by Amith Prabhu and Sujit Patil  

Says Majumdar, this book helps you, "Discover how to navigate India's ever-evolving PR landscape with insights from over 75 seasoned experts, guiding you toward effective brand management in unpredictable times. 

I highly recommend this book because it offers invaluable guidance on navigating complexities, providing practical strategies to stay ahead in a rapidly changing field. It's an essential read for anyone looking to strengthen their PR expertise and build resilient brand reputations in today’s challenging environment."

Devesh Purohit, PR consultant and author of 'Theory of Reference Building, Legacy Matrix' top recommendation is 'Shah Rukh Khan: King of Bollywood and the Seductive World of Indian Cinema' by well-known film critic Anupama Chopra.

Purohit says "SRK is an institution of PR in himself. The book authored by Anupama Chopra shows the PR thought process of SRK in his decision-making, how he dealt with the underworld, and how he integrated corporate in his life via advertising and PR and other aspects. It is well-researched and well-drafted. It shows the thought leadership of SRK as an institution of PR.

The book itself is an organic PR tool."

Purohit also recommends, "'Decoding Communication by N Chandramouli,  head of Trust Research Advisory and Blue Lotus Communications. The book speaks about trust dynamics and trust building for PR and communication needs."

Other recommendations include the old favourite, 'Who Moved My Cheese' by Dr. Spencer Johnson.

Pavan Kaushik, author, and co-founder Gurukshetra Consultancy. says, "It was the first book I read and was recommended by my Boss in 1990. The book speaks about life and your reactions to different situations. Every situation requires a different response. Work without deviating from your objective, and be vigilant all the time. 

This book prompted me to become an author and I wrote my first book - Me Within Myself on motivation and counselling in 2005. Then I wrote a second book on Zinc - We All Have Zinc In Our Lives - in 2023. Now working on my third book, soon to be out."

Pranjal Salian, founder & CEO of Digital Mahila, says, "In the ever-evolving world of public relations, storytelling is at the heart of every successful campaign. As PR professionals, it’s essential to arm ourselves with knowledge and inspiration from the right sources. 

Books like 'The New Rules of Marketing and PR' by David Meerman Scott and 'Made to Stick' by Chip Heath and Dan Heath offer invaluable insights into effective communication and audience engagement. 

Additionally, 'Spin Sucks' by Gini Dietrich teaches us the importance of transparency and authenticity in our messaging. By immersing ourselves in these transformative reads, we can craft compelling narratives that resonate and elevate our brands, making a lasting impact."

Aruni Garg, communications and brand Leader at ZS in India, recommends three books including the seminal book on how we make choices,  'Thinking Fast and Slow' by psychologist Daniel Kahneman.  

Garg also recommends 'Hit Refresh' and the much-discussed Sheryl Sandberg book that spawned a million discussions and a global networking community, 'Lean In'.

Harshita Varma, director of corporate communications & CSR at Midland Credit Management, recommends three books.

These include 'Trusted Advisor' by David Maister on the ability to earn the trust and confidence of clients, 'The Outsiders' by William Thorndike on eight unconventional CEOS and their blueprint for success and 'Misbelief' by Dan Ariely on the forces of misinformation.