"Green Marketing Manifesto" by John Grant

I am currently reading this book as part of my research for my dissertation and I thought I'd mention it because it is a really interesting take on a future direction of marketing. As consumers get more and more aware of environmental issues and have easier and easier access to companies (though twitter, facebook etc) companies are surely going to have to bear green issues in mind. John Grant's book lays out how to approach "green marketing" depending on whether it would be on a public, social or personal level and whether your company wants to be "green", "greener" or "greenest".

I think all designers should start opening their eyes to environmental (and ethical) issues and use their power as a designer to lessen the impact of their work.

"John Grant′s been so smart and percipient with his new masterwork...useful, readable and clever...out now, just when we need it." (Campaign, Friday 23rd November 2007)

"A Clockwork Orange" by Anthony Burgess (book)

I first picked up this book when I had time to kill taking the tube to my placement. After reading a few chapters I hated the book and decided to stop reading it. A friend told me to keep reading, get through the violence and then to discover just how good the book is.

I may not have read that many books so far but this book was by far the cleverest written of those I have read.

Anthony Burgess creates his own slang of Russian-style words which are never explained and are left to the reader to decipher for themselves. This added a level of intrigue into a book that I had not experienced before.

The beginning is very violent and the teenagers in the story enjoy every second of it, "then out comes the blood, my brothers, real beautiful", the main character, and narrator, Alex says. Alex speaks to the reader as if they are another member of the gang by using the words "my brothers".

The book is written in 3 parts: The first tells of his violent life as a teenager, committing terrible crimes with his gang of friends, the second his is in prison for killing an old lady as he is trying to rob her. He is keen to get out and get back to his old ways. He hears about the new Ludovic Technique which can "rehabilitate" prisoners and allow them to be set free over a matter of weeks. He is very keen and embarks on the new treatment, little does he know that he will be a changed man when it has finished. The third part sees Alex released from prison but the thought of violence makes him feel physically ill.

The book tackles an interesting, fictional argument concerning the treatment and human rights.

I would highly recommend reading this book, persevere through the violence and you will discover a fantastic book.

"Art Direction Explained, At Last!" by Steven Heller and Veronique Vienne

This is a book I picked up from a cute little art and design book shop near Old Street, Artwords Book Shop, in London.

This book explains exactly what being an Art Director entails by speaking industry professionals across Photography, Typography, Illustration and Editing. It covers lots of tips and theories for creating a successful advert or interesting piece of work.

The book is very stylishly put together, as most boos aimed at designers are, and includes lots of little things to keep your interest or to allow you to dip in and out of the book including a comic, a few quizzes and lots of pictures!

It is well written and gives you lots of help with how to face/work with/understand clients including a dictionary of clients' terms such as "We're looking at something in the style of (X)." = "Here's a fresh supply of tracing paper. Now get to it."

"Spies" by Michael Frayn

This is a book about a 2nd World War espionage seen through the eyes of a young boy. Steven and his friend Keith's games turn into reality when the trust starts to hit home. A very captivating and exciting book. Well, if I made it to the end then it must have been good!

Stop Stealing Sheep and Find Out How Type Works

I read this in first year....honest! Ok so I've only just picked it up and read it this week but it was still really handy. This book about typography by Eric Spiekermann (FF Meta, ITC Officina, FF Info, LoType and Berliner Grotesk) and E.M. Ginger covers typography from the Middle Ages to forms and tables.

It really does cover everything: mobile phone screens, websites, letterpress, advertising, novels, brands, engraving, calligraphy, newspapers...the list goes on. If ever you start a new project in a field you are unsure of, I would highly recommend picking up this book and reading the section about it. It made me realise that even boring blank box forms deserve some care and attention.

Derren Brown - Tricks of the Mind

This is a must-read for everyone! I would highly recommend reading this book pre-GCSE revision as his memory techniques are really amazing.

Derren Brown covers a range of topics and writes in a serious but humorous tone of voice. He teaches the reader about how to tell if someone is lying, memory techniques, tricks and suggestion, hypnotism (particularly interesting) and about religion and science.

My sister had an exam recently and I taught her one of the memory techniques that evening, the night before her exam. Not only could she remember 5 complex lists with ease (not easy for someone dyslexic) but she could remember every detail and no doubt probably still can. The only annoying thing about the book was the fact that it points out just how wrong teachers are going. Mnemonics schnemonics! That's the craziest method they ever taught me and it's really quite rubbish - pick up this book teachers out there!