It struck me recently that there are plenty of books that have stayed with me long after I read them (or perhaps I’m still reading them) and I felt like making an absolutely non-exhaustive, and totally-work-in-progress list here that I’ll keep on adding to.

Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman

This book totally changed my outlook when I first read it in 2001 and I think Benjamin Zephaniah was right to call it ‘The most original book I’ve ever read’. I had never imagined a world the way she painted it. Absolute must-read.

The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-events in America by Daniel J. Boorstin

Especially pertinent for anyone working in marketing and communications, this is a critical take on the 24-hour news cycle and mass media.

The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell

There have been times in my life where everything I’ve read – no matter how loosely connected – has seemed to return to the same essential beginning. That was the case with Joseph Campbell’s work before I finally bought The Power of Myth and understood why he’s so widely referenced. His observations on the loss of ritual and what it has meant for maturing in our times (especially for men) are incredibly powerful and vital in understanding why we’re now struggling with identity.

Radical Candor by Kim Scott

I think I spent most of my life waiting to discover Radical Candor. I’ve read it twice and will need to keep on going back to work on Scott’s teachings.