Throughout the history of literature, books have inspired others to think differently, create something new, improve themselves and more. What is simply a stack of pages glued together has led to movies, movements and other results that were inspired by creative literature.
In honor of the newly announced visual theme for this year’s Campaign Agency Performance Review, Campaign’s Question of the Week asked adland to share books of all lengths, genres and authors that have inspired their approach to creativity in the industry.
Although books related to the history of the advertising and marketing industry made their way onto this list, other recommendations pertain to children’s books, comics and other sub-genres of fiction.
Top picks for creative focus
The most popular selection of Campaign’s outreach is The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin (2023), recommended by four industry folks.
“I love how this book simplifies the creative process,” said Jon Laughlin, CCO, Laughlin Constable. “It’s a very Zen-like approach; remove every distraction and then act as the prism through which your ideas flow. This, to me, is the key difference between good work and great work.”
“The book reframes creativity not as a talent reserved for a few, but as a way of being rooted in awareness, attention and openness,” said Maria Rodriguez, VP, communications and marketing, Open Influence.
“By stripping away the pressure to constantly ‘produce,’ you allow creativity to exist as a state of awareness; something that’s particularly valuable in advertising, where momentum can overshadow deeper thinking,” said Kyle Rathod, associate creative director, TDA Boulder. “Instead of forcing solutions, I’ve learned to slow down, trust my instincts and focus on creating the conditions where good ideas can surface naturally.”
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