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Books I read (or referenced) over break.

by Kristina Halvorson on January 5th, 2009

Happy 2009! Hope your past two weeks were filled with festivities, feasting, and family fun.

In between the celebrations and sick days (our house was hit by a variety of phlegm-filled plagues), I spent several hours luxuriating in the company of some of the web industry's finest thinkers. That is to say, I read a lot. As I'm on an insane (albeit self-imposed) deadline for my book about content strategy, I needed to get as much research done as possible in a very short amount of time.

Many of these titles have been on my shelf for years and are my go-to reference guides. A few were brand-new undertakings. Many, I love. Some, I do not. (I'll save the reviews and commentary for future blog posts.) Regardless, here's the list.

If I'm looking for every useful book out there that discusses (even sideways) planning,
creating, and managing web content … what did I miss?

  • http://www.digitalword.ca Kristina Mausser

    Many of these are on my bookshelf as well. A few to consider adding to your list:
    - Naked Conversations by Robert Scoble/Shel Israel
    - Killer Web Content by Gerry McGovern
    - Hot Text: Web Writing That Works by Jonathan and Lisa Price
    A great online resource:
    http://www.copyblogger.com

  • http://www.digitalword.ca Kristina Mausser

    Many of these are on my bookshelf as well. A few to consider adding to your list:
    - Naked Conversations by Robert Scoble/Shel Israel
    - Killer Web Content by Gerry McGovern
    - Hot Text: Web Writing That Works by Jonathan and Lisa Price
    A great online resource:
    http://www.copyblogger.com

  • http://www.digitalword.ca Kristina Mausser

    Many of these are on my bookshelf as well. A few to consider adding to your list:
    - Naked Conversations by Robert Scoble/Shel Israel
    - Killer Web Content by Gerry McGovern
    - Hot Text: Web Writing That Works by Jonathan and Lisa Price
    A great online resource:
    http://www.copyblogger.com

  • http://www.leenjones.com/blog Colleen

    I’m a fan of Dynamics in Document Design by Karen Schriver. I like how it weaves together rhetoric, content, information design, and usability. It is older and focuses more on documents than the web, but much of it translates.
    I also like how the book combines research, theory, history, and practical application. Very thorough.

  • http://www.leenjones.com/blog Colleen

    I’m a fan of Dynamics in Document Design by Karen Schriver. I like how it weaves together rhetoric, content, information design, and usability. It is older and focuses more on documents than the web, but much of it translates.
    I also like how the book combines research, theory, history, and practical application. Very thorough.

  • http://www.leenjones.com/blog Colleen

    I’m a fan of Dynamics in Document Design by Karen Schriver. I like how it weaves together rhetoric, content, information design, and usability. It is older and focuses more on documents than the web, but much of it translates.
    I also like how the book combines research, theory, history, and practical application. Very thorough.

  • http://www.seocopywriting.com Heather Lloyd-Martin

    Great list of books/resources. If I want to get back to the copywriting fundamentals, I re-read something by Bob Bly (he has a blog, too). He may not focus totally on Web writing, but his information about persuasive, direct-response copywriting is top-notch.

  • http://www.seocopywriting.com Heather Lloyd-Martin

    Great list of books/resources. If I want to get back to the copywriting fundamentals, I re-read something by Bob Bly (he has a blog, too). He may not focus totally on Web writing, but his information about persuasive, direct-response copywriting is top-notch.

  • http://communicatingdesign.com Dan B

    Hi Kristina,
    Thanks for listing Communicating Design among such a top shelf book shelf! Good luck on yours! Can’t wait to see it when it comes out.

  • http://communicatingdesign.com Dan B

    Hi Kristina,
    Thanks for listing Communicating Design among such a top shelf book shelf! Good luck on yours! Can’t wait to see it when it comes out.

  • http://communicatingdesign.com Dan B

    Hi Kristina,
    Thanks for listing Communicating Design among such a top shelf book shelf! Good luck on yours! Can’t wait to see it when it comes out.

  • http://www.contentmarketing.net Newt Barrett

    Kristina,
    Thanks so much for the shout out. I’m just going to assume our book was one that you liked.
    Another great book on content and storytelling that translates to the web is Made to Stick, by Dan and Chip Heath.
    Newt

  • http://www.contentmarketing.net Newt Barrett

    Kristina,
    Thanks so much for the shout out. I’m just going to assume our book was one that you liked.
    Another great book on content and storytelling that translates to the web is Made to Stick, by Dan and Chip Heath.
    Newt

  • http://www.contentmarketing.net Newt Barrett

    Kristina,
    Thanks so much for the shout out. I’m just going to assume our book was one that you liked.
    Another great book on content and storytelling that translates to the web is Made to Stick, by Dan and Chip Heath.
    Newt

  • http://www.lotusboost.com Harnish

    GUI bloopers – Jeff Johnson is also another good one.

  • http://www.lotusboost.com Harnish

    GUI bloopers – Jeff Johnson is also another good one.

  • http://www.lotusboost.com Harnish

    GUI bloopers – Jeff Johnson is also another good one.

  • http://profile.typekey.com/jpulizzi/ Joe Pulizzi

    Wow…where do you find the time? Thanks

  • http://profile.typekey.com/jpulizzi/ Joe Pulizzi

    Wow…where do you find the time? Thanks

  • http://ianwaugh.tumblr.com Ian Waugh

    There’s a nice chapter on ‘Content Design’ in Jakob Nielsen’s classic text Designing Web Usability. I reviewed it: http://ianwaugh.tumblr.com/post/82019537/web-bookshelf-1

  • http://ianwaugh.tumblr.com Ian Waugh

    There’s a nice chapter on ‘Content Design’ in Jakob Nielsen’s classic text Designing Web Usability. I reviewed it: http://ianwaugh.tumblr.com/post/82019537/web-bookshelf-1

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