My Favorite Juicy Business Reads on Audible.

I am big into audiobooks but have certain genres I tend to stick to. Last month, we talked about favorite memoirs. That’s probably my number one, especially if the author is narrating. Another favorite for me is business books. Not the dry sort of “this is what you do to be successful” type of book but the juicier stuff. Founder stories. Influencer tales. Magazine life. Etc. 

PS – Now through January 21st, eligible Amazon customers in the US can sign up for Audible Premium Plus, at $0.99 for the first three months. But if you sign up between now and 12/2, you’ll also get a $20 credit!

PPS – For even more great listens, head to The Library and filter to audiobooks!

My Favorite juicy business books to listen to on audible

 

Glossy, by Marisa Meltzer

Glossier, was, at its peak (and maybe its peak is yet to come!) considered one of the most innovative, disruptive beauty brands out there. And its founder, Emily Weiss, one of the most compelling and intriguing female founders (and also one of the few “girlbosses” — hate that term but I can tell that Meltzer felt the same — to avoid being cancelled during all of the female founder takedowns that came a couple years ago). The book follows Weiss from her days as the “superintern” at Teen Vogue (fun fact: she was on The Hills – I never watched, but thought that was interesting!) through jobs in media and building Into the Gloss (this was once upon a time my absolute favorite blog/site to visit; I never missed a Top Shelf!) to launching and growing Glossier.

Meltzer’s reporting is fantastic. She had access to Emily herself (note: this book is juicy at times but it is not a takedown), and interviewed everyone: Weiss, former employees, investors, etc. The provides an objective take on what happened at Glossier — from its soaring successes to its missteps, to Weiss ultimately stepping down as SEO. I found it fascinating, how Weiss was able to turn her blog into a 1.9 billion dollar business. Also, I had always been so curious about why she stepped down as CEO. I devoured this, reading it in just two days (not typically the case with me and non-fiction!) Order it here. 

The Kingdom of Prep, by Maggie Bullock

This is the story of J.Crew from the beginning. Before there was Mickey and Jenna, there was Arthur Cinader and his daughter Emily… who built the brand out of nothing. I knew absolutely nothing of their story but found it inspiring, interesting, and honestly: relevant for anyone building a brand. The way that they conducted their lifestyle photo shoots, Emily’s discerning eye (with parallels to Anna Wintour). Then we get to Mickey and Jenna, which is simultaneously nostalgic but with new information. I couldn’t tear myself away from it.

I simultaneously learned so much about the company (and thought a lot about how I run my own business) while simultaneously experienced a ton of nostalgia (both from nineties era J.Crew when I would save my babysitting money to order from the catalog) to early aughts era J.Crew when I lived in stripe tees, colored denim, and bubble necklaces. This is one of my favorite books of 2023 and a must-read if you ask me! Order it here. 

Selling Sexy, by Lauren Sherman and Chantel Fernandez

This was this month’s audible listen. The story of Victoria’s Secret’s rise and fall is an epic one. How it started as a tiny chain of boutiques and burgeoned into a full-on phenomenon (with more than $8 billion in annual sales) is incredible! Meanwhile defining impossible beauty standards for women along the way. The brand is both influential and polarizing, as Les Wexner (the pioneer behind limited brands). I loved learning about the brand’s story (pre-Wexner), the way that the brand’s big splashy fashion shows came into being, and how Victoria’s Secret came to dominate American malls for forty ears. It’s juicy and informative, impeccably researched . . . truly such a fun and interesting listen! Order it here. 

Setting the Table, by Danny Meyer

This is an older one but I saw it recommended somewhere and immediately downloaded it. I LOVED it. It is equal parts business book and memoir. When I lived in New York I loved eating at Danny Meyer’s restaurants (and I still do!). Shake Shack, Gramercy Tavern, Union Square Cafe… the man is a genius! He is someone who definitely started on third base, coming from a very privileged background, etc. but the way he used that privilege and has run his restaurants is genius. I wish more restaurants (and businesses) focused on hospitality the way that he and his teams do.

Even though it is a little bit older, if you have a business or work in the service industry (I 100% include influencing as the service industry!), it is an absolute must-read. So much incredible advice on how to treat people and build a loyal clientele. And it’s fun. He is honest and isn’t afraid to share stories where he messed up. I really loved this – it’s a fun audiobook listen too as it’s not super long. Order it here. 

Unreasonable Hospitality, by Will Guidara

This was meant to be a chaser to Setting the Table as Guidara was a protege of Danny Meyer in some ways, but I liked it even more! Guidara climbed his way up the restaurant ranks (working under Meyer for a hefty chunk of the time), ultimately buying Eleven Madison Park (with Daniel Humm) from Danny Meyer. The story of how they built and grew EMP is pretty legendary. At times it reads like a sports book where you are rooting for a team and just want them to win.

I found myself becoming emotional so many times as the restaurant won awards and excellent reviews. It’s equal parts restaurant memoir where you root for this team, but also a business book. Guidara applies lessons he has learned in the restaurant world to other professions like real estate. I truly believe anyone, in any profession, could benefit from reading this. And it’s also very fun. I listened to it on audio (Guidara narrates) and cannot recommend it enough. I have actually never dined at Eleven Madison Park and now I’m dying to go (though I hear it’s quite different now!). Order it here. 

Dress Code, by Véronique Hyland

This book was pitched to me as a book of essays about the fashion world and its history, “from the new look to millennial pink.” And it is about that, but it’s way more than that. It’s one of the smartest books I’ve read in ages, all about things I am super interested in. It’s thought provoking, feminist, and absolutely unputdownable. The author, Véronique, is currently the Fashion Features Director at ELLE but has spent 15 years writing for New York magazine, W, The New York Times, and Harper’s Bazaar. She rather accidentally coined the term “millennial pink” back when that was a thing, only to deeply regret it as she watched it explode into a consumerist term to sell more stuff.

I don’t think I’ve simultaneously enjoyed/learned so much from a non-fiction book since reading Cultish (another favorite) a few months ago. Funny enough, Amanda Montell, the author of Cultish blurbed this, describing it as “a sharp, of-the-moment, and curiously profound contextualization of fashion that answers questions I didn’t even realize I had.” She talks about everything from body standards and “empowertising” to scammer fashion and the double standards of fashion and appearances in politics. Order it here. 

This is Big, by Marisa Meltzer

I would describe this book as writer Marisa Meltzer’s memoirs on her relationship with her body + diet culture interspliced with a biography of Jean Nidetch (the founder of Weight Watchers). I knew it would be interesting, but was a little bit worried that the book would glorify diet culture (something I am not so big on) but was pleasantly surprised. The book is a really interesting look at Jean Nidetch’s life (she was such a colorful character and impressive woman; though Meltzer doesn’t glorify her but rather looks very honestly at her life and some of the mistakes she’s made. It’s also a very honest, raw account of someone who seems like someone I’d want to be friends with – a cool, funny, feminist woman and her history with her body (she was first put on a diet at age five).

What I love most about it is that it doesn’t have all the answers and it isn’t preachy. It’s a realistic look at what it’s like to be a woman who wants to lose weight in an age where society is simultaneously obsessed with both beauty/thinness AND being body positive. Becca and I have talked on the podcast about how anti-feminist it can feel to admit you have body hangups OR aren’t feeling great about how you look OR  that you want to lose weight. I really like how Marisa Meltzer is so honest; admitting her struggle with this. If you’ve ever felt this way, this is the book for you! Order it here. 

Extremely Online, by Taylor Lorenz

If you are not familiar with Taylor Lorenz, she was the first journalist to make influencers her beat. The book goes way back to the beginning of social media and influencer culture, all the way to Julia Allison, who Lorenz deemed “the first influencer.” She takes us through Youtube and mommy blogging and Twitter through the rise of Instagram and then Music.ly (now Tik Tok). It is fast moving and covers a lot of ground.

The book is well reported and less fluffy than a lot of other books about influencer culture; Lorenz’s background in journalism shines. It also made me realize just how small my own little lifestyle blogger influencer niche is… there are SO many influencers, on SO many platforms, doing so many different things. It is pretty wild. I devoured it in just a few sittings and learned a lot… I’ve been recommending it to anyone who is an influencer, works in social media/influencer marketing, or just loves consuming influencer content! Order it here. 

Swipe Up for More!, by Stephanie McNeal

There are so many books about influencers (mostly fiction) but this one is unique as the author is a journalist and really took the time to sink her teeth in and spend quite a bit of time following (visiting, interviewing) the three influencers that are profiled within the book. I loved that she asked the tough questions but led from a place of curiosity vs. snarkiness and criticism.

The book is juicy and intimate, but also funny and vulnerable: profiling three major influencers: Caitlin Covington (@cmcoving) of Southern Curls & Pearls, Mirna Valerio, and Shannon Bird. McNeal spent THREE years with each of these women so you get true coverage of what these women’s lives are like (and how they have built their respective empires). I personally found the Mormon mommy bloggers parts the most interesting (probably because those women’s lives are so different from my own) and it made me see Shannon Bird in a totally different light. I loved this book and think you will really enjoy it too! Order it here.

Momfluenced, by Sara Peterson

This is cheating a little bit as I have not read it yet, but it’s next on my list and I’ve heard great things. I am of course, an influencer myself, but the world of the momfluencers / mommy bloggers fascinates me. The way that these (very powerful!) women impact other women psychologically (both as consumers and as mothers) is truly wild.

They are selling a lifestyle; that with just a few clicks and a purchase or two, you can have their glamorized, idealized version of motherhood. There’s the essential oils, the parenting manuals, the sponcon, etc. I cannot wait to read it. Are these women just like us? No. They are moms but they are also business-owners, marketing geniuses . . artists! Peterson approaches the momfluencers from the lense of her own fraught relationship with their content. She incorporates pop culture analysis and interviews with experts + the momfluencers themselves. I truly cannot wait to read this! Order it here. 

Grace, by Grace Coddington

This is Grace Coddington’s memoir; I read it back in 2012 when it first came out (timely, with The September Issue!). Coddington is undeniably a force in the fashion world (and at Vogue) but was really only known as more of a behind-the-scenes type of person. It was The September Issue that turned her into a bit of a reluctant celebrity, and I’m so glad that it did as she’s a very interesting person. We get to know Grace growing up (her early career as a model, working with the likes of Norman Parkinson!) and then life after the camera when she became a fashion editor at British Vogue in the 1960s! This book is a treat to read. It’s honest, interesting, fun, and very sad at times. Order it here. 

Anna, by Amy O’Dell

I knew that I needed to read Amy Odell’s biography of Anna Wintour. This is NOT a juicy tell-all or salacious memoir (for that, I can’t recommend ALT’s book enough). This biography is an impeccably researched, factual account of her life (with probably 50 pages of footnotes at the end). And her life (without any opinions or fanfare) is interesting enough to make for a fascinating read. Odell takes us from Anna Wintour’s childhood all the way through modern day.

My favorite parts were those about her childhood, her rise to fame, and then modern day as there was so much that I remembered just from following her career and living in New York. At other times, it lagged and felt dry (I will confess, it was a little slow and boring at times… but it always picked up). It’s favorable but fair; overall I am an Anna fan. I think a lot of the negative press about her has been sexist, and whether or not you are a fan, you have to admit that she is incredibly talented. I will hold out hope that someday Anna will write her own juicy tell-all (doesn’t seem on brand) or someone close to her will… but I don’t think that will happen.

You absolutely will not feel like you know Anna any better from reading this, but you will learn quite a bit about her life, where she came from, and how she got to where she is today.Order it here. 

Thank you to Audible for sponsoring this post!