Want to know what books Ronn Torossian recommends on their reading list? We've researched interviews, social media posts, podcasts, and articles to build a comprehensive list of Ronn Torossian's favorite book recommendations of all time.
1
Leverage your company's most important asset!
"Diermeier draws on extensive research and illustrates these insights with rich case studies from a variety of industries. He shows how to integrate reputation management deeply into the culture and structure of companies. I expect "Reputation Rules" to set the standard for years to come."
--Philip Kotler, S.C. Johnson & Son Distinguished Professor of International Marketing, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
""Reputation Rules" [provides a] 'sixth sense' for both reputational risks and... more Leverage your company's most important asset!
"Diermeier draws on extensive research and illustrates these insights with rich case studies from a variety of industries. He shows how to integrate reputation management deeply into the culture and structure of companies. I expect "Reputation Rules" to set the standard for years to come."
--Philip Kotler, S.C. Johnson & Son Distinguished Professor of International Marketing, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
""Reputation Rules" [provides a] 'sixth sense' for both reputational risks and opportunities. I highly recommend the book."
--Samuel Allen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Deere & Company
"Diermeier provides important insights for managing reputation and turning challenges into opportunities. The lessons will become an essential component of a manager's repertoire."
--David Baron, David S. and Ann M. Barlow Professor of Political Economy and Strategy, Emeritus, Stanford Graduate School of Business
""Reputation Rules" breaks new ground in what has until now been an elusive challenge for companies and consultants alike. An exquisite compendium of navigational tools. . . . This is a game-changing book to be sure."
--Harlan A. Loeb, Executive Vice President, Director of U.S. Crisis and Issues Management, Edelman
"Daniel Diermeier has continuously caught the attention of the business world with insightful and compelling facts that should once again challenge our thinking and actions. In today's fast-changing business environment, values and reputation are the foundation, and Daniel presents sound reasoning and experience as to why they are so important."
--Jeff Stratton, Executive Vice President and Chief Restaurant Officer, McDonald's Corporation
"Any examination of how much-loved companies can forfeit people's affections needs to start with the realisation of how few much-loved companies there are. Businesses are more often the villains, as Daniel Diermeier of Northwestern University's Kellogg management school points out in his insightful new book Reputation Rules."
--Michael Skapinker, "Financial Times"
About the Book:
In our lightning-fast digital age, a company can face humiliation and possibly even ruin within seconds of a negative tweet or blog post. Over the last year companies such as BP, Goldman Sachs, and Toyota have experienced serious blows to their images that could have had reduced impact if their leaders had implemented reputation management into their business strategy and culture.
There is no one in either the corporate or academic sphere with greater expertise in the area of corporate reputation than Dr. Daniel Diermeier. An award-winning professor at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Dr. Diermeier has blazed a path in understanding the significance of reputation management and demonstrating how a company can create a program so powerful that it can help turn a potential public disgrace into a public image success story.
"Reputation Rules" is a landmark work bringing to light Dr. Diermeier's groundbreaking insights in this critical area. He offers the frameworks, strategies, and processes for changing your company's focus as quickly as the world is changing around you. He touches on all of the reputational issues that need to be managed from a strategic level, describing how to: Overcome direct challenges from influential activist and political forces Manage corporate scandals, including executive compensation Use external, seemingly unrelated events to boost reputation Build a reputation management process into everyday operations
In addition, Dr. Diermeier provides case studies of Shell's confrontation with Greenpeace, Mercedes's recovery from the Moose crisis, AIG's executive bonus fallout, Wal-Mart's reputation-building response to Hurricane Katrina, and numerous other scenarios illustrating what works and what doesn't when it comes to reputation management.
Brimming with keen insights and lucid examples, "Reputation Rules" is a guidepost for your organization's future--and a salve for crisis management. less 
Ronn TorossianDiermeier, a professor from the Kellogg School of Management, examines and explores how a company can “face humiliation and possibly even ruin within seconds of a negative tweet or blog post.” As a crisis communications veteran, I am fascinated by his analysis and tactics on reputation. (Source)
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2
Christopher Buckley | 4.07
“The perfect antidote to the 1990s. Buy yourself a pack of Camels, a cocktail shaker, and a nine-millimeter assault weapon. Read this. Then laugh.”
—P.J. O'Rourke
The hero of Christopher Buckley's wickedly funny novel is Nick Naylor, chief spokesman for the Academy of Tobacco Studies. Nick likes his job. In the neo-puritanical nineties, it is a challenge to defend the rights of smokers and a privilege to promote their liberty. Sure, it hurts a little when you're compared to Nazi war criminals, but Nick says he's just doing what it takes to pay the mortgage and put his... more “The perfect antidote to the 1990s. Buy yourself a pack of Camels, a cocktail shaker, and a nine-millimeter assault weapon. Read this. Then laugh.”
—P.J. O'Rourke
The hero of Christopher Buckley's wickedly funny novel is Nick Naylor, chief spokesman for the Academy of Tobacco Studies. Nick likes his job. In the neo-puritanical nineties, it is a challenge to defend the rights of smokers and a privilege to promote their liberty. Sure, it hurts a little when you're compared to Nazi war criminals, but Nick says he's just doing what it takes to pay the mortgage and put his son through Washington's elite private school St. Euchanasius. (His critics call this the yuppie Nuremberg defense: “I was only paying ze mortgage!”)
Nick can handle the pressure from the anti-smoking zealots, but he is less certain about his new boss, BR, who questions whether Nick seeks inspiration and solace from two sympathetic souls who work for the firearms and alcohol lobbies. They call themselves the Merchants of Death. Together, they bemoan the plight of the sin lobbyist and argue over who has the most deadly job.
Under pressure to produce results, Nick goes on a PR offensive, turning appearances on Oprah and Larry King Live into national events. But Nick's heightened notoriety makes him a target for someone who wants to prove just how hazardous smoking can be. If Nick isn't careful, he's going to be stubbed out.
Christopher Buckley is a master of political and social satire. His novel will cause wheezing fits of laughter. less Ronn TorossianWhile the title is more recognized for the movie, it is the book that provides the greatest perspective and strategic insight. Buckley provides an inimitable window into the development and creation of narratives, and how imperative it is for industries and brands to understand how to shape them. (Source)
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3
Mike Wallace calls. What do you do? Put him on hold and call Michael Sitrick. more Mike Wallace calls. What do you do? Put him on hold and call Michael Sitrick. less Ronn TorossianWritten by the founder of a major crisis PR firm, the book is an insider's guide into the world of crisis communications. It's a crisis PR handbook! (Source)
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4
In Crystallizing Public Opinion, Edward Bernays helped to create the fundamental concepts of public relations. Topics he discusses include:
- The roles of a public relations counsel and their importance to organizations.
- Herd mentality, how people's reasons for doing things is not always rational and how to use these factors to your benefit.
- Identifying the best time and medium to communicate with certain groups of people.
- How to determine what information to deliver. more In Crystallizing Public Opinion, Edward Bernays helped to create the fundamental concepts of public relations. Topics he discusses include:
- The roles of a public relations counsel and their importance to organizations.
- Herd mentality, how people's reasons for doing things is not always rational and how to use these factors to your benefit.
- Identifying the best time and medium to communicate with certain groups of people.
- How to determine what information to deliver. less Ronn TorossianCrystallizing Public Opinion was written by the Godfather of PR. Bernays combined crowd psychology with the psychoanalytical ideas of his uncle, Sigmund Freud, to become the first thinker to explain how PR could thrive by managing public opinion. It’s truly incredible how poignant his insights and analysis remain in popular culture. (Source)
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5
It is essential that businesses know how to communicate quickly, often preemptively, and effectively to survive—and at a cost that is far lower than comparable marketing and ad campaigns. The first book by the owner of a top 50 PR agency, For Immediate Release, Ronn Torossian reveals how public relations can do just that—while also defining brands; helping companies and individuals court the press or avoid it; growing business without alienating loyal customers; resolving crises quickly; and improving first page results on the most powerful search engine in the world (Google).
more It is essential that businesses know how to communicate quickly, often preemptively, and effectively to survive—and at a cost that is far lower than comparable marketing and ad campaigns. The first book by the owner of a top 50 PR agency, For Immediate Release, Ronn Torossian reveals how public relations can do just that—while also defining brands; helping companies and individuals court the press or avoid it; growing business without alienating loyal customers; resolving crises quickly; and improving first page results on the most powerful search engine in the world (Google).
For Immediate Release will show you how to:
Frame the debate and control the conversation
Use new and old media in tandem to find your audiences and create highly personal, relevant impressions tailored for them
Promote the interests of your brand or business; deter or potentially stop what is not in your interest
Build on great press, and avoid or minimize bad press
Ensure the first thing people see about your business or brand during an Internet search is exactly what you want them to see
Handle a crisis in the most effective and efficient manner
See the positive difference effective PR makes through compelling case studies—Louis Vuitton, Fubu, BP, Toyota, Philip Stein, Zappos, and interviews with experts including Dr. Keith Ablow, political strategists Frank Luntz, Roger Stone and Hank Sheinkopf, and many others—and your own business.
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Daymond JohnTorossian's For Immediate Release is a fearless, bold, clear, honest, and practical look at how PR shapes minds, ideas, and businesses. It is required reading for any business or brand interested in making an impact in today's 24/7 media world. (Source)
Ronn TorossianMy PR book has become a staple within the industry, as well as required reading for many college courses throughout the country. The book details how valuable public relations is - how public relations can define brands; help companies and individuals court the press or avoid it; grow business; resolve crises quickly; improve search results on Google and so many other things. Effective PR makes... (Source)
David A. SteinbergTorossian's insights into the PR business were enormously helpful to me as an entrepreneur. With Ronn's help we grew a start up into the #1 spot on the Inc. 500 list of fastest growing companies in the US, and was able to take it public with greater than a billion dollar market cap. Ronn continues to help me today as a principal in the private equity business. For Immediate Release should be... (Source)
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6
David Ogilvy, Sir Alan Parker | 4.29
A new edition of the timeless business classic featured on Mad Men—as fresh and relevant now as the day it was written
"We admire people who work hard, who are objective and thorough. We detest office politicians, toadies, bullies, and pompous asses. We abhor ruthlessness. The way up our ladder is open to everybody. In promoting people to top jobs, we are influenced as much by their character as anything else." —David Ogilvy
David Ogilvy was considered the "father of advertising" and a creative genius by many of the biggest... more
A new edition of the timeless business classic featured on Mad Men—as fresh and relevant now as the day it was written
"We admire people who work hard, who are objective and thorough. We detest office politicians, toadies, bullies, and pompous asses. We abhor ruthlessness. The way up our ladder is open to everybody. In promoting people to top jobs, we are influenced as much by their character as anything else." —David Ogilvy
David Ogilvy was considered the "father of advertising" and a creative genius by many of the biggest global brands. First published in 1963, this seminal book revolutionized the world of advertising and became a bible for the 1960s ad generation. It also became an international bestseller, translated into 14 languages. Fizzing with Ogilvy's pioneering ideas and inspirational philosophy, it covers not only advertising, but also people management, corporate ethics, and office politics, and forms an essential blueprint for good practice in business. less Ronn TorossianConsidering the overlap of similarities between PR and advertising, it is vital to learn from such legends as Ogilvy. His concepts, tactics, and techniques and are a must-read for not only those in marketing and PR but business in general. (Source)
Ola OlusogaFor business, I've read Influence by Robert Cialdini 3 times, and Traction by Gabriel Weinberg twice, so if number of times read indicates favor, then those are it. There are a whole bunch of others, like The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman, Confession of an Advertising Man by David Ogilvy, The 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss, and Running Lean by Ash Maurya, that I've also enjoyed and recommend to... (Source)
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7
The definitive guide to working with -- and surviving -- bullies, creeps, jerks, tyrants, tormentors, despots, backstabbers, egomaniacs, and all the other assholes who do their best to destroy you at work.
"What an asshole!"
How many times have you said that about someone at work? You're not alone! In this groundbreaking book, Stanford University professor Robert I. Sutton builds on his acclaimed Harvard Business Review article to show you the best ways to deal with assholes...and why they can be so destructive to your company. Practical, compassionate, and in... more The definitive guide to working with -- and surviving -- bullies, creeps, jerks, tyrants, tormentors, despots, backstabbers, egomaniacs, and all the other assholes who do their best to destroy you at work.
"What an asshole!"
How many times have you said that about someone at work? You're not alone! In this groundbreaking book, Stanford University professor Robert I. Sutton builds on his acclaimed Harvard Business Review article to show you the best ways to deal with assholes...and why they can be so destructive to your company. Practical, compassionate, and in places downright funny, this guide offers:
Strategies on how to pinpoint and eliminate negative influences for good
Illuminating case histories from major organizations
A self-diagnostic test and a program to identify and keep your own "inner jerk" from coming out
The No Asshole Rule is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Business Week bestseller. less Ronn TorossianPR is notoriously a hard industry to succeed in. And as an entrepreneur, it’s really hard -
and sometimes you have to make decisions that are not always easy but best for the company. A great book — necessary reading for everyone at 5WPR — is the great business book, The No Asshole Rule. The book’s theory, while seemingly obvious, is quite difficult to adhere to for many people – learn to cut... (Source)
Mark Hertling@Strike_Williams Dealing with toxic leaders is a challenge, each is different w different motivations...they usually fly under their bosses radar. Much longer conversation than we can have here...but check out this great book: “The No Asshole Rule”. (Source)
Jessica Pryce-JonesI love this book, because while work is about trying to make a context in which everybody can thrive, and continuously building up trust, you also have to dismantle distrust. You have to do the two things at the same time, in my view. You walk into any school and if they say, ‘We don’t have any bullies,’ my thought is you’re just not looking hard enough. There’s always going to be distrust,... (Source)
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8
You can go after the job you want—and get it!
You can take the job you have—and improve it!
You can take any situation—and make it work for you!
Dale Carnegie’s rock-solid, time-tested advice has carried countless people up the ladder of success in their business and personal lives. One of the most groundbreaking and timeless bestsellers of all time, How to Win Friends & Influence People will teach you:
-Six ways to make people like you
-Twelve ways to win people to your way of thinking
-Nine ways to change people without arousing... more You can go after the job you want—and get it!
You can take the job you have—and improve it!
You can take any situation—and make it work for you!
Dale Carnegie’s rock-solid, time-tested advice has carried countless people up the ladder of success in their business and personal lives. One of the most groundbreaking and timeless bestsellers of all time, How to Win Friends & Influence People will teach you:
-Six ways to make people like you
-Twelve ways to win people to your way of thinking
-Nine ways to change people without arousing resentment
And much more! Achieve your maximum potential—a must-read for the twenty-first century with more than 15 million copies sold! less See more recommendations for this book...
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