As I mentioned earlier, yet not so early that you wouldn’t remember (so if you don’t remember, you should really have that checked out), I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately on my new nook. I honestly don’t have the time, energy or true desire to get into lengthy reviews of these works of non-fiction, but I will give you a brief rundown of each one. Then you can decide if any of these strike your fancy enough to add to your “to read” list.

Why She Buys (Bridget Brennan) – A fairly entertaining read considering it’s a marketing book. It was not particularly eye-opening in regards to uncovering what women want. Though, if read by a man, I’m sure it would solicit a completely different review. There are topics covered in this book that I found most compelling. The first is that women have the power! “Women are the driving force of the global economy.” The majority of purchases are either made or influenced by women. There are more women with careers (and therefore their own money to spend) than ever before.  “Men drive the majority of senior-level business decisions. Which means that men are usually the people who have final say in designing and approving products that target women…” (Brennan, 17). Do you see the disconnect people? The second topic that I found particularly compelling was the explanation of biological differences between men and women. Brennan talks about how man and women are SO different (and they see the world so differently as a result), that they basically function in their own (very different) worlds. Interestingly enough, I’ve been identifying many of the marketing shortcomings that are discussed in this book in the world around me. You know that a book/a professor/a documentary has done it’s job when you see it’s application in the world around you. While this book isn’t exactly a thriller or particularly revolutionary, I vote it as a good read for any marketer and every man!

French Women Don’t Get Fat (Mireille Guiliano) – Not much to say about this one. I bought it with the expectation of learning some fascinating tricks. (Silly me, everyone knows there are no quick fixes when it comes to your weight/health!) The content was slightly disappointing. Everyone knows deep down inside that the “secret” to maintaining a healthy weight is moderation, fruits, vegetables and exercise. BUT, the writing was entertaining. Guiliano has a sense of humor and you can’t help but like her as she shares the art of being/acting French. I must say that, above all else, the purchase of this ebook was worth it just for the recipes. The Summer soups, yogurt and bread recipes are enough to send a foodie into a coma AND it’s all healthy. If you’re looking for some new recipes, I give it a thumbs up. If you’re looking for a book on healthy habits, I would only recommend it if pizza, burgers, fries and anything fried is a part of your regular diet.

The Gospel According to Coco Chanel (Karen Karbo) – This was an impulse buy. I mean what [bookworm of a] girl could resist a title like this? I was expecting some Coco Chanel rules to live by with plenty of humor scattered throughout. I was wrong. This is the history of the woman who revolutionized fashion for women. And while I was disappointed at first that it wasn’t some sort of fashion comedy, I found myself really enjoying it. Gabrielle Chanel (yes, Gabrielle) was a piece of work. Always loving, never marrying and always working. While some people might find it a bit silly to learn the history of a fashion icon (especially those of us– like me– who aren’t in the fashion industry), it’s not as useless as you think! I was recently at a networking luncheon and I met a fashion designer. Someone asked her if all of the designs were hers. Her response was that all of the designs were hers, but she had a team that did the sewing for her. And I thought….Just like Chanel! And then I got to share my little story about Chanel! hehe. It’s an interesting read that focuses not only on the life and times of Coco, but also on the evolution of women’s fashion. Whether or not I would recommend it would depend on who you are and what you like to read.