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It doesn't take an expert to realize that social distancing (though necessary) isn't the most exciting way to spend spring. Since this is pretty much the new normal for many of us, we thought we would help you by sharing some of our favorite things.

To start: books.

We asked our employees to share their favorite marketing books that they believed would make great quarantine readings possible. Scroll down, order from Amazon (we can guarantee 100% that eBooks are virus free) and start reading.

At least you will get out of this quarantine and know more about your craft than before.

Here are 11 book recommendations from the DigitalMarketer team.

# 1: Ryan Deiss, CEO of DigitalMarketer

Alchemy: The dark art and the curious science of creating magic in brands, companies and in life by Rory Sutherland

Ryan: Alchemy will change your mind about the role (and importance) of marketing in society. In times like these, it's more important than ever for marketers to understand how valuable they can be when it comes to changing human thinking and acting.

Ryan Deiss bonus book recommendation: The 3-minute rule By Brant Pinvidik

Ryan: The 3-minute rule does not claim a copywriting book, but it does. In fact, it's one of the best copywriting books I've read in years (and I've read them all). The structure and framework are solid, and I believe that sending a message quickly will be one of the keys to breaking the crisis-related noise.

# 2: Richard Lindner, co-founder and president of DigitalMarketer

Do the job by Stephen Pressfield

Richard: This little book can be read in one environment and you still have most of your day left. After reading, however, you also have an understanding of what it looks like to do meaningful work. You will understand that resistance is real, and if you enforce resistance, you will benefit from its counterpart … momentum. Now we are more concerned than ever with resistance at every turn. Don't let our current climate and reality stop you from doing meaningful work. Read this amazing book.

Richard Lindner bonus book recommendation: Loserthink: How Untrained Brains Are Ruining America by Scott Adams

Richard: Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert, has written an amazing book about our way of thinking. Scott collapses as we all fall victim to our own bias and let the bubbles of our reality transform data into a one-sided truth … AKA "Loserthink". Reading this book will help you learn to be a better person and understand how people think and make decisions, and this will help you to be a better marketer, salesperson, CEO, leader, parent, etc.

# 3: Doug Bloom, video production manager

Ogilvy on advertising by Miles Young

Doug: It offers great theories and practices that are still relevant today from one of the best marketers of all time. It's so good, Richard thinks it's great too!

Richard: Doug is not wrong. Every marketer on the planet should know who David Ogilvy is. He is one of the giants on which our industry is built and is partly responsible for making a living from marketing (and eating). Read it and you'll immediately become a better marketer (even if you're already pretty good).

# 4: Erin MacPherson, Director of Content

The last days of the night by Graham Moore

Erin: This biographical look at Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse and Nicola Tesla reads like a novel, but makes you think as if you were reading a textbook on economics and business innovation. Prepare to get a whole new perspective on early American inventions, see Nicola Tesla in a whole new light, and wish (spoiler alert) that you have never used a Thomas Edison light bulb.

# 5: Matt Douglas, content manager of the product

Building a Donald Miller story brand

Frosted: Nobody can deny how effective it is to wrap your message in a story. The best advertising campaigns are very well received by an audience. In this book, Donald Miller takes the hero's journey, simplifies it, and explains how marketers and business owners can use the power of storytelling to clarify their message. This book is fascinating and something that every marketer and company should know and use, regardless of their niche.

# 6: Devin Coor, Sales Operations and Enablement Manager

You ask, you answer by Marcus Sheridan

Devin: Marcus teaches a basic, human approach to content marketing and explains how value-first-content helps companies increase sales and help sales teams sell.

# 7: Amelia Kisinger, graphic designer

The brand gap by Marty Neumeier

Amelia: This book helped me understand what makes a brand (surprise! It's not just the logo). Many of the ideas are not only a really clear read, but are also presented in a visually interesting way. (To be fair, the only downside is that some of the examples are out of date, but the ideas are relevant!)

# 8: Bethany Cowans, programming manager

Sapiens: A Brief History of Mankind by Yuval Noah Harari

Bethany: This book may not be entirely marketing related, but I would still recommend it for so many reasons. As a marketer, it’s so interesting to think from the perspective that storytelling is the main reason Homosapiens are at the top of the food chain. This book shows the power of stories and shows us as marketers how we can tell them in a meaningful and moving way!

# 9: Matt Shelar, promotions manager

The art of explanation by Lee LeFever

Frosted: This book is for anyone who wants to improve their communication skills (which, by the way, is probably the most important skill for a marketer). It was also written by the founder of Common Craft. So if you are a fan of their videos, you will likely be a fan of this book.

# 10: Becky Zieber, content strategist

Educated by Tara Westover

Becky: I'm still finishing this book, but I've really enjoyed it so far. Educated is an insightful account of how formal education can change your overall view of the world around you (it's just a great read that will captivate you from page one).

# 11: Sam Clark, content manager at eLearning

A ride for life by Robert Iger

Sam: Bob Iger, the former CEO of Walt Disney, gives an eye-opening and humble report of the lessons he learned from working from a low-level ABC employee to CEO of the entire Walt Disney Company. The prologue opened my eyes to the fact that even as a billionaire, this guy still cares for the more than 200,000 employees and customers below him.

# 12: Darren Clarke, podcast producer

80/20 principle by Richard Koch

Darren: The lessons I've learned from this book have helped me a lot. We did a business lunch podcast with the author some time ago and since then I've seen him as one of my favorite business books. This book contains a deceptively simple idea that many great thought leaders have used to change the world: 80 percent of your output comes from 20 percent of your input. Koch takes this deep universal truth and shows how it can be applied to every area of ​​your life: work, investment, relationships and creativity.

Are you ready to improve your craft and get out of this isolation more than ever?

Let's do that 📚.