Books

The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing To Our Brains
Danielle Whitburn reviews the Pulitzer prize finalist and international bestseller that attempts to explain how the internet has changed us. From Gutenberg to Zuckerberg
John Naughton’s enlightening new book on the internet is reviewed by Richard Bailey. The Facebook Effect
The Facebook Effect by David Kirkpatrick 384 pages, Virgin Books, 2010 Facebook is a tool used by millions and probably soon, billions. While there are many users, not many people know the true story of the social giant, how and why it came to be, or how Facebook became the one social network to rule [...] Introducing Public Relations
First year public relations student Chloe Berry reviews a new introductory textbook to the subject. The Selfish Gene
Clare Callery‘s review of the million copy international bestseller ‘The Selfish Gene’, known both for its success in bring the theories behind evolution to the masses and for the huge controversy it caused. Alone Together
Michael White’s review on Turkle’s book analysing human behaviour in relation to how technology and social media is affecting our offline socialisation. The Net Delusion: How Not to Liberate the World
Toby Margetts reviews Morozov’s critical view on social media, discussing whether it becomes an enabler for freedom or for dictatorship Sport Public Relations and Communication
Joe Mirtaheri reviews a new textbook in the field of sport public relations, co-authored by one of his university lecturers. The Kings Speech – Film Review
Michael Slevin gives his review on the Oscar tipped story of King George VI reluctant ascension to the throne Tomorrow’s media world
Richard Bailey recommends Dan Gillmor’s self-published book which calls on us all to become mediactivists. Competing for the future
Francesca Larkin reviews a book that recommends how managers should act within business. How to win from the start
Laura Crimmons reviews a career guide aimed at people leaving school, college or university. Develop Your PR Skills
Clare Siobhan Callery reviews a new book by two of her university lecturers, an introduction to PR written for small business owners. Me and my web shadow
“What happens when someone puts your name into Google or Facebook? If you don’t know, you should maybe find out.” This is how Antony Mayfield, author of Me and My Web Shadow, invites the reader to consider the importance of being in charge of our online lives. Yazmin Meza Lopez reviews the book. The Tipping Point
Ten years on from first publication of The Tipping Point and author Malcolm Gladwell has gained rock star status. Helen Standing reviews the book, having recently heard the man speak. How to write a book review
We aim to review recent important books relevant to the study and practice of public relations. These reviews can be written by students, practitioners and academics and here are our guidelines for those writing reviews. Macnamara on media and the future of PR
Jim Macnamara’s new book provides an important media sociology perspective on PR and social media, finds Richard Bailey. But it’s written for scholars, not for the general reader. People power or PR power?
Does the advent of Web 2.0 demand a PR 2.0 asks David Clare, as he reviews some recent books on the subject. After Cluetrain
It’s ten years since The Cluetrain Manifesto proclaimed ‘the end of business as usual’. Amanda Vinten reviews Cluetrain and subsequent milestones in the literature to ask what has changed since 1999. Personal Reputation Optimisation
A new book provides practical tips on personal PR online; Richard Bailey reviews it. The rise of celebrity, and the rise of PR
Celebrity endorsement has long been a popular dissertation topic amongst PR students – but it’s been difficult to do well because of the lack of discussion of the subject in public relations academic literature. Until now. Online public relations: evolution or revolution?
You wait for years, then two books come out at once on the same subject – from the same publisher. Richard Bailey reviews the latest additions to the literature on public relations and social media. Global Public Relations
If the interest of book publishers is any guide, the two growth areas for public relations are social media and global PR. Richard Bailey reviews an impressive new contribution to our understanding of PR around the world. Tribes
Just back from an internship with marketing maven Seth Godin, Richard Millington reviews Godin’s new book. PR – a persuasive industry?
A new book on public relations acts as a useful guidebook – not textbook – to the discipline and the business, says a mostly admiring Richard Bailey. Bookshelf: Heather Yaxley
Educator and PR consultant Heather Yaxley FCIPR lists the ten books she most often cites. A Century of Spin
The authors of a new history of public relations oppose PR because they’re anti-business writes Richard Bailey. They also argue that PR undermines democracy. Flat Earth News
Richard Bailey finds some flat earth views hidden in this commentary on the sorry state of journalism and public relations.