Operating out of libraries around the UK, including the British Library which is home to over 13 million books, we are never too far away from literature and the powerful worlds that can be found within the pages...
To celebrate Book Lovers Day, we reached out to some of the businesses we have proudly supported over the years to find out their book recommendations and the impact that books have had on them and their journeys to success.
Books are a bridge to the world
"My family and I grew up in relative poverty, and books were our bridge to the world. As the first in my family to attend University, I owe this to my Grandfather and Mother for their love of storytelling and taking me to the library multiple times per week. I decided to go into the business of books because I wanted to be involved in a culture of storytelling and of sharing knowledge so that we are resourced to liberate ourselves across all margins of society. I also wanted to reimagine what a bookshop as third-space could look like, built on the principles of reciprocity, trust and community building.
Two books I'd recommend would be At the Bottom of the River by Jamaica Kincaid and Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer."
- Jay Latarche, co-founder of The Folkestone Bookshop and Get Ready For Business Growth participant
A fed imagination is an active imagination
"I grew up poor and neglected and in books the world was a better place. I chose books and escaped to where I wanted to be and the library was a space where no-one bothered me. I didn't own a book until I was 17.
Books still change the playing field for many young people and adults: they not only offer escape but they change our options, especially when there is representation in books. Books develop the brain like no other medium. They are life changing and introduce us to people cultures and worlds that are beyond us. A fed imagination is an active imagination.
I decided to go into the business of books because of frustration. I was fed up of not being able to see Black authors in book shops and libraries and I knew if I waited for someone to fix the problem it might never get fixed. I always told my children to choose to be part of the solution, so I took my own advice.
My recommendations change daily, however these are the books I have been thinking about today: In Memory of Us by Jaqueline Roy, which is a brilliant book about conjoined sisters that doesn't go where you think it will, and Unearthed by Claire Ratinon, a meaningful story of a woman who reconnected with herself through the world around her."
- Carolynn Bain, founder of Afrori Books who used BIPC Sussex for one-to-one sessions and to look at funding
Books help us rise above the ordinary
"I love books because they have the power to change the world! Depending on the book, reading helps us create a vision for our lives, expand our imagination and help us to rise above the ordinary. Books also take us on unbelievable and unforgettable journeys, where we can be at many places at once. Reading is definitely one of the fundamental foundations of literacy which allows us to function effectively in society.
I got into the business of books to help increase the literacy of young boys in my community and to add meaningful value to their lives. Reading books allows children to have higher cognitive strength and more creativity which helps to broaden their horizons and brighten their future.
I'd recommend any book written by Michael Connelly, who I think is one of the greatest authors of our time. I'd also recommend The Gospel of Wealth and Other Timely Essays by Andrew Carnegie!"
- Mel Nichols, founder of Chayses Boys Bookclub and BIPC Lewisham business ambassador
Books leave me with a feeling of connection
"I didn’t always love books and as a child and struggled with reading, but in hindsight this was because I had not found the right stories for me. I started reading because I began to discover characters who were facing the same challenges and dilemmas I was facing and had something within their nature I could relate to. Books leave me with a feeling of connection, being part of an event and seeing something with such intimacy you’re not just witnessing it but you’re being invited to share in a viewpoint you may have never considered.
I went into Publishing because I wanted more stories out there that people could relate to. There are so many great stories out there but there are also so many that haven’t made it onto our shelves yet, so what could be better than doing something that helps people tell their stories in a way that they get heard?
I recommend Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson; he shows you his world and invites you to be part of this beautiful story. I also recommend Essays in Love by Alain du Botton. H talks through all the dilemmas and heartbreaks of a relationship and relates everything to what philosophers have said over the years. It both makes philosophy accessible and also it makes you feel more normal for feeling all the irrational things you think you do when in love."
- Damien Mosley, founder of Indie Novella Publishing and Get Ready For Business Growth participant
A book is just a wonderful thing
"Books are important because they serve so many purposes in one's life: they can be a source of comfort, escapism, education, entertainment, joy and fun! A book is just a wonderful thing that can educate and bring communities together. Books can empower, inspire and offer comfort too.
I love people, I love stories and I loved community, so I fell into television production as it felt like a natural place to be around all three. However I started to feel that the television industry wasn't necessarily right for my stories, my people or my community, so after years of trying, I left and chose books as my next medium. This time I could have more control over what I shared with the community I wanted to serve. I wanted to find books that represented Black and Brown characters and get them out there so people like me, who wanted them, but couldn't find them, could now find them easily.
My book recommendations are The Secret Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins, When We Ruled by Robin Walker and People Need People by Benjamin Zephaniah."
- Samantha Williams, founder of BookLove and Get Ready For Business Growth participant
Books inspire you to dream
"I think that books are the most important source of knowledge. For me, they are an opportunity for financial independence and professional realisation. When I was 6 years old, I lived in an impoverished neighbourhood in Colombia and my family didn’t have a house with proper structural walls. I didn’t think at that time, in my wildest dreams, that in my adulthood I would be living in London and managing my own business. All that is thanks to my parents’ efforts, my husband’s support and my love for books.
Books are essential because they teach, entertain and inspire you to dream.
I am reading two books at the moment which recommend: Just Looking Thanks! by Alf Dunbar and Red Herrings and White Elephants by Albert Jack."
- Judy Chicangana-Matthews, founder of Delmora and Start Up Bromley business ambassador
Books are 'Machines of Empathy'
"Robin Ince calls books 'Machines of Empathy' and I couldn’t agree more. Pick up a book and you’re immediately put into someone else’s shoes. Whether you’re reading a dragon-filled fantasy, a historical retelling, or blood-soaked crime novel, you’ll learn something about what makes us human. And that can only be a great thing.
I love talking to people about anything creative, so bookselling was always a likely destination, even if I didn’t know if during my previous meandering career through music, radio and advertising. In 2016 the bookshop in our neighbourhood closed after 40 years and in 2018, when the unit came up for let, my wife and I decided we should try and bring it back. Almost six years later it’s proved to be a deeply fulfilling move.
A non-fiction book I’d recommend to anyone is And The Band Played On by Randy Shilts. It’s a journalistic account of the 1980s AIDS crisis in America and at once makes you despair for our callous cruelty and weep for our selfless charity. It led me to volunteer for an AIDS charity and fundamentally changed my life.
After that, we probably need something a little lighter, so I'd also recommend Amor Towles’ new short story collection, Table for Two!"
- Sam Taylor, co-founder of Max Minerva's and Get Ready For Business Growth participant
Books have stood the test of time for a reason
"Ever since we can remember, we've loved books. There's something magical about being able to turn the pages and discover something new in such a tangible way (even more so in our digital word). Books have stood the test of time for a reason! It's a way of curating information and stories and sharing them across generations.
Since starting a business, we have kept little notes of golden information, which naturally grew into a book. BIS Publishers saw our work and helped us polish this into The Brand Power Manifesto. It now means we have a roadmap we can share with other entrepreneurs to help and inspire them. We wanted to show how anyone can develop a sustainable brand with style.
We recommend Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. It's an oldy, but a goldy! There's passion, revenge and haunting, all taking place on the Yorkshire Moors. We're from Yorkshire, so we must celebrate this iconic book. Also Know Your Onions: Graphic Design by Drew de Soto. This book offers a practical guide for anyone interested in graphic design. It demystifies the workings of a creative studio and provides tips for developing your own designs."
- Abigail and Chloe Baldwin, founders of Buttercrumble and Get Ready For Business Growth participants
I believe there is a book in all of us
"I believe books are valuable resources and tools that help in ones’ day-to-day life, and a great way to start each day positively, keeping focused and grounded. Reading is an essential part and contribution to our mental and emotional wellbeing when applying the right books in season.
As a publisher of 8 books I use my business to support and help aspiring and existing writers publish their own books, whilst sharing their stories in the community. I believe there is a book in all of us, and it’s up to us to find time to nurture and turn it into valuable tools for other people to benefit from.
A book I’d recommend is The Power of a Forward-Thinking Mindset written by me! It focuses on how powerful the mind is and how we can work on consistent growth in building our mental and emotional wellbeing independently and with how we interact with other people."
- Esther Solomon-Turay, founder of Authentic Worth and BIPC Lewisham business ambassador
The words people use to convey a message can make a huge difference
"Books are important because they give us something that the technological developments of the past few years, despite all the amazing benefits they’ve brought, still can’t match or replace. There’s something so relaxing about wandering into a library or bookshop and getting lost among the shelves.
We both love language and firmly believe in the power of words. Whatever people have to say – whether their aim is to inform, entertain or persuade – the words they use to convey that message can make a huge difference. We wanted to use our passion for language to help get people’s messages across in the most effective way possible, so we set up a business that focuses on doing just that.
In our line of work, we’re very lucky that we get to read all kinds of different texts on a huge range of topics. A non-fiction book we recently proofread was a heart-wrenching but also incredibly uplifting account by holocaust survivor Ivor Perl called Chicken Soup Under The Tree. In fiction, we recently revisited an all-time favourite, E. M. Forster’s classic A Passage to India. The descriptions are so rich and playful."
- Rosie Tate and Peter Clayburn, founders of Tate and Clayburn and Get Ready For Business Growth participants
Books are portals to a different time
"There is nothing quite comparable to books. For me they are important as portals to a different time. Appreciating the chosen art work and illustrations of books, as well as the content, all makes it a very personal experience with the author, similar to how you can connect with musicians and their album covers.
I'd recommend The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: though the author and illustrator disappeared over the Mediterranean a year after the book was published in 1943, he lives on eternally through the book and his artwork. I also recommend How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie; it reached the New York Times best-seller list in 1936 and did not fall off for the next two years! I read it more as a historical insight into it's era.
Interesting fact, I used to always look forward to visiting my local library since primary school. It just so happens to have been Leytonstone Library, London's first BIPC local!"
- JJ Khun, founder and CEO of WIILMA and BIPC Waltham Forest business ambassador
Reading gives you so many skills and empowers you in life
"I love that an author and an illustrator (with the help of an editor and designer) contain their thoughts and ideas between two covers, and then you get to read them! Reading is such a close, personal experience but it can open your mind to the whole world.
I publish books for children. Reading for pleasure is one of the most important factors in helping children become happy, healthy adults – it gives you so many skills and empowers you in life. A fun job with great people, and you can make a difference? Sign me up!
A non-fiction book I’d recommend is our bestseller, Real-life Mysteries by Susan Martineau, illustrated by Vicky Barker. It’s full of spooky stories! I'm also a fan of the recently published I’m a Fan by Sheena Patel, it's the perfect summer read."
- Sam Hutchinson, founder of b small publishing and Get Ready For Business Growth participant
Books can be transformative
"Books are an essential tool for learning, growth and fostering connection. They can totally transport the reader to an immersive world that you never imagined existed until you dared to open those pages, and allow the author to take you on a journey. This is where our imagination and senses comes alive.
As coaches, we know that books can be transformative. Mary Beth O'Neill's Executive Coaching with Backbone and Heart offers a systems-based approach to coaching, which emphasises the importance of balancing business focus with compassion. O'Neill argues that effective leaders must not only make sound decisions but also lead with empathy. This helps to create environments where employees feel valued and understood, ultimately leading to more cohesive and productive teams.
In our experience, fear is a common obstacle among clients. Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway by Susan Jeffers offers a straightforward message: while fear is inevitable, our response to it is what defines our path. She encourages readers to embrace their fears and take action despite them. This mindset shift can be incredibly empowering, enabling individuals to push beyond their comfort zones and achieve their goals."
- Fiona Wedderburn-Graham and Jennifer McLean, founders of Amaze Associates and BIPC Lewisham business ambassadors
Books tell you about the world and teaches you how to read it
"A really good book not only tells you something about the world, but teaches you how to read it. This often demands patience and careful attention, which in turn requires generosity and a bit of effort. With so much clamouring for our attention, I never regret time spent reading.
I went into the business of books because it’s nice to be part of the chain, which turns a solitary idea into something thousands of people (hopefully) hold in their hands and find pleasure/inspiration/comfort in.
I recommend Glória, written by Victor Heringer and translated by Sophie Lewis and James Young, which we at Peirene Press published in July. It’s a Brazilian novel about three brothers from a unique family, which explores internet culture, charismatic Christianity and the meaning of art, with restless energy and a big heart. Victor Heringer very sadly died in 2019, aged just twenty-nine, but he left us two brilliant novels and we are very proud to publish them in English."
- James Tookey, co-publisher at Peirene Press and Get Ready For Business Growth participant
Books are crucial tools for fostering a more inclusive and understanding world
"We love books for their ability to inform, inspire and connect people, and we see them as crucial tools for fostering a more inclusive and understanding world. At Peepal Tree Press, our passion for Caribbean and Black British literature drove us to fill a gap in the publishing industry. We aim to amplify underrepresented voices, illuminate cultural heritage, and empower through storytelling. We want our books to make a meaningful impact on the literary world.
We recommend Manzu Islam's Godzilla and the Song Bird and Colonial Countryside - both hot off the press!
Godzilla and the Song Bird is truly a War and Peace for Bangladesh, with Tolstoyan philosophical depth (and unTolstoyan humour!), infused with a uniquely contemporary Bangla voice. Colonial Countryside is a book of commissioned poems and short stories produced by ten global majority writers featuring National Trust houses with significant colonial histories. The book also features essays by leading historians on the properties concerned, and a stunning photo essay by Turner Prize shortlisted artist Ingrid Persaud."
- Hannah Bannister, Operations Manager at Peepal Tree Press and Get Ready For Business Growth participant