Lisa Johnson

One's dearest friend, let's call her sister, Deb bought this for one last month on an unexpected whirlwind trip to Brisvegas. It could be called a coffee-table book (thinks to self, why coffee table when I mostly serve tea???). You can read it in a snap. It is BEAUTIFULLY - and I mean BEAUTIFULLY presented...think your favourite picture on Pinterest only in 4D. My cover image is probably a bit naff but is designed to show you the very sweet bookmark that comes with the book. Lisa and her partner Pete went to live in France in 2008 (hubba hubba). This books is a bit like a captured blog if you know what I mean. A photo on every page and a series of musings captured during Lisa's stay. It's very sweet and one can share their cultural acclimatisation (or not) as they enjoy their sojurn. The photos are of gumboots, cheese, pigeons, baths....a motely assortment of life....

My dearest friend and I had hoped to be in France for her 50th which is next Saturday. We didn't factor in the GFC, job losses and other assorted challenges - not the least of which is my complete lack of ability to save for anything. We shall settle for Melbourne instead....

France ...one day.....one day.....

As the book's intro says...."For dreamers and wanderers..."

If not to wander...perchance to dream.… (meer)

I've never read a marketing book before so I can't say I have much to compare this book to. The reading was interesting enough, especially the introduction in which Johnson takes a look at Generation X and Y's values and motivators - a positive spin on a generation that is otherwise derided... The structure of the book is linear, rather dry, and takes a step-by-step approach; the examples are well explained and relevant. Each chapter focuses on one particularly successful campaign, but it is followed by other examples - which can sometimes be confusing: the reader can loose track of what company's the author's referring to before returning to her main point. I enjoyed discovering some American-based companies that I didn't know about and was impressed with the creativity that can go around creating a business.
The how-to approach seemed simplistic to me, especially the final chapter where she describes the qualifications needed for a good branding campaign - I doubt any entrepreneur would find it satisfying. Not my usual read, but one that helped open my mind and get a better understanding of branding and marketing,… (meer)