Omnivoracious: Seth Godin's Big Ideas You Can Read About (Part I)

We asked top blogger, marketing guru, and bestselling author Seth Godin to join us on Omnivoracious for a three part installment of "Big Ideas You Can Read About" in celebration of the launch of his latest endeavor: The Domino Project.

The Domino Project is publishing big ideas that can change things for the better. All this week (through Friday, February 18, 2011), Seth is trying an experiment: You can help lower the price of the Kindle ebook edition of the first Domino Project book, Poke the Box, just by signing up for his free newsletter.

For every 5,000 new subscribers to The Domino Project’s newsletter, we’ll lower the Kindle edition’s pre-order price by a dollar, all the way to $1.00. Learn more and sign up today at www.thedominoproject.com. We’ll announce the final subscriber count and price on February 21, 2011—giving you one week (through February 28, 2011) to take advantage of the special pre-order price before the book goes on sale March 1, 2011.

We asked Seth to share some of the best big ideas that he has, in his own words, "had the sheer pleasure of being changed by." Enjoy--and leave a comment to let us know about the big ideas you’ve been changed by lately.

The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World by Jacqueline Novogratz: Jacqueline Novogratz has written a modern classic, a book about connection, dignity and change. It's impossible to read this true story by someone who matters (and continues to matter more every day) without being moved to understand the world better--and hopefully to take action. A keeper.
The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl and C. M. Kornbluth: This book is a winner, even though it's fifty years old. A sparkling combination of marketing, futurism and space opera drama. It stuck with me for months.

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield: Steve Pressfield has written the most important book I've ever read on creativity and why it doesn't happen. The resistance is the most profound force in the life of the artist, the writer and the leader, and Steve has given it a name and called it out.
The Pema Chodron Audio Collection: Pure Meditation:Good Medicine:From Fear to Fearlessness by Pema Chodron: I'm choosing an audio title from Pema, as I think it's more likely the message will sink in if you listen to her. One of the most important spiritual leaders of our time, Chodron delivers insight without dogma, appropriate for people of any faith.
The Tom Peters Seminar: Crazy Times Call For Crazy Organizations by Tom Peters: The times are still crazy. Two decades later, the stories in this book resonate. Worth sharing.
The Gift: Creativity and the Artist in the Modern World by Lewis Hyde: Deep, astonishingly well researched and mindblowing. An exploration of one of the most basic (and least understood) human traits--our ability to create and share gifts.
The Magic of Thinking Big by David Joseph Schwartz: More than a self help book (if you're afraid of those, please don't be), and quite vintage, it might open some doors for you. No, strike that. IT WILL open doors.

Syrup by Maxx Barry: Funny, thrilling, fast moving and about brand marketing and office politics. What more could you hope for in a novel?
How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer: This book will make you think (and then rethink) how decisions get made. Not just how your customers decide, but how you do.
Seeing Is Forgetting the Name of the Thing One Sees: A Life of Contemporary Artist Robert Irwin by Lawrence Weschler: Dense, a little scattered, and occasionally riveting, this book may change the way you think about art, forever.
The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature by Matt Ridley: Little, irresistible and so important. One more way to help you understand how evolution works.

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow: Little Brother moves Cory from the ranks of astoundingly good science fiction author to one-of-a-kind. Your teenagers should read this, so buy two copies so you actually get to read it.
Six Pixels of Separation: Everyone Is Connected. Connect Your Business to Everyone by Mitch Joel: Mitch Joel brings it home. Direct and clear advice about how new media changes your brand forever.
Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations by Clay Shirky: Clay is both the erudite professor and the compelling author, a rare combination. This book will change the way you think about our revolution.
The Ramen King and I: How the Inventor of Instant Noodles Fixed My Love Life by Andy Raskin: Funny, poignant and apparently true. I couldn't put this one down. (And there's even marketing in it).