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Books about influencer culture
23
items I love a good deep dive into the business side of things, and the influencer industry has fascinated me for years, so these are all books I've read (a couple of them I keep going back to, bookmarks and all). Industry exposés, histories and practical ...
Although it's older (2018), this is still a great read. Part memoir, part how-to from someone who spent years booking influencers for big magazine brands, there are some interesting interviews as well from popular influencers at the time. My copy is ...
Influencer by Brittany Hennessy (paperback)
A more focused look at mom influencers than most other books take, but still interesting even if you don't follow that genre. It traces how mummy bloggers grew into a bit of a monster industry segment (and no, I'll never like the word "momfluencer").
Momfluenced by Sara Petersen (paperback)
An academic but very readable history of how influencing became a proper industry, and how ‘authenticity’ got turned into something you can sell. Good if you want the bigger picture behind all the #ad posts.
The Influencer Industry by Emily Hund (paperback)
A memoir from a former top-ranking MLM seller about the ‘boss babe’ world, the sisterhood pitch and what it hides. Uncomfortable reading in places, in a good way.
Hey, Hun by Emily Lynn Paulson (paperback)
The story of Belle Gibson, the Australian wellness influencer who built an app and a book deal on a cancer diagnosis she never had. If you watched “Apple Cider Vinegar”, you'll know the story but this gets into a little more detail. Gripping, and mor...
The Woman Who Fooled the World by Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano (paperback)
Yuli Ziv’s 2011 guide to turning a fashion blog into a business. A proper time capsule of the early fashion blogging days, back when getting into a show as a blogger was a big deal.
Fashion 2.0: Blogging Your Way to the Front Row by Yuli Ziv (paperback)
Ziv’s 2013 follow-up, forecasting where digital was taking the fashion industry. Fun to read now and tick off which predictions actually landed.
Fashion 2.0: Season of Change by Yuli Ziv (paperback)
A short, research-based look behind the scenes at what influencers and creators do day to day. A nice one to hand to anyone who thinks it’s all free stuff and holidays.
An Influencer's World by Caroline Baker (paperback)
The history of Reddit, from dorm-room startup to ‘the front page of the internet’, warts and all. Less about influencers, more about how online communities end up shaping culture.
We Are the Nerds by Christine Lagorio-Chafkin (paperback)
A practical guide to influencer marketing written for brands, which makes it handy for creators too, since you get to see how the other side of the deal thinks.
The Age of Influence by Neal Schaffer (paperback)
Another one written from the brand side, on building influencer campaigns that work. Useful for understanding what brands are actually looking for when they slide into your inbox.
The Influencer Code by Amanda Russell (paperback)
One of my favourites on this list. A UK take on influencer culture from someone who worked in the industry, covering everything from finfluencers to virtual influencers. Sharp, funny and very readable. I borrowed it from the library and ordered the p...
Break the Internet by Olivia Yallop (paperback)
Another UK focused one, which is rare when talking about the influencer industry. Symeon Brown digs into the murkier side of the influencer economy, from get-rich-quick schemes and fake lifestyles to the people left out of pocket.
Get Rich or Lie Trying by Symeon Brown (paperback)
The full story of YouTube, from scrappy startup to the Google years, creator culture and its many, many moderation messes. Long, but properly gripping.
Like, Comment, Subscribe by Mark Bergen (hardback)
A practical guide to turning a blog into a business, packed with interviews with big-name bloggers. Very much a product of its time, but plenty of it still applies.
The Million Dollar Blog by Natasha Courtenay-Smith (paperback)
Sara McCorquodale, founder of influencer research firm CORQ, on how influencers are changing media, marketing and culture. A good UK industry perspective.
Influence by Sara McCorquodale (paperback)
Stephanie McNeal (who covered internet culture at BuzzFeed) follows three very different influencers for three years, covering brand deals, the haters and what the money really looks like. Juicy and fair in equal measure. All three are American, so I...
Swipe Up for More! by Stephanie McNeal (hardback)
Taylor Lorenz’s history of the influencer economy, from the early bloggers and mummy bloggers through to YouTube and TikTok. Brilliant if you were around for the early days (hi), and a great place to start if you know nothing about online worlds. Her...
Extremely Online by Taylor Lorenz (paperback)
Kelly Keenan on building a brand by engaging the people who already matter to it (customers, staff, fans) rather than chasing big follower counts. More business book than exposé.
Everyone Is an “Influencer” by Kelly Keenan (hardback)
The inside story of Instagram, from its founding through to the Facebook takeover. If you’ve ever wondered why the app works the way it does (and why it keeps changing), this explains a lot.
No Filter by Sarah Frier (paperback)
An investigation into kid influencers and family vlogging, and what happens to children whose childhoods become content. A tough but important read.
Like, Follow, Subscribe by Fortesa Latifi (hardback)
A practical guide for smaller creators on landing brand partnerships, pitching and pricing your work. Handy if you’re nowhere near ‘needs an agent’ territory yet.
The Micro-Influencer's Brand Partnership Bible by Ashleigh Warren (paperback)
Bella Younger (aka Deliciously Stella) on how a joke Instagram account accidentally made her an influencer, and how chasing likes nearly ruined her life. Very funny and very honest.
The Accidental Influencer by Bella Younger (hardback)