Nine Books to Read Before the Recovery

Retail Superstars: Inside the Best 25 Independent Stores in America (Portfolio Hardcover 2009) by George Whalin. Instead of focusing on household names like Wal-Mart Stores(WMT Quote) and Target(TGT Quote), this book takes a look at stores that developed loyalty for niche products.

Faith-Based Marketing: The Guide to Reaching 140 Million Christian Customers (Wiley 2009) by Bob Hutchins and Greg Stielstra. This book serves as a case study on marketing to anyone who's passionate about something. So if you love cycling and plan to open a bicycle shop, this book shows you how to tap into the emotions of biking enthusiasts.

Double Your Income Doing What You Love (Wiley 2008) by Raymond Aaron with Sue Lacher. I know so many people who are unhappy with their careers. This excellent book provides a process for figuring out what you enjoy and going after it.