My facialist outed me
And 11 books that changed my business
Last week was a bookish kind of week.
First, my facialist (sounds super grand but I am doing a 6-session treatment with her earning me the right to call her MY facialist) outed me as an author while I lay on her table, a hot wand in her hand.
‘I didn’t realise you were an author,’ she said, super excited. I saw it on your WhatsApp profile, immediately told my manager and looked up your book.
(I got to session #4 without mentioning it. Note to self: when someone asks what you do, don’t forget to mention you’ve written a damn book)
Secondly, I attended
‘s book launch dinner party for her Substack subscribers in North London. Wonderful to meet her in real life and share the evening with a bunch of beautiful like-minded, bookish ladies. We all got a signed copy of her second fiction book called Table For One had a delightful, seasonal three course meal by Her Table. Can’t wait to tuck in as soon as I finish Born a Crime by Trevor Noah.
The next day (slightly hungover), I browsed my own shelves to see which (non-fiction) books jumped out at me. The ones I still remember. The ones I read and actually did something different. Now that’s my definition of a good book.
These books are from my book shelf only. I am uncomfortable with absolutes so let’s rephrase the headline of this newsletter to 11 books (which are on my book shelf as I had no time to go through Kindle history or library card) that changed my business (and me) in some way.
Here goes.
1. The Lean Start-up – Eric Ries
I read this when I first started working in a corporate some 15 odd years ago and wanted to shake things up. We built a whole team around the concept of build, measure, learn. And we had so much fun ruffling feathers. I suspect I’d find it very bro Silicon Valley these days but still, it changed the way I worked forever. Big takeaway: Build small, learn, pivot, repeat.
2. Do Open – David Hieatt
Made newsletters feel like a craft, not a chore. Still shapes how I write mine. The whole Do series is a refreshing read. Big takeaway: Your newsletter doesn’t have to sell. It has to connect.
3. Talking to Humans – Giff Constable
Under 100 pages and will totally change how you speak to customers. I’m jealous of how concise it is. Big takeaway: Real conversations beat guesswork every time.
4. 4,000 Weeks – Oliver Burkeman
Read this two years in a row. Gave a copy to my dad. Now we just look at each other and say “4,000 weeks!” when we feel there is so much to do and so little time. An honest look at how little time we actually have and how to stop pretending we can do it all (in business and in life).
is now on Substack. Big takeaway: Let go of productivity guilt. You won’t get to everything.5. Do the Work – Steven Pressfield
A fierce, energising kickstart for when I’m procrastinating on something big. Really short and so, so worth the read. Big takeaway: Resistance will show up. Start anyway.
6. Messy – Tim Harford
Helped me embrace imperfection and loosen my grip on needing neat systems all the time. This book made me understand the beauty of messy (and I am messy most of the time.) Big takeaway: Mess isn’t the enemy. It’s often where the magic happens.
7. Unfinished Business – Anne-Marie Slaughter
I remember how I felt seen reading this as a working mother. Society devalues care work and puts unrealistic expectations on women. A clever critique of Sandberg’s ‘just lean in and women can have it all’ theory. Big takeaway: If caring responsibilities aren’t built into how we think about work, something’s broken.
8. Can’t Not Won’t – Eliza Fricker
A deeply personal read that helped me feel seen as a parent of an autistic child with an atypical profile unable to attend school. A chapter of my life where I needed to take an intentional step back from my business to focus on what was more important.
Big takeaway: Meet people where they are. Listen deeply and trust your gut.
9. Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race – Reni Eddo-Lodge
I read this immediately after George Floyd was murdered. It reshaped how I think about systems, inclusion, and whose voices are heard (and whose aren’t in life and business). Big takeaway: If you’re not actively questioning the default, you’re probably reinforcing it.
10. The Art of Gathering – Priya Parker
Used this to plan my book launch party (it was lush and a huge hit!). Transformed how I think about hosting any kind of interaction—from research sessions, book launches to workshops. Big takeaway: Don’t default to format. Design for meaning.
11. The Freelance Mum – Annie Ridout
Read this when I was on my family gap year, having quit my corporate job.
’s book showed me a different path was possible. I did one of her early courses after reading it to figure out what the hell I wanted to do next.. She is generous and honest in her advice. Big takeaway: You can build a business around your family life and be your own bossBonus book:
My very own Do Penguins Eat Peaches? And other unexpected ways to discover what your customers want. I couldn’t create a list without it.
You can now buy it directly from my website (Amazon gets zilch) with additional bonuses. A personalised, signed copy of course, a souvenir bookmark and a penguin and peach sticker pack. Free UK delivery.
First three orders get the lot for £10.00 (instead of £11.99 still cheaper than Bezos) with discount code PEACH10. If you still haven’t got a copy this is your chance. Let’s go, people.
What book changed the way you do business? Hit reply or drop a comment—I’d love to know.
P.S. Photo of me slurping an alcohol free Peroni in Dean Street’s Pizza Express with my daughter on Saturday.😎
Love this list of books, and honoured to be featured on it, thank you. Ax