I also just finished reading [l:http://bookswelike.net/isbn/1576753018|Confessions of an Economic Hit Man] by John Perkins. I am not 100% sure what to think about the book. It is at times, enlightening, at others it seems like it is way oversimplifying the situation in the world around us. It feels like creative non finction, or a fictionalized account history, and that seems to cheapen the message of the book overall.

I am currently reading [l:http://www.sethgodin.com/purple/|Purple Cow from Seth Godin.] He makes the case that companies need to market to people like me (innovators, early adopters and sneezers) because only we can successfully market their product to mainstream consumers. If you market to the mainstream, no one wants it and there is too much competition. People are distracted and overwhelmed by commercials, and just don't really pay attention anymore.