Reads

These are books and conversations I return to again and again, whether I’m directing animation, mentoring artists, or navigating the realities of creative leadership.
Some I wrote. Some I wish I had.

Upstart
Scott Ross
A clear-eyed look at what it actually takes to start and sustain a creative studio. Essential reading for anyone building companies, pitching IP, or wondering why most post houses fail.
https://www.amazon.com/Upstart-Scott-Ross/dp/0984201012

Herding Tigers: Be the Leader That Creative People Need
Todd Henry
One of the most practical guides to leading creative teams without smothering them. Especially relevant for directors, VFX supervisors, and producers managing feedback, deadlines, and strong personalities.
https://www.amazon.com/Herding-Tigers-Leader-Creative-People/dp/0814436477

The New Animation & VFX Playbook
Angie Jones
A practical survival guide for creatives navigating a rapidly shifting industry. Jobs are changing, pipelines are fragmenting, and AI is already here. This book focuses on where real opportunity still exists and how to pivot toward it.
https://thinkinganimation.com/shop/the-new-animation-vfx-playbook/

Thinking Animation: Bridging the Gap Between 2D and CG
Angie Jones & Jamie Oliff
A foundational resource for animators transitioning from classical principles into CG pipelines, with an emphasis on timing, spacing, performance, and storytelling across styles.
https://thinkinganimation.com

Creativity, Inc. (Expanded Edition)
Ed Catmull
A thoughtful examination of creative leadership and organizational culture from Pixar’s co-founder. Still one of the most precise articulations of how trust, candor, and structure enable creativity at scale.
https://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Inc-Expanded-Edition/dp/0812993012

The Creative Act: A Way of Being
Rick Rubin
A meditation on creativity as a lifelong practice rather than a product. Less about output, more about presence, listening, and intuition. Grounding and quietly essential.
https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Act-Way-Being/dp/0593652886

The Creative Ambush
Sefirot
A card-based creative tool and philosophical framework designed to break rigid thinking under pressure. Playful on the surface, surprisingly deep in practice.
https://www.sefirot.co.uk/products/the-creative-ambush

Alien: The Original Screenplay
Dan O’Bannon
A reminder that great storytelling begins on the page. The original screenplay reveals how restraint, pacing, and character tension shaped one of cinema’s most enduring films.
https://www.amazon.com/Alien-Original-Screenplay-Dan-OBannon/dp/1785659343

Cult of the Mouse: Can We Stop Corporate Greed from Killing Innovation in America?
Henry M. Caroselli
A critical look at how short-term profit thinking erodes long-term innovation, using Disney as a cautionary lens. Particularly relevant for leaders balancing creativity and corporate pressure.
https://www.amazon.com/Cult-Mouse-Corporate-Innovation-America/dp/0990815110

Ongoing Listening & Practice

The Diary of a CEO
Steven Bartlett
Long-form conversations on leadership, failure, ambition, and growth. Useful for reframing how creative leaders think about resilience and decision-making over time.
https://thediaryofaceo.com

The 1% Diary
A daily reflection practice focused on incremental growth rather than performative productivity. A grounding counterweight to the constant noise of the creative industry.
https://thediary.com

Ongoing Reading

These newsletters and curators help me stay grounded in creative leadership, industry insight, cultural context, and thoughtful analysis. They are chosen for signal, not volume.

Chris Donnelly Newsletter
Chris Donnelly
Tightly written reflections on creativity, culture, and the mechanics of work and life from an independent thinker with deep roots in design and narrative.
https://www.chris-donnelly.co.uk/

Ben Meer’s Newsletter
Ben Meer
Curated thoughts on storytelling, creativity, and cultural rhythms — blending creative practice with industry context.
https://benmeer.com/

Colby’s 10 Best Things I Read in 2025
Colby’s curated annual list of notable reads is a strong example of meta-curation you can admire and revisit each year.
https://colbynewsletter.kit.com/posts/1-better-the-10-best-things-i-read-in-2025

The Dailies
The Dailies
A high-signal digest of noteworthy writing and thinking worth paying attention to, especially for leaders who want broader context without noise.
https://newsletter.readthedailies.com/

The Ankler Newsletter
The Ankler
Industry-focused insight on entertainment business, trends, and culture, written with sharp analysis and no filler.
https://open.substack.com/pub/theankler/