Summer lends itself to reading, what with all the pools and beaches and such. Instead of sticking your nose in some sappy romance or predictable who-dun-it, turn the pages of these music related tomes. Some of these books are straight up music business books and others are more artist focused, but they all have a little something to teach. The books listed here were suggested by readers - if you want to add your fav picks to the list, you can email me at musicians.guide (at) D106.

Recommendations by: Bruce Burch, Joel A. Katz Music and Entertainment Business Program at Kennesaw State University:

• All You Need to Know about The Music Business by Donald S. Passman
• Money, Music and Success by Todd and Jeff Brabec
• The Future of Music by Gerd Leonhard and Dave Kusek
• Indie Business Power by Peter Spellman

Recommendations by: Cold War Candy Drop

• I Am Still The Greatest Says Johnny Angelo by Nik Cohn
• Things The Grandchildren Should Know by Mark Oliver Everett
• A Cure for Gravity by Joe Jackson

Recommendations by: Audible Treats

• Hit Men: Power Brokers and Fast Money Inside the Music Business by Fredric Dannen
• Can't Stop Won't Stop by Jeff Chang and Kool Herc

Recommendation by: T_Hall1st

• What They'll Never Tell You about The Music Business by Peter M. Thall

Recommendation by: Brian Krul

• The Indie Band Survival Guide by Randy Chertkow and Jason Freehan

Recommendations by: Me! (Heather McDonald, Music Careers Guide) Others have already mentioned my favorite industry books, so here are a few artist related books I like a lot:

• A Drink with Shane Macgowan by Shane MacGowan and Victoria Mary Clarke
• Soulsville USA: The Story of Stax Records by Robert Bowman
• Put The Book Back on The Shelf: A Belle and Sebastian Anthology by Jamie S. Rich, Mark Ellerby, Jennifer DeGuzman, Brian Belew and Mark Andrew Smith
• Wake The Town and Tell The People by Norman Solzoff