Books/information on branding.

[Fantômas]

I'm starting to research the topic of branding rather heavily. Not for a thesis, but for something that's as significant, if not more so. So what are some good books on branding and the state of branding currently? I'm looking at corporate branding as well as small company branding, personal branding, etc.
I am also looking for 2 different categories. For example:

Category 1: Books about concept and theory of branding
http://www.amazon.com/Brandjam-Humanizing-Through-Emotional-Design/dp/1581154682/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-2190361-6757250?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188427802&sr=1-1
Brandjam: Humanizing Brands Through Emotional Design.

Category 2: Books that combine branding history + examples/case studies
http://www.amazon.com/Marks-Excellence-Per-Mollerup/dp/0714838381/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-2190361-6757250?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188427876&sr=1-1
Marks of Excellence

I'd appreciate some good suggestions and recommendations.

[DesignVHL]

Check out Designing Brand Identity by Alina Wheeler (A Complete Guide to Creating, Building, and Maintaining Strong Brands) Its an excellent book.

[Danger_Mouse]

This is a real good one...

LoveMarks by Kevin Roberts.

Definitely a great read.

[CkretAjint]

... deleted post ...

[Fantômas]

... deleted post ...

Why deleted? :(

[Danger_Mouse]

If I recall they deleted because they posted a response in the wrong thread :D...

[reuber1]

Check out Designing Brand Identity by Alina Wheeler (A Complete Guide to Creating, Building, and Maintaining Strong Brands) Its an excellent book.
Seconded.

[Jeff Fisher LogoMotives]

The Brand Gap: How to Bridge the Distance Between Business Strategy and Design, by Marty Neumeier

Branding: Brand Strategy, Design and Implementation of Corporate and Product Identity (Design Directories), by Helen Vaid

Challenging the Big Brands: How New Brands Win Market Share with Innovative Design. by Judith Evans & Cheryl Dangel Cullen

Designing Brands: Market Success through Graphic Distinction, by Emily Schrubbe-Potts

Brand Apart, by Joe Duffy

Of course, branding is also one of the major topics covered in my new book Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands (http://identitycrisisbook.blogspot.com/). It will be on bookstore shelves within the month.

- J.

[DesignVHL]

geez so many great suggestions! I wish I knew about the Helen Vaid book a couple years ago (if it was even out by then) because I was doing some major rebranding research and implementation on my full time design job in-house to rebrand a product line.....was really fun to do until management issues screwed it all up....and it ended up going in a different direction than it should have. Now it's all a mess and they don't know what to do with it (the product line).

[reuber1]

The Brand Gap: How to Bridge the Distance Between Business Strategy and Design, by Marty Neumeier.
Definitely this one, I can second this as well. I bought this back in college without an iota of marketing knowledge, and it was a huge help. A very quick and easy read, like one short sitting worth, but it compacts so many ideas in a coherent and concise fashion. Excellent one.

[Jackimalyn]

We had to read "Building Strong Brands" by Aaker. It analyzes successful brands including cocacola, saturn, nike and historical samples including GE. Very good book